Parliament Winter Session Day 10 Highlights: Lok Sabha, Rajya Sabha adjourned for the day amid commotion

Trinamool Congress MP Saket Gokhale on Friday urged the government to frame laws to ensure that employees in the private sector have good working conditions, as he highlighted recent incidents of professionals dying allegedly due to work-related stress.

Raising the issue during Zero Hour in the Rajya Sabha, Gokhale referred to the deaths of Anna Sebastian, who allegedly died due to extreme work pressure, and Satish Nandgaonkar, a journalist who suffered a heart attack, allegedly due to a toxic work environment.

"After these two shocking incidents, there has been a groundswell of complaints on social media, with people in the private sector saying that there is often a toxic work culture, where employees are made to work long hours and are subjected to insults. A lot of this is happening in the private sector," he said. (PTI)

A multisite study conducted at five places in Delhi by the Indian Council of Medical Research has found an increase in wheezing and emergency visits associated with rise in levels of nitrogenous compounds like NO2, Union Health Minister JP Nadda told the Lok Sabha on Friday.

The government has issued a health advisory on air pollution and has also taken several steps to address air pollution issues, informed Nadda, who also holds the chemicals and fertilisers portfolio.

Responding to a question, Nadda said the government of India has sanctioned 1,561 Pressure Swing Adsorption (PSA) oxygen generation plants, including 1,225 PSA plants which have been installed and commissioned under the PM CARES Fund in the country.

Additionally, 336 PSA plants have been set up by the PSUs under the Ministries of Petroleum and Natural Gas, Power, Coal, Railways, etc., till date, Nadda said. (PTI)

Congress leader Abhishek Singhvi on Friday termed the "recovery" of cash from his seat in the Rajya Sabha "bizarre" and demanded a probe into what he described as a "security lapse".

Singhvi said that glass enclosures should be made to prevent anyone from planting "ganja" on seats in an MP's absence.

Underscoring that indulging in politics on every issue "shows our system in bad light", the Congress MP said everything in the House should not lead to "cheap tactics", allegations and counter-allegations which "demeans our level".

The Congress leader said either barbed wire should be put around every seat or a glass enclosure be made to ensure that MPs locked their seat before going home to prevent anyone from planting "ganja" or currency notes there in their absence.

Soon after Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar announced that a wad of currency notes was recovered from Singhvi's seat on Thursday, the Congress MP said he only carries one Rs 500 currency note when inside Parliament.

--PTI inputs

Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said in the Rajya Sabha on Friday that the Narendra Modi government will purchase all farm produce at the minimum support price.

The assertion came on a day when farmers embarked on a foot march to Delhi with a charter of demands, which includes a legal backing to MSP.

He gave the assurance while answering supplementaries during Question Hour on the issue of MSP to farmers.

"I want to assure the house through you that all produce of farmers will be purchased at minimum support price. This is the Modi government and the guarantee to fulfil Modi's guarantee," Chouhan told the house.

--PTI inputs

The country's diamond sector has been facing challenges during the last three years due to reduced demand in major export destinations and supply side issues such as G7 sanctions on Russia, Parliament was informed on Friday.

In a written reply to the Rajya Sabha, Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal informed that diamond exports in 2023-24 dipped to USD 18.37 billion as against USD 25.48 billion in 2021-22.

Imports too declined to USD 23 billion in the last fiscal as compared to USD 28.86 billion in 2021-22.

"Yes, the diamond sector has been facing challenges during the last three years due to reduced demand in major export destinations and supply side issues such as G7 Sanctions on Russian origin diamonds," Goyal said.

In a separate reply, the minister said the export of cut and polished diamonds is facing a slowdown due to low demand.

--PTI inputs

After Lok Sabha, Rajya Sabha has been adjourned for the day. Both Houses will meet on Monday next.

Rajya Sabha has been adjourned till 2 PM.

Lok Sabha has been adjourned for the day.

BJP MP Nishikant Dubey says "Congress ka haath Soros ke saath", resulting in Opposition MPs protesting in the House.

Lok Sabha has reconvened after a quick adjournment. Papers are being laid on the table.

Several Opposition MPs led by the Congress on Friday held a protest march inside Parliament complex on the Adani issue, wearing black masks that read "Modi Adani bhai bhai".

The protest saw several leaders from some of the INDIA bloc parties marching, holding a copy of the Constitution and raising slogans against industrialist Gautam Adani.

RJD, JMM and left parties' MPs were among those who joined the protest. -- PTI

"Heard of it first time now. Never heard of it till now! I carry one 500 rupees note when I go to RS. First time heard of it. I reached inside house at 1257 pm yesterday and house rose at 1 pm; then I sat in canteen till 1:30 pm with Sh Ayodhya Prasad then I left parl! Pl quote me if u do fully," says Congress' Abhishek Singhvi.

Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar says, "I here by inform the members that during the routine anti-sabotage check of the chamber after the adjournment of the House yesterday. Apparently, a wad of currency notes was recovered by the security officials from a seat, which is presently allotted to Abhishek Manu Singhvi. The matter was brought to my notice, and I made sure an investigation takes place and the same is underway."

Congress MP Hibi Eden has submitted a notice to move a privilege motion against BJP MP Sambit Patra for his remarks calling Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi "traitor of the highest order", asserting that the usage of "completely defamatory and unparliamentary words" has clearly violated constitutional norms.

In his letter to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, Eden said, "I wish to raise a motion of privilege and bring to your attention the completely unparliamentary conduct of Sambit Patra, MP Lok Sabha, against the Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi." In a press conference held on December 5, Patra has referred to the Leader of Opposition as "traitor of the highest order" while making unfounded allegations against the LoP, he said. -- PTI

Minutes after convening, the Lok Sabha was adjourned till 12 noon. Congress MPs in Lok Sabha were wearing black masks with 'Modi Adani Bhai Bhai' written on it.

The tenth day of the Winter Session will kick off at 11 am today. Union Home Minister Amit Shah is expected to move the Bill to amend the Disaster Management Act, 2005 for consideration and passing.

Good morning. Stay tuned for latest updates on the happenings in Parliament today.