Union Home Minister Amit Shah speaks during the Parliament Winter session in Lok Sabha. (Photo: Screengrab from X/SansadTV)Parliament Winter Session Day 3 Highlights (December 6): The Lok Sabha Wednesday passed the Jammu and Kashmir Reservation (Amendment) Bill, 2023 as well as the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation (Amendment) Bill, 2023. The Opposition members walked out of the House, following the passage of the Bills, over Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s remark on former Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru. During the debate, Shah had said, “Jammu and Kashmir has suffered due to two blunders committed by Prime Minister Nehru – first, by announcing ceasefire, and then taking Kashmir issue to the United Nations… Had Jawaharlal Nehru taken right steps, Pakistan-occupied Kashmir would have been part of India now. It was a historic blunder.”
The discussions in both Houses resumed at 11 am today. The Lok Sabha saw brief uproar over DMK MP N V Senthilkumar’s remarks on Hindi heartland states, with BJP leader and Union Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal demanding an apology from DMK’s T R Balu over his colleague’s “divisive” comments. Reacting to the flak in Lok Sabha, Senthilkumar expressed regret over the issue and said “if it (the remarks) hurt sentiments, I withdraw them,” he added. The leader has previously apologised for his remarks in a post on X.
Furthermore, among the top agenda of both Houses today is Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman’s presentation of the “Supplementary Demands for Grants — First Batch for 2023-24”, or additional grant that the government requires to meet its required expenditure.
The Lok Sabha Ethics Committee’s report recommending the expulsion of Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP Mahua Moitra will now go to the Lok Sabha Speaker. (Facebook)
Veteran politician and Lok Sabha MP from Srinagar Farooq Abdullah Wednesday criticised the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), saying it has a tendency to ignore the accomplishments of the country's first prime minister — Jawaharlal Nehru, news agency PTI reported.
"They have always had differences with Nehru and will never acknowledge his work. This is politics," the National Conference (NC) president told reporters outside the Parliament.
According to PTI, when asked about Nehru taking the Kashmir issue to the United Nations, Abdullah said the situation at that time was different. He mentioned that the army had to be moved to Poonch and Rajouri as raiders had caused chaos. He said instead of advancing towards Muzaffarabad (the capital of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir), the decision was made to divert the forces to Poonch and Rajouri. As a result of this decision, these areas are now with India, Abdullah said.
The leader also highlighted the "mistake" made by the UN, which, he said, had treated India and Pakistan equally, despite the latter being the aggressor. He claimed that the UN was being influenced by the US, which had sided with Pakistan.
On reservation for the Gujjar and Bakarwal communities, Abdullah said he had written a letter advocating for their reservation in 1983, but it is still pending.
He also targeted the central government over its claims of normalcy in Kashmir, pointing to the heavy deployment of security forces.
Abdullah asked why people are still being killed and how terrorists are being able to infiltrate if terrorism had truly ended. "...see the killings. Many army officers have been martyred. If terrorism has ended, why are people getting killed and how are terrorists infiltrating?" he asked. (PTI)
Terror incidents in Jammu and Kashmir have shown a declining trend over the last six years with 2023 registering all-time low numbers, government told the Parliament on Wednesday, news agency PTI reported.
In a written reply in the Rajya Sabha, Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Nityanand Rai said the government has a "policy of zero tolerance against terrorism and its approach is to dismantle the terror ecosystem".
In figures:
? Till November 15 this year, 41 "terrorist initiated" incidents were reported in Jammu and Kashmir as compared to 125 last year, 129 in 2021, 126 in 2020, 153 in 2019 and 228 in 2018.
? 44 encounters were registered this year in J&K preceded by 117 (2022), 100 (2021), 118 (2020), 102 (2019) and 189 (2018).
? A total of 13 civilians were killed in such incidents during 2023 while the previous figures in this context were 31 (2022), 41 (2021), 38 (2020), 44 (2019) and 55 (2018).
? A total of 20 security forces personnel were killed in the line of duty in terrorist incidents this year in the Union territory as compared to 32 in 2022, 42 in 2021, 63 in 2020, 80 in 2019 and 91 in 2018.
Rai highlighted the measures taken by the government for the development of Jammu and Kashmir:
? As many as 53 projects being implemented at a cost of Rs 58,477 crore by 15 ministries/departments in the UT under the Prime Minister's Development Package-2015 in sectors such as roads, power, health, education, tourism, agriculture, skill development, etc. have been accelerated and 32 projects have been completed or substantially completed.
? The UT attracted a total investment of Rs 5,319.35 crore between 2019-20 and 2023-24 (up to October, 2023). (PTI)
The Lok Sabha has been adjourned for the day. The House will now resume on Thursday at 11 am.
The Rajya Sabha has been adjourned for the day. The House will now resume on Thursday at 11 am.
Rajasthan MP Kirodi Lal Meena on Wednesday resigned from the Rajya Sabha. He submitted his letter to the RS Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar, who accepted his resignation towards the end of the session.
The Opposition members walked out of the House, following the passage of the two Jammu and Kashmir Bills, over Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s remark on former Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru.
During the debate, Shah had said, “Jammu and Kashmir has suffered due to two blunders committed by Prime Minister Nehru – first, by announcing ceasefire, and then taking Kashmir issue to the United Nations… Had Jawaharlal Nehru taken right steps, Pakistan-occupied Kashmir would have been part of India now. It was a historic blunder.”
The Lok Sabha Wednesday passed the Jammu and Kashmir Reservation (Amendment) Bill, as well as the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation (Amendment) Bill, following which the Opposition members walked out from the Lower House.
Shiv Sena leader Priyanka Chaturvedi on Wednesday, during a discussion on the economic situation of the country in the Rajya Sabha, asked "why have demands for MGNREGA been doubled?"
"They are planning that MGNREGA should be allocated Rs 1.1 lakh crore in the next Budget, why is it happening if [according to their allegations], the demand for MGNREGA has been cut-down by half?," Chaturvedi questioned.
"If rates of unemployment have reduced to half, and inflation has reduced, then why are 80 crore people being allocated ration in the country?," she further asked.
Following the passage of the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation (Amendment) Bill, 2023, the Lok Sabha on Wednesday took the Central Universities (Amendment) Bill, 2023 for consideration and passage.
The Lok Sabha Wednesday passed the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation (Amendment) Bill, following which the Opposition members walked out from the Lower House.
Opposition members in the Lok Sabha sought a timeline from the government on Tuesday (Deecmber 5) for holding Assembly polls in Jammu and Kashmir, with the Centre asserting that it is ready and it is up to the Election Commission (EC) to take a decision in the matter, news agency PTI reported.
The Union Territory is under central rule since 2018.
While Home Minister Amit Shah had intervened in the discussion and asserted that the Modi government has ensured that the country has only one flag and one Constitution. The two bills were introduced in the Lower House on July 26.
Responding to a remark by TMC's Saugata Roy that "ek nishan, ek pradhan, ek samvidhan (one flag, one head, one Constitution)" was a "political slogan", Shah wondered how can a country have two prime ministers, two constitutions and two flags.
He said the Trinamool Congress leader's remarks were "objectionable".
Responding to a remark from the opposition benches, Shah said, "Whosoever did it was wrong. Narendra Modi has corrected it. Your approval or disagreement does not matter. The entire country wanted it." This comment was made in an apparent reference to the abrogation of the provisions of Article 370 of the Constitution in Jammu and Kashmir.
Initiating a debate on the two bills, Amar Singh of the Congress asked the government about its plans on holding polls in the Union Territory.
Singh said Shah should assert that the election will be held, with security forces ready to deal with any situation. He said while a provision is being made to provide reservation for two members from the community of "Kashmiri Migrants" and one from the "Displaced Persons from Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir" to the legislative assembly of Jammu and Kashmir, a representative from the Punjabi community from Jammu should also be provided and that person need not necessarily be a Sikh.
Union minister Jitendra Singh said "whenever the EC announces it (election in Jammu and Kashmir), we are ready".
He said the Congress should be grateful to Prime Minister Modi for the abrogation of Article 370 that gave a special status to the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir. (PTI)
Jammu and Kashmir has suffered immensely due to "two blunders" committed by Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru — first, by announcing ceasefire and then by taking Kashmir issue to the United Nations, alleged Amit Shah in Lok Sabha on Wednesday.
"Had Jawaharlal Nehru taken right steps, Pakistan-occupied Kashmir would have been part of India now; it was historic blunder," Shah said.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Wednesday, addressing the Lok Sabha during a debate on the Jammu and Kashmir Reservation (Amendment) Bill and the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation (Amendment) Bill, said that about 45,000 people have lost their lives due to terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir so far, news agency PTI reported.
The Modi government has planned to have "zero terror incident in Jammu and Kashmir force for 3 years. It will be successful by 2026," Shah added.
One of the two bills on Jammu and Kashmir seeks to nominate two Kashmiri Migrant community members, including a woman, to the assembly, said Amit Shah, during a debate on the Jammu and Kashmir Reservation (Amendment) Bill and the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation (Amendment) Bill in Lok Sabha, news agency PTI reported.
Taking a jibe at the Opposition party Congress, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, alleged that the former party has done 'greatest harm to Other Backward Classes,' while highlighting that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been working relentlessly for welfare of backward classes.
He further said, "I believe Modi govt will return to power in 2024 and by 2026 I hope there will be no terror incident in Jammu and Kashmir." "Our focus is to end terror ecosystem in Jammu and Kashmir," Shah elaborated.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Wednesday said that one seat in Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) Assembly is to be reserved for those displaced from Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, during a debate on the Jammu and Kashmir Reservation (Amendment) Bill and the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation (Amendment) Bill in Lok Sabha.
"Had terrorism been tackled at beginning without considering vote-bank politics, Kashmiri Pandits wouldn't have had to leave valley," said Union Home Minister Amit Shah in Lok Sabha, while speaking on the two Bills — the Jammu and Kashmir Reservation (Amendment) Bill and the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation (Amendment) Bill.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah, responding to the debate on the Jammu and Kashmir Reservation (Amendment) Bill and the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation (Amendment) Bill in the Lok Sabha on Wednesday, said that the two Bills will bring justice to those who have been deprived of their rights for the past 70 years.
He said the Bills will give representation in assembly to those who had to leave Kashmir. He further said he is glad that no one opposed the Bills while deliberating upon them.
All BJP MPs, except MP Mahant Balaknath from Rajasthan and Renuka from Chhattisgarh, who won assembly polls, have submitted their resignation from Parliament.
The government on Wednesday sought Lok Sabha nod for a net additional spending of Rs 58,378 crore in the current fiscal.
The first batch of supplementary demands for grants for 2023-24 fiscal was tabled in the lower house of the parliament by Minister of State for Finance Pankaj Chaudhary.
The supplementary demands for grants include gross additional spending of over Rs 1.29 lakh crore, which would be matched by savings of Rs 70,968 crore.
The proposal involves the net cash outgo aggregating to Rs 58,378.21 crore, said the document tabled in Lok Sabha.
The additional spending includes an expenditure of Rs 13,351 crore towards fertiliser subsidy. (PTI)
LS takes up the Jammu and Kashmir Reservation (Amendment) Bill, 2023 for consideration and passing.
Rajya Sabha has been adjourned till 2 PM.
The discussions in both Houses resumed at 11 am today. The Lok Sabha saw brief uproar over DMK MP N V Senthilkumar's remarks on Hindi heartland states, with BJP leader and Union Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal demanding an apology from DMK's T R Balu over his colleague's "divisive" comments. Reacting to the flak in Lok Sabha, Senthilkumar expressed regret over the issue and said "if it (the remarks) hurt sentiments, I withdraw them," he added.
There is uproar in Lok Sabha over 'divisive' remarks by the DMK’s Dharmapuri MP D N V Senthilkumar. BJP's minister Arjun Meghwal says demands and apology from DMK's T R Balu and asks, 'Does Rahul Gandhi also believe in dividing the North and South?'
After BJP MPs protest over 'divisive' remarks by the DMK’s Dharmapuri MP D N V Senthilkumar, the Lok Sabha has been adjourned till 12 noon.
Question Hour is underway in Lok Sabha.
Both Houses have started proceedings. Question Hour is underway in Lok Sabha. In Rajya Sabha too, the Question Hour is underway.
The following Bills are listed for consideration and passing in the Lok Sabha today:
Demands for Grants:
The discussions in both Houses are scheduled to resume at 11 am today, with Home Minister Amit Shah responding to the debate on the Jammu and Kashmir Reservation (Amendment) Bill and the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation (Amendment) Bill in Lok Sabha, and the Rajya Sabha resuming its discussion on the economic situation of the country.
The Lok Sabha was adjourned for the day, following a discussion on the two Bills - The Jammu and Kashmir Reservation (Amendment) Bill, 2023 and the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation (Amendment) Bill, 2023. The House will now resume at 11 am on Wednesday.
The Rajya Sabha was adjourned for the day, following a short duration discussion on the economic situation of the country. The House will now resume on Wednesday at 11 am.
AIMIM leader Asaduddin Owaisi, standing against The Jammu and Kashmir Reservation (Amendment) Bill, 2023 and the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation (Amendment) Bill, 2023, said that the two bills tabled in the Lok Sabha are also against Representation of People Act, 1952.
"If there is no security threat, then why are you pushing for nominations... Every month, our soldiers die there. How can you say that normalcy has been restored there?", Owaisi asked. "You showed [them] a lot of dreams, but you don't fulfill them for the people of Kashmir," he added.
A DMK MP in Lok Sabha sparked a controversy Tuesday by describing Hindi heartland states as "gaumutra states", and said that the BJP can win elections only there and not in south India, news agency PTI reported.
BJP leaders hit back at the DMK and asked Congress leader Rahul Gandhi if he agreed with the insulting remarks of its INDIA bloc partner against the north Indians.
Participating in a debate in the Lower House on two bills related to Jammu and Kashmir, D N V Senthilkumar said people of this country should think that the power of the BJP is only winning elections "in the heartland states of Hindi and what we generally called as gaumutra states".
The comments come in the backdrop of some referring to the recent assembly election results as a 'North-South divide' after the BJP trounced the Congress in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh, and the Congress won in Telangana.
Speaking in Lok Sabha, Senthilkumar said, "You (BJP) cannot come to South India. You see all the results of what happens in Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka ... we are very strong over there." He went on to say, "We will not be surprised if you have an option of converting all these states into Union territories so that you can come into indirect power because you can never dream of setting foot over there and taking control of all the southern states." In Tamil Nadu, state BJP chief K Annamalai condemned the "insensitive" remarks of the MP, saying the level of the party's discourse is "sinking" like Chennai and the "arrogance" of DMK will be the prime reason for its downfall.
"After calling our North Indian friends Pani Puri sellers, toilet constructors, etc., I.N.D.I. Alliance DMK MP, makes Gaumutra Jibes," he said on X.
"Chennai is sinking due to the misgovernance of DMK & and so is their level of discourse on the floor of the Parliament," Annamalai said, referring to the flood-like situation in the state capital.
The BJP "highly condemns this insensitive remark," he said. Annamalai said the DMK MP has possibly forgotten that the NDA Alliance is in power in Puducherry and was in power in Karnataka until recently. "The arrogance of DMK will be the prime reason for their downfall!," he posted.
Former Karnataka minister C T Ravi asked if Congress leader Rahul Gandhi endorses such insulting remarks. "Will I.N.D.I. Alliance leader Rahul Gandhi agree with this DMK man who has insulted Bharatiyas of the Heartland States? "How long will CONgress and its allies insult Bharatiyas? (sic)," he said on X.
Meanwhile, BJP Rajya Sabha member GVL Narasimha Rao on Tuesday demanded that the Tamil Nadu government register a case against state minister for making "hate speeches" against Sanatan Dharma and sack them from their posts.
Jammu and Kashmir National Conference party leader Farooq Abdullah on Tuesday, addressing the Lok Sabha, during a discussion on The Jammu and Kashmir Reservation (Amendment) Bill, 2023 and the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation (Amendment) Bill, 2023, said, "Our neighbour has not accepted the accession of Jammu and Kashmir to India. Secondly, the biggest 'qurbani' (sacrifice) the party that gave was National Conference. Our leaders, our ministers, our small workers were killed, let's not forget, for what? For holding this flag of India high."
"We have never denied that we are a part of this nation. And we will remain a part of this nation. Do not point fingers at people who have suffered for this nation, and continue to suffer for this nation," Abdullah said.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah Tuesday asserted that the concept of "one flag, one prime minister, one constitution" was not a political slogan and that the BJP firmly believes in the principle and finally implemented it with regard to Jammu and Kashmir, news agency PTI reported.
Responding to a remark by TMC's Saugata Roy in the Lok Sabha that "ek nishan, ek pradhan, ek samvidhan (one flag, one head, one constitution)" was a "political slogan", Shah wondered as to how can a country have two prime ministers, two constitutions and two flags. He said Roy's remarks were "objectionable".
While responding to a remark from the Opposition, Shah said, "Whosoever did it was wrong. Narendra Modi has corrected it. Your approval or disagreement does not matter. The entire country wanted it." The comment was made in an apparent reference to the abrogation of provisions of Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir.
He went on to state that "one symbol, one head, one constitution" was not an election slogan. "We had been saying since 1950 that a country should have one PM, one flag and one constitution and two will not do and we have done it." Soon after Roy ended his speech on the Jammu and Kashmir Reservation (Amendment) Bill and the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation (Amendment) Bill, Union Minister Piyush Goyal said while the TMC leader mentioned Syama Prasad Mukherjee, he should have also recalled his sacrifice.
Roy said he had taught in a college named after Mukherjee and "ek nishan, ek pradhan, ek samvidhan" was his slogan and it was a "political slogan".(PTI)
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, addressing the Rajya Sabha on the economic situation of the country, highlighted Prime Minister Narendra Modi government's attempts at making India one of the fastest growing economies in the world. Due to the measures taken by the Modi government, the minister said the Indian economy is the world's fastest-growing economy, registering a 7.6 per cent GDP growth rate in the last quarter, news agency PTI reported.
Sitharaman informed the House that the Punjab and Maharashtra Cooperative Bank (now merged with Unity Small Finance Bank) has recovered Rs 104.02 crore with active cooperation and support from agencies. Assets amounting to Rs 692.89 crores have been confiscated under the provisions of the Fugitive Economic Offenders Act, 2018, she said.
The finance ministry also informed the House that over the last two financial years, the number of non-performing asset (NAP) accounts in the commercial banks has declined from 2.19 crore to 2.06 crore, showing a decrease of 6.2 per cent. Similarly, aggregate outstanding of such accounts (gross NPAs) has declined from Rs 7.41 lakh crore to 5.72 lakh crore during the same period, showing a decline of 22.9 per cent.
Further, slippage ratio (fresh slippages of NPAs during the financial year as percentage of standard loans and advances at the beginning of the financial year) of banks has declined from 2.74 per cent (fresh slippages of Rs 2.86 lakh crore) in the financial year 2021-22 to 1.78 per cent (fresh slippages of Rs 2.13 lakh crore) in the financial year 2022-23.
Net NPA ratio, Sitharaman said, has come down to 0.95 per cent in 2022-23 for all commercial banks from 5.94 per cent in 2017-18.
In the case of state-owned banks, the net NPA has declined to 1.24 per cent from 5.94 per cent in 2017-18. (PTI)
Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar on Tuesday asked the Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman to explain the meaning of "phone banking", news agency PTI reported.
Explaining the meaning of the phrase, Sitharaman said, "'Phone Banking' refers to a method through which "political interference (during UPA rule of 2004-2014) spoilt all our banks and drove them to a loss-making situation".
"'Phone Banking' was at that time when people would call the banks and say 'so and so will come to seek a loan from your bank, please grant it', meaning that there's no need to look at their eligibility, etc and that the loan must be granted," the minister said.
She further said that the heart of the problem was that during the 10 years of UPA rule, between 2004 and 2014 when calls were made to grant loans to people who were not worthy of getting a loan.
"The burden fell on us to sort the Indian banks out with reforms. Prime Minister Narendra Modi sat with all of us, including my predecessor Arun Jaitley (former finance minister). We spent a lot of time understanding where the problem was and worked together with the RBI," Sitharaman said.
It must be looked at what contributed to the NPAs and made Indian banks actually have a twin balance-sheet problem which brought down the Indian economy to the 'Fragile Five', she added. (PTI)
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has confiscated assets worth Rs 15,186.64 crore under the stringent prevention of money laundering law and almost all of these have been restituted to public sector banks, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman informed the Rajya Sabha on Tuesday, news agency PTI reported.
Replying to questions in the Rajya Sabha, the minister said specific actions through various legal provisions are being taken against defaulters and as a result, "huge monies" are going back to the banks.
Sitharaman informed the House that as of March 31, 2023, legal suits were filed for recovery against 13,978 loan accounts, action under the SARFAESI Act has been initiated in 11,483 cases, FIRs have been filed in 5,674 cases, and an aggregate amount of Rs 33,801 crore has been recovered.
"As of December 1, 2023, assets amounting to Rs 15,186.64 crores under the PMLA have been confiscated by the ED out of which Rs 15,183.77 crores have been restituted to the Public Sector Banks," she said.
Speaker Om Birla Tuesday cautioned the Lok Sabha MPs against bringing placards in the House, highlighting that dignity and discipline need to be maintained, news agency PTI reported.
The comments by the Speaker came a day after BSP member Danish Ali hung a placard around his neck in protest demanding action against BJP MP Ramesh Bidhuri for allegedly making derogatory remarks against him.
"In the business advisory committee meeting yesterday, there was a consensus among parties that they will not bring placards in the new Parliament House. I appeal to everyone to maintain dignity and discipline in Parliament. I will have to take action against MPs bringing placards," Birla said.
"I appeal to every member not to break the rules of the House. I expect every one of you to maintain decorum and come with a positive mind," he said. "I will not allow anyone to come to the House with placards," Birla said and adjourned the House till 12 noon. (PTI)
YSRCP leader Vijaysai Reddy, after highlighting the positives of India's developing economy, shifted his focus to the negatives and informed the Rajya Sabha that Rupee was the worst-performing Asian currency in the year 2022.
"Many issues continue to hinder India's economic growth. Rupee was the worst-performing Asian currency in 2022. For the first time ever, the value of Rupee crossed 80 against dollar, currently stands at 83.4, which is very very alarming... Depreciation of Rupee has a direct impact on the manufacturing sector since India is a net importer of raw materials and fuel."
"Manufacturing has already started showing signs of stress this fiscal year," he added. "As per RBI, every five per cent fall in the value of Rupee, inflation increases by 15 per cent."
YSR Congress Party leader and Rajya Sabha MP Vijaysai Reddy, addressing the Upper House on the economic situation of the country, said, 'For the past 10 years, India has been on the brink of massive economic transformation, which my Opposition is not in the position to realise... In the next five years, under Modiji, we are poised to become the third largest economy in the world... Even during Covid situation, there was no economic stride, and it continues to grow.'
'There is a significant growth in tax collection, which has fuelled economic growth,' he highlighted in his speech.
Talking about India's growing digital economy, he said, 'India continues to dominate the digital payment landscape... We recorded 89 million digital transactions in 2022, which is more than four leading countries combined together. It accounted for almost half of the global real time payments.'
Congress leader P. Chidambaram on Tuesday, addressing the Rajya Sabha, questioned the Centre's economic policies.
Chidambaram asked, 'Who is this government for? Is it for the poor or its policy is so skewed that it favours the rich? The numbers are undisputable. 23 crore people of India are poor... with such a low poverty bar. And it shows up in inequality... This kind of growth is unacceptable. We need more balanced growth.'
'Will the GDP will double in their Amrit Kaal period... by March 2024?,' Chidambaram said, demanding an answer from current Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman.
The Rajya Sabha is currently discussing the “economic situation in the country”. Derek O’Brien from the Trinamool Congress is the first speaker. Sushil Kumar Modi (BJP), and Vijayasai Reddy (YSRCP) are also scheduled to participate.
Addressing the Rajya Sabha on Tuesday (December 5), Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said that the Opposition MPs raising questions on the government’s handling of non-performing assets (NPAs) should first recognise that India is now the world’s fastest-growing economy. “The heart of the problem was during the 10 years of UPA rule between 2004 and 2014 when calls were made to grant loans to people who weren’t worthy of getting a loan. The burden fell on us to sort the Indian banks out with reforms,” she said.
Addressing the Rajya Sabha on Tuesday (December 5), Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said that the Opposition MPs raising questions on the government’s handling of non-performing assets (NPAs) should first recognise that India is now the world’s fastest-growing economy. “The heart of the problem was during the 10 years of UPA rule between 2004 and 2014 when calls were made to grant loans to people who weren’t worthy of getting a loan. The burden fell on us to sort the Indian banks out with reforms,” she said.
The Lok Sabha was adjourned till 2 pm on Day 2 of the Winter Session of Parliament
The Rajya Sabha was adjourned till 2 pm on Day 2 of the winter session of Parliament.
MPs belonging to the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) protested in front of the Gandhi statue in the Parliament premises against the misuse of central agencies.
Three AAP leaders, including Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh, have been arrested for their alleged involvement in the Delhi liquor policy case being investigated by the CBI and ED.
Former Delhi deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia and former health minister Satyendar Jain have also been arrested.
An interim Central assistance of Rs 5,000 crore has been sought by the Tamil Nadu government to provide relief to people and rebuild infrastructure damaged by incessant rains in Chennai and some other districts of the state.
Raising the issue through a zero-hour mention in the Rajya Sabha, Tiruchi Siva, a leader of the DMK which rules the state, said heavy rains due to severe Cyclone Michaung have submerged Chennai and other districts.
At least nine people, including a child, were killed in the flooding and the havoc caused hours before the cyclone was due to make landfall. Cars were swept and airport operations shut down as the streets of Chennai got inundated.
"Roads have become rivers because of non-stop running waters and rivers have become like seas... all the water bodies are overflowing. Many tanks have been breached," he said.
Informing the Rajya Sabha that roads have been badly damaged due to the fury of nature, Siva said essential supplies have been hampered.
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin and the entire Cabinet, municipal corporation officials, fire department, sanitation workers, doctors, rescue teams and electricity department have been working on a war footing to rescue people and provide relief material.
As a precautionary measure, electricity supply was suspended, Siva said.
He said that while the state government is doing everything in its means, the damage to infrastructure is so huge that it cannot be repaired at the earliest. "The state government has requested an interim relief of Rs 5,000 crore." "I urge the Union government (that) considering the condition of Tamil Nadu and five districts, kindly release Rs 5,000 crore as initial interim relief which would help the State government in their efforts to safeguard the people of Tamil Nadu," he said. (PTI)
Union Home Minister Amit Shah arrived for Day 2 of the Winter Session of the Parliament.
He is expected to move The Jammu and Kashmir Reservation (Amendment) Bill, 2023 and The Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation (Amendment) Bill, 2023 today in the Lok Sabha.
Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury raised the issue of legally guaranteeing MSP for farmers in the Lok Sabha today. He also talked about the farm laws, which had generated widespread protests and were later withdrawn.
Responding to him, Union Minister Narendra Singh Tomar said the UPA government had ignored M S Swaminathan's recommendations on MSP, which the Narendra Modi-led government has provided.
He also said that the committee set up to give a report on the farm laws had not sent in its recommendations yet.
Tamil Nadu minister Udhayanidhi Stalin's remarks on sanatana dharma were mentioned in the Rajya Sabha today, with BJP MP G V L Narasimha Rao calling them "hate speech" and that they intended to "destroy the fabric of India".
This led to protests from Opposition MPs and Vice-Chairman Harivansh had to intervene.
Earlier this year, Udhayanidhi's remarks, in which he compared sanatana dharma to malaria and said that it needed to be "eradicated" had led to widespread controversy across the country.
As Union Minister Giriraj Singh was speaking in the Lok Sabha on Day 2 of the Winter Session of Parliament, Opposition MPs disrupted his speech with slogans. This led Singh to say, "Chillane se kuch nahi hoga... humein bhi chillana aata hai (Nothing will be accomplished by shouting... we also know how to shout)".
The following Bills are listed for consideration and passing in the Lok Sabha today:
The Rajya Sabha is scheduled to discuss the “economic situation in the country” from noon onwards.
Derek O’Brien (TMC), Sushil Kumar Modi (BJP), and Vijayasai Reddy (YSRCP) are scheduled to participate.
The Lok Sabha Ethics Committee is expected to table its report recommending the expulsion of Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP Mahua Moitra, over the cash-for-query allegations against her, today. At a meeting of the Business Advisory Committee on Monday chaired by Speaker Om Birla to finalise the week’s agenda, Opposition MPs demanded that the report be discussed before any decision is taken on the matter. Meanwhile, BJP MP Nishikant Dubey, who had first raised the allegations against Moitra, claimed on Monday that Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury had “leaked the report”. Last week, Chowdhury had written to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, underlining that expulsion was an “extremely serious punishment”.
The Lok Sabha has been adjourned for the day. The Lower House will now resume on Tuesday at 11 am.
The Bill which aims to regulate the legal profession by a single Act and seeks to target "touts" was passed by the Lok Sabha on Monday with Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal saying there should be no role of touts in the country's courts.
"The legal profession is a noble profession. The law commission was given a mandate to bring judicial reforms as per new circumstances. There should be no role of touts in the court premises in the country. Hence, it was felt that in the amendment there should be provisions related to touts," Meghwal said.
The Rajya Sabha had passed the Advocates (Amendment) Bill, 2023, during the Monsoon session.
The Bill provides that every high court and district judge can frame and publish lists of touts (those who procure clients for legal practitioners in return for any payment), according to news agency PTI.
According to the provisions, people named in the list of touts will be excluded from entering the court premises. Any violation of this provision will entail punishment with imprisonment of up to three months and a fine. (PTI)
The Post Office Bill, 2023 seeks to repeal the 125-year-old Indian Post Office Act, and consolidate and amend the law relating to post offices in the country.
According to the proposed legislation, "the central government may, by notification, empower any officer to intercept, open or detain any item in the interest of the security of the State, friendly relations with foreign states, public order, emergency or public safety, or upon the occurrence of any contravention of any of the provisions of any law for the time being in force".
According to news agency PTI, which cited the statement of objects and reasons of the bill, over the years, the services available through post offices have diversified beyond mail and the post office network has become a vehicle for delivery of a variety of citizen-centric services, which necessitated the repeal of the Indian Post Office Act, which was enacted in 1898 primarily to address the mail services provided through the post offices.
The enactment of a new law in place of the Indian Post Office Act, 1898 is with a view to govern the functioning of the post offices in the country and provide for a simple legislative framework to facilitate the evolution of the post offices into a network for delivery of citizen-centric services, the PTI report stated.
The bill seeks to empower the director general of postal services to frame regulations in respect of activities necessary to provide those services and fix the charges for such services.
The Rajya Sabha has been adjourned for the day. The House will now resume on Tuesday at 11 am.
The Rajya Sabha on Monday passed the Post Office Bill, 2023. The bill, moved by IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, was aimed at consolidating and amending the law relating to Post Office in India and to provide for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto, be taken into consideration.