Parliament Budget Session updates | Parliament concludes discussion on President’s address, PM Modi addresses Lok Sabha

The Rajya Sabha concludes its proceedings for the day. It will resume proceedings at 11 a.m. on February 9. The PM is also expected to address the House at 2 p.m.

CPI(M) MP AA Rahim speaks about the Kerala government’s introduction of menstrual and maternal leave in higher education during his Special Mention address.

He highlights that menstruation leave is being offered in the form of 2 percent attendance relaxation, while 60 days of maternal leave is being granted.

He says that this move will help reduce stigma around menstruation and enable women to participate in education.

The government should conduct research to understand what issues are affecting women in various sectors as far as menstruation is concerned, he said.

BJP MP G.V.L Narasimha Rao requests assistance and funds for RINL for the functioning of the Visakhapatnam Steel Plant, during his Special Mention address to the Rajya Sabha. “Due to non-availability of working capital, high raw material cost and adverse market conditions, the capacity utilisation of RINL has been lower this year, which adversely impacted the finances of the company,” he said.

Loans not being offered due to poor credit and the interest is higher than the market lending rates, he points out. Only two of three blast furnaces are working, he says. Wage revision has not been done since 2017, leading to low employee morale, he says.

It needs working capital, which may be obtained by divesting certain non-core assets, including a 22 acre plot in Vishakhapatnam city, he says.

Minister of Labour and Employment Bhupender Yadav says it is a pity that the Opposition doesn’t believe any statistics about the country’s progress and development. He lists achievements in labour, employment, vaccines and medical education, among others.

This is about the intolerance within you, he says, pointing out that when the whole country was celebrating GST, the Opposition was boycotting. Congress MP Jairam Ramesh and other opposition members protest.

After his speech, Jagdeep Dhankar asks the opposition members to think about the words of the Minister, saying that each of his words were carefully measured.

The house was holding a general discussion on the Union Budget 2023-24.

Indu Bala Goswami, BJP MP from Himachal Pradesh, says that it is commendable that both the President’s address and the Budget were presented by women this year.

Pabitra Margherita, BJP MP from Assam, asks what the significance of Bharat Jodo Yatra is when it did not include any part of the Northeast. He says PM Modi has treated the Northeast as part of India. Opposition members protest his assertion.

In a written reply to the Rajya Sabha, the government said that it issued multiple advisories to states to increase the representation of women in the police force to 33 per cent, from a current strength of 11.75 per cent.

“According to data compiled by the Bureau of Police Research and Development (BPR&D), as on January 1, 2022, the actual strength of women police personnel is 11.75 per cent at all India level,” Union Minister of State for Home Nityanand Rai wrote.

The highest percentage of women in the police force was in Ladakh (28.3 per cent), followed by Andhra Pradesh (21.7 per cent), Chandigarh (21.6 per cent) and Bihar (21.2 per cent). At the bottom of this table are Jammu and Kashmir (3.2 per cent), Tripura (5.29 per cent) and Meghalaya (5.9 per cent).

The goal is to have at least three women sub-inspectors and 10 women police constables in every police station, so a women help desk is functional round the clock, the minister said. - PTI

He concluded saying, “Listening to the truth requires courage and so does listening to bad and false accusations (pointing to the treasury benches). Thus, I congratulate them (treasury benches),” adding, “One must also imagine how deep they would be in pessimism that they cannot listen to truth is what the nation is watching.”

Prime Minister added that whilst there may be political and ideological differences, but the country would remain immortal and moving towards celebrating 100 years of independence in 2047.

Thanking the Prime Minister, he stated the country is now moving with new confidence and vision.

SP MP Jaya Bachchan raises the plight of sanitation workers, saying that there is no provision for their welfare and dignity as human beings.

She also raises the issue of women’s safety and questions why the Nirbhaya fund was reduced.

She points out that the address doesn’t mention measures being taken for senior citizens. “What is the government’s actual plan?” she asks, pointing out that there are no social security provisions for the disabled and senior citizens in our country.

She also mentions that the artistic community is treated with disrespect.

Taking a dig at the opposition, Mr Modi stated that those who feared that hoisting the flag could cause social disturbance have now started undertaking ‘Tiranga Yatra’.

He added that after decades it was during the same time theatres in Srinagar were running houseful and extremists were not to be seen anymore

“Faith in Modi not from newspaper headlines or TV screens. Have spent a lifetime for people’s welfare,” Prime Minister Modi said.

Following the assertion, opposition benches started sloganeering “Adani, Adani” whilst treasury sloganeering “Modi, Modi”.

He added that India’s faith in Modi beyond the comprehensibility of the opposition members.

Responding to the allegations of pressuring sovereigns to accord contracts to favoured private companies, he stated that the opposition has been “self-contradictory” all along. Previously, in a separate context, he had put forth that members from the opposition benches would either assert India’s weakening power in the global world, he later stated the same opposition would then come up with such allegations.

Speaker Om Birla said the actions of the opposition benches are against parliamentary regulations.

“Inflation was in double-digits for ten years, thus, every time things happen towards betterment, pessimism (among opposition benches) furthers up. Those who promised to eradicate unemployment, just showed the people rules and regulations,” he added, “In our independent history, 2004-14 was the most corrupt decade.”

In the last nine years, 90,000 startups have been established and we rank third among countries with most number of start-ups. He added that they were also based in tier-two and three cities. He credited the youth of the country for scaling the feat with their resilience.

Prime Minister Modi stated that India has become the second-largest mobile manufacturer in the world.

He added that India stood third in terms of domestic air traffic. As far renewable energy consumption, India stood fourth among the leaders globally.

Taking a dig at the opposition, he stated the opposition held a pessimistic worldview about the entire scenario.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi rises to reply to the discussion on the motion of thanks of President’s address. Opposition stages a walkout stating the house has not accorded them time to discuss allegations against the Adani Group. Prime Minister Modi stated the President’s address offered both an account and inspiration to the country. He had started his address stating that the President’s address was also a matter of pride for tribals of the country.

He stated that India has celebrated the President’s address. Pointing to the address, he stated, “Notwithstanding the pandemic, divided world, geopolitical disturbances, the way the country has waded through the disturbances has filled it with pride and confidence.”

Mr Modi stated that despite all disturbances in the neighbourhood India has emerged as the 5th largest economy. “Notwithstanding the disturbances, who would not take pride for this fact? It is because of this reason that the world is confident about India.”

Taking a dig at the opposition, he said that maybe the members (from the opposition benches) might not be not very happy with this.

Saying that he differs with the tone and tenor of the President’s address, Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury slammed the BJP for highlighting the tribal background of Droupadi Murmu. Chaos ensues in the House as treasury benches take strong exception to Congress leader’s remarks.

On Rahul Gandhi’s remarks on PM Modi in the Lok Sabha on Tuesday, Mr. Chowdhury said that the Congress leader exposed the inefficiency of the BJP.

This (central) government is responsible for the increase in Mr. Adani’s wealth, the Congress MP says in Rajya Sabha.

Participating in the debate on the Motion of Thanks, Union Minister Kiren Rijiju attacked the Opposition and said that PM Modi’s thoughts are as pure as the Ganga river.

“Rahul Gandhi should have reformed after the [Bharat Jodo] yatra. Instead, his negative mindset was on display yesterday. He flouted rules and norms in his Lok Sabha speech on the Motion of Thanks to President’s address,” the minister said.

On the other hand, it might help the government understand where people stand, he adds.

Member of Lok Sabha Asaduddin Owaisi slammed the Narendra Modi-led government as he participated in the Motion of Thanks to the President’s address. The AIMIM MP said the stringent Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) would have been invoked against the U.S-based short-seller Hindenburg Research if it was based in India.

He claimed that the Modi government is bringing back the “Indira Gandhi era”, and said, “People on constitutional posts are commenting on the basic structure... The law minister has made comments on collegium... When the NJAC (National Judicial Appointments Commission) Bill came, I was the only MP who said it will be against the basic structure of the Constitution.”

Mr. Owaisi also mentioned Bilkis Bano and said, “She has been fighting for 20 years, but justice has been denied to her because her name is Bilkis Bano”.

He also brings up the 2019 abrogation of special provisions to Jammu and Kashmir previously accorded under Article 370, and says that normalcy, as propagated from New Delhi, is very different from the ground reality.

Day after the BJP attacked MP Mahua Moitra over her use of an ‘unparliamentary language’ on the floor of the Lower House, the ​TMC leader said she will “call an apple an apple, not an orange.”​

On BJP MP Hema Malini’s statement that Ms. Moitra “should not get overexcited and emotional... by nature”, the latter asked if she needed to be a man to retort. “BJP is saying how can I use such a word being woman, do I need to be a man to be able to give it back as good as it gets? So there’s patriarchy,” she said.​

The MP’s question is based on the mentions of “amrit-kaal” in the President’s address.

“What is this amrit-kaal? Have we crossed “ache din” (a previously used slogan of the BJP that translates to “good days”) or are we still to reach that?” MP Sircar says.

The Leader of the Opposition wraps up his address in Rajya Sabha with a poem.

“The more you ban things, the more people will watch it,” LoP Kharge says.

After the Congress slammed the Narendra Modi-led government over the Adani issue, the BJP launched a counter-attack, targeting the Congress and the Gandhi family over scams in the previous UPA governments.

LoP Kharge demands a probe into how one man (Gautam Adani) took loans amounting to thousands of crores of rupees and increased his personal wealth.

The Lower House witnessed uproarious scenes as BJP MP Ravi Shankar Prasad launched an attack against the Congress and Gandhi family on Bofors issue.

“Rahul Gandhi is obsessed with the RSS. He must know that we are proud of being swayamsevaks,” says Ravi Shankar Prasad.

LoP Mallikarjun Kharge responds to being called an anti-national, and says, “I am more patriotic than any of you.”

Opposition responds with a loud thumping of desks.

BJP’s Ravi Shankar Prasad has initiated the discussion on the Motion of Thanks in the Lok Sabha today. During his speech, Mr. Prasad hit out at Congress leader Rahul Gandhi over his remarks against PM Narendra Modi.

“Rahul Gandhi has misled the House. I say this with full responsibility,” Mr. Prasad said.

Chaos breaks out in Rajya Sabha as Leader of Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge mentions the Hindenburg Research report.

“My suggestion is, let us believe in ourselves, our strengths, and our institutions,” Chairman Dhankhar says.

“They (the Opposition) are subtly and overtly, repeatedly insinuating against the Prime Minister,” she says.

During Question Hour, the Lower House took up issues related to online gaming, online gambling, poverty, Amrat Bharat Station scheme. As per the listed business of the day, members proceed with the laying of papers on the table of the House.

“This House cannot be a platform for a freefall of information,” Chairman Dhankhar says.

Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar intervenes and asks MP Kharge to refrain from casting aspersions. MP Piyush Goyal also intervenes and says that the minister should not make allegations he cannot substantiate. Prime Minister Modi’s association with Mr. Adani has “no basis whatsoever”, MP Goyal says.

Replying to questions on issues related to online gaming, Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw informed the Lok Sabha that nine States and UTs have passed laws. “17 States have amended the Public Gambling Act and introduced sections against online gambling. We should reach a consensus and have a Central act to regulate online gaming and gambling.”

The minister said that the central government is concerned about the impact of online gaming and gambling on society. “This is a complex legal issue. As we have a consensus with the State governments, the Centre will come up with an act to regulate online gaming and gambling. It is important to create a consensus first and then come to Parliament.

LoP Kharge questions why people from Scheduled Castes are not provided the same facilities as those from upper castes when religious supremacy is so important for the Centre.

Addressing the accusations levelled by MPs of the central government, MP Kharge says that they should talk about their achievements rather than constantly talking about what the previous government did.

“Why are you so jealous?” he says.

It often happens that the President and Governors reiterate what the central government says, says MP Kharge.

“I was hopeful that the President will use her address to speak for the minorities of the country, but I was disappointed,” he adds.

Members of the AAP, BRS, Shiv Sena (Uddhav Thackeray) protested in front of the Gandhi statue on Wednesday, demanding an inquiry into allegations against Adani Group.

AAP and BRS MPs stage a walkout after their notices seeking suspension of business to debate the Adani-Hindenburg issue were rejected by Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar.

On TMC leader Mahua Moitra using an ‘offensive’ word on the floor of the House during the ongoing session, BJP MP Hema Malini said, “They should control their tongue. They should not get overexcited.”

On Tuesday, Ms. Moitra had used an ‘offensive word’ in the Lok Sabha as TDP MP K Ram Mohan Naidu was addressing the House during the Motion of Thanks on the President’s Address.

MP Nagar’s behaviour has been condemned by Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar too.

The BJP MP says that the NDA government fulfils its promises while the UPA government only made announcements.

Reiterating his stand, Jagdeep Dhankhar said, “I do not find the notices to be in order and hence will not allow them.”

Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar informs the House that there will be no Question Hour, no Zero Hour, and no lunch break today, and discussion on Motion of Thanks to the President’s Address will begin immediately after papers are laid on the Table.

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi demanded the Speaker to expunge remarks made by Congress MP Rahul Gandhi against Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the House on Tuesday. The Speaker said he would consider the request, following which the Question Hour commenced.

1. After Question Hour, papers will be listed on the table of the House.
2. Matters under Rule 377
3. Debate on Motion of Thanks on the President’s address to continue,
4. General discussion on the Union Budget for 2023-2024

PM Narendra Modi is expected to reply to the debate on the Motion of Thanks to the President’s address in the Lok Sabha today. Discussion on the Motion of Thanks on President’s Address began in the Lower House yesterday.

BJP leader Nishikant Dubey has submitted a privilege notice against Congress MP Rahul Gandhi, claiming that the Congress leader used unverified, incriminatory and defamatory statements against PM Modi in the Lok Sabha on Tuesday.

The BJP MP had yesterday countered the allegations levelled by Mr. Gandhi against the Narendra Modi government, saying the Congress itself had favoured several industrial houses. The Congress MP, in his address, had accused PM Modi of helping and according favour to “industrialist friend” Gautam Adani.