Both Houses of Parliament witnessed adjournments due to repeated disruption over the political situation in Kolkata, where Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is on a sit-in against what she calls the Centre’s high-handedness. Almost every Opposition party, barring the Left, have extended support to the Trinamool Congress in Parliament.
Here are the live updates
Lok Sabha adjourned till 11 a.m. on Wednesday, February 6, 2019.
INLD MP from Haryana, Dushyant Chautala says,"Skill India is a white elephant - it is only brought out for display. The employment opportunities for youth are not available."
He talks about PhD scholars applying for jobs that they are overqualified for, the vacancies in the government colleges that are still unfilled and more.
AIADMK MP K. Ashokkumar hopes the upcoming Lok Sabha elections will go smoothly and appeals to the youngsters to go out and vote. He also thanks the Modi government for welfare schemes like Ayushmann Bharat scheme, the Mudra scheme and more. However, he also asks the Central government to waive the loans of farmers.
BJP MP from Rajasthan Nihal Chand Chauhan says the Modi goverment has strengthened the country in the last five years. "The Narendra Modi government has set the country on the path of development," he says.
NDPP MP from Nagaland Tokheho says, "The government should make a comprehensive plan to do away with the problems of the downtrodden."
He also points out that nothing was mentioned in the President's speech about the insurgency problem.
Suresh Angadi of the BJP says Mr. Modi is a replica of Basavanna from the 12th century, in terms of his commitment to service.
Renuka Butta, who represents the Kurnool constituency asks for a Joint Parliamentary Committee on the Rafale deal. She says corruption has become rampant in all levels of governance.
She also says reservation for women is needed. She wants a special package for Rayalseema. And she also says the President did not mention Andhra Pradesh in his speech.
Ganesh Singh of the BJP speaks in support of his party. He mentions the different schemes brought about by the government.
He says that the country has grown in the last four years. He says the people in his constituency have received gas connections after this government came to power.
SP member Dharmendra Yadav speaks in Lok Sabha on Tuesday.
Dharmendra Yadav (SP) says while the President's address mentions B.R. Ambedkar, the government has misused the Constitution written by him several times in these four-and-a-half years.
Mr. Yadav says the pioneer for sanitation movement was Mulayam Singh Yadav in the nineties. Mr. Yadav also says the PM-Kisan translates to Rs.17 per family per day. By the time the scheme will be implemented, the poll process would have begun.
When the LPG prices hit Rs.300 during the UPA time, you were on the streets protesting with cylinders. Today, you are selling LPG for Rs.1000, he says.
When the sugarcane farmers produce a bumper, you say reduce the usage of sugar, it's harmful to health, Mr. Yadav says.
The PM could be from a backward class. Are the people surrounding him (bureaucrats) belong to the oppressed communities, he asks.
Mr. Yadav asks the government to reveal the amount of black money received during demonetisation.
You promised Varanasi would become like Kyoto, but you couldn't even clean Ganga, Mr. Yadav says.
BJP member Ratan Lal Kataria speaks in Lok Sabha on Tuesday.
Ratan Lal Kataria (BJP) says the President's address lists out the achievements of the NDA government from Rafale to demonetisation, from GST to Mudra.
He says the World Bank has lauded the government's Aadhaar-linked direct benefit transfer. He claims the DBT has eliminated middlemen and saved lakhs and crores of money.
Mr. Kataria recalls an interaction with an Australian lawmaker, who said he will send wheat for the poor. Mr. Kataria says these days we are exporting wheat.
Mr. Kataria says the Opposition is "jealous" because Mr. Modi is friendly with many foreign leaders.
NCP member M.Y. Kukade speaks in Lok Sabha on Tuesday.
Deputy Speaker M. Thambidurai is in the Chair. He suggests members to table their speeches in writing so that they make it to the records.
NCP member M.Y. Kukade says the President address invokes Mahatma Gandhi, but a Hindu Maha Sabha leader shot down an effigy of Gandhiji. She has not even been arrested yet. We should condemn the incident in the floor of the House, he says.
On one hand the government speaks on Make in India, but the government is trying to close down an Ordnance Factory in Maharashtra, Mr. Kukade says.
It's been more than four years since the government came to power. A BJP government is in Uttar Pradesh. But the government has not brought a Bill to construct a Ram temple in India, he adds.
Mr. Kukade reminds Nitin Gadkari his promise of statehood to Vidarbha.
AIADMK member P. Venugopal speaks in Lok Sabha on Tuesday.
AIADMK member P. Venugopal dubs the President's address was "dull and lacklustre." He also thanks the Prime Minister for laying the foundation stone for AIIMS in Madurai. He also appreciates ISRO's attempt to send a human to space.
Dr. Venugopal, the Thiruvallur MP, says in Avadi near Chennai the level crossing is closed for the past 10 years and there is no subway. People either have to take a detour or cross the railway line, he adds.
Dr. Venugopal requests the Centre to announce Cyclone Gaja as a natural calamity.
Mr. Venugopal wants to ensure the 69 per cent reservation provided in Tamil Nadu is given constitutional status. Dr. Venugopal says scores of SC/ST students are yet to receive higher education scholarship.
Dr. Venugopal uses the opportunity to remind the Centre it has to settle dues to the Tamil Nadu in several sectors, including the GST arrears.
Mr. Venugopal accuses the government of meting out "step-motherly treatment" to Tamil Nadu. Citing the 15th Finance Commission report, Dr. Venugopal says Tamil Nadu is being "punished for the reforms it has taken all these years."
"I am pained to inform that the President did not mention anything on inter-State river water disputes," Dr. Venugopal says. He urges the Centre not to allow the construction of dam in Mekadatu across Cauvery. He also opposes permission given to Kerala to conduct feasibility study to construct a baby dam across Periyar river.
Dr. Venugopal insists on considering conferring Bharat Ratna to former Chief Ministers Annadurai and Jayalalithaa.
Bhartruhari Mahtab reminds the government that when celebrating the birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, it should stand for the pluralism, equality and non-violence that he and several legendary sons of the soil preached.
Thirty-five years ago, an Indian from the space said " Sare Jahan sey Acha " about India, Mr. Mahtab says. He also reminds this year is the 35th anniversary of Operation Blue Star, the assassination of Indira Gandhi and the anti-Sikh riots that followed. Will India in 2019 be Sare Jahan sey Acha , he wonders.
Mr. Mahtab says in 2019 India must be free from fear and ends his speech.
BJD member Bhartruhari Mahtab speaks in Lok Sabha on Tuesday.
Bhartruhari Mahtab (BJD) picks holes in government's claims on various schemes. While the government claims 80 per cent of Ujjwala beneficiaries are buying LPG refills, the numbers don't match.
Mr. Mahtab says the Ayushman Bharat numbers also don't match. "For India Universal Healthcare is the answer," Mr. Mahtab says and adds the central government's flagship scheme is handicapped without proper secondary and tertiary health care infrastructure.
The President's address usually talks about past one year, but this one mentions last five years, Mr. Mahtab says.
On the eve of the Republic Day, the President spoke about pluralism and inclusion. But certain ministers asks some people to go to Pakistan! Shouldn't the President's address include a line about pluralism, he asks.
Lok Sabha reassembles. Trinamool Congress members walk out claiming the Prime Minister has not spoken anything on the development in West Bengal.
Bhartruhari Mahtab (BJD) speaks during the Motion of Thanks on the President's address.
AIADMK members want their floor leader to be allowed to spoken first. Speaker says Mr. Venugopal will be the next speaker.
Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge insists the debate to be taken up tomorrow.
Mr. Mahtab continues to speak. He highlights the story of a potato grower in Agra who received only Rs.400 profit after cultivating the vegetable in his 10-acre of land. "Agrarian crisis is a reality," Mr. Mahtab says. He wonders if farm loan waiver is a solution. His speech is again interrupted.
Mr. Mahtab says Telangana's Rythu Bandhu scheme has triggered a chain reaction among States. Karnataka, Odisha, Jharkhand and West Bengal have also launched similar packages. Mr. Mahtab says Union government's PM-Kisan scheme cannot be a permanent solution. The right solution is to come up with a proper MSP calculation. "Today's calculation is faulty," Mr. Mahtab says.
Mr. Mahtab says the President address doesn't mention anything on revisiting the MSP calculation.
Speaker Sumitra Mahajan invites amendments to the Motion of Thanks. She asks members to suggest amendments in writing.
Ms. Mahajan invites Mallikarjun Kharge to speak. Mr. Kharge says he would like to speak tomorrow, since the House is not in order now.
Treasury bench members object. "When the government is wrong, the Opposition will raise objections," he retorts.
A Trinamool member assures the House that they won't disrupt the proceedings from tomorrow. He seeks a statement from Home Minister Rajnath Singh.
Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh says the Congress and Trinamool Congress need not participate in the debate today, if they don't want to take part today. But when other members are willing to participate, they must be given a chance, Mr. Singh says.
House is adjourned, to meet again at 4 pm.
BJP member Jagdambika Pal speaks in Lok Sabha on Tuesday.
"Modicare is bigger than Obamacare," BJP member Jagdamika Pal says. The Modi government, through the Ayushman Bharat, has ensured no one dies due to lack of money to pay for treatment.
For the first time an Indian Prime Minister inaugurated the World Economic Forum plenary. "It is the pride of every Indian," Mr. Pal says.
Every party had promised reservation to the poor, in their manifesto, but only the Modi government fulfilled the promise.
The President's address has rightly pointed out the reforms in unorganised sector, Mr. Pal notes and adds the Interim Budget ensures workers in unorganised sector too will be eligible for pension.
Mr. Pal says the NDA government is the only government in the world to contain inflation.
Mr. Pal also gives the credit to the smooth conduct of Kumbh Mela to the Modi government. He says the Namame Gange scheme ensured Ganga was clean at the time of the mega event.
The economic offenders who fleed the country are being brought back to face the law of the land, Mr. Pal says citing extradition orders on Vijay Mallya and others.
The government is working for a New India, Mr. Pal says ending his speech. But there is no end to sloganeering from the opposition side.
Jagadambika Pal (BJP) is the next speaker. He recalls how Prime Minister Narendra Modi vowed that his government would be pro-poor. The President's address reflects Mr. Modi's thoughts, he says.
Mr. Pal recalls scams such as coalgate, 2G and CWG scams that surfaced during the UPA regime and says no such scams happened in the NDA rule.
Targetting the protesting parliamentarians, Mr. Pal says constructive Opposition is one that points the shortcomings of the government and not the one that merely protests.
He lists out the pro-poor schemes of the government such as free LPG connection, rural electrification and the recent announcement of Rs. 6000 to small farmers.
Mr. Pal says the government is pro-farmer too. As many as 26 farm produce have come under the MSP (minimum support price) regime. The MSP has been fixed as 1.5 times the production cost. Procurement has upped by 13 times today, he claims.
The House resumes. Hukumdev Narayan Yadav continues his speech. Opposition members continue sloganeering.
You are likening the Prime Minister to a thief, but the Prime Minister ensured the country is not looted, Mr. Yadav says. Mr. Yadav says he comes from an humble background, a son of a farmer. This government has conferred Padma award to me, and to many humble people like me, Mr. Yadav says.
Mr. Yadav says the upcoming elections is a bipolar contest between Narendra Modi and others. He says the youth of India will once again take Mr. Modi to the Red Fort.
Hukumdev Narayan Yadav targets the Opposition in his speech. He says those who oppose the government are living in bungalows, they don't know the pains of a poor person. As he continues his speech, Samajwadi Party member Dharmendra Yadav protests, seeks some portions of his speech to be expunged. More members join him, House is adjourned till 2:30 pm.
BJP member Hukumdev Narayan Yadav speaks in Lok Sabha on Tuesday.
Lok Sabha reassembles. Hukumdev Narayan Yadav kickstarts the debate on Motion of Thanks to the President’s address.
Opposition members continue with sloganeering. A woman member tries to obstruct Mr. Yadav from speaking. Speaker Sumitra Mahajan warns her. Ms. Mahajan also allows Mr. Yadav to make his speech sitting down in his place, considering his age. But he rises to speak.
Mr. Yadav was recently conferred Padma Bhushan. The veteran socialist quotes Ram Manohar Lohia in his speech. He lauds the Jan Dhan Yojana and the direct benefit transfer schemes of the Union government.
Mr. Yadav says over 98 per cent homes now have at least one toilet. It not only improves hygiene, it also empowers the women, bridges the gap between rich and poor, he says.
Narendra Modi government is striving to provide roti, kapada and makaan to every Indian, Mr. Yadav says.
He claims the direct benefit transfer has eliminated middlemen and that is why these "middlemen" are against the government.
Rajya Sabha reassembles. Deputy Chairperson Harivansh is in the Chair. He takes up the Motion of Thanks to the President's address. He invites Bhupender Yadav to speak.
Opposition members led by Trinamool Congress members raise slogans.
Parliamentary Affairs Minister Vijay Goel accuses Trinamool Congress of disrupting the House and not allowing the CBI to carry its duties.
Mr. Harivansh appeals for calm, but in vain. House is adjourned for the day.
Nishikant Dubey (BJP) raises the issue of Mamata Banerjee's sit-in. He accuses her of stopping an independent probe and seeks the House to call it unconstitutional. Members protest.
Tamil Nadu MP Sathyabama speaks in Tamil.
Shashi Tharoor (Congress) says "irresponsible political parties" are hijacking the genuine protests of devotees in Sabarimala. He seeks a legislature to protect religious freedom.
Konda Vishveshwar Reddy (TRS) accuses Ola and Uber of monopolising the radio taxi market. He says these firms are harassing and exploiting drivers.
Bhanu Pratap Singh Verma (BJP) seeks immediate release of funds to undertake pending railway projects in his constituency in Uttar Pradesh.
Prem Singh Chandumajra (SAD) seeks apology from British government for Jallianwala Bagh massacre.
Zero Hour ends ahead of schedule. House is adjourned, to meet again at 2 pm
Zero Hour continues in Lok Sabha.
M.Y.Kulkade (NCP) says the government shouldn't close the ordnance factory in his constituency.
Rabindra Kumar Jena (BJD) wants a railway overbridge in Balasore.
Murali Mohan, TDP member, seeks Special Category Status to Andhra Pradesh.
Dr. Thokchom Meinya, Manipur MP, speaks in Manipuri.
Parvesh Sahib Singh, BJP MP from Delhi, accuses Arvind Kejriwal government of calling up Delhi voters claiming their names are missing in the voters list.
Lok Sabha reassembles. Ministers are tabling papers pertaining to their ministries. Opposition members continue with sloganeering.
Speaker proceeds with Zero Hour. Dharmendra Yadav (SP) speaks against the 13-point roster introduced in recruiting teaching staff in universities. He accuses the government of being anti-minority and anti-SC/ST/OBC.
Pappu Yadav seeks inquiry into the recent derailment of Seemanchal Express.
Anjunlal Meena (BJP)seeks speedy compensation to people whose land is acquired for railway projects.
Bhartruhari Mahtab (BJD) speaks on compulsory Sanskrit prayer in Kendriya Vidyalayas. He says the prayer emphasises on Universal Truth and is not against any particular community or religion.
Rajya Sabha proceeds with Zero Hour but Trinamool Congress members insist on discussion on Mamata Banerjee's sit-in. Chairperson Venkaiah Naidu suggests it can be discussed during the Zero Hour, but members chant slogans. House is adjourned till 2 pm.
Lok Sabha assembles. Trinamool Congress members chant slogans and enter the Well of the House. Speaker Sumitra Mahajan proceeds with the Question Hour but the question and answer are barely audible.
The Speaker addresses the protesting members. "The Supreme Court is hearing the case. The CBI is taking action. But you all don't want to believe in any institution. Please go back to the seat," she says but members don't yeild. House is adjourned till 12.00 noon.
Rajya Sabha assembles. Rajya Sabha Chairperson M. Venkaiah Naidu is in the Chair. He informs the House that three former members of the House and a sitting member have been conferred with Padma Awards. Bharat Ratna awardees Pranab Mukherjee and Nanaji Deshmukh were also part of the upper House. Kuldeep Nayyar, Humkumdev Narayan Yadav, and Sardar Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa were also part of the House.
The House appreciate the services of these distinguished people and congratulates them, the Vice President says.
