Parliament Budget Session Day 7 | Appropriation bills, Finance Bill returned to Lok Sabha after RS vote; Parliament passes Water pollution bill

Lok Sabha is adjourned till Thursday, February 9, 11 AM.

Union Minister Bhupender Yadav clarifies queries of members stating that the new Water Pollution Bill is limited only to water pollution and easing the consent to operate in states for industries. Affirming that instead of using Artificial Intelligence, environmental consciousness for mindful consumption of water was the need of the hour. 

Highlighting the Modi government’s water-related schemes, Mr. Yadav said that the Bill is providing job opportunities, ease of living and righting all wrongs in environmental conservation. Congress MP Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury seeks a clarification on the Bill on the sweeping powers granted to the Centre for exempting some industries, overruling state pollution control boards. He also laments that Ganga river has again recorded high faecal matter in it making it one of the most polluted rivers again. 

In reply, Mr. Yadav says that Jal Shakti ministry is taking care of implementing the Namami Gange project for Ganga’s cleaning. Seeking the Bill be considered for passing, he urges all members to support it. 

The Bill is passed via voice vote after amendments suggested by some Opposition MPs are defeated.

The Rajya Sabha stands adjourned till 11 a.m on Friday, February 9.

Copies of white paper on the Indian economy in Hindi and English are laid by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in Rajya Sabha.

The Finance Bill is considered clause by clause and adopted. Following adoption of a motion by the Finance Minister to this effect, the Bill is returned to the Lok Sabha. 

The Bill is considered clause by clause and adopted. Following adoption of a motion by the Finance Minister to this effect, the Bill is returned to the Lok Sabha. 

The Bill is considered clause by clause and adopted. Following adoption of a motion by the Finance Minister to the effect, the Bill is returned to the Lok Sabha. 

Motion regarding consideration of Appropriation Bill 2024 is adopted. The Bill is adopted clause-by-clause. 

The Bill is then returned to Lok Sabha, after a motion by the Finance Minister to this effect is adopted by voice vote. 

Motion for consideration of appropriation vote on account bill 2024 is adopted by majority voice vote. 

The Bill is considered clause by clause, and adopted. The Schedule, enacting formula and title of Bill and adopted. The Bill is then returned to Lok Sabha, after a majority voice vote. 

No dues being held back from States, FM Nirmala Sitharaman asserts.

She highlights specific numbers for Kerala. She shares that the tax devolution to the State in 2004-14 was Rs 46,303 crores, while in 2014-23 it was Rs. 1,50,140 crores. She shares that this is a 224% increase. Further, she says that the grants in aid amounted to Rs. 25629.7 crores in 2004-14 and had now grown to Rs. 1,43,170 crores in the 2014-2023 period. She also highlights special assistance funds and borrowing given to the State. 

She share similar figures for the State of Tamil Nadu as well. She shares that the tax devolution to the State in 2004-14 was Rs 94,977 crores, while in 2014-23 it was Rs. 2,77, 444 crores. She shares that this is a 192% increase. Further, she says that the grants in aid amounted to Rs. 57,924.42 crores in 2004-14 and had now grown to Rs. 2,30, 893 crores in the 2014-2023 period, a four-times increase. She also highlights that special assistance was also given to Tamil Nadu. 

I have no role to play in granting funds, it is a number determined by Finance Commission for tax devolution which we also use, she shares. 

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman also raises a question about the Global Hunger Index, saying that it is not a balance approach. This prompts Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhar to reiterate that we must engage objectively, have a robust mechanism to evaluate ourselves and respond accordingly about the issue of hunger. “Anybody, anywhere in the globe, working in inspired manner, motivated by someone else, funded by someone else, says it, and we say ‘Gospel truth!’ Sorry,” he says.

Ms. Sitharaman says that the Global Hunger Index measures the multi-dimensional nature of hunger by relying on four indicators- undernourishment, child wasting, child stunting and child mortality. She says it is not a comprehensive index as 3 of the 4 parameters focus only on children. The sample size is 3000 households, she notes. She shares that Infant Mortality Rate is falling from 40.7 % in 2015-16 to 35.2% in 2019-21, according to the NHFS survey, with a sample size of 6.37 lakh households. 

As per the NHFS-5 there has been a broad-based improvement in indicators relating to child health and nutrition, with a decline in the proportion of stunted, wasted underweight children under the age of 5, she shares.

She says that 83 crore people are being giving foodgrains, saying that this is the responsibility of the government. 

Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi speaks against the new water pollution bill in the Lok Sabha.

Lamenting the poor environmental conditions, he says that India has six of the ten most polluted states due to poor air quality. Highlighting the carcinogenic materials found in water bodies, he claims that even the Ganges has seen an increase in effluents. Agreeing with Ms. Sule on Mr. Bhupender Yadav’s good intent, he says that the Bill is vague on how it would decide on penalties.

Calling the Bill anti-federal, he says, “Isn’t the state government not competent to exempt certain industries? Water is a state subject. If you had done your research on panchayat, district level, you would know how effective they are in increasing awareness on pollution”.

She responds to the discussion on the Finance Bill in the Rajya Sabha, first highlighting key elements of the Bill. 

Rural unemployment rate has decreased from 5.3% in 2017-18 to 2.4% she shares. Women labour participation has risen to 37% in 2023 from 23.3% in 2017-18, and female enrolment in higher education has increased by 32% since 2014-15, she says. 

There is more work to be done but there is significant progress being made and we need to take cognisance of it, she says. 

Ms. Sitharaman shares that 83 lakh SHGs with 9 crore women are working across the country with empowerment and self-reliance. She says that in the interim budget, the goal for lakhpati didi has been increased to 3 crores from the earlier target of 2 crores.

She highlights that retail inflation has decreased from an average of 6.8% in April-December 2022, to 5.5% in the corresponding period in 2023. She also says that core inflation has declined from 5.1% in April 2023 to 3.8% in December 2023. 

NCP MP Supriya Sule condemns the attack on co-operative federalism stating that the bill takes away from the states. Agreeing that ease of business is a priority, she asks how the Centre would maintain the balance between industrialisation and conservation. Lauding the Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav, she says, “I trust the minister and I want to support this bill, but I have some queries”.

BJD MP Anubhav Mohanty questions the responsibility of state pollution boards citing the example of Kerala pollution board which has not registered a single case of water pollution. Speaking in favour of the bill, he however urged the Centre to ensure that imprisonment is an option for blatant violations. Lauding the clause which deposits all penalties to the environmental protection fund, he says efficient usage should be ensured.

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman highlights that no major flagship central schemes have seen any cuts. Some examples cited by her are the PM Kisan Yojana, where Rs. 6,000 crores was allotted in the budgetary estimate for 2023-24, and it remains the same now, the PM Awas Yojana- Rural, which has been increased to Rs. 54,500 crores from Rs. 54,487 crores, and MNREGA, which has increased from Rs. 60,000 crores to Rs. 86,000 crores.

The Finance Minister further adds that spending on capital expenditure results in creation of in situ jobs and creates a ripple impact on the neighbouring economy. This route has been adopted globally as a sure-shot way to get sustainable growth, she says. 

The outlay is higher than the projected for GDP growth of 10.5% for the next year, she says. 

She further adds that they have made sure that debt management and overall management of the fiscal is done in such a way that we honour the glide path for the fiscal deficit that we gave in 2021. This year we have brought it down to 5.8%, instead of projected 5.9%, she says, noting that for the forthcoming year they have made an effort to make it 5.1% instead of 5.2% without compromising on expenditure on welfare and taking care of the rural economy. 

She cites examples of the interim budget allocation for the department of education, health and family welfare, ministry of minority affairs, department of rural development, ministry of tribal affairs, department of social justice and empowerment and ministry of women and child development, among others, highlighting that it is greater than the budgetary estimates for 2023-24. 

The Finance Minister Niramala Sitharaman highlights that 33 speakers have contributed to the debate. 

She says that although the budget speech and Finance bill come with spirit of vote on account and interim budget, there are aspects on which members have which spoken, and that she will respond to the same. 

She says that the highlight of the interim budget is that we are indicating clearly the emphasis given on capital expenditure to one, revive the economy after the Covid-19 pandemic and two, to sustain the growth of the Indian economy. The route we are taking is to spend on public infrastructure and asset creation, which gives better return for the investment made as opposed to revenue expenditure, she says. 

She says that Mr. Sircar has confused capital expenditure with capitalists. This is for all citizens equally and can be used to improve ease of living she says. This distortion to certain terminologies in the interim budget cannot be without a mala fide intent, she suggests. 

Dr. Ashok Kumar Mital, AAP MP from Punjab, says that amount being spent on science and technology is only 0.7% of the GDP and asks that it be increased. He highlights that in the Global Hunger Index, we are at 111 out of 125 countries. 

Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhar asks about the authenticity of the Global Hunger Index, questioning whether it is calibrated. He says that as he has said before, we cannot create an ecosystem in the House taking a cue from any report. Anyone in any part of the globe can calibrate us; we are not subject to calibration by anyone and everybody, we have to look at our home, we know the situation about hunger, just see the position which has been reflected, he says. 

RSP MP NK Premachandran opposes the the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Amendment Bill, 2024 being discussed in the Lok Sabha. Listing many clauses in the bill such as central authority’s nod for setting up industries in states, appointing adjudicating officer, decriminalising pollution offences, he claims that the bill is against federalism, endangers the environment and is pro-capitalist. He urges the members to send the bill to a standing commitee for further scrutiny.

CPI MP Binoy Viswam says that the country has a right to ask what happened to the earlier guarantees for employment, the poor, women, housing and healthcare. He says all the guarantees are forgotten. This is a government of the super-rich, he says, adding that it is a government that forgets the workers and the poor. 

He refers to the PM’s statement that they were dividing the country as north and south, and says that they are instead unifying the country as one and one. From north to south, east to west, the country has come together to fight against the norms and rules of the Modi-led government, he says. 

He alleges that Kerala is being treated in a bad way and that their rights are being taken away. Whatever we achieve as a State, we are being punished for it, he says, asking for the State be given ‘its due share.’ 

The 47-page white paper tabled by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman enumerates how the UPA government inherited a healthy economy ready for more reforms, but made it non-performing in its ten years. 

In its three parts, the paper states that the Modi government inherited an economy in a fragile state due to UPA’s economic mismanagement. Due its prolonged efforts in the past ten years, the paper stated that the Modi government stabilised the economy and set it on a recovery and growth path. The paper wishes to have a wider and informed debate on fiscal responsibility in matters of governance over political expediency. It concludes that via its schemes the Modi government has successfully overcome the challenges left behind by UPA and aims to reach its destination ‘India a developed nation by 2047’. 

Read details of white paper here

Elamaram Kareem, CPI (M) MP from Kerala, says that there is no mention of the 60-crore workforce of India in the Bill. Only with Ayodhya, they cannot overcome the next election, he says. 

AITC MP Jawhar Sircar asks the government what is the GDP growth now. We get the impression that it is at its highest level, but this is not a fact, he says. The growth during UPA’s tenure has been over 8.1%, while the growth under this government has been 5.5%, he says. This year it has reached 7.3%, but it does not destroy the averages, he adds, saying that we need to be clear about statistics instead of misleading the people. 

He says that there is a feeling as if everything began from 2014, and before then was an era of complete darkness, and counters it saying that as mature people we cannot repeat these sentiments. We have to get out of this ‘before Modi and after Modi’ mindset, he says. 

He highlights that right now the total domestic debt of India stands at Rs. 164 lakh crores.

He also asserts that several States are being affected by what he calls ‘fiscal terrorism,’ including West Bengal, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka. He says that there are cuts in all domains, and the money is going towards capital expenditure, to the capitalist class which is contributing only 10% to the GDP. 

The bill proposes to rationalise criminal provision and ensuring citizens, businesses and companies operate without fear of imprisonment for minor, technical or procedural defaults. 

The statements of objects states, “The imprisonment provisions for minor violations which are simple infringements not leading to any injury to humans or damage to the environment many a times cause harassment to business and citizen and is not in consonance with the spirit of Ease of Living and Ease of Doing Business.” 

Rajya Sabha members discuss the Appropriation Bill (Vote on Account) Bill, 2024, and the Appropriaton Bill, 2024 and the Jammu and Kashmir Appropriation (No. 2) Bill, 2024 and Jammu and Kashmir Appropriation Bill, 2024 and the Finance Bill, 2024.

Odisha BJP MP Dr. Amar Patnaik says the increase in capital expenditure by 11%, a research fund of Rs. 1 lakh crore, the new urban housing scheme for the middle class, withdrawal of petty direct tax demands, are all steps in correct direction. 

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman lays a white paper on the Indian economy in the Lok Sabha, in both Hindi and English versions.

Ms Panwar told the house that the Modi government, not only identified tribes but sub-tribes as well, to provision necessary social welfare. 

The Minister of State also referred to PM-JANMAN and its budget outlay of approx. Rs 24,000 crore. It focuses on 11 critical interventions through nine ministries and is aimed at improving socio-economic conditions of PVTGs by saturating PVTG households and habitations with basic facilities such as safe housing, clean drinking water and sanitation, improved access to education, health and nutrition, electricity, road and telecom connectivity, and sustainable livelihood opportunities. 

Mr Panwar told the house that the bill accords social justice to the enlisted communities. She enumerated that the communities reside in remote areas and are committed to their lands and forests. Further, they could not come forward to seek social justice. 

Congress MP from Barpeta (Assam) and AIMIM MP from Aurangabad Imtiaz Jaleel, among others, sought why the government is not considering a joint parliamentary committee (JPC) to identify the communities for necessary incorporation, and accordingly table a comprehensive bill. 

Members from the Opposition benches also sought the government consider the importance of Caste Census. Mr Jaleel argued a caste census would ensure dedicated and focussed development. 

The Aurangabad MP, arguing about reservation for Muslims, held that it was a long shot in lieu of the alleged alienated treatment of the community in the country. He however put forth that according reservation to Muslims would help ensure there is comprehensive justice and overall development. 

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman tables bills in Rajya Sabha for discussion as part of general discussion on the Interim Union Budget 2024-25. 

AAP MP from Punjab Sanjeev Arora says there needs to be more budget focus on health sector. 

INC MP Randeep Singh Surjewala says that the appropriation bill is not for the lower income families. “India’s farmers earn so low whereas the govt earns a ton from what the farmer provides. Then why does the govt say that they can’t pay the farmers?” 

“Agriculture census said that 14 crore farmers. FM Nirmala Sitharaman had said that 11.8 crore farmers receive financial assistance under Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi. Under the PM-KISAN scheme, the government provides a financial benefit of ₹6,000 per year in three equal four-monthly instalments. What did the govt do with the remaining amount in the funds allocated to farmers?” Mr. Surjewala asks.

“The govt didn’t spend ₹1 lakh crore and gave it back. Why? Farmers are killing themselves.”

NCP MP from Baramati Supriya Sule, refuting assertions by Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan about no work undertaken for welfare of schedule tribes by erstwhile governments, pointed to the initiatives of late former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi and the now renamed NCP (Sharadchandra Pawar) president. 

She told the house the house that Mr Pawar had infact introduced a separate budget for the people of scheduled tribe communities. 

Ms Sule, in her response, arguing about according reservations to the communities said the same could only be done by means of constitutional amendment in Delhi (referring to parliament) and was not under the purview of states. 

Accusing the treasury of being ignorant of the communities in her home state Maharashtra, she demanded that Maratha, Dhangadh, Lingayat, Muslim, Takari, Vijayanti, Bhamta and Ramoshi communities, also be provided reservation. 

BJP’s G.V.L. Narasimha Rao from UP expresses gratitude in the Upper House and thanks PM Narendra Modi. “PM Modi has inspired my journey as I moved towards being a public instrument for public growth. My efforts have helped to provide service to thousands of people. I was instrumental in getting a train sanctioned, I have helped backward classes; My sincere gratitude to you the Chairman, the former Chairman and I’m sure it will continue to inspire me in doing public service post retirement.” 

SS Priyanka Chaturvedi from Maharashtra extends best wishes to all the retiring MPs. She says to impart some time to train/groom young leaders to understand how legislative process work. 

NCP MP from Maharashtra Dr. Fauzia Khan mentions and appreciates Jaya Bachchan, Vandana, Saroj Pandey, and other women MPs. 

Dum Dum MP Sougata Roy aired concerns about not being able to win away the scheduled tribes, in certain disturbed areas, from the path of violence. He told the house that while certain development was promised to the communities, it did not happen. 

Prof Roy urged to deal with the circumstances with “compassion and sympathy”. 

He also highlighted concerns about the allocation for communities belonging to the scheduled tribes and scheduled castes being reduced in the latest interim budget. 

Before the minister’s address DMK MP D.N.V. Senthilkumar, referring to the recent verbal altercation between party colleague T.R. Baalu and Minister of State from Tamil Nadu L Murugan, urged that the incident must be revisited and should not be given any caste colour. 

Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, participating in the discussion for the bills to include certain tribes of Andhra Pradesh and Odisha into the scheduled tribes list, said the government has focussed on imparting welfare to the scheduled tribe communities in country from top to the micro level. 

He questioned members of the opposition benches to answer which government was the first to provide minimum support price (MSP) for forest produce. He accused the opposition, when in power, of making big talks, engaging in tribal politics and misguiding the communities with their own sentiments. 

As Upper House bids farewell to retiring members, INC MP from Maharashtra Kumar Ketkar says, “As a journalist earlier and as an MP later, I have seen humiliating statements towards Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru or Indira Gandhi. Some kind of gratitude should be shown by the House.” 

The Chairman Mr. Jagdeep Dhankhar says, “Mr. Ketkar is a distinguished journalist. Mr. Ketkar must have seen in the House, the kind of language and words that have been used against the Chairman. It was a great pain to me that no one from this side reacted. I would expect that you would take equitable note of things. You ignored what you saw before your eyes. We have interacted also. We have to digest so many things. As a journalist, when you sit on a table and find out what has emanated on a public platform, and what I have suffered, I’m sure, people would introspect over that also.”

NCP MP from Maharashtra, Vandana Chavan feels content to have been able to discuss legislative issues in Rajya Sabha. “I really hope to see better coordination between the Treasury bench and the Opposition. Every criticism should be taken as a piece of their viewpoint and this is the essence of democracy.”

BJP MP from Haryana, Lt. Gen. (Retd.) Dr. D.P. Vats says, “from Kabul to Kanyakumari, we are all the same. My wish is that Hindustanis should be able to visit all the countries like Pakistan, Bangladesh and settle there, just like how people move around in Europe.” 

SP MP from Uttar Pradesh, Javed Ali Khan requests that ex-MPs could be given a unique identity for Indian Railways’ reservation to help in booking train tickets.

Presenting the bill, Minister of State for Tribal Affairs Bharati Pravin Panwar informed the bill seeks to include Bondo Porja, Khond Porja and Konda Savaras tribes into the Scheduled Tribes list of Andhra Pradesh. Further, it also seeks to include Pauri Bhuyan, Chuktia Bhunjia, Bondo and Mankidia into the list of scheduled tribes in the state of Odisha. 

BJD MP from Cuttack (Odisha) Bhartruhari Mahtab urged the government to come up with a comprehensive law to protect domestic workers. Observing the spurt in cases of maid abuse in the national capital, Mr Mahtab sought there must be in place a centralised legislation to protect the domestic workers and regulate the largely unregulated industry. 

He put forth that there are about 40 lakh domestic workers, two-thirds of them being women. 

The absence of a comprehensive law, he argued, makes them vulnerable to abuse and exploitation. 

For the welfare of domestic workers, Mr Mahtab tabled three suggestions. First, placement agencies be regulated, second: the government link up with social workers to protect the domestic workers and finally, the need to have authentic data for domestic workers. 

Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar says the House will be upto 6 p.m. and requests the members to keep their speeches brief. 

BJP MP from Madhya Pradesh, Ajay Pratap Singh says we politicians serve the nation till we die. 

BJD member from Odisha, Dr. Amar Patnaik says ‘if you are in doubt, help the poorest man’. “This was the guiding principle of our CM Naveen Patnaik. Transitioning into politics, I was able to directly help the poor and I was able to constantly enrich my wisdom. The pursuit of knowledge has no expiry date. As I bid farewell to this House, we debated, deliberated, disagreed, all in the best interests of this esteemed House. My commitment to the people of Odisha, shall continue.”

All India Trinamool Congress (AITC) MP from Dum Dum (West Bengal) Sougata Roy demanded that the central government pay the pending dues to the state – for Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MNREGS). The Dum Dum MP said the centre owes Rs 7,300 crores to the state. He elaborated that this has deprived 21 lakh workers of their wage payments. 

Mr Roy told the house the house that Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee was assured of a resolution by Prime Minister Modi – which did not come. 

The member also pointed to Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s recent announcement that the state would provide for the pending wages. However, Mr Roy stated that this amounted to a gross violation of federal principles. He accused the treasury of using a “false pretext” from the attorney general’s report about West Bengal. He observed that the AG has only stated as to why the necessary utilisation certificates have not been submitted. 

BJP MP from Uttar Pradesh, Ashok Bajpai says in Rajya Sabha that it was a learning experience where Parliamentarians from every state where present and made it like a ‘mini India’ and appreciates PM Modi to have given the opportunity to participate in the sessions.

BJP MP from Uttar Pradesh, Kanta Kardam says is grateful to the opportunities presented to her and was able to serve many parts of the country. She remembers Parliamentarians like late Sushma Swaraj. “I’m thankful to have been a part of passage of many Bills in this esteemed House.”

BJP MP from Uttarakhand, Anil Baluni is grateful to have been a member of the Parliament. He says his dreams have come true during many occasions, when triple Talaq came to an end, and when Nari Shakti Adhiniyam was passed.

The DMK members are participating in Lok Sabha proceedings wearing black robes in protest against Centre over non-allocation of requisite funds to Tamil Nadu in the interim budget. Party leaders T.R. Baalu and A Raja raised the issue during Question Hour and Zero Hour in the House.

Congress MP Shashi Tharoor slammed the government over proposed ‘white paper’, terming it a political gimmick. “We [UPA] had better economic growth, more people out of poverty, and all the numbers are reliable and internationally verified...I think this whole exercise is a political gimmick,” the MP said.

“I must thank all of my colleagues in the House who have supported me all these years,” he says.

The MoS ends by saying that he hopes his work and performance in the House met the standards set by all those who came before him, and all those who will come after him. 

Speaking during Zero Hour in Lok Sabha, Congress MP Manish Tewari said, “Lakhs of farmers protesting against four farm laws brought by the government in 2020. The government rolled back the legislation and promised legislation on MSP. It is 2024 now and wait continues.” 

“Still one and a half day of the last session of this Lok Sabha is left, you must fulfil promises made to farmers,” the MP told the government.

Mr. Devegowda alleges that the idea of Mr. Kharge leading the country, or emerging as the leader of the Opposition’s INDIA alliance, has always been countered. He also recalls how Congress leaders picked his son (H.D. Kumaraswamy) over Mr. Kharge to become the Chief Minister (of Karnataka).

He also praises former PM Manmohan Singh and saying that he saved the country from a debt trap in 1991 when P.V. Narsimha Rao was the Prime Minister.

After the laying of papers and reports of various committees, the House has taken up discussion on matters under Zero Hour.

Replying to a question on frequent cancellation of flights, Union Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia told Lok Sabha that such cancellations are 0.7% of the total air traffic movements in civil aviation across the country. 

“Our fleet size has doubled in the last 10 years and the number of air traffic movements per week has grown by 22% in the last two years,” the Minister said.

“In the event of a cancellation or delay, two things must be taken care of - security concerns with regards to airports, any infringement on that… strict action must be taken and passengers must not be inconvenienced.”

On the viral video of IndiGo passengers having food on the Mumbai airport tarmac, the Minister said the incident was unacceptable. “The airline should have radioed the airport in advance. The plane should have been parked in an air terminal. Passengers should have been disembarked and given food properly. Then when the plane was ready, they should have been boarded and taken to the destination. We have imposed the fine on both the airline and airport because it caused inconvenience to passengers and was an infringement to security,” the Minister replied.

We don’t believe in farewell, we believe that change is the only constant, the deputy chairman says. “This House is a constant reminder of of activity,” he adds.

Replying to a question on the Greenfield Highway NH744, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari said that the government is targeting to complete the highway before December. The distance between Chennai and Bengaluru will come down to two hours, which will boost development of industries and commercial activity.

The Minister, however, added that the Ministry can’t complete projects without the cooperation of State governments. “Regarding Tamil Nadu, I don’t want to criticise the State government but how are we going to complete projects without getting things we need for road construction,” Mr. Gadkari asked.

Although Mr. Kharge refused to yield and it was upheld by Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar, the LoP anyway points out that the Chairman’s quick attempt to allow Mr. Goyal to speak is unfair. He says that the Opposition is never allowed to speak when Treasury members are speaking, even if it is only to seek clarifications.

“I thank PM Modi for his praise towards former PM Manmohan Singh. This is how we should go forward -- hail the good efforts, and count the shortcomings,” Mr. Kharge says.

In August 2023, former PM Manmohan Singh showed up in Rajya Sabha on a wheelchair to cast his vote on the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (Amendment) Bill, 2023. The Opposition fell short by 29 votes, but saw it as a psychological victory where the coalition stood united keeping its ranks intact. Read more here.

In his speech in Rajya Sabha, PM Modi praises Mr. Singh’s commitment to his duties as a parliamentarian. “It doesn’t matter who he was supporting, I believe that he was supporting our democracy,” PM Modi says.

Mr. Modi mentions former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, praising him for his long-standing commitment to lead the House as well as the country. “Whenever our democracy will be mentioned, he will be one of those few esteemed members whose contribution will always be remembered,” Mr. Modi says.

PM Modi also urges current and future MPs of both Houses to view the lives of senior, retiring MPs as a guiding light.

Sixty-eight MPs of the Upper House are retiring between February and May 2024, following completion of their terms.

The Lower House commenced proceedings of the day with Question Hour. 

Today’s list of business includes: 

1. Arjun Munda to move the Constitution (Scheduled Tribes) Order (Amendment) Bill, 2024 and The Constitution (Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes) Orders (Amendment) Bill, 2024 for consideration and passing

2. The Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Amendment Bill, 2024 will also be taken up for consideration today 

Ahead of the tabling of the ‘white paper’ on economy in Parliament, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Thursday released a ‘black paper’ against the Narendra Modi government to highlight the government’s failure.