The Budget Session of the Parliament of India resumes on Wednesday after a break for Holi. In today’s agenda are discussions on Demands for Grants for various ministries, and a discussion on Delhi violence .
Rajya Sabha witnessed hardly any business as Opposition insisted on debate on Delhi violence, while Treasury Bench wanted to take up the Vivad Se Vishwas Bill.
Here are the latest updates:
Delhi police did not allow to spread the riots in other areas: Amit Shah
Home Minister Amit Shah says everyone in the House described the Delhi riots in their own words. He condoled with the families of those who lost their lives during the riots.
I am being asked what was police doing, where riots took place population is 20 lakh. I want to congratulate the police. Police didn't let the riots spread that happened in the 20 lakh populated area to the rest Delhi's population of 1.7 crore.
The first information about the riots was received at 2 p.m. on February 24, last call was received at 11 p.m., February 25. Delhi Police contained it within 36 hours.
You can raise questions against me, They said i was busy with Trump's visit, it was scheduled and my visit was also scheduled as it was in my constituency. I came to Delhi at 6.30 pm. Did not go to Taj Mahal, nor attended the lunch and dinner hosted for Trump. I was busy with Delhi Police to douse the tension.
I requested NSA Ajit Doval to go there to boost the confidence of police. I did not go as police resources would have been wasted on me.
Meanwhile, Congress MPs walks out of the parliament demanding Amit Shah's resignation.
Mr. Shah further continues and adds that 80 additional paramilitary companies still deployed there.
Why did riots spread- 61 sq km area, densely populated, police and fire brigade vans cannot go there. North east Delhi has a history of communal riots, it is also adjacent to the U.P border.
From Feb 27, 700 FIRs have been registered, cases against both communities. 2647 people have been detained/arrested. CCTV footage being analysed on 25 computers. The software does not recognise religion. We have voter ID, driving license and other details to the face recognition software and identified 1100 people. Nearly 300 people came from Uttar Pradesh, U.P also sent data. It was a huge conspiracy. 40 teams have been formed.
The spread of riots on such a big scale in such a short time is not possible without a conspiracy. We are also looking through this angle.
I don't know how many Hindus or Muslims died in the riots but what I know is 52 Indians died.
"Narendra Modi government will not spare anyone from "either or" side. Scientific evidence being collected. Two SITs will investigate 49 serious cases, 152 arms used in riots also seized. 600 Peace committee meetings held till now. We have registered a separate case of conspiracy, " Mr. Shah adds.
The Lok Sabha is adjourned till 11 a.m. tomorrow.
What kind of god is PM if he cannot cry over Delhi violence: Asaduddin Owaisi
Asaduddin Owaisi (AIMIM) says that there is no humanity left in the Prime Minister.
People were beaten, killed and burnt alive in Delhi. People see god in the Prime Minister but what kind of god is he if he cannot cry over the Delhi violence? Mr. Owaisi adds.
Govt. should punish those who instigated Delhi violence, says Bhagwant Mann
Bhagwant Mann (AAP) says the Delhi police take half an hour to reach Arvind Kejriwal's office but they can't reach Yamuna Vihar, a riot-hit area in Delhi on time. The BJP should understand the colour of Delhi in the past few days was red only neither saffron nor green.
The government should take proper action to punish its leader- Kapil Mishra who instigated the Delhi violence through his speech.
Protester and police are going in opposite direction: Jayadev Galla
Jayadev Galla (TDP ) says that protester and police are going in opposite direction, be it Shaheen Bagh, Lucknow or any other place in the country. It is not the first time Amendments are introduced to the Citizenship Bill. But why this time the people are feared with citizenship, and it is because the government has failed to deliver a clear idea on the issue. The country is going through a demonetisation of citizenship.
We showed an bad image of our country to the globe, says P. K. Kunhalikutty
P. K. Kunhalikutty (IUML) asks why the government is not going on a discussion with the protestors?
He further adds that the Delhi riots happened once U.S. President Donald Trump left the country. Why we showed an bad image of our country to the globe?
₹25,000 crore economic loss in Delhi riots, says BSP MP
Ritesh Pandey (BSP) points out that an economic loss worth ₹25,000 crore was estimated in Delhi riots. The Central government could have taken necessary steps to prevent the riots but they failed.
The govt. must take steps to raise the morale of the minorities, says Pinaki Mishra
Pinaki Mishra (BJD) says lots of damages taking place in terms of livelihood. Minority areas are getting affected. We do support CAA but the Home Minister should also understand there is some sort of problem with this country, since octogenarian women are staging protest in Shaheen Bagh.
The government must take steps to raise the morale of the minorities, he adds.
De-hyphenate CAA and NRC, says JD-U
Rajiv Ranjan Singh (JD-U) says it is the responsibility of India to take care of minorities facing persecution in Pakistan and Bangladesh. There is a fear among Indian minorities over the Act and it must be stopped instead of flaring up.
The Prime Minister had clearly said there is no plan for NRC.
Mr. Singh targets the Congress, accuses the party of changing its stance often.
Was Delhi riots a conspiracy, asks Vinayak Raut
Vinayak Raut (Shiv Sena) says rioters burnt the northeast Delhi at a time when U.S. President was in India.
He wonders if all intelligence and enforcement agencies failed in controlling the situation.
After the CAA was enacted, several protests came up. Even in Maharashtra such protests erupted, but the State Chief Minister spoke with the minority members and assured them NRC would not be implemented. Maharashtra is peaceful. Why this wasn't possible in Delhi, he wonders.
Mr. Raut claims it could be a conspiracy to dent the image of India at a time when US President was in India.
V. Gita Vishwanath (YSRCP) says she condemns the incident. Our party strongly believes that there is no place for religious intolerance in a large democracy like India. She seeks compensation for victims. People who have lost precious documents should be given back to them, she says.
Ms. Gita emphasises the need for preserving the secular fabric of India. We haven't invaded any country. This is the only country where Jews were never discriminated. We are sheltering the Dalai Lama. Gautam Buddha, Mahavira, Ramanujar, Kabirdas or Sufi saints, all preached unity and harmony, she says.
Sougata Roy calls Meenakshi Lekhi 'Devil's Advocate' for supporting Kapil Mishra
Sougata Roy (AITC) says Ms. Lekhi's speech can be termed as hate speech. He despises her for supporting Kapil Mishra. She is a Devil's Advocate, he says.
Repeating what Mamata Banerjee said, he says Delhi riots were a planned genocide. He lists the events, which he claims led to the riots. First students were attacked, BJP leaders made provocative remarks, women protesting in Shaheen Bagh were abused, Anurag Thakur chanted Goli Maro, Home Minister spoke about "current in Shaheen Bagh", Kapil Mishra gave ultimatum, then riot started, he says.
Mr. Shah was in Motera Stadium welcoming U.S. President Donald Trump, when five people were killed in Delhi, he says.
Mr. Roy points out the first meeting with Home Minister and Delhi CM happened the next day, not on the day riots began. Ajit Doval should be in Kashmir, why is he looking after simple law and order situation, he asks.
We haven't forgotten Naroda Patiya. I feel bad standing face to face with Amit Shah. You are still young. If you acknowledge your failure and seek remedy otherwise you will remain as the man who could control riots barely 10 km from your home, he says.
DMK seeks judicial inquiry into Delhi riots
T.R. Baalu explains why they are opposed to CAA-NPR-NRC. Where is personal liberty, he asks reading out the new questions in National Population Register. He says people in his constituency are also protesting against it.
Why don't you meet the anti-CAA protestors? They are our kith and kin, he says.
The Union government should compensate the families of the deceased. All the accused should be booked. There should be a judicial inquiry, he says.
Paradoxical situation prevails in Delhi: Baalu
DMK leader T.R. Baalu points out that Delhi violence was discussed in U.K. Parliament, Iran, Indonesia, Turkey and Malaysia.
A paradoxical situation prevails in Delhi. Shaheen Bagh is observing dharna for the 88th day peacefully without any violence. But elsewhere, in the northeastern Delhi, 21 people were killed. What went wrong? In Shaheen Bagh it was only anti-CAA protesters on the road, but in Jafrabad the pro-CAA protesters confronted them, he says and claims they were part of the ruling party.
Even as the Jamia V-C didn't call the police, they storm the campus and brutally thrashed the students. ABVP is the root cause of JNU violence, he says inviting the ire of Treasury Bench. Police were sitting like ducks when ABVP workers were vandalising JNU, he says.
Mr. Baalu hits out as Kapil Mishra, calls him "an AAP drop-out" and "small time BJP politician." Kapil Mishra warned the Police, gave three-days ultimatum and on the third day Jafrabad violence happened, Mr. Baalu says.
Why haven't you taken any action against those who made provocative speeches, he asks.
Congress cannot talk about riots: Lekhi
BJP MP Meenakshi Lekhi says in the Lok Sabha that Kapil Mishra was blamed for the incidents in Delhi when Congress leaders Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and Rahul Gandhi and Umar Khalid and Waris Pathan made statements to incite people.
This is not a very good thing but I would like to present numbers about riots. During Jawaharlal Nehru's term, there were 243 riots. 73% of riots were during Congress rule, she says.
Gujarat used to have riots every year and there has been no riot after 2002, she adds.
Responding to Mr. Chowdhury's Nero reference, she compares Rajiv Gandhi's comments during anti-Sikh riots.
NSA is security in charge. And Home Minister is a supervisory body. Mr. Shah chaired a meet at his residence on the evening when the riots flared up, she says. She lists out steps taken by the Union government to curtail the riots.
The Constitution is secular. We are pluralistic. The majority is silent but stays with the Home Minister, she says while ending the speech.
PFI were behind riots: Meenakshi Lekhi
Meenakshi Lekhi (BJP) is the next speaker. She begins by paying tributes to all those who lost their lives in the riots. According to me, they are all Indians. I am not sure if any of them were Bangladeshis, she says. Opposition objects to it.
Ms. Lekhi blames PFI for the riots. She claims it was an organised violence. She says acids and petrol bombs were hurled by Muslims.
The government has contained the violence within 36 hours, she says. Speaker asks Ms. Lekhi not to mention the religion or caste during the debate.
Ms. Lekhi supports her party colleagues. She says Kapil Mishra cannot be blamed for the provocative speeches made by Sharjeel Imam, Shahrukh Farooq and others.
Ms. Lekhi lists the provocative speeches made by anti-CAA protestors.
Countering Mr. Chowdhury, Ms. Lekhi says the minority community might not understand the nitty-gritty of the law, but the opposition shouldn't mislead them.
She lists outs pro-minority measures taken by the government, like the Triple Talaq Bill.
Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury demands the resignation or removal of Amit Shah as Home Minister. He also seeks FIR against BJP leaders Anurag Thakur, Kapil Mishra, Abhay Verma and Parvesh Verma for hate speech.
He also seeks action against Delhi Police officials who failed on their duties. He asks the state government to compensate the victims and ensure their rehabilitation.
He demands the Prime Minister to take part in the debate.
'Why is NSA looking after law and order?'
Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury asks when Police can enter Jamia and JNU without permission, why can't they interfere in north-east Delhi.
When NSA Ajit Doval stepped in, all rioters vanished. Why an NSA had to step in for a law and order issue? Does the PMO didn't believe in Home Ministry, he asks.
He blames both the Delhi government and the Union government for failing to control the riots.
When Mr. Doval could visit the riot-hit areas, why the Home Minister couldn't visit? he asks.
Justice Muralidhar's transfer triggers war of words
Congress MP Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury terms the transfer of Justice Muralidhar as "surgical strike at judiciary." You have tried your best to stop the elevation of Justice Kurien Joseph. You have stalled Gopal Subramaniam from being a judge, he says. Nishikant Dubey raises Point of Order, saying names of judges cannot be taken in the House.
CJI has transferred him. We didn't transfer him, Mr. Dubey says. BJD's Pinaki Mishra intervenes. He says the Law Ministry transfers judges and Collegium only sends recommendation.
Speaker says a judge's transfer can be discussed only by bringing suspension motion. Trinamool Congress member Sougata Roy comes in support of Mr. Chowdhury.
The Speaker asks him to continue.
Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury compares Shah with Nero
Lok Sabha reassembles. House to discuss Delhi violence. Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury speaks. He calls the communal riots in Delhi as a "bloody Holi". It is haunting our memories, he says.
He quotes Mahatma Gandhi, Martin Luther King to emphasise the importance of harmony.
You cannot compare the recent violence with the 1984 anti-Sikh riots. Manmohan Singh had apologised for the riots. Even the United States applauded it, he recalls.
Mr. Chowdhury says the riot could have been avoided. There is no dearth for police, no dearth for technology, he says. The paramilitary forces could have been called. The government, especially the Home Minister is answerable, he says.
He compares Home Minister's absence to Nero playing fiddle when Rome was burning.
He also targets Delhi MP Manoj Tiwari. Were you singing Bhojpuri songs, he asks.
When you can conduct Balakot strikes, couldn't you contain clashes in the national capital. Who gave those hate speeches? Even the courts have hit out at you, he says.
Rajya Sabha wants to take up Vivaad Se Vishwaas Bill. Leader of Opposition Ghulam Nabi Azad says since the ordinance is still valid, this Bill can be taken up later and Delhi violence can be taken up now.
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi appeal the Bill be taken up today.
"What earth will fall down if the Bill is taken up tomorrow?" TMC's Derek O'Brien asks.
No consensus arrived, House adjourned till tomorrow.
Arjun Ram Meghwal, MoS, Parliamentary Affairs, asks that the House resolves to terminate the suspension of the seven Members.
The motion is passed. Suspension is revoked.
NKP Premachandran (RSP) pledges the MPs will maintain the decorum of the House. He apologises for storming into the Well last week. He asks the government to take the Opposition in the confidence while bringing and passing Bills. Consensus, mutual cooperation and communication are highly needed to run the House, he says.
Speaker also speaks about upholding the dignity of the House. He says he was saddened by the events in the House. Dissent is essential to India's democracy but it should be dignified, he says. He says that no one should disrupt the proceedings of the House. We have to present a good example to every level of governance, right up to Panchayats.
Jaishankar statement on Indians in Iran
House reconvenes. Deputy Chairman Harivansh takes the Chair.
S. Jaishankar makes a statement on Indians stranded in Iran due to the coronavirus outbreak. He says the government has brought back Indian nationals in Wuhan and from a cruise ship in Japan. The government's focus has since shifted to Iran. There are 6,000 Indian nationals in various provinces of Iran. As the government started receiving information, direct flights between India and Iran were suspended temporarily from February 25. Our consulates in Iran reached out to Indian nationals and asked them to observe necessary precautions.
Given the large number of Indians in Iran, it is natural to sequence the return. Many Indians are in Qom where the outbreak is quite strong. The embassy is in regular contact with students, most of whom are studying medicine. The government has been working to ensure the safe return on Indian nationals. We are also setting up six centres to test Indians in Iran. 58 pilgrims were tested, found negative and were brought back on a flight.
Our embassy staff and medical teams are working round-the-clock to ensure the return of our citizens.
During my recent visit to Srinagar I took the time to meet some parents of the students in Iran and assured them that their children will return soon. Our fishermen are in the southern provinces and they are all in good health. We are ensuring that provisions are reaching them.
The situation in Italy is emerging as a great concern. The challenge is growing by the day in Europe and we will have to respond accordingly.
He asks that the House commend the medical teams working around the globe.
"It should be All is Well and not All in Well'
P.K. Kunhalikutty also says he is glad that the Speaker is back and speaks about maintaining decorum in the House. "When there is turmoil in the country, when they think that their citizenship is at risk, government is duty-bound to give a clear answer."
Anupriya Patel (Apna Dal) also speaks about the dignity of the House. She says that there are issues in the country but no one should troop into the Well of the House and hold placards.
Asaduddin Owaisi (AIMIM) says, "Power is not eternal." He reminds the House that responsibility to run the House with dignity lies with both govt and opposition.
I understand the pain of being suspended, says Bhagwant Mann (AAP). He was suspended by the then Speaker Sumitra Mahajan for live streaming from parliament. "In parliament, it should be All is Well and not all in Well," he says and invokes laughter.
MPs seek revoking of suspension of Congress MPs
Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury speaks about the number of hours of discussion that has happened in the Lok Sabha. "We are here only to discuss, not create an issue in the House."
T.R. Baalu (DMK) says that the Speaker has taken a decision to name Members who have committed misconduct. He says the ruling party has taken advantage of this. He asks that all seven Members from Congress be brought back to the House without delay.
Saugata Roy (Trinamool) also says he is happy that the Speaker is back in the House.
Vinayak Raut (Shiv Sena) says the Parliament represents the country and needs good discussions.
Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi asks all Members to preserve the dignity of the House.
Jayadev Galla (TDP) echoes the sentiments expressed in the House. He says the protests on the CAA and NRC have been happening because there has been a lack of clarity. He also says that the suspension should be shortened to the time that they have already been suspended.
Within minutes of reconvening, the Lok Sabha was adjourned again as ruckus continued.
Anurag Thakur faces opposition attack
Union Minister Anurag Thakur, who had allegedly made provocative speeches in the run up to the Delhi Assembly polls, was on Wednesday booed by opposition members in Rajya Sabha when he rose to present a listed paper.
When Chairman M. Venkaiah Naidu called Mr. Thakur to present the second supplementary demands for grants for 2019-20 in place of his senior colleague and Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, Opposition Benches started booing him.
LS proceedings disrupted as Congress members raise slogans
Lok Sabha proceedings were adjourned till 12:30 p.m. as Congress members raised slogans demanding revocation of expulsion of its seven MPs.
As soon as the House convened, Kirit Solanki, who was the presiding officer, took up the Question Hour.
But Congress members trooped inside the Well raising slogans with the demand to rescind last week’s expulsion order of seven of its members.
They were also joined by the DMK and Left MPs.
As the commotion continued for 15 minutes, Solanki adjourned the House till 12:30 p.m.
- PTI
In the Upper House too, members shout slogans, but Chairman and Vice President of India Venkiah Naidu say that their comments will not go on record.
A member brings up the issue of the ban on two media houses in India, to which Mr. Naidu replies that the ban has been lifted and hence these comments will not go on record.
The members, however, continue to shout slogans.
Rajya Sabha adjourned till 2 p.m.
The Question Hour kicks off, even as Opposition members shout slogans.
Lok Sabha
Bill for Consideration and Passing:
- Aircraft (Amendment) Bill, 2020
Discussion and Voting on Demands for Grants
Discussion on the recent law and order situation in some parts of Delhi.
Rajya Sabha
Bills for consideration and passing
- Central Sanskrit Universities Bill, 2019
- National Commission for Indian System of Medicine Bill, 2019
- National Commission for Homoeopathy Bill, 2019
Bill returned by Lok Sabha with Amendments
- Constitution (Scheduled Tribes) Order (Amendment) Bill, 2019
Bill for consideration and return
- Direct Tax Vivad Se Vishwas Bill, 2020
Discussion on the working of the Ministry
Ministry of Railways, Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, Ministry of Law and Justice, Ministries of Rural Development and Agriculture & Farmers' Welfare
