Parliament Monsoon Session updates | July 27, 2023

Proceedings will resume on Friday at 11.00 a.m.

The Bill has been passed through a voice vote.

Society will have to take some responsibility about who watches which movies, the minister says.

The minister is replying in Rajya after a discussion on the Cinematograph (Amendment) Bill, 2023.

After passage of two bills and tabling one other, the Lower House has been adjourned for the day. Proceedings will resume on Friday at 11 AM

Repealing and Amending Bill, 2022 tabled in the Lok Sabha by Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal. This Bill seeks to repeal 65 laws which obsolete or that have been made redundant by other Acts, easing citizens’ living. The Bill was first introduced in the Lok Sabha on December 19, 2022 by then Law minister Kiren Rijiju.

Without any debate, the Bill has been passed via voice vote. Opposition members continue to storm the well of the House and raise slogans ‘Modi government shame shame!’

The Lower House passes the Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Bill, 2023 via voice vote as Opposition continues to raise slogans against PM Modi

Healthy Opposition is important for democracy, but ever since I’ve come to this House, I’ve wondered if they even think about the country or only about themselves, Mr. Deb says.

Noting that several members of Opposition parties had torn up and thrown papers at the Chair, Dr. Kirit Premji Solanki reminds them that the Speaker can take upto ten days to decide on no-confidence motion. He urges them to allow House to function

After a small adjournment, Lok Sabha proceedings commence

Once passed, the Bill will provide harsher punishments for film piracy. It will also introduce new age categories for classifying and certifying films.

Currently, only three categories currently exist for mainstream films: U for unrestricted exhibition, U/A for films that can be viewed by minors with adult supervision, and A for films that can only be viewed by adults.

The Bill expands the U/A category to U/A 7+, U/A 13+ and U/A 16+.

Amid chaos, Lok Sabha proceedings have been adjourned till 3 PM

Union Commerce and Industry Minister tables The Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Bill, 2023 in the Lower House. Opposition continues to protest and raising ‘India with Manipur’ placards. The Bill seeks to decriminalise minor offences by amending 183 provisions in 42 Acts under 19 ministries, with an aim to promote ease of business.

The Bill was first introduced in Lok Sabha on December 22, 2022 after which it was referred to a joint committee.

Chair Dr. Kirit Premji Solanki urges Opposition members to cease protesting, reminds them that no confidence motion will be taken up later

Dr. Agrawal has been given time to speak on the Cinematograph (Amendment) Bill, 2023. However, in his address, he equates black clothes worn by Opposition to “black money accumulated in 75 years of Independence”.

He goes on to praise Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s “zero-tolerance policy” and says that the government has stopped piracy in housing schemes, ration card, and LPG gas connections, and this is now being extended to the film industry.

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav met Mr. Singh, who is on a dharna to protest his suspension from Rajya Sabha as well as Parliament response on Manipur violence.

Before walking out of the House, Leader of Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge attempts to speak. “I want to speak about the Bill and the dil (heart),” he says, taking up the issue of Manipur violence.

The Deputy Chairman disallows him from speaking on any topic other than the Bill in discussion.

Opposition members protested loudly in the Upper House before walking out after the Deputy Chairman refused to allow an adjournment motion on Manipur violence.

Meanwhile, Dr. Prashanta Nanda, Odisha MP and actor and director, makes his suggestions to Minister of Information and Broadcasting Anurag Thakur on the Cinematograph (Amendment) Bill, 2023.

After tabling the Bill, the Lower House is now considering matters under Rule 377. Union External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar is informing the House about Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s foreign visits and the key achievements of these.

Union mines and coal minister Pralhad Joshi tables the Offshore Areas Mineral (Development and Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2023 in the Lok Sabha. The Bill seeks to allow auction of minerals mined offshore, altering the Offshore Areas Mineral (Development and Regulation) Act, 2002.

Meanwhile, Opposition members continue to protest and raise slogans.

With black-clad Opposition members demanding PM Modi’s statement on Manipur crisis, papers are being laid in the House.

Deputy Chairman calls Minister of Information and Broadcasting Anurag Thakur to move the Cinematograph (Amendment) Bill, 2023

National Conference leader and former Jammu and Kashmir CM Farooq Abdullah has extended support to the protest against government over Manipur issue, tweets AAP leader Sanjay Singh.

A team of over 20 MPs of the INDIA parties will visit Manipur on July 29-30, news agency ANI has reported. Congress whip in Lok Sabha Manickam Tagore told PTI that the delegation will take a first-hand account of the situation in the state.

External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar slams leaders of the Opposition for disrupting his suo motu statement on the latest developments related to the foreign policy in Rajya Sabha today.

“We had a very successful visit of the PM to the US... I felt bad on how the Opposition behaved today. It was not ready to listen. It seems they look for opportunities to criticise even when the country is progressing. Politics should be set aside when it comes to national interest,” the Minister said.

Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge hit out at the PM for failing to make a statement on Manipur, saying that Mr. Modi was disrespecting Parliament.

“We have been demanding that the PM comes here and make a statement. But he is giving political speeches and campaigning in Rajasthan. When he can go there, can’t he come to the House for half an hour and make a statement? It means that has no interest, no faith in democracy. He doesn’t want to protect democracy and the Constitution. He is disrespecting the Parliament,” Mr. Kharge said.

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Amid sloganeering from the treasury benches, Rajya Sabha is adjourned till 2 p.m.

After Rajya Sabha resumes at 12 p.m., Chair gives time to Leader of Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge to ask for clarifications regarding the speech by the External Affairs Minister.

Leader of Opposition has the floor, but protests continue with vigour.

As Opposition and alliance members all engage in vociferious sloganeering, the House is adjourned till 12 p.m.

Leader of the House Piyush Goyal comments on the Opposition members, who are all dressed in black and expresses his disapproval of their behaviour. He says that this is a statement about something that is of pride to the country, but Opposition lacks interest.

Treasury benches start chanting “Kala kapda, kala dhang nahi sahega Hindustan” or something to similar effect after Mr. Goyal’s address.

After Minister S. Jaishankar’s speech, Mr. Dhankhar says that “the century belongs to us,” and asks the members to “reflect on the historic achievements of this country.”

“I have noticed in my visits abroad that being a citizen is an honour,” he says.

As per rule 251, no clarifications are allowed during the time of Statment, but I will permit it given the occasion, the Chair says.

Union Minister S. Jaishankar highlighted that in accordance with India’s neighbourhood-first policy, important meetings were held with the Prime Minister of Nepal and the President of Sri Lanka. He moves on to speaking about G20 and meetings held across the country.

The House is not in order; Opposition continues protesting vociferiously. Slogans include “we want justice”, “India wants justice”, and “Manipur wants justice.”

Minister Jaishankar’s speech is drowned out as the Rajya Sabha sees Opposition members chanting “India”, while treasury bench members chant “Modi.”

Union Minister of External Affairs S. Jaishankar raises to make a suo muto statement about foreign policy engagements after the budget session.

As he describes the diplomatic engagments, starting with the President hosting the King of Cambodia and visiting Suriname and Serbia, the Opposition engages in intense slogneering.

The Minister highlights that the Vice-President attended the coronation of King Charles in United Kingdom and visited ZImbabwe and Gambia, while the Prime Minister visited seven countries, including Australia, US and France.

As the Minister reads out further engagments and the outcomes from these, his voice is drowned out by vociferous protests.

The Rajya Sabha begins proceedings at 11 a.m., with Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar presiding. The session commences with birthday greetings for Dr. Amee Yagnik, followed by the laying of papers and reports on the table of the House.

The Opposition is dressed in black in protest.

The Lower House was adjourned till 2 p.m. within minutes of commencement of the day’s proceedings after leaders of the Opposition raised slogans over their demand for PM Narendra Modi’s statement on the Manipur issue.

The proceedings of the day began at 11 a.m. on Thursday with Question Hour.

On the Opposition’s move to wear black clothes to Parliament, Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi said, “Our black clothes are against the arrogance of the PM. When the country is burning and Manipur is divided, he is bothered only about his own image...”

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“PM Modi had said they [Opposition] can bring a no-confidence motion in 2023 once again. They have to come prepared. But there is a little divide. Congress party, as per its usual attitude, did not consult the other Opposition parties. First, there should be confidence among Opposition parties. After that, they can talk about people’s confidence in PM Modi,” Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi tells ANI.

Opposition alliance INDIA is likely to boycott a meeting of the Business Advisory Committee (BAC) of Rajya Sabha to be held on Thursday morning to protest against the Prime Minister not making a statement on Manipur violence in Parliament, a senior leader said.

The Rajya Sabha BAC has 11 members including the Vice President as its ex-officio chairman. Three MPs from the 26-member INDIA are on the BAC committee- one each from Congress, RJD and TMC. -PTI

Leaders of various Opposition parties who are part of the INDIA alliance will wear black dresses on Thursday as a mark of protest against the treasury Bench for not allowing a discussion on Manipur and not starting a discussion on their no-confidence motion.

Leaders of the Opposition parties have urged all their MPs to wear a black dress on Thursday as they meet in the chamber of the opposition leader in the morning.

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Congress MP Manish Tewari on Thursday gave an adjournment motion notice in the Lok Sabha to discuss the border situation with China.

In his letter to the Secretary-General, Lok Sabha, Manish Tewari said, “I hereby give notice of my intention to ask for leave to move a motion for the adjournment of the business of the house for the purpose of discussing a definite matter of urgent importance, namely: That this House do suspend Zero Hour and relevant rules relating to Question Hour and other businesses of the day to have a discussion on the border situation with China.” -ANI

Floor leaders of opposition parties met the Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha, Mallikarjun Kharge, on Thursday in Parliament to discuss important issues.

The Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) has demanded that the Speaker of the Lok Sabha should allow discussion on the “no confidence motion” tomorrow after suspending all other business.

Addressing a press conference at the AICC headquarters here on Wednesday, senior party leader and MP Manish Tewari clarified that the “no confidence motion” was not of the Congress alone, but of the entire INDIA -ANI

Zero Hour

Bills to be introduced and considered in Rajya Sabha:

- The Cinematograph (Amendment) Bill, 2023