The monsoon session of the Parliament began on Monday, and is scheduled to conclude on August 13. On the first day, as per convention, the Prime Minister introduced the newly inducted ministers to both the Houses.
The government has readied a big legislative agenda for the session even as the opposition is raring to corner the ruling dispensation over a host of issues, including handling of the second wave of COVID-19, rise in fuel prices and farmers' stir.
Here are the latest updates:
Lok Sabha starts amidst Opposition sloganeering. Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla asks members to return to their seats. Parliamentary Affairs minister Pralhad Joshi said the govt ready to discuss every issue.
IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnav makes a suo motu statement on Pegasus. He criticises The Wire report, talks about how the Pegasus project got 60,000 numbers.
He says without subjecting the phone to technical analysis, it cannot be concluded whether a phone has been hacked or attempted hacked. He also mentions that the NSO has rubbished the claims.
He says any form of illegal surveillance is not possible with our checks and balances and goes on to explain the procedure of how lawful surveillance is carried out with the approval of competent authorities.
There is a very well established oversight mechanism headed by the Cabinet Secretary. The publisher of the report has said that it cannot say whether the numbers on the list were subjected to surveillance. There is no substance to the allegation in the report that is sensationalism, he says.
Opposition members continue to raise slogans. House is adjourned for the day.
What is The Marine Aids to Navigation Bill, 2021?
The Marine Aids to Navigation Bill, 2021 seeks to replace a nine-decade-old law governing lighthouses. The Bill has already been passed by the Lok Sabha during the Budget session.
The Marine Aids to Navigation Bill, 2021, seeks to provide for a fresh framework to establish and manage vessel traffic services, besides changing the use of the term marine aids to navigation.
There are 195 lighthouses in the country and the government plans to turn old lighthouses into tourist destination to showcase the country's rich history in navigation.
The Bill also seeks to rename the existing post of Director General of Lighthouse and Lightships to Director General to provide a framework for establishment, operation and management of vessel traffic services.
The DGLL will get additional power and functions such as vessel traffic service, wreck flagging, training and certification, implementation of other obligations under international conventions where India is a signatory.
Rajya Sabha resumes. Deputy Chairperson Harivansh is in the Chair.
Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal introduces The Marine Aids to Navigation Bill, 2021. He is barely audible as opposition members troop the Well and raise slogans.
Subhash Chandra Singh (BJD) speaks in favour of the Bill. The MP from Odisha said the Bill will benefit the State.
Prakash Banda (TRS) also supports the Bill.
Kanakamedala Ravindra Nath (TDP) has two suggestion — impose a penalty up to Rs. 2 lakh and/or 1 year imprisonment for those damaging historic lighthouses.
G.K. Vasan (Tamil Maanila Congress) cities Sangam literature epic Silapathikaram to highlight the importance of lighthouse in earlier times.
House adjourned for the day.
In Lok Sabha, Rajendra Agrawal, is in the Chair. As opposition continue to disrupt, House is adjourned till 3.30 pm.
Rajya Sabha reconvenes. Deputy Chair Harivansh is in the Chair.
Trinamool Congress Member Sukhendu Shekar Roy seeks clarification on the nationality of MoS Home Affairs Nitish Pramanik. The Treasury Bench objects to it. The Chair rejects the point of order.
Leader of Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge joins the issue with Mr. Roy. "Is he [MoS] a Bangaldeshi," he says.
Leader of the House Piyush Goyal seeks expunging the remarks. Mr. Pramanik is a first-time minister. He is from tribal community. It is unfortunate he is being targeted like this, Mr. Goyal says.
House adjourned till 3 pm
Vice President Naidu says he received 17 notices for adjournment motion. He says he will consider only one — on COVID-19 situation.
The Chair allows ministers to lay various papers on the Table even as protest continues.
Mr. Naidu informs the House that four members have resigned. He also informs the House that a few members have requested permission for leave of absence.
As commotion continues, the House is adjourned till 2 pm
Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Rajya Sabha on July 19, 2021.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi rises to introduces the new council of ministers. Opposition members troop the Well and raise slogans. Mr. Modi accuses the protesting members of being "anti-women and anti-Dalit" by not allowing him to introduce his ministers.
As sloganeering continues, the Prime Minister lays the list of council of ministers in the table of the House.
Leader of the House Piyush Goyal says since Jawaharlal Nehru's time, the Prime Minister introduces his Cabinet. He condemns the act of protesting opposition members. "It is unfortunate that such an incident happened in the House today," he says.
Vice President welcomes members
Rajya Sabha resassembles. Chairperson M. Venkaiah Naidu welcomes members to the Monsoon Session. He recalls how COVID-19 not only dented the health of people, it also wrecked havoc on the economy and livelihood.
"The second wave has tested us severely.... Despite our best efforts we lost several souls," he says and adds the need of the hour is to learn from the first and second wave. One chief lesson is we have to live in harmony with environment, he says.
He appeals the House to conduct a meaningful session.
"139 members will be seated in the Chamber of this House and 92 in the galleries above. Like the last time, it is for the parties to decide on seating their respective members," Mr. Naidu says. "I can see all are in the chamber and nobody is seated in the gallery. This is not good," he notes.
97% of members or 224 members have taken at least one jab, he says. As he mentions vaccine, opposition members raise objection. Some move to the well. Mr. Naidu continues to speak.
During the inter-session period further to the sine adjournment of the Parliament on March 25th this year, 7 of the 8 committees of Rajya Sabha have held a total of 20 meetings and met for a total duration of 50 hours 38 minutes. This comes to an average duration of 2 hours 32 minutes per each meeting. This is the best performance for any reference period during the last four years. The average attendance of 48.48% in each of the 20 meetings is close to the targeted 50%, he says.
Political parties are central to our democracy and the Parliament is no doubt a political institution in that sense. But it is much more than that given the mandate of the Parliament. It should not be driven merely by political considerations. The pain, the suffering, the aspirations and the expectations of the people, the patrons of our parliamentary democracy shall guide the functioning of the apex legislature, he says.
Pedalling to protest
Trinamool Congress members rode to the Parliament on bicycles to protest against rising fuel prices.
To protest the rising fuel prices, Trinamool Congress members rode to Parliament in bicycles braving Delhi rains.
The All India Trinamool Congress has given multiple notices under various Rules in both house of Parliament on the opening day of the Monsoon session, the party said. The issues on which notices have been given include price hike of diesel, petrol, LPG and other commodities, demand to repeal farm laws, decline in economic growth, restoration of MPLAD funds and the alleged weakening of the federal structure by the government.
Protest against farm laws continue
Shiromani Akali Dal members holding a placards to protest against three farm laws.
Even as the farmers are stationed at the borders of the National Capital since September, the issue continues to rock the parliament for the third session. The BJP lost its long-time ally SAD. While both the sides are open to talks, they refuse to step down from their stand.
Kanniyakumari MP Vijay Vasanth with Congress leader Rahul Gandhi.
Newly-elected Kanniyakumari MP Vijay Vasanth meets Congress leader Rahul Gandhi at the Parliament. Mr. Vijay is the son of Congress leader and entrepreneur H. Vasanthakumar, who succumbed to COVID-19 last year. Vasanthakumar was representing the Tamil Nadu constituency in Lok Sabha. Post his demise, Mr. Vijay won from the constituency defeating former Union Minister and BJP leader Pon. Radhakrishnan.
'Never I have ever'
The Opposition seeks time to raise their voice, the Chair says will give opportunity as per procedure.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh is addressing the House, as Opposition members raising slogans again.
Mr. Singh begins by saying that he has been a Member of Parliament for the past 24 years. "The Prime Minister always introduces new Ministers to the House, all members allow it and this is a healthy tradition, but this is the first time the Prime Minister was not allowed to do so... I condemn it," he says.
House adjourned till 2 p.m.
Rajya Sabha Chairman Venkaiah Naidu is reading out obituary references.
Since April, when the Parliament last met, two sitting members and 10 former members have died including actor Dilip Kumar and legendary athlete Milkha Singh.
In Lok Sabha too, Speaker Om Birla is reading out obituary reference. As many as 40 former members passed away since the House last met.
The House pays tributes to the departed souls. Rajya Sabha is adjourned for an hour as a mark of respect to Congress MP Rajeev Satav and MP Raghunath Mohapatra. Both the sitting MPs died of COVID-related complications.
PM rises to speak, Opposition objects
In Lok Sabha, Prime Minister Narendra Modi rises to introduce the newly induct new Council of Ministers. Opposition members raise slogans. Speaker tries to be order. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Prahlad Joshi appeals to the members to stay calm. "It is the custom of the House where the PM introduces the ministers," he says.
"I thought the members will be happy to know that a record number of women, Dalit members, sons of farmers and OBC members have become ministers. But it looks like some people are unhappy and that is why they don't want me even to introduce them," Prime Minister Narendra Modi says. Opposition MPs continue to object. The PM lays in the table of House the list of new council of ministers.
Speaker Om Birla addresses the Opposition, saying they are lowering the prestige of the house, which is wrong.
The Speaker now reads obituary reference. The Speaker pays condolences to the sitting and former MPs who recently passed away.
New members take oath in both the Houses and the House also pays tribute to former members who passed away recently.
In Lok Sabha, the new members are Maddila Gurumoorthy (Tirupati), Mangal Suresh Angadi (Belgaum), M P Abdussamad Samadani (Malappuram), and Vijay Vasanth (Kanniyakumari).
In Rajya Sabha, the new member is Abdul Wahab from Kerala.
Both Houses assemble in their respective chambers. Vice President M. Venkaiah Naidu is in the Chair in Rajya Sabha, while Speaker Om Birla is chairing the proceedings at Lok Sabha.
National Anthem is played.
In Rajya Sabha, M. Venkaiah Naidu announces that Union Minister Piyush Goyal has been nominated as the Leader of the House of Rajya Sabha. Mr. Naidu also recalls the contribution of previous Leader Thaawarchand Gehlot.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is present in Lok Sabha.
I wish there is constructive discussion on the pandemic: PM Modi
Prime Minister Narendra Modi meets the media. He appeals the media people to take their vaccines and follow the COVID protocol.
You become a 'Bahubali' after taking the vaccine. You can join the fight against COVID by taking the jab, he says.
The pandemic has wrecked havoc in the mankind. I wish there is constructive discussion on the pandemic, he says.
I have spoken to the floor leaders. We want to have discussion both inside and outside the Parliament on the COVID-19 pandemic, he says.
He wishes the session be productive and constructive. He appeals to the members and political parties to ask as many questions as they want but also allow the government to reply.
Bills for consideration in Lok Sabha
The Factoring Regulation (Amendment) Bill, 2020.
The Bill seeks to amend the 2011 Act to widen the scope of entities which can engage in factoring business. When introduced in September last year, the Bill was referred to a Standing Committee.
The National Institutes of Food Technology, Entrepreneurship and Management Bill, 2021.
The Bill envisages setting up two Institutes of National Importance at Kundli, Haryana and Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu.
Bills for consideration in Rajya Sabha
The Marine Aids to Navigation Bill, 2021.
The Bill seeks to provide a framework for the development, maintenance, and management of aids to navigation in India. It repeals the Lighthouse Act, 1927, which provides for the maintenance and control of lighthouses in India.
New normal
Parliament is meeting again after the Budget session. This is the first since the COVID-19 pandemic, the sessions in Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha are being held simultaneously. However, to maintain safe distancing, the members are seated in the chamber as well as the gallery.
Pegasus allegations likely to be brought up
During the session, the issue of an international media consortium report would find echo in the two Houses. It claimed that over 300 verified mobile phone numbers, including of two serving ministers, over 40 journalists, three opposition leaders and one sitting judge besides scores of business persons and activists, could have been targeted for hacking through an Israeli spyware sold only to government agencies.
The opposition would use it to target the government as some of the members have decided to gives notices of adjournment motion to discuss the matter on the floor of the House.
The government, however, dismissed allegations of any kind of surveillance on its part, saying it "has no concrete basis or truth associated with it whatsoever".
Asserting that "India is a robust democracy that is committed to ensuring the right to privacy to all its citizens as a fundamental right", it dismissed the media report as an attempt to play "the role of an investigator, prosecutor as well as jury".
Congress, allies all set to disrupt Lok Sabha proceedings over price rise
The Congress and its allies are all set to disrupt proceedings in the Lok Sabha on Monday over price rise and the continuous hike in prices of petrol, diesel and LPG.
The floor strategy of the principal Opposition party emerged after Congress chief Sonia Gandhi virtually met the party’s MPs on Sunday evening.
Ms. Gandhi is said to have flagged the issue of effective coordination with other Opposition parties to formulate a common strategy on the floor of the House.
