Parliament proceedings updates | September 22, 2020

Congress and other "like minded parties" decided to boycott the rest of the Rajya Sabha session on the issue of the farm bills and suspension of eight MPs.

Updated - September 22, 2020 11:01 pm IST

Minister of State for Home G. Kishan Reddy speaks in the Lok Sabha on September 22, 2020. Photo: LSTV

Minister of State for Home G. Kishan Reddy speaks in the Lok Sabha on September 22, 2020. Photo: LSTV

Lok Sabha was adjourned for an hour even before Zero Hour mentions after Congress raised the issue of MSP not finding mention in the recently passed agri-Bills. They were supported by Trinamool Congress and DMK members.

Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad spoke in the Rajya Sabha about the events of the last two days and said they would "boycott" if the suspension of the MPs were not revoked. Soon after, Congress and other "like minded parties" decided to boycott the rest of the Rajya Sabha session.

The Rajya Sabha, in an extended sitting, passed the following bills:

The Indian Institutes of Information Technology Laws (Amendment) Bill; The Essential Commodities (Amendment) Bill; The Banking Regulation (Amendment) Bill; The Companies (Amendment) Bill; The National Forensic Sciences University Bill; The Rashtriya Raksha University Bill and The Taxation and Other Laws (Relaxation and Amendment of Certain Provisions) Bill.

Here are the latest updates:

10.35 pm | Lok Sabha

Workers not getting payment on time in Bankura, says Subhas Sarkar

Subhas Sarkar raises issue of workers not getting paid for 100 days work in his constituency Bankura.

He says about 50,000 migrant workers returned to Bankura back during the lockdown. Works were arranged for them but they are not getting payment on time.

Anubhav Mohanty says, Naveen Patnaik, when came to power introduced, 'Mission Shakti' which empowered women power in the State. Therefore he requests BJP MP Aparajita Sarangi not to spread fake news.

Earlier Aparajita Sarangi  said that Odisha is not safe for women and doesn't empower women.

The House is adjourned till 6 p.m. on Wednesday.

10.05 pm | Lok Sabha

BJP MP Arjun Singh seeks government intervention to end 'Taliban' rule in Bengal

BJP MP Arjun Singh, asks help from the government to end 'Taliban' rule in Bengal.

He says, MLAs, MPs phone are being tapped in the State. Therefore, he request protection for MPs in Bengal.

He also adds that drugs are being sold openly Bengal.

Cooch Behar MP Nisith Pramanik speaks about law and order issue in West Bengal. He says that West Bengal is turning into West Pakistan under the present State government.

Valsad MP K.C Patel, says, the bullet train project in his constituency will affect 6 lakh mango tress.

The famous  Alphanso mango is produced in my state. The bullet rain project will affect it, adds Mr. Patel

9.30 pm | Lok Sabha

Bring Uniform Civil Code: Nishikant Dubey

Nishikant Dubey, asks the government to not provide reservation to members belonging to Scheduled Tribes who have converted to other religion.

He further asked the government to bring uniform civil code, which would prevent minority appeasement in future.

Sanil Kumar Pintu seeks for better train connectivity in his constituency Sitamarhi.

8.50 pm | Lok Sabha

BJP MP raises issue of trans-border crime through Petrapole border

Shantanu Thakur, BJP MP from Bangaon raises the issue of trans-border crime through the Petrapole border in West Bengal. He says the local youths are lured in these crimes by operational gangs. He seeks the attention of the government in this matter.

Aparajita Sarangi, speaks about the rise of crimes at shelter homes in Odisha. She asks the MHA to intervene.

Speaker Om Birla says that he will now allow women MPs to raise their issues first.

8.25 pm | Lok Sabha

Zero Hour is now underway in the Lok Sabha.

The Speaker extends the session of the House till 10 p.m.

8.05 pm | Lok Sabha

Why Kashmiri is not recognised as an official language of J&K, asks G. Kishan Reddy

MoS Home, G. Kishan Reddy questions, "Why Kashmiri is still not recognised as an official language of J&K?"

He states that over 56% population in the State understands and speak Kashmiri, still it is not recognised as an official language. Mr. Reddy termed it a 'historical blunder', adding that such blunders of past 50 years will now be fixed under the leadership of Narendra Modi.

As per the census of 2011, only 0.16% of the population in the State speaks Urdu, which has remained the sole official language in the state, the Minister adds.

The Minster further states that if a smaller U.T. like Puducherry can have five official language, then why J&K can't?

The Lok Sabha then passes the Jammu and Kashmir Official Languages Bill, 2020 through voice vote.

7.55 pm | Lok Sabha

Lok Sabha introduces Jammu and Kashmir Official Languages Bill, 2020

The Jammu and Kashmir Official Languages Bill, 2020 is introduced in the Lok Sabha.

7.50 pm | Lok Sabha

Lok Sabha passes three labour Codes

The Lok Sabha passed the Occupational Safety, Health And Working Conditions Code, 2020, the Industrial Relations Code, 2020 and the Code On Social Security, 2020 through voice vote amid boycott by Opposition parities.

 Labour Minister Santosh Gangwar, says the labour reforms that are being undertaken by the government will prove to be a milestone for the welfare of workers.  The Minister thanked the 17 MPs who presented their opinion on the Bill.

The Bill will provide social security to 50 crore workers for the first time after  Independence, he adds.

The Minister also said that the bill has provisions for migrant workers to get a yearly travel allowance to go back to their home states. The bill also provisions for a free health checkup.

7.15 pm | Lok Sabha

Read the Bill as Gita, Quran: Manoj Tiwari

BJP MP Manoj Tiwari says, read the Bill as Gita, Quran.

Nishikant Dubey attacks Congress saying, rather than garibi hatao (remove the poor), Congress ne garib ko hataya (Congress removed the poor).

He says the Bill will  now improve the condition of poor.

The Speaker extends the session of the House till 9 p.m.

6.45 pm

Parliament’s monsoon session likely to end on Wednesday

The Monsoon Session of Parliament is likely to conclude on Wednesday, eight days before it is scheduled to end, amid concerns of spread of coronavirus among lawmakers, sources said.

Rajya Sabha is likely to adjourn sine die after taking up five bills on Wednesday, the sources said on Tuesday.

Lok Sabha, which will meet at 3 pm on Wednesday is likely to be adjourned sine die around 5 pm after taking up an extended Zero Hour, they said.

- PTI

6.30 pm | Lok Sabha

Bill to benefit tea garden workers most: Raju Bista

Raju Bista of BJP says, the tea workers of Bengal gets daily wage of ₹176 instead of the allocated ₹350, as the Minimum Wages Act was not implemented in the tea gardens.

The Bill will thus benefit the tea garden workers most, he adds.

 It also  guarantees men and women same rights. Appointment letter to migrant workers will be given now.

The workers will aslo be provided ration at their workplace, adds the BJP MP.

Additionally, AIADMK  MP says, in the wake of COVID-19, the migrant workers are facing a lot of issues. Therefore, I urge the government to provide them free rations.

The government should also arrange free health check-up for them.

6.00 pm | Lok Sabha

TDP MP appreciates provision for creation of reskilling funds

TDP's Jayadev Galla says there is no doubt that it is a humongous exercise of merging 45 enactments.

He appreciates the provision for creation of reskilling funds. The Skill Development Ministry should also make contributions to the fund, apart from the companies, he adds.

5.50 pm | Lok Sabha

Bills will create better future for workers, says Dilip Ghosh

BJP's Dilip Ghosh says, the condition of migrant workers in Bengal are deteriorating be it the workers of tea gardens or coal fields.

There was a time when everyone used to come in Bengal in search for work but now migrant labourers from Bengal has to go down south.

I hope the Bills will create a better future for these workers, adds Mr. Ghosh.

JD (U) Member Dileshwar Kamait supports the Bills, saying they are for the welfare of working class.

5.45 pm

Over 1 crore migrant labourers return to home states on foot during Mar-Jun: Government

More than one crore migrant labourers returned to their home states on foot during March-June 2020, including those who travelled during the COVID-19 pandemic-induced lockdown, the government said on Tuesday.

“COVID-19 has resulted in migration of large number of workers from destination states to the home-states, Minister of State for Road Transport and Highways V. K. Singh told Lok Sabha in a written reply.

As per the data compiled by Ministry of Labour and Employment, more than 1.06 crore migrant workers, including those who travelled on foot during the lockdown, returned to their home states, he said

-PTI

5.30 pm | Lok Sabha

BJD, YSRCP support labour safety Bills

Pinaki Misra of the BJD says the Standing Committee laboured over many months on the Bills, the government accepted 74% of the recommendations.

The nomenclature of "Chief Inspector", which is a reminder of inspector raj, should be reconsidered.

Though we are supporting the Bills, I expresses disappointment over 10 labour unions having approached ILO to complain against the Indian government, with respect to the proposed legislations, says YSRCP Member Margani Bharat.

5.05 pm | Lok Sabha

Labour codes to create database of migrant workers in India, says  BJP MP Pallab Lochan Das

Member Pallab Lochan Das from Tezpur (Assam) terms the Bills a major reform for the benefit of working class.

We have already universalised the minimum wage system and expanded its applicability, the definition of migrant worker has been changed for the first time, says Mr. Das.

They can register with a portal and get all the benefits meant for migrant workers. This will also create a database of all migrant workers in the country.

For the first time, we have introduced the provision making it mandatory for the employers to issue appointment letters to the workers, which will reduce their exploitation, he adds.

The provision for health check up of workers has also been given. It will also increase their productivity.

Definition of dependants has also been extended for the first time to include widowed daughters, grandparents, says the BJP MP.

Social security has been universalised, a fund has been created under the Code for the benefit of workers

4.45 pm | Lok Sabha

Lok Sabha to consider the Occupational Safety, Health And Working Conditions Code, 2020, the Industrial Relations Code, 2020 and the Code on Social Security, 2020.

4.40 pm | Lok Sabha

Opposition boycotts Lok Sabha proceedings

Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhary says he had a lot of expections from the Agriculture Minister that he would take positive steps for the farmers' welfare...we are boycotting the proceedings

4.35 pm | Lok Sabha

I am surprised over  Congress leaders' protests, says Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar

Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar says the amendments would help the farmers. The PM had already said that the MSP will continue and yesterday we increased the MSP of Rabi crops. We have disbursed ₹7 lakh crore through MSP mechanism in the past six years.

Mr. Tomar says ₹1 lakh infra development fund has been allocated, direct cash transfers are being made to the farmers. I am surprised over the Congress leaders' protests, given that it had promised to implement the same.

4.25 pm | Lok Sabha

Any discussion on Rajya Sabha will not be recorded as part of the proceedings in Lok Sabha, says Om Birla

There is no peace in J&K, if the government does not take back the steps taken on August 5 last year (taking away of J&K's special status), normalcy can never be restored, says Member (former J&K CM) Farooq Abdullah.

Trinamool Congress member Kalyan Banerjee says in Lok Sabha, BJP has brutal majority. He also raises the issue of the protests in Rajya Sabha.

BSP Member says the party is only demanding that MSP increase be brought through Bill.

Speaker says any discussion on Rajya Sabha will not be recorded we part of the proceedings.

Opposition leaders raise slogans.

4.20 pm | Lok Sabha

Withdraw agri-Bills, says Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury

We wanted withdrawal of agri-Bills, says Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, who tries to speak on the upper House proceedings. His remarks are expunged.

The Speaker says the Lok  Sabha had already passed the Bill.

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi says whatever transpires in the other house  has never been discussed in this House, this is very unfortunate. Opposition members raise objection.

4.15 pm | Lok Sabha

Lok Sabha proceedings resume.

Speaker Om Birla requests members to follow Covid-19 protocols.

3.00 pm | Lok Sabha

Farmers protest echoes in Lok Sabha

Lok Sabha assembles. Speaker Om Birla is in the Chair. Opposition members shout slogans as soon as the Speaker enters.

DMK's Kathir Anand claims some people calling themselves as IB personnel interrogated. DMK members project. Speaker asks them to give their issues in writing. "I will examine it," he says.

Congress member Ravneet Singh says he, along with three other members, went on a candle match till Vijay Chowk. He claims they were manhandled. Prohibitory orders restrict five people and more assembling, but we were only four people.  Speaker says he has sought report from Delhi Police.  "You will protect us, sir. But who will protect the farmers," he asks.

Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury (Congress) joins the issue. He says the MSP hike for wheat was the lowest.

DMK's T.R. Baalu and TMC's Kalyan Banerjee say they support Mr. Chowdhury.

House adjourned for an hour.

2.40 pm

 

2.00 pm | Rajya Sabha

The Taxation Bill is returned

The Taxation and Other Laws (Relaxation and Amendment of Certain Provisions) Bill, 2020 returned by the Rajya Sabha.

House adjourned till 9 a.m. on September 23, 2020.

1.50 pm | Rajya Sabha

Taxation and Other Laws amendment Bill taken up

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman moves the motion for consideration of the Taxation and Other Laws (Relaxation and Amendment of Certain Provisions) Bill, 2020.

Sujeet Kumar of BJD, supporting the Bill, asks the government to lower tax rates, at least for MSMEs.

Vijaisai Reddy supports the Bill as does Kanakamedala Ravindra Kumar, with some clarifications.

Ms. Sitharaman begins her reply

She says, "we had to bring an ordinance to defer the date of compliance for direct and indirect taxes during the pandemic lockdown." Along with the deferrals brought in by the ordinance, the Bill also introduces other sections. Faceless tax assessment have been legislated to make the process more transparent, she says.

1.50 pm | Rajya Sabha

Rajya Sabha passes the Rashtriya Raksha University Bill, 2020.

1.35 pm | Rajya Sabha

Rashtriya Raksha University Bill, 2020 discussed

G. Kishan Reddy moves the Rashtriya Raksha University Bill, 2020.

Mujibulla Khan, Vijaisai Reddy, Ram Chandra Prasad Singh and Kanakamedala Ravindra Kumar support the Bill.

Mr. Reddy gives his reply

The Gujarat government has proposed to upgrade the Gandhinagar police training university to a national university and the MHA has decided to do so, he says. "Police officers and youth from across the country will be able to go to the university." The university was established when PM Modi was the Chief Minister of Gujarat and Home Minister Amit Shah was the Home Minister of the State, he says.

1.35 pm | Rajya Sabha

Rajya Sabha passes the National Forensic Sciences University Bill, 2020

1.30 pm | Rajya Sabha

G. Kishan Reddy gives his reply

It is Mr. Modi's vision to set up state of the art forensic research and education institutions, he says.

Mr. Reddy says Gujarat Forensic Sciences University is being upgraded to a national university, Gujarat government has given in-principle approval.

"Crimes are increasing in the country. 1.50 lakh cases pending at forensic science labs due to lack of manpower.

1.15 pm | Rajya Sabha

National Forensic Sciences University Bill taken up for discussion

MoS Home Affairs G. Kishan Reddy moves the motion for consideration of the National Forensic Sciences University Bill, 2020.

MoS Home Affairs G. Kishan Reddy moves the motion for consideration of the National Forensic Sciences University Bill, 2020.

MoS Home Affairs G. Kishan Reddy moves the motion for consideration of the National Forensic Sciences University Bill, 2020.

 

A central forensic sciences laboratory should be established in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, S.R. Balasubramoniyan of AIADMK says.

Muzibulla Khan of BJD and Mansukh L. Mandaviya of the BJP support the Bill.

Vijaisai Reddy supports the Bill and says that similar forensic laboratories and institutions should be set up in every State since crimes exist in all States.

Ram Chandra Prasad Singh supports the Bill.

1.15 pm | Rajya Sabha

Rajya Sabha passes The Companies (Amendment) Bill, 2020

1.05 pm | Rajya Sabha

Nirmala Sitharaman begins her reply

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman replying to the discussion on The Companies (Amendment) Bill says, there are 48 amendments aimed at decriminalisation and related matters. She says 13 sections are being amended. One chapter is being added for ease of living.

The 35 non-compoundable penal sections remain, "we are not touching them", she says. "We are not giving an opportunity for fraud, deceit and injury to public interest."

1.00 pm | Rajya Sabha

Vijaisai Reddy of YSRCP appreciates two points of the Bill - decriminalisation and direct listing in foreign jurisdiction. The decriminalisation increases ease of doing ethical and honest business, which is appreciated, he says.

Rajya Sabha extends the sitting till buisness of the day is disposed.

Kanakamedala Ravindra Kumar supports the Bill. Decriminalisation envisaged in the Bill will usher in good environment for investment, he says.

12.50 pm | Rajya Sabha

Finance Minister moves motion for consideration of The Companies (Amendment) Bill, 2020

Mahesh Poddar of BJP starts discussion on the Bill. He supports the Bill.

Sujeet Kumar of BJD says, though India's ranking in the ease of doing business ranking has been improving, there is scope to further rise up. Welcoming the Bill, he says, it will help in improving India's global ranking.  He suggests that the Minister take a relook at the sections of CSR. He also seeks clarity on the vacation of the office of directors.

He says the Bill is in aligned with the principle of encouraging ease of doing business and it reduces the burden on the courts and supports the Bill.

12.45 pm | Rajya Sabha

Rajya Sabha passes The Banking Regulation (Amendment) Bill, 2020

12.40 am | Rajya Sabha

Finance Minister starts her reply

Nirmala Sitharaman says the Bill is important as there have been many banks and cooperative societies that have had problems in the past 1.5 years. This amendment is to protect the interests of depositers, she says.

The Minister says a quick recovery can be given without a moratorium.

Only those cooperative societies that use the word bank or function as a bank will be covered by the amendment, Ms. Sitharaman says. "These amendments will not apply to primary agriculture credit societies."

"During the COVID period, many cooperative banks have come under stress. 277 urban cooperative banks are reporting losses, 105 are unable to meet minimum regulatory capital requirement," she says adding that the Bill is a timely intervention to protect depositors' money.

The Banking Regulation (Amendment) Bill, 2020 being taken up for passing.

12.15 pm | Rajya Sabha

A. Vijayakumar of AIADMK supports the Bill, says the government should allow needy people to make withdrawals when they need for any genuine reasons.

Dr. Amar Patnaik of BJD congratulates the Finance Minister on the Bill. Quis custodiet ipsos custodes or who will guard the guardians, he asks, raising concerns about the RBI's supervision of banks. "What is the accountability of the regulatory power it wenjoys? Is it going to be over stressed?"

Banking is in the Union List, while the Cooperatives are in the State List, says Ram Chandra Prasad Singh of JD(U). With the RBI supervising the cooperative banks, their management will be bettered, which so far were under the State, he says. He supports the Bill.

TDP MP Kanakamedala Ravindra Kumar says States should be taken into confidence.

YSRCP MP V. Vijaisai Reddy asks Finance Minister to look into Visakhapatnam cooperative bank, which he says has become the largest cooperative bank in South India.

12.00 pm | Rajya Sabha

The Banking Regulation (Amendment) Bill, 2020 moved

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman moves motion for consideration of The Banking Regulation (Amendment) Bill, 2020.

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman moves motion for consideration of The Banking Regulation (Amendment) Bill, 2020.

 

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman moves motion for consideration of The Banking Regulation (Amendment) Bill, 2020.

The House begins discussion on the Bill.

BJP MP Ashwini Vaishnaw, congratulating Deputy Chairman Harivansh on his "non-violent response to violent actions", says this Bill has a "human angle" to it.

He says when the promoters of Yes Bank tried to swindle the hard-earned incomes of people, the government took quick action and a reconstruction plan was formulated. This plan was applauded the world-over, he says. "Examples of PMC Bank and Yes Bank shows the importance and requirement of this Bill."

Cooperative structure of 'one share, one vote' is not being changes, he says. He also dispels apprehensions on cooperative federalism being compromised.

12.00 pm | Rajya Sabha

Rajya Sabha passes the Essential Commodities (Amendment) Bill, 2020

11.50 am | Rajya Sabha

Danve Raosaheb Dadarao begins his reply

Minister of State for Consumer Affairs Danve Raosaheb Dadarao says the ordinance was brought in, in the midst of the lockdown so farmers had a way of selling their crops.

The Minister says the Bill is in the interest of farmers and consumers.

The power to regulate the supply by the central government is very narrow, Vijaisai Reddy says, seeking clarification from the Minister. He asks that the government show data to show the measures taken against hoarders,because this is the reason the Bill is being introduced.

11.40 am | Rajya Sabha

The Bill has good intentions but could have implementation problems, Mr. Patnaik says.

Ram Chandra Prasad Singh of JD(U) supports the Bill.

Kanakamedala Ravindra Kumar of TDP says the Bill throuws up an issue of cooperative federalism. Agriculture is in the State List and hence the Centre should tread carefully on this sensitive issue, he says.

11.20 am | Rajya Sabha

Deputy chairman calls on Binoy Viswam, MV Shreyams Kumar, KC Venugopal and Digvijaya Singh to move their resolution against the Essential Commodities (Amendment) Ordinance, 2020. The members are not present.

Minister Danve Raosaheb Dadarao moves the Essential Commodities (Amendment) Bill, 2020

Discussion starts.

S.R. Balasubramoniyan of AIADMK says some decisive action is needed to check rise of food prices. He says Tamil Nadu's PDS has historically been one worthy of imitation, adding that the model of Amma Canteens in T.N. is studied by various States. Surendra Singh Nagar, now in th Chair, asks the member to wrap up since his time is up.

BJD MP Amar Patnaik says the Bill supports the two farm Bills passed. He says it settles the debate on MSP, but it should have been clearly stated in the two farm Bills. He says the Bill does not include man-made calamities and only refers to natural calamities. "What happens at the time of a man-made calamity?" he asks.

What is the rationale for the stock limits that have been fixed, he asks. He suggests that the government remove the storage component from the ambit of the Bill.

Mr. Patnaik says he supports the Bill and adds that agriculture research is necessary. Market research is also necessary to ensure small and marginal farmers and share-croppers get the benefit of the value-chain transformation that would follow from the Bill, he says.

11.15 am | Rajya Sabha

The Education Minister begins his reply to the debate

He thanks the members for their suggestions. He assures Kamakhya Prasad Tasa that the government is committed to ensuring good education in the northeast. He says it is the government's aim is to take more institutions from India to the global education scene.

Rajya Sabha passes the Indian Institutes of Information Technology Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2020.

11.00 am | Rajya Sabha

YSRCP MP V. Vijaisai Reddy supports the Bill, says the students suffered when it came to jobs due to the provisional certificates issued by the five institutes now being conferred national importance tag.

He asks the government to focus on the existing institutions of national importance as well.

The perception of IIITs need to change, he says. "IIITs are considered sub-par to IITs. Students go for IIITs as a second option. Standardisation of courses taught in IIIts could help bring them at the same standing as IITs," he says.

JDU MP Ram Chandra Prasad Singh supports the Bill, welcomes the national importance tag for the IIIT in Bhagalpur. The students shouldn't feel any difference between IIIT and IIT, he says.

10.50 am | Rajya Sabha

Congress and like minded parties to boycott the rest of the Rajya Sabha session

Jairam Ramesh, Chief Whip, INC, Rajya Sabha gives the seven reasons for the decision of boycotting rest of the Monsoon session of Rajya Sabha by Congress and like-minded parties:

"The manner in which Bills have been bulldozed by the government; the manner in which eight MPs were suspended without being given a hearing and without division on suspension motion as per the rules; the manner in which Leader of Opposition has not been allowed to speak; the manner in which the Government has simply failed to accommodate views of the Opposition; the manner in which crucial Bills have not been referred to Standing or Select Committees, the manner in which division vote was not allowed on the 2 agricultural marketing Bills; the manner in which MSP was not made part of the agricultural marketing law and not made applicable to private trade."

10.40 am | Rajya Sabha

Kamakhya Prasad Tasa of BJP speaking on the Bill says information technology will gain more importance in the post-COVID world. He says the Bill gives an impetus to education and employment in the northeast region and supports the Bill.

A. Vijayakumar of AIADMK, supporting the Bill, hopes that the Bill will help IIITs of the country improve their global rankings.

Dr. Sasmit Patra of BJD, also a member of the Standing Committee of the HRD, welcomes the Bill. He says allotting degree-granting powers to the IIITs and declaring the institutions as those of nation importance is welcome. He suggests that amendments be made in the parent acts to ensure the institutions are given degree-granting powers instead of regular iterations.

He suggests establishment of a centre at IIIT Bhubaneswar to research on COVID-19.

10.30 am | Rajya Sabha

Legislative Business resumes

Education Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank resumes his speech on the Indian Institutes of Information Technology Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2020.

Education Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank resumes his speech on the Indian Institutes of Information Technology Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2020.

Education Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank resumes his speech on the Indian Institutes of Information Technology Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2020.

 

The Bill amends Indian Institutes of Information Technology Act, 2014 and the Indian Institutes of Information Technology (Public-Private Partnership) Act, 2017. The Bill seeks to declare five Indian Institutes of Information Technology (IIITs) set up under the Public Private Partnership mode in Surat, Bhopal, Bhagalpur, Agartala, and Raichur as institutions of national importance.

10.20 am | Rajya Sabha

JDU MP Ram Chandra Prasad Singh says the suspended MPs shouldn't be forgiven because the intention behind their actions was wrong.

Leader of the House Thaawarchand Gehlot says the Chair's decision was appropriate.

The Chairman says Deputy Chairman wrote a letter to him expressing his commitment to democracy and that he wants to observe a fast.

"This is a Gandhian way, this is the JP way. We shouldn't try to score political points," the Chairman says. "The images appearing on TV, is unbecoming of the House of the elders," he says.

"Despite everything, Harivansh ji made tea at home and brought it for the protesting MPs," Mr. Naidus says.

The Chairman appeals to all to follow the rules of the House.

10.00 am | Rajya Sabha

Former PM HD Deve Gowda tells the Chairman, government and Opposition should sit together to help you run the House. "We have not come here for tamasha ," he says.

Pralhad Joshy, Parliamentary Affairs Minister says, many leaders have asked him to finish the proceedings of the House quickly, owing to the pandemic, in response to Mr. Azad's comments about members not being given enough time to speak. He says, he told them that would depend on the time taken for the discussion of Bills.

"The government is not hellbent upon keeping the suspended MPs out of the House," he says. "If they express regret, the government will look into it."

9.50 am | Rajya Sabha

Chairman Venkaiah Naidu in the Rajya Sabha on September 22, 2020.

Chairman Venkaiah Naidu in the Rajya Sabha on September 22, 2020.

 

Many times in the past, Bills have been passed in din without division. It is not a healthy thing, but it has happened before, the Chairman says.

He says, all eight MPs who have been suspended have justified their conduct and confirmed what they did in an interview to the Indian Express today.

"Don't try to put the blame on the Chair. The Deputy Chairman handled the situation in a very deft manner."

"We are also pained. We are also human beings. Whatever is happening has an impact on our health," Mr. Naidu says.

"I have asked the secretary general to get in touch with the Lok Sabha secretariat to take care of the protesting MPs," the Chairman says.

9.40 am | Rajya Sabha

The Opposition begins sloganeering in the House.

Ram Gopal Yadav of Samajwadi Party says there has been a mistake by the Opposition. He apologises on behalf of the suspended MPs, asks for their suspension to be taken back.

K. Keshava Rao of the TRS cites The Hindu editorial "bashing us all. We are feeling bad." We asked for division vote and that was not granted to us. "Three minutes time for division was not granted to us," he says.

Tiruchi Siva of DMK says basic democratic rights were denied, "we were denied division".

Chairman says the chair has been dragged into the matter. He says Bills have been passed in din and members have been suspended before. The rules clearly state that it should have been a no-confidence resolution and not a motion, he says, on Opposition's motion against Deputy Chairman Harivansh.

9.30 am | Rajya Sabha

Leader of Opposition speaks on the events of the last two days

Leader of Opposition Ghulam Nabi Azad says no one is happy with what transpired in the House over the past two days. "We fight for each minute in the House like it's a fight at the border. If we go beyond time restrictions, things will be de-escalated 90%," Mr. Azad says.

He says, "Day before yesterday was the last straw that broke the camel's back. Bills don't go to standing committee or the select committee. I don't approve of the fight - breaking the mics, standing on the tables. But it was the last straw."

"There were 18 parties on one side and NDA on one side. I don't know if the government had the numbers or not," he says, on the farm Bills.

He recalls that Arun Jaitley, in 2016, said that the government becomes illegitimate if division of votes is denied. Mr. Azad says that the stature of the Leader of Opposition has been downgraded. "There would be no time constraints put on the LoP. We could speak freely," he says.

"The MSP announced yesterday should have been done before. Today, the government has issued an advertisement saying 'one nation, one market'. Don't go towards one nation, one party," the Leader of Opposition says. He also says Government should bring a new Bill to make MSP mandatory on private companies.

We will boycott the session till the government takes back the decision, he says and the House erupts in slogans.

9.20 am | Rajya Sabha

Special Mentions begin

In special mentions, Congress MP Amee Yagnik raises issue of lack of digital access in villages.

AIADMK MP A. Vijaykumar raises demand for resumption of a Tamil service in the Delhi office of All India Radio.

Leishemba Sanajaoba of BJP asks government to accord classical language status to Manipuri. Mr. Naidu asks him the correct pronunciation of his name.

9.15 am | Rajya Sabha

Chairman asks Jairam Ramesh to check if MPs in the Opposition are sitting at the required distance and following COVID-19 protocol.

Mr. Naidu takes a dig at the Treasury Bench. He says not many members this side, so physical distancing is not an issue this side.

He urges Congress members to follow distancing norms.

9.10 am | Rajya Sabha

Chairman M. Venkaiah Naidu tells members not to think that he isn't paying attention to them since he is unable to look at members while they speak because he has pain in his neck.

Kumar Ketkar of Congress raises matter of fishermen from Gujarat in Pakistan custody. Chairman tells External Affairs Minister to take note of the matter.

DMK MP Tiruchi Siva raises lack of representation of Tamil and other scholars in Culture Ministry's committee to study ancient India.

Mallikarjun Kharge of Congress says unemployment has increased and the government is not filling the 20 lakh posts vacant in govt, public sector, health, education, police. He says there should be emergency recruitment.

9.00 am | Rajya Sabha

Rajya Sabha proceedings begin

Papers being laid on the table by MoS Parliamentary Affairs V Muraleedharan on behalf of other Ministers.

Report of committee on welfare of ST and SC laid on table.

Zero Hour begins.

Samajwadi Party MP Ravi Prakash Verma raises matter of increasing child abuse cases in the lockdown as schools are closed. He says child focused planning is needed.

Ashok Bajpai of the BJP raises matter of ineffective seeds, insecticides and pesticides sold to farmers, demands that the companies be penalised.

K. Vanlalvena of MNF raises matter of frequent earthquakes in Mizoram, asks Earth Sciences Ministry to send an investigation team to the State.

Rajya Sabha

A video grab of the sit-in protest site where eight Rajya Sabha MPs suspended by the House on Monday are protesting on the morning of September 22, 2020.

A video grab of the sit-in protest site where eight Rajya Sabha MPs suspended by the House on Monday are protesting on the morning of September 22, 2020.

The Eight Opposition Rajya Sabha MPs, who were suspended by the House on Monday, sat through the night in an indefinite sit-in protest within Parliament, even as the 15 non-NDA parties appealed to the President not to give assent to the two farm Bills passed in the Upper House on Sunday .

Rajya Sabha

The suspended MPs stayed put in the lawns of Parliament overnight. Seen here is Trinamool member Dola Sen crooning a farmer rights song.

 

Rajya Sabha

Bills for consideration and Passing

  • The Indian Institutes of Information Technology Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2020
  • The Essential Commodities (Amendment) Bill, 2020
  • The Banking Regulation (Amendment) Bill, 2020
  • The Companies (Amendment) Bill, 2020
  • The National Forensic Sciences University Bill, 2020
  • The Rashtriya Raksha University Bill, 2020
  • The Taxation and Other Laws (Relaxation and Amendment of Certain Provisions) Bill, 2020
  • The Appropriation (No.3) Bill, 2020
  • The Appropriation (No.4) Bill, 2020
Lok Sabha

Bills for consideration and passing

  • The Occupational Safety, Health And Working Conditions Code, 2020
  • The Industrial Relations Code, 2020
  • The Code On Social Security, 2020
  • The Factoring Regulation (Amendment) Bill, 2020
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