Parliament Winter Session Day 2 updates | Both houses adjourn for the day

The Lower House adjourns for the day. Discussion on the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation (Amendment Bill) and the Jammu and Kashmir Reservation (Amendment Bill) would continue when the house reconvenes on Thursday, December 6 at 11 a.m. 

The Upper House was adjourned till 11 a.m. on Wednesday, December 6, 2023.

All India Majlis-e-Ittehad-ul Muslimeen (AIMIM) MP representing Hyderabad Asaduddin Owaisi sought why the government was not extending provisions of the Reorganisation (Amendment) Bill to people displaced in the villages of Karan, Karna and Poonch. 

He joined his colleagues in the opposition benches in raising concerns about the security situation in the region in light of the recent attacks in Rajouri and Punj. Mr Owaisi also alleged that the union government has not done enough in the state and caused distress to the industries. 

The Hyderabad MP also sought clarity on the parameters of nomination as envisaged in the region’s constituent assembly. 

Legislators in the Upper House raised concerns about ​stubble burning​, ​faculty vacancies in central universities​, salary hikes to Anganwadi workers and housing gaps for Scheduled Caste communities under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana. Lahar Singh Siroya of the BJP mentioned the need to create a destination wedding economy in India, echoing PM Modi’s view that “big families” should celebrate marriages on “Indian soil” so that money “will remain in the country”.

DMK’s R. Girirajan also called for including Tamil Nadu in the National Cyclone Risk Mitigation Project and establishing cyclone centres across the region to mitigate natural disasters that are causing a “recurring loss of life and property”.

Seeing the “high quality” of debates and the keenness of Opposition members to participate, Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar said the Upper House will continue discussing India’s economy on December 6, 2023. 

The House is now taking special mentions.

In the Upper House, BJP member Rakesh Sinha referenced the National Multidimensional Poverty Index to show poverty has reduced between 2015-16 and 2019-21. What did the Index find? Read more about it here.

TMC (M) member G.K. Vasan drew attention to Chennai rains triggered by Cyclone Michaung, noting that natural disasters also wreak havoc on the economy of the country. Mr. Vasan said the damage caused by the cyclone needs immediate attention and urged the Central and State Governments to support people in Chennai and neighbouring regions.

In contrast to what the ruling dispensation projects, Congress MP Dr. Amee Yajnik said the state of the economy is not what it seems. She critiqued government schemes such as Make in India, the lack of credit facilities in MSMEs, the absence of credible data and soaring unemployment, among other issues. “You may change the name of all policies and schemes, but if you cannot perform, you become a non-performing asset,” she remarked. 

Echoing the view of other Opposition leaders, Dr. Yajnik also drew attention to women’s low economic participation. “How will she become economically empowered, if you’re not giving healthcare and meals that are nutritious?” she asked.

BJP member G.V.L. Narasimha Rao launched a charge on Congress, comparing today’s inflation and economic growth levels with that when the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) was in power. “You claim to have given great growth during the Manmohan Singh regime...but Prime Minister Modi in a manner of nine years has taken India to the fifth rank [in economic indices] and by the completion of his next term, we are going to be the third largest economy in the world...that is what gives the BJP a fillip in elections,” Mr. Rao said. In comparison, UPA has given “double digit inflation” and a “banking mess”. 

Amrit Kaal has begun and Atmanirbhar Bharat is India’s strategy for achieving its desired position in the global economy, he added.

Unemployment, cost of living, petrol and diesel prices, haunt the economy among other things, said Rajeev Shukla of INC Chhattisgarh. He also flagged the status of toilets and sanitation in India. Cleanliness was once a poster issue under the Swacch Bharat Mission, even highlighted in Bollywood movies, but toilets’ conditions have deteriorated and they are akin to ‘stores’.

Congress MP from Anandpur Sahib (Punjab) Manish Tewari joined other members from the opposition in questioning the premise of amending a law that is under challenge at the Supreme Court. He also noted an absence of consultation with the relevant state to whom the law is addressed. 

J&K National Conference MP from Anantnag Hasnain Masoodi, among other things, questioned the legislative competence of the house to amend a law which lies within the scope of the state legislature. Evoking constitutional morality proprietary, the member from Anantnag why the government was utilising the Re-organisation Act, which was under judicial scrutiny, with hearings just concluded, at the Supreme Court. 

Mr Masoodi alleged that the treasury was painting an image of normalcy which was not true to reality. He told the house that the government would not call for elections notwithstanding their assertions about normalcy. Furthermore, he along with other members from the opposition, pointing to the recent death of personnel in Rajouri and Punj, raised their concerns about situation in the state. 

The Anantnag MP also told the house that the government was misleading people about reservations. He elaborated that reservations existed before 2003. 

Responding to the allegations, Union Minister Anurag Thakur pointed to the successful conduct of the District Development Council (DDC) elections in 2020. He told the house that Prime Minister Narendra Modi also met the elected representatives and spoke about ensuring development of J&K. Mr Thakur told the house that the current dispensation is correcting the weakness heralded during former Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru at the helm. Separately, BJP MP from Ladakh Jamyang Tsering Namgyal also elaborated on the lack of representation for Scheduled Tribes (STs) in the erstwhile state. He also mentioned that people of his village were not endowed much of the crucial reservation. 

Anil Prasad Hegde said China is able to manufacture cheap goods, which makes India less competitive, due to its continued violation of human rights. Millions of people, including Uyghur Muslims, are subjected to forced labour. India’s manufacturing sector cannot improve unless it engages in a campaign to end labour and human rights violations in China, he added.

Taking note of India’s progress, V. Vijayasai Reddy said direct tax collections, which have grown by 160%, and strong GST collections have powered the economy post the pandemic. However, a depreciating rupee, income inequality and widening trade deficit (particularly with China) are concerns that India cannot afford to be complacent over, he added.

India’s labour market is in focus as the Upper House reviews employment and economic growth data. Recent Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) data revealed the labour force displayed positive trends: unemployment rates were falling, and labour force participation rates rising. But “there are notes of caution. Much of the new employment generated for women has been in self-employment,” Rahul Menon wrote in The Hindu.

Discussion continues on India’s economic state of affairs. Dr. Ashok Kumar Mittal of AAP said at least 80 crore people are living in poverty, even though India carries the title of being the fastest-growing economy. At least 1.7 lakh people died by suicides in 2022, Dr. Kumar said, citing the recent National Crime Record Bureau’s (NCRB) Accidental Deaths and Suicides report. Of which, one-third were by daily wage earners and farmers. 

How can a nation have two Prime Minister, two Constitutions, two flags, Home Minister Amit Shah asks, about the Jammu and Kashmir issue. This is what the entire nation wanted, he says.

Treasury benches raise protests at remarks made by Dr. Sougata Ray.

Following BJP MP Sudhanshu Trivedi’s praises for India’s economy, Mr. Chidambaram questions why the impact of the country’s growth is not felt on the ground.

Ultimately, the question is, who is this government for? Is it for the poor, or is its policy so skewed that it favours the rich?” the MP says.

Prof. Sougata Ray, AITC MP, talks about the history of Jammu and Kashmir since Amit Shah has taken over as Home Minister. He highlights that it was the first time a State was converted into Union Territory, calling it a retrograde step. He asks what has changed- whether investment has taken place. Only some sports and cultural events are taking place. All is not well in the State of Jammu and Kashmir, he says. The Kashmiri youth demand employment he says. 41,804 people were displaced during the three wars in Kashmir, he says, citing figures from the minister. 

Nothing can be done in Kashmir unless you hold an election, he says, adding that Jammu and Kashmir should be ruled by people from Jammu and Kashmir. My demand is that you announce time-frame to hold elections, he states. Have a legislative assembly and then bring in these reservations, what is the hurry, he says. 

Will Jammu-Kashmir be a tourist spot or will it be for the people of Jammu and Kashmir, he asks. There is nothing wrong in the reservation of seats for Kashmiri migrants, he says, but there is a lot wrong with Amit Shah’s steps pertaining to Jammu-Kashmir. It should be ruled by someone from Kashmir, not by a governor from Delhi, he asserts. 

Dr. Amar Singh, INC MP from Punjab, asks the government whether they will give any scholarship for SC/ST students from Jammu and Kashmir. When you are bringing a law, bring a comprehensive law, he says. He also questions what the government is doing about student suicides in institutions like the IITs.

About the second amendment, he requests that a Punjabi person be appointed to the three member committee envisaged under the Bill. 

The amendments are good, but please deal with the associated issues as well, he says. 

The Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation (Amendment) Bill and the Jammu and Kashmir Reservation (Amendment) Bill are taken up together for consideration in the Lok Sabha. Around four hours have been initially set apart for the discussion. 

Read more about the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Amendment Bill here.

Mr. O’Brien assures Chairman Dhankhar that his party will cooperate to smoothly run the House at its maximum capacity during the entirety of the Winter Session. He also requests the Chair to allow a short-duration discussion on cooperative federalism next week.

“If you’re looking at the economy through the eyes of the richest 1% in India, you should be happy because they control around 40% of the total wealth,” the MP says, opening the discussion on the country’s economic situation.

“But, if you look at the economy through the eyes of any family in the country...those eyes will tell you that from 2014 to 2023, the price of rice gone up by 56%, the price of wheat by 59%, milk by 61%, tomatoes by 115%...” Mr. O’Brien says.

The MP questions the government whether the wealth that has been created has been passed on to the citizens of the country equitably. 

The Lok Sabha resumes at 2 p.m. with Speaker Om Birla presiding

Upper House Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar allows a short-duration discussion on the economic situation in the country.

The Lok Sabha adjourns for an hour. Proceedings will recommence at 2 p.m. 

Proceedings will resume at 2 p.m.

INC MP Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury rises to speak about the continuing ethnic strife in Manipur. The government has proved impervious and the Manipur government has failed to tackle the law and order situation is the State, he says. 

Dr. Dhal Singh Bisen, BJP MP from Balaghat, highlights that mobile network is very essential, but there are many places where it is not available. This is impacting all work for students and others, he says. 

BSNL has not moved past 2G in my constituency he says. Everyone is troubled by not having proper access. He asks that there be improvement of this facility in rural areas. 

Mr. Sonowal replies that a separate AYUSH visa category has been notified. 

Elaborating on achievements of the sector, the minister also adds that the All India Institute of Ayurveda in New Delhi’s Sarita Vihar has seen a footfall of 17.5 lakh in under six years, testifying to the popularity of AYUSH.

Only Kerala and another State do not have an AIMS-like institute, INC MP M.K Raghavan says during Zero Hour. He asks that such an institute be instituted in Kozhikode, saying that it would aid healthcare efforts in the region.

Proceedings in the House continue as usual, with the laying of papers, statements and reports on the table of the Lok Sabha.

After Question Hour ends, the Speaker announces that he has received some notices for adjournment of the House’s proceedings to discuss various matters. He disallows the same.

YSRCP MP Krishna Devarayalu Lavu highlights that Andhra Pradesh is undergoing a drought and facing a rainfall deficit in several districts, causinga drastic reduction in sowing area for cotton and chili. Pointing out that crop insurance is a major relief for farmers against climate change and erratic rainfall, he asks whether the government is looking to move chili crop from yield based to irrigation based for the purposes of insurance. 

Kailash Choudhary, Minister of State Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, says that the central government has given the State opportunity to adopt either of two modules. 

DMK MP K. Kanimozhi asks a question pertaining to rural employment, asking that given that the MNREGA scheme provides less than 50 days of assured employment, what measures the government was taking to ensure that at least 100 days of employment are given.

INC MP Shashi Tharoor asks about unemployment allowance for MNREGA workers who do not receive work within 100 days of their application for the same.

Minister of Rural Development Giriraj Singh informs the House that the Congress in 2014 spent 2.13 lakh and we spent 6.74 lakhs. He says that the State governments should question the officials who are not giving work.

The House experiences mild turmoil as members shout during the Minister’s response. 

Cyclone Michaung has put the people of Tamil Nadu through unprecedented hardships, the MP says in Rajya Sabha.

Click here for LIVE updates on Cyclone Michaung.

The impact of the cyclone is so bad that the damage cannot be repaired any sooner, the MP says. He also urges the Union government to release an interim relief of ₹5,000 crores to help the State government safeguard the people of Tamil Nadu. 

INC MP K. Suresh asks a question about delay in stipends for OBC MPhil and PhD students with fellowships, and whether the government intends to rectify this. He also asks whether the government will hand over the charge to the UGC, given its experience. 

Pratima Bhoumik, Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment says that 51 of 57 crores have been disbursed. She also highlights that number of Junior Research Fellowships (JRF) have gone up. 

The Lok Sabha kicks off proceedings at 11 am with Speaker Om Birla presiding.