Parliament Winter Session Day 8 LIVE updates | Rajya Sabha passes Repealing and Amending Bill, adjourns for the day

Proceedings in the Rajya Sabha will resume at 11 am on Thursday, December 14, 2023. 

The Chair, Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhar shares an update about the intruders who earlier halted proceeding in the Lok Sabha. The culprits have been apprehended, the matter is under investigation and will take its own course, he informs the members. 

The House elects to take up special mentions tomorrow, since Opposition members are not present in the House. 

The Repealing and Amending Bill, 2023 as passed by the Lok Sabha is taken up for consideration. It is passed clause-by-clause and then passed in its entirety by voice vote. 

Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal replies to discussion on Repealing and Amending Bill, 2023 in the Rajya Sabha and said that all speakers agreed that useless laws should be removed and supported the bill. These laws can’t end naturally, they must be repealed, he points out, touching upon the suggestion to include sunset clause. 

He says that once this Bill is passed, 1562 laws would stand repealed since PM Modi came to power. These were some laws which were tired and tiring the public, he says. 

BJP MP Mahesh Jethmalani highlights that this Bill engages in “legal housekeeping”, removing obsolete laws. He highlights the categories of laws being tackled by the present Bill- obsolete laws, amending acts which have been incorporated into the law, appropriation bills for particular years which have time limits, and an amending Act which made a minor grammatical errors. 

Although it is a formal bill, it is much needed legal housekeeping, he reiterates, expressing support for the bill. 

Dr. M Thambidurai, AIADMK MP from Tamil Nadu, suggests that if any laws have anything useful, they should be modified and kept, not just remove them because they are British-era laws. 

BRS MP K.R Suresh Reddy says that it is good to update the law. But he points out that the law becomes effective only after rules are framed. While the government is reforming, the parliament and legislature has to rise to the occasion, he says, highlighting that subordinate legislation is an area that merits attention. 

After security breach, Lok Sabha resumes proceedings. Speaker Om Birla assures that a detailed investigation will be done of the incident and the perpetrators will face punishment.

Terming national security as utmost important, Mr. Birla calls for a meeting will all party chiefs. The Lower House has been adjourned till Thursday, 11 AM

Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal introduces The Repealing and Amending Bill, 2023, which seeks to do repeal 76 laws which are now considered outdated. 

The Central Universities (Amendment) Bill, 2023 is taken up for consideration and adopted clause-by-clause. The Bill is then passed by voice vote.

All languages are national languages, says Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. Not just the 14 national languages, we have also introduced primers in tribal languages he says. 

Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan replies to discussion on The Central Universities (Amendment) Bill, 2023 in the Rajya Sabha. 

Replying to member Dola Sen’s remark pertaining to rewriting history through the National Education Policy, the Minister says that her own State has adopted 99% of the framework covered by the national policy. 

We don’t rewrite history, he says. Some elements have become representative of the while country, which are not, he said. We have made the birth anniversary of Birsa Munda into Janajatiya Diwas, where are we rewriting history? We are ensuring its continuance, he says. 

Till 2014, the reservations in higher education posts for OBCs, SCs/STs was for show, merely in policy. Posts were advertised and then were later converted to general seats. He says this ended after PM Modi came to power. 

Arjun Munda, Minister of Tribal Affairs, rises to speak favourably of the provisions of the Central Universities (Amendment) Bill, 2023 in the Rajya Sabha. He says that the government is making efforts to improve educational opportunities for those hailing from tribal communities.He says that they arranged scholarships for higher education, not only for those studying in India but also overseas.

Leader of the House Piyush Goyal asserts that Opposition raises an issue whenever there is a bill pertaining to OBCs and Scheduled Castes. He says that even in Lok Sabha has been informed that there is no issue pertaining to the security breach, but Opposition has walked out. 

Abdul Wahab, IUML MP from Kerala, rises to support the Bill. He says that every university in Kerala are all politicised, and hopes that this should not happen for Central Universities.

Amid sloganeering by opposition members, Speaker Om Birla returned to the chair, reminding that a meeting to discuss the same would be held at 4 p.m. today. He adjourned the house until then. 

Piyush Goyal responds, says the Opposition should come together to convey a message of unity and strength. “Politicisation of this issue by Congress is not a good message for the country. I request the Leader of Opposition Mr. Kharge to allow the House to function normally while the investigation progresses,” he says.

Leader of Opposition Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury speaking for members from the opposition benches sought clarity from the government about reports claiming that the intruders were given passes by BJP MP. Members raise slogans demanding clarification from the treasury. 

Referring to the provision that provides the officers “shall be exempted from any liability by reason of any loss, mis-delivery, delay, or damage in course of any service provided by the Post Office except such liability as may be prescribed”. The Thiruvananthapuram MP argued that the provision bolsters the govt’s power to “intercept, detain or destroy” the postal articles without being in any way accountable to people. Establishing of intent, that is, either “fraudulently or “wilfully” would engage them in redtapism. 

Mr. Dhankhar says that he will apprise the House before the day ends and asks Mr. Kharge to give the process some time. “People are dying, how are you asking for time,” Mr. Kharge says.

Opposition members protest as BJP MP Vivek Thakur speaks on the Bill. “Nothing will go on record except what Mr. Thakur says,” Mr. Dhankhar says.

Opposition members continue to chant slogans and protest.

Congress MP Shashi Tharoor raised concerns about the bill empowering the government to “empower any officer to intercept, open or detain any item in the interest of the security of the State.” This, according to him, does not provide for safeguarding the rights of citizens and is centred around an “ambiguous definition”. 

The Act primarily addresses mail services provided through Post Offices. With the functioning of the public utility diversifying beyond mails and their network becoming a vehicle of delivery for a variety of citizen-centric services “necessitated the repeal of the Indian Post Office Act, 1898 and enactment of a new law”. Thus, the bill’s text holds, “it is proposed to bring the Post Office Bill, 2023 which addresses these changes and provides for a simple legislative framework to facilitate evolution of the post office into a network for delivery of citizen centric services”. 

Chairman Dhankhar tries to pivot the Upper House to discuss the Bill but the members persist.

“The intruders in Lok Sabha visitors’ gallery were immediately been apprehended. The Parliamentary Security Service is examining the matter forthwith. We’ll apprise the members about the result before I rise for the day. Bear with me,” Mr. Dhankhar says.

“Nothing more than that can be said at the moment. I can come to this House only with firm information,” he adds.

Speaking about the incident, Speaker Om Birla told the house that the secretariat and Delhi Police is cooperating to investigate the matter. Importantly, he told the house that initial investigation revealed that the released gas was not harmful and was only meant to cause commotion. Mr Birla said the two individuals have been detained and their objects confiscated. 

Responding to opposition members’ demand for a discussion, Mr Birla said that he would further inform members once details emerge after the initial investigation. They demanded more caution in according access to parliament premises. 

Minister of Education Dharmendra Pradhan moves the Bill that will establish the Central Tribal University in Telangana. The Bill was passed by the Lok Sabha on December 7, 2023.

Members try to raise Points of Order, Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar objects and asks the MPs to respect the chair.

BJP MP Rajendra Agarwal, who was in the chair at the time of the incident, recalling the chain of events stated that the intruders raised certain slogans but could not be heard clearly. “I initially thought that one of them has tipped over and fell by mistake, but one of them was hanging from the railing and fell. They fell into the middle passage and not on any MP,” he said. 

Commotion erupts in the lower house as intruders enter the chambers. Two persons reportedly jumped into the house from one the galleries and threw something that emitted fluorescent gas. The house stands adjourned till 2 p.m. 

Proceedings will resume at 2 p.m.

Leader of Opposition in the Lower House Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury objected to the introduction stating that the bill violates Article 265 which provides that, except for an authority by law, no tax shall be levied or collection by any other authority. The only way it can be done is by amending the Article, Mr Chowdhury stated. 

Mr Chowdhury also demanded that a discussion not be attempted to shut up the opposition. He alleged that the opposition voices were not being heard properly. 

Responding to Mr Chowdhury, the finance minister told the house that she not bringing anything new instead following up with the 1931 Act to remove any potential ambiguities (or confusion) that may arise in an interim period. That is, before formally regularised by a finance bill. 

In response to Mr Chowdhury’s allegation about opposition being unheard, she said, “There is not attempt to shut up any voice and certainly not yours.” 

“What measures are in place to make compulsory provisions for employers to grant a certain number of paid menstrual leaves to female employees,” he asks.

In response, Ms. Irani says that menstruation is not a handicap and we should not propose issues where women are denied equal opportunity.

Notwithstanding Dum Dum MP Sougata Roy’s opposition, terming it as a “trivial legislation”, the bill was successfully introduced via voice vote. Mr Roy had raised objections to the revision of retirement age of tribunal judges that he argued “favoured” certain appointments in the govt’s favour. 

Speaker Om Birla informs that he has not accorded permission to any adjournment motion. 

While responding to MP Ritesh Pandey, Telecom Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw accused Ritesh Pandey of putting forth the question that matched word to word with those previously asked by Congress MP K. Muraleedharan, Vincent H. Pala, Digvijay Singh and Priyanka Chaturvedi in their respective houses. 

My Pandey responded that members share questions among themselves because the established procedures entail that if the questions are same across multiple alleys, the greater would be the chances of it coming up for discussion. 

The Upper House will take up the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation (Second Amendment) Bill and the Government of Union Territories (Amendment) Bill, 2023, as passed by the Lok Sabha on Tuesday. Both Bills will be discussed together.

Question Hour begins in the House.

A heated exchange ensued between Kaliabor MP Gaurav Gogoi and Union Telecom Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw after the former elaborated his concerns stating that two major telecom companies held the maximum share. He further stated that one of them bears Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s face. 

In response, Mr Vaishnaw reiterated that the net neutrality as a principle was accepted in 2017. Since then, the new licences accorded to telecom companies bear this principle and have it laid out in their conditions. 

Further, in response to Mr Gogoi’s remarks about a potential duopoly and about the Prime Minister, Mr Vaishnaw condemned it. He told the house that the bitter memories of the 2G auction during the UPA regime would not arise again. Mr Vaishnaw told the house that instead, under the present dispensation, the telecom sector had emerged as a sunrise sector. It now holds transparency and potential to draw further investment. Furthermore, he stated the speedy rollout of 5G in the country which is being recognised globally and urged Mr Gogoi to acknowledge the same. 

In response, Union Telecom Minister told the house that the fund was utilised by BharatNET to provide optical fibre network to 2 lakh panchayats in the country. Furthermore, it was utilised to provide 4G connectivity in unconnected areas. 

Mr Vaishnaw, enumerating steps taken by the govt to ensure connectivity, also stated that the govt had sanctioned 4G towers to 40,000 villages. 

Member of parliament from Ambedkar Nagar (Uttar Pradesh) asked the govt about how the govt was looking to ensure net neutrality. In response, Union Telecom Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw stated the pathway was already in motion and is not new. He told the house that the ministry follows the framework accepted in 2018. It provides licensing terms that ensure that no provider engages in any discriminatory practices entailing the use of services through their internet

The MP also urges the government to implement measures to reduce school dropouts, provide basic infrastructure, and arrange yearly medical check-ups for students.

President Droupadi Murmu Wednesday said the nation will forever be indebted to the brave security personnel who laid down their lives in the 2001 terror attack on Parliament, and asked all to reiterate the pledge to wipe out terrorism. Read more here

Members observe a minute of silence in remembrance of martyrs and personnel on the 20th anniversary of the attack in the parliament complex. Speaker Om Birla said the opportunity must be utilised to strengthen their resolve in fighting against terrorism. 

“Their sacrifice will be remembered as we reiterate our commitment to wipe out terrorism,” Mr. Dhankhar says.

Rajya Sabha MPs observe silence as a mark of respect to those who lost their lives in the attack.