The proceedings in Parliament were disrupted for 8th consecutive day over a variety of issues, including the latest snooping row, the Rafale jet deal and Cauvery dam. Lok Sabha proceedings were adjourned for the day around 12.15 p.m. as AIADMK, TDP and Congress members protested over various issues.
The Rajya Sabha was initially adjourned till 2.30 p.m. as the AIADMK and DMK continued their protest over the Cauvery issue, while the Congress and Treasury benches sparred over the Rafale jet deal. Later, when the House reconvened, Leader of the Opposition Ghulam Nabi Azad raised the issue of President’s Rule in Jammu and Kashmir and government’s move to allow 10 agencies to intercept information on computers. Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said the authorisation was given under 2009 rules and dismissed opposition’s charge of snooping, saying they were playing with national security and “making a mountain where even a molehill doesn’t exist“. Amid slogan shouting by opposition members, unhappy with government’s response, the House was adjourned for the day.
The two Houses would now meet on December 27 as there would be no sitting on December 24 and December 26 in view of Christmas.
Here are the updates:
TKS Elangovan (DMK) is the next speaker. He asks how can a debate happen when the House is not in order. He doesn't take part in the discussion
Congress and BJP members chant with resounding claps. They demand an apology from the other party. Mr. Harivansh disapproves clapping.
Law Minister Ravishankar Prasad says the order was brought in for the purpose of national security and those opposing it are against the country's national interest.
Chanting and sloganeering continues. House is adjourned.
Deputy Chairperson Harivansh asks Ravi Prakash Verma (SP) to speak. He rises to speak on the resolution moved by Tiruchi Siva (DMK) on the plight of widows in the country. He is barely audible. He pleads the Chair to bring the House in order.
Let the people watch how the House reacts to a debate on the plight of widows, Mr. Harivansh says.
Congress and BJP members continue to engage in a verbal duel. They chant slogans, while Mr. Verma continues to speak. He says the plight of women abandoned by their husbands are also as pitiable as that of widows. He says these women are not given their rightful share of property. He supports Mr. Siva's resolution.
Mr. Harivansh once again requests members to get back to their seats and participate in the discussion.
Rajya Sabha reconvenes. Deputy Chairperson Harivansh is in the Chair.
Anand Sharma says he wants to raise two issues. One on the way Jammu and Kashmir came under President's Rule and second on Home Ministry's order allowing monitoring of computers.
BJP members object to it. Congress members counter them. The Chair insists on taking up Private Members' business.
Mr. Sharma says the government's order is against the Right to Privacy. This will make the country a Police State.
Leader of the House Arun Jaitley explains the rationale behind the order. He says the powers are the similar to those given by the Indian Telegraph Act. Such an order of authorisation is repeated time to time. Such an order was given even during 2009 when UPA was in rule, he adds.
Leader of Opposition Ghulam Nabi Azad says he has a copy of the order and it does not mention the word "national security," War of words between Treasury and Opposition Benches.
N.K. Premachandran raises the recent Home Ministry order approving surveillance of computers.
Dinesh Trivedi speaks on the plight of MSME sectors. A Shiv Sena MP demands Dhangars to be added to OBC list.
Sloganeering gets louder. House adjourned for the day.
Lok Sabha reassembles. MoS for Parliamentary Affairs Arjun Meghwal suggests that House need not function on December 24 and 26 so that members can go home for Christmas. N.K. Premachandran also agrees. Speaker approves Christmas holidays.
AIADMK MPs raise slogans in Tamil against the Union government.
Zero Hour proceedings are on.
Congress deputy floor leader in Rajya Sabha Anand Sharma, along with several opposition leaders, condemn government's order to allow monitoring all computers. "Through this order the BJP government is converting India into a surveillance State," he says adding that it is in direct conflict with Supreme Court's verdict on right to privacy. He was addressing the media outside the Parliament Hall.
Rajya Sabha is functioning well so far. Members submit various reports.
MoS Vijay Goel lists out tentative legislative business for the upcoming week.
Congress member Anand Sharma says Congress party likes to urgently take up a discussion on imposing President's Rule in Jammu and Kashmir. He also says his party will take part in a discussion on Rafale deal. He also insists on JPC probe. Members begin chanting.
Mr. Goel says government is ready for a discussion. He also assures the House that the BJP members will not show placards.
Mr. Naidu says though he is unwilling to take action against members who troop into the Well, he will consider taking appropriate action irrespective of the party they belong to in order to let the House function.
He adjourns the House till 2:30 pm to allow members and political parties to come up with consensus.
Lok Sabha convenes. Question Hour is in progress. Sloganeering is also on. Some members throw papers as Aayush Minister responds to questions pertaining to his ministry.
House is adjourned till 12 noon.
Rajya Sabha convenes. Chairman M. Venkaiah Naidu says government and political parties must come up with a system to allow the House to function. We had scheduled some important issues such as on Rafale, cyclones, agrarian crisis. But the House couldn't take up any business, he says.
I appeal to all political parties to help running the House. The parties must come with a solution to see the House functions regularly, he says. He urges the Leader of the Houses and the floor leaders to deliberate and come up with a consensus on running the House smoothly.
Following this junior minister for Parliamentary Affairs Vijay Goel submits a report on President's Rule imposed in Jammu and Kashmir.
