News Analysis India

Tag: Om Birla

  • Monsoon Session: Speaker clarifies Lok Sabha functioned for only 21 hours

    By ANI

    New Delhi [India], August 11 (ANI): Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on Wednesday clarified that the Lower House functioned only for 21 hours and 14 minutes during the Monsoon Session which ended today.

    The LS Speaker also mentioned that out of the 96 hours fixed for the sitting of the Lower House, it was not able to function for 74 hours and 46 minutes.

    Speaking at a press conference after the Lok Sabha was adjourned sine die earlier in the day, the Lok Sabha Speaker said, “The sixth session of the 17th Lok Sabha concluded today. It is sad that the session was not as per expectations. I urged all the MPs, that the House be run in accordance with Parliamentary traditions and its dignity maintained. Sloganeering and raising of banners are not a part of our Parliamentary traditions. They (MPs) should have expressed themselves from their seats.”

    “The House was not able to function for 74 hours and 46 minutes. The total productivity was 22 per cent. A total of 20 Bills were passed, including the OBC Bill which was passed with the unanimous consent of all parties,” he said.

    “I am hurt by the fact that the proceedings of the House did not take place as per expectations in this Session. I always make an effort to see that maximum Business takes place in the House and discussions are held over issues related to the public,” the Speaker said.

    “But there was continuous obstruction this time. This could not be resolved. The last two years were more productive, as far as Busines in the House is concerned. The proceedings had continued till late in the night and MPs had made active contribution even during COVID,” the LS Speaker said.

    “I always expect the MPs to maintain the dignity of the House. There have been debates, agreements, and disagreements in the House but its dignity was never lowered,” Birla added.

    Soon after Lok Sabha was adjourned sine die, Congress MP Manickam Tagore hit out at Centre and said that Parliament is for Opposition’s voice while questioning the Speaker for not hearing the voices of the Opposition.

    He also thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the leaders of all the parties for their contribution to the House.

    The Lok Sabha has been adjourned sine die today bringing an end to a month-long Monsoon Session.

    The session began on July 19 and was slated to go on till August 13. The Lower House was adjourned for an indefinite period by Om Birla, who was in the chair.

  • Lok Sabha adjourned till noon amid protest by Opposition members

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: Lok Sabha proceedings were adjourned till noon on Friday amid protest by Opposition members over Pegasus and other issues.

    As the House convened for the day, Speaker Om Birla took up Question Hour.

    However, the members resorted to sloganeering over Pegasus snooping controversy and farm laws.

    As the protests continued, the Speaker urged the agitating members to go back to their seats.

    The proceedings lasted for around 15 minutes after which Birla adjourned the House till noon.

     

  • Pegasus row: Congress MPs throw papers, torn placards at Chair in Lok Sabha

    By PTI
    NEW DELHI: Lok Sabha on Wednesday witnessed unruly scenes when some Congress members threw papers and torn placards at the Chair and Treasury benches.

    Amid protest by opposition members over the Pegasus spying row and farmers’ issue, the House was adjourned thrice with the first adjournment around 12:10 pm till 12.30 and again till 2 PM and for the third time till 2:30 pm.

    Opposition members trooped into the Well of the House, raising slogans and holding placards against the government over the Pegasus and farmers’ issues.

    Speaker Om Birla continued with the Question Hour despite disruptions.

    This was for the first time that Lok Sabha completed the Question Hour in the Monsoon session which began on July 19.

    The House has witnessed repeated disruptions and adjournments since the beginning of the session.

    As members from the Congress, Trinamool Congress and other parties continued with the sloganeering, Birla was seen going through a book on House procedures. Soon after the Question Hour ended, Speaker Birla left the House and Rajendra Agrawal took over.

    When papers were being laid, Congress members Gurjeet Aujala, TN Prathapan, Hibi Eden and some others threw business papers of the day, some torn papers as well as placards at the Chair. A piece of the torn placard landed in the press gallery just above the Speaker’s podium.

    However, Agrawal continued with the proceedings. The members repeatedly threw papers at the Chair and later towards the Treasury benches.

    One of the papers landed near the seat of Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi.

    The Chair then adjourned the proceedings till 12:30 pm. When the House reassembled at 12:30 pm, the din continued and Agrawal adjourned Lok Sabha proceedings till 2 pm.

    As the protests continued, the House was again adjourned till 2:30 pm.

  • Lok Sabha conducts Question Hour without adjournments for first time this Monsoon session 

    By PTI
    NEW DELHI: The Lok Sabha on Wednesday conducted Question Hour without any adjournments for the first time since the start of the Monsoon session of Parliament on July 19 despite vociferous protests by Opposition members on various issues.

    As soon as the House met for the day, Opposition members trooped into the Well as they sought to raise various issues.

    Some members were shouting slogans and displaying placards.

    From the Pegasus spyware controversy to the three farm laws, the members wanted to raise various issues during the Question Hour.

    Speaker Om Birla continued with the Question Hour despite the protests and more than ten questions related to various ministries as well as supplementaries were taken up.

    This is the first time in the current Monsoon session that the Question Hour went on without any adjournments. Since the commencement of the session on July 19, the proceedings have been repeatedly adjourned due to Opposition protests.

    On Tuesday, there were nine adjournments in the Lower House before proceedings were adjourned for the day in the evening. After being adjourned nine times, the lower house reassembled at 4.30 PM and Rajendra Agrawal, who was in the Chair, had once again taken up one matter of urgent public importance.

  • Parties demand restoration of MPLAD funds; Lok Sabha speaker says he will raise issue with government

    By PTI
    NEW DELHI: Various parties, including the Congress and the TMC, on Sunday demanded restoration of MPLAD funds, in an all-party meeting chaired by Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, sources said.

    He assured them that he will raise the issue with the government and its top functionaries, they said.

    Prime Minister Narendra Modi and floor leaders of various parties were present in the customary all-party meeting on the eve of the Monsoon session of Parliament.

    The session will begin on Monday and conclude on August 13.

    Leader of Congress in Lok Sabha Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, TMC leader Sudeep Bandopadhyay, YSR Congress leader Midhun Reddy were among those who raised the issue of MPLAD funds during the meeting in the presence of Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi, the sources said.

    Birla also told members that they will be given adequate opportunity for discussion on issues of public interest and appealed to them to cooperate with the Chair in the smooth conduct of the House.

    In the meeting, Speaker Birla lauded the leaders for their support during the last five sessions, an official statement said.

    He also appealed to them to continue their cooperation during the Monsoon Session too, it said.

    Leaders of political parties assured the speaker that they will extend all cooperation in smooth functioning of the House.

    Later, talking to reporters, Birla said he has requested leaders of parties in Lok Sabha to respect the sanctity and dignity of the House and sought their cooperation for the smooth conduct of the proceedings of the House.

    He said that the House represents the collective will and aspirations of the country and it is the responsibility of members to voice the concerns of the people they represent, while maintaining the decorum and rules of the House.

    The speaker said that the House belongs to all members and he will give all of them ample opportunity, including those from smaller parties and single member parties, to participate in the proceedings so that more and more issues of public interest can be discussed.

    Birla informed that for the session, extensive arrangements have been made for safety of members, officials and the media according to Covid protocols.

    He also noted that an app is being developed which will be an “one stop solution” for all parliamentary matters.

    The Monsoon session of Parliament is the sixth session of the 17th Lok Sabha and subject to exigencies of government business, would conclude on August 13.

    There would be a total of 19 sittings.

  • Monsoon session of Parliament to start from July 19, conclude on August 13: LS speaker Om Birla

    By PTI
    NEW DELHI: Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla Monday said all Covid-related protocols will be followed during the Monsoon Session of parliament scheduled to begin from July 19.

    He said those who have not been vaccinated against coronavirus will be requested to undergo an RT-PCR test before entering the parliament premises during the session.

    Addressing a press conference in the parliament complex, Birla said 323 MPs have been fully vaccinated against the virus, while 23 have not been able to take their first jab due to some medical reasons.

    Birla said both the Houses will sit simultaneously and proceedings will start from 11 am.

    The Monsoon Session of parliament will begin from July 19 and conclude on August 13.

    Since the pandemic began, three sessions of Parliament were curtailed while the winter session last year had to be cancelled.

    The Monsoon Session, which usually starts in July, had begun in September last year owing to the pandemic situation.

  • New parliament building necessity, no MP objected when both Houses requested: Speaker Om Birla

    By PTI
    NEW DELHI: Not a single MP in either Lok Sabha or Rajya Sabha had objected to the construction of a new parliament building when a request for it was made by both the Houses to the Centre, Speaker of the lower house Om Birla said on Friday.

    Describing the new Parliament building as a “necessity”, he said though the construction is running 16 days behind schedule, it will be completed by October 2022.

    “We were (initially) 27 days ahead of schedule. But after the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic (second wave), the construction is now 16 days behind schedule,” Birla said.

    To questions on construction of a new parliament house at a press conference here, the Lok Sabha speaker said the existing building cannot be expanded and does not cater to the needs of changing times.

    “The existing building is a historical one. Many historic decisions were taken in this building. But it cannot be expanded further and therefore a new building is a necessity,” he said.

    About MPs from opposition parties opposing the project, Birla said it was both the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha which had requested the Central government for a new parliament building.

    “When the request for a new parliament building was made by both the houses, no MP had objected to it. No one has approached me opposing it,” Birla said.

    Opposition parties and the BJP are engaged in a political slugfest over the construction of the new building.

    The opposition parties say the project should be stopped to save funds for management of the COVID-19 pandemic.

  • Students who lost parents to COVID to get free coaching, accommodation in Kota: Om Birla

    Birla, the MP from Kota — a major coaching hub for competitive examination preparations in the country — held a meeting with the directors of coaching institutes in the city.

  • Adhir Chowdhury urges Lok Sabha speaker to allow PAC meet on India’s vaccination policy

    By PTI
    NEW DELHI: Leader of the Congress in Lok Sabha Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury has urged Speaker Om Birla to allow the Public Accounts Committee of Parliament to meet and deliberate on the country’s COVID-19 vaccination policy.

    In a letter to the speaker, Chowdhury said that having an “effective vaccination policy” is the need of the hour to tackle the pandemic and the PAC should meet either physically or virtually to discuss it.

    He said the policy on vaccination has become central and is of utmost importance in these days of crisis.

    “As the lives and livelihood of the people of the country as a whole are dependant on an effective vaccination policy, I would request you to kindly permit the Public Accounts Committee to meet and deliberate upon this subject matter with the representatives of the government — the Ministry of Health, ICMR and others concerned,” he said in his letter.

    The Congress leader, who is also the chairman of the PAC, said the meeting could be by any mode, either physical or virtual, depending upon the COVID-19 situation.

    “Given the seriousness of the issues confronting us, and going by the past precedents and practise, I would once again request you to permit the committee to meet at the earliest to discuss and deliberate on the vaccination policy being pursued for tackling the COVID-19 pandemic,” he said.

    The Congress has been seeking the holding of parliamentary committee meetings virtually, if not physically, when the country is reporting over 4.5 lakh cases of coronavirus everyday.

    Chowdhury also highlighted that the Public Accounts Committee, as well as other committees, have a key role to play in the parliamentary system and no panel is in a position to meet in this critical time.

    He said that the Parliament and its committees, the Public Accounts Committee in particular, have a serious responsibility to discharge by way of discussing, deliberating and giving suggestions and recommendations on ways of tackling and resolving the problems currently confronting the antion due to the pandemic.

  • Jairam Ramesh urges parliamentary standing committees be allowed to meet virtually

    By PTI
    NEW DELHI: Senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh on Tuesday demanded Rajya Sabha Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu and Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla allow parliamentary standing committees to meet virtually to discuss issues of urgent public importance.

    Ramesh, the chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Science and Technology, Environment, Forests and Climate Change, has been calling for allowing the holding of Committee meetings virtually in view of the coronavirus pandemic.

    Naidu had earlier disallowed the request, citing rules and secrecy issues.

    “I am requesting this once again for the umpteenth time. Speaker Lok Sabha Om Birla and Chairman Rajya Sabha M Venkaiah Naidu, please allow virtual meetings of Standing Committees. There are so many issues of utmost public importance that need to be discussed urgently,” he said in a tweet.

    Senior Congress leader Shashi Tharoor, the Chairman of the Standing Committee on Information Technology, said he agreed with Ramesh’s request as physical meetings are not possible during the current times.

    Some meetings of the panel have earlier been cancelled due to the lack of quorum.

    “I agree strongly with Jairam Ramesh and had made the same request last year. We are stymied because virtual participation is not allowed and physical meetings are impossible in the present circumstances (the last one I convened had to be cancelled for lack of a quorum as MPs pulled out),” Tharoor said on Twitter.

    The two leaders had earlier also made requests to the presiding officers of both houses of Parliament to allow the holding of virtual meetings of Parliamentary panels