Tag: parliament monsoon session

  • Ruckus continues in Parliament as Opposition protests over Sanjay Raut arrest, Congress MPs’ suspension

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: Rajya Sabha proceedings on Monday were adjourned for about an hour after protests over arrest of Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut and other issues.

    Even as officials papers were being laid, Shiv Sena MPs were up on their feet protesting against the arrest of Raut.

    Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu said the matter has nothing to do with the House and asked them to go back to their seats.

    Other opposition MPs also joined in raising issues such as price rise.

    The Shiv Sena as well as TMC MPs then moved into the well of the House.

    “Go back to your seats. You cannot use the House to settle the scores outside,” Naidu said before adjourning the proceedings till 12 noon.

    The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has arrested Raut in a money laundering case linked to alleged irregularities in the redevelopment of a Mumbai ‘chawl’ after conducting a nine-hour search at his residence.

    The Lok Sabha was on Monday adjourned till 12 noon after a few minutes of business following protests by opposition leaders demanding withdrawal of suspension of four Congress MPs.

    As the House met at 11 am after the weekend break, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla congratulated Indian sportspersons who have brought laurels to the country in the ongoing Commonwealth Games.

    While Mirabai Chanu, Jeremy Lalrinnunga and Achinta Sheuli have bagged gold, Bindyarani Devi and Sanket Sargar got silver and Gururaja Poojary got bronze, he noted.

    Birla congratulated the medal winners and all players participating in the sporting event and said they are the inspiration for the youth of the country.

    When he took up questions related to different ministries, Congress members started protests demanding the withdrawal of suspension of four of their colleagues.

    Initially, they protested standing at the aisles but later came to the well of the House.

    The speaker appealed to them to go back to their seats and allow the House to run.

    Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Arjun Ram Meghwal accused the opposition of disrupting the proceedings and not allowing the House to function by their protests.

    Birla said such protests were not good as it was lowering the dignity of the House.

    The opposition did not heed to the appeals following which the speaker adjourned the House till 12 noon.

    Four Congress MPs — Manickam Tagore, Ramya Haridas, TN Prathapan and S Jothimani — were suspended last Monday for the rest of the session for protests and carrying placards inside the House.

    Lok Sabha proceedings have been disrupted mostly due to the opposition protests, seeking a discussion on price rise and GST rate hike on some food items, even since the Monsoon Session began on July 18.

    NEW DELHI: Rajya Sabha proceedings on Monday were adjourned for about an hour after protests over arrest of Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut and other issues.

    Even as officials papers were being laid, Shiv Sena MPs were up on their feet protesting against the arrest of Raut.

    Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu said the matter has nothing to do with the House and asked them to go back to their seats.

    Other opposition MPs also joined in raising issues such as price rise.

    The Shiv Sena as well as TMC MPs then moved into the well of the House.

    “Go back to your seats. You cannot use the House to settle the scores outside,” Naidu said before adjourning the proceedings till 12 noon.

    The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has arrested Raut in a money laundering case linked to alleged irregularities in the redevelopment of a Mumbai ‘chawl’ after conducting a nine-hour search at his residence.

    The Lok Sabha was on Monday adjourned till 12 noon after a few minutes of business following protests by opposition leaders demanding withdrawal of suspension of four Congress MPs.

    As the House met at 11 am after the weekend break, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla congratulated Indian sportspersons who have brought laurels to the country in the ongoing Commonwealth Games.

    While Mirabai Chanu, Jeremy Lalrinnunga and Achinta Sheuli have bagged gold, Bindyarani Devi and Sanket Sargar got silver and Gururaja Poojary got bronze, he noted.

    Birla congratulated the medal winners and all players participating in the sporting event and said they are the inspiration for the youth of the country.

    When he took up questions related to different ministries, Congress members started protests demanding the withdrawal of suspension of four of their colleagues.

    Initially, they protested standing at the aisles but later came to the well of the House.

    The speaker appealed to them to go back to their seats and allow the House to run.

    Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Arjun Ram Meghwal accused the opposition of disrupting the proceedings and not allowing the House to function by their protests.

    Birla said such protests were not good as it was lowering the dignity of the House.

    The opposition did not heed to the appeals following which the speaker adjourned the House till 12 noon.

    Four Congress MPs — Manickam Tagore, Ramya Haridas, TN Prathapan and S Jothimani — were suspended last Monday for the rest of the session for protests and carrying placards inside the House.

    Lok Sabha proceedings have been disrupted mostly due to the opposition protests, seeking a discussion on price rise and GST rate hike on some food items, even since the Monsoon Session began on July 18.

  • Three more Rajya Sabha members suspended for unruly behaviour

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: The Rajya Sabha on Thursday adopted a motion to suspend three more members — AAP’s Sushil Kumar Gupta and Sandeep Kumar Pathak besides independent MP Ajit Kumar Bhuyan — for the rest of the week for “unruly behaviour” in the House.

    Soon after the House met after the first adjournment, opposition members continued with their protest in the well of the house.

    Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman Harivansh then named the three members for holding placards and shouting slogans in the well.

    Soon Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs V Muraleedharan moved a motion to suspend the three members from the House for the remainder of the week.

    The motion was passed by a voice vote.

    As some opposition members demanded a division of votes, Harivansh then asked the members to go to their seats to allow a division of votes.

    But the opposition members continued to raise an uproar.

    He then adjourned the House till 2 PM amid continued uproar by opposition members.

    So far 23 members of the opposition have been suspended by the Rajya Sabha for “unruly behaviour”.

    NEW DELHI: The Rajya Sabha on Thursday adopted a motion to suspend three more members — AAP’s Sushil Kumar Gupta and Sandeep Kumar Pathak besides independent MP Ajit Kumar Bhuyan — for the rest of the week for “unruly behaviour” in the House.

    Soon after the House met after the first adjournment, opposition members continued with their protest in the well of the house.

    Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman Harivansh then named the three members for holding placards and shouting slogans in the well.

    Soon Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs V Muraleedharan moved a motion to suspend the three members from the House for the remainder of the week.

    The motion was passed by a voice vote.

    As some opposition members demanded a division of votes, Harivansh then asked the members to go to their seats to allow a division of votes.

    But the opposition members continued to raise an uproar.

    He then adjourned the House till 2 PM amid continued uproar by opposition members.

    So far 23 members of the opposition have been suspended by the Rajya Sabha for “unruly behaviour”.

  • With regional cuisines and morning tea, suspended MPs spend night in Parliament complex

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: Braving mosquitoes and the heat, some of the suspended MPs like CPI’s Santosh Kumar, AAP’s Sanjay Singh spent the night beside the Gandhi statue in the Parliament complex.

    TMC’s Dola Sen and Santanu Sen were present on the site till post midnight With no permission for a tent granted by the authorities, five MPs slept under the sky as a protest against the suspension of 24 MPs, 20 from Rajya Sabha and four Congress members from Lok Sabha.

    “50 hour non-stop dharna by Opposition MPs. 21 hours done. 29 hours to go.”

    “Revoke suspension of 24 MPs. Discuss,” tweeted TMC Rajya Sabha MP Derek O’Brien.

    In the morning, TMC MP Mausam Noor who brought tea for the MPs said that the Opposition MPs will not apologise and the protest will continue.

    The opposition has demanded a discussion on price rise in both Houses of Parliament.

    They were later joined by four Congress MPs who have also been suspended from Lok Sabha for the remainder of the Monsoon session.

    The Rajya Sabha MPs are holding the protest near the Gandhi statue and will stay at the site through night, Trinamool Congress’ Dola Sen, who is one of the suspended members, said earlier in the day.

    The 20 MPs, suspended over Monday and Tuesday, include seven from the TMC, six from the DMK, three from the Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS), two from the Communist Party of India (Marxist) and one each from the Communist Party of India (CPI) and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP).

    The Nationalist Congress Party and the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha who have no members suspended will also join the protests, sources said.

    “Question: What were Opposition MPs demanding Answer: A discussion on #PriceRise #GST hurting millions of people Action: Dictatorial @narendramodi govt suspends 24 MPs from #Parliament Next few days 24x 7 dharna at Gandhi statue.

    Peaceful satyagraha will always WIN,” tweeted TMC’s Rajya Sabha member Derek O’Brien.

    While the Congress and other Opposition parties were protesting at different venues in the morning, by the evening, it seemed they had come together on the issue of price rise.

    Senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh visited the site of the protests and said his party will be part of the day-night dharna organised by the other Opposition parties.

    “Congress, DMK, TMC, CPM & AAP MPs from both Houses on 50-hour continous dharna by turns in Parliament precincts. They are protesting their suspension for demanding URGENT debate on price rise and GST on food items,” he tweeted later at night.

    “There’s a 170% increase in the suspension of MPs under Modi govt compared to UPA. 24 MPs suspended this Monsoon session alone!” he said.

    “We are fighting the Modi-Shah onslaught on democracy and it’s clear that the Modi regime will be seen as a black spot in Indian history. All four Lok Sabha MPs are standing in solidarity with RS MP and are sitting in batches,” said Manickam Tagore, one of the four Congress MPs suspended from Lok Sabha.

    The CPI, whose one member has been suspended, said in a statement the suspension is an assault on the basic rights of freedom of expression of members of Parliament.

    “The suspension of 4 opposition MPs of the Lok Sabha and 20 MPs of the opposition in the Rajya Sabha including two MPs of the CPI(M) on successive days is a serious blow to the democratic functioning of Parliament.”

    “It is the Modi government that has been stubbornly refusing to accept any motion moved by the opposition under the Rules for a structured discussion on the burning problems being faced by the people, destroying their lives, like price rise, unemployment etc.”

    Opposition sources also said feelers from the “other side” has indicated that there is a view within the government that suspending 19 opposition MPs at one go in Rajya Sabha was a wrong strategic move and should have been avoided.

    In fact, in the morning, Rajya Sabha Chairman Venkaiah Naidu met leaders of the Opposition parties in RS and an offer was made to them that if they express regret over their behaviour in the House, another resolution will be brought to revoke the suspensions, the sources said.

    However, none of the leaders acquiesced, saying instead that the government should express regret over the decision of not discussing the price rise.

    With the suspension of the MPs in RS concluding on Friday, a discussion on price rise will be taken up after that.

    Sources in the Opposition also said a detailed plan of action has been drawn out for the dharna and a roster of duties was created which is being circulated on a dedicated WhatsApp group.

    While on Wednesday, idli-sambhar breakfast was organised by DMK MP Tiruchi Siva, lunch with curd rice was arranged by the DMK.

    Dinner will be roti, daal, paneer and chicken tandoori courtesy the TMC.

    On Thursday, the DMK would be in charge of breakfast, the TRS of lunch and the AAP will arrange dinner.

    Sources said the parties have taken upon themselves to appoint leaders to take turns of one to two hours to sit at the site in support of those who have been suspended.

    In fact, parties such as the NCP and JMM who have no members suspended will also join the protests, sources said.

    The leaders, however, will have to sleep under the sky, with their request of a tent being denied by the authorities, as no structures can be built, even temporarily inside the premises.

    The protesting MPs can, however, use the toilet in the bathroom of the Parliament library.

    From curd rice to ‘gajar ka halwa’, Opposition parties arrange regional cuisine for 50-hour protest

    From curd rice and idli-sambhar to chicken tandoori, ‘gajar ka halwa’ and fruits, Opposition parties are taking turns to arrange regional cuisine for MPs on a 50-hour relay protest against their suspension and demanding discussion on price rise.

    In a show of solidarity and political strength, the Opposition parties have come together to create a duty roster for the protest with every party taking responsibility for making arrangements, including food, for those sitting on the dharna.

    The roster is being circulated on a dedicated WhatsApp group, keeping everyone in the loop about the day’s arrangements.

    Twenty suspended Rajya Sabha members started the protest inside the Parliament complex on Wednesday, with sources saying the Opposition declined the Chairman’s offer that they express regret over their members’ behaviour in the House to get the suspension revoked.

    The MPs are holding the protest near the Gandhi statue and will stay at the site through the night, said the Trinamool Congress (TMC) Dola Sen, who is one of the suspended.

    Those suspended over Monday and Tuesday, include seven from the TMC, six from the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), three from the Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS), two from the Communist Party of India (Marxist) and one each from the Communist Party of India (CPI) and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP).

    The parties which will be a part of the protests include the TMC, DMK, AAP, TRS, Samajwadi Party, Shiv Sena, CPIM, CPI, JMM and the Kerala Congress.

    Sources said the parties have decided that they will try to arrange regional cuisines for the MPs for their meals.

    On Wednesday, the MPs had idli-sambhar for breakfast which was organised by DMK MP Tiruchi Siva.

    The lunch of curd rice was also arranged by the DMK.

    The menu for dinner is roti, daal, paneer and chicken tandoori, courtesy of the TMC.

    DMK’s Kanimozhi, who was instrumental in planning the roster, came to the protest site carrying ‘gajar ka halwa’, while TMC arranged for fruits and sandwiches.

    On Thursday, the DMK would be in charge of breakfast, the TRS for lunch and the AAP would arrange dinner.

    The AAP was also in charge of erecting a tent for the MPs to shield them from the scorching sun but permission for it was denied by the authorities.

    Sources said that the parties have taken it upon themselves to appoint leaders to take turns sitting at the protest site for one to two hours in support of those who have been suspended.

    Samajwadi Party’s Ramgopal Yadav, Jharkhand Mukti Morcha’s Mahua Majhi and leaders of Nationalist Congress Party — none of whose members have been suspended — have given their time to sit with the protesting MPs as a mark of solidarity.

    The leaders, however, will have to sleep under the sky, with their request for a tent being denied by authorities, as no structures can be built, even temporarily inside the premises.

    The protesting MPs can, however, use the toilet in the bathroom of the Parliament library.

    Opposition leaders said the authorities have fully cooperated with them to arrange a security team and cleaning staff for the protesting MPs.

    Arrangements have also been made for their exit and entry.

    While Congress and the other opposition parties were protesting at different venues in the morning, by the evening, it seemed that they had come together on the issue of price rise.

    Senior Congress leader, Jairam Ramesh visited the protest site and said his party will be part of the day-night dharna organised by the opposition parties.

    NEW DELHI: Braving mosquitoes and the heat, some of the suspended MPs like CPI’s Santosh Kumar, AAP’s Sanjay Singh spent the night beside the Gandhi statue in the Parliament complex.

    TMC’s Dola Sen and Santanu Sen were present on the site till post midnight With no permission for a tent granted by the authorities, five MPs slept under the sky as a protest against the suspension of 24 MPs, 20 from Rajya Sabha and four Congress members from Lok Sabha.

    “50 hour non-stop dharna by Opposition MPs. 21 hours done. 29 hours to go.”

    “Revoke suspension of 24 MPs. Discuss,” tweeted TMC Rajya Sabha MP Derek O’Brien.

    In the morning, TMC MP Mausam Noor who brought tea for the MPs said that the Opposition MPs will not apologise and the protest will continue.

    The opposition has demanded a discussion on price rise in both Houses of Parliament.

    They were later joined by four Congress MPs who have also been suspended from Lok Sabha for the remainder of the Monsoon session.

    The Rajya Sabha MPs are holding the protest near the Gandhi statue and will stay at the site through night, Trinamool Congress’ Dola Sen, who is one of the suspended members, said earlier in the day.

    The 20 MPs, suspended over Monday and Tuesday, include seven from the TMC, six from the DMK, three from the Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS), two from the Communist Party of India (Marxist) and one each from the Communist Party of India (CPI) and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP).

    The Nationalist Congress Party and the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha who have no members suspended will also join the protests, sources said.

    “Question: What were Opposition MPs demanding Answer: A discussion on #PriceRise #GST hurting millions of people Action: Dictatorial @narendramodi govt suspends 24 MPs from #Parliament Next few days 24x 7 dharna at Gandhi statue.

    Peaceful satyagraha will always WIN,” tweeted TMC’s Rajya Sabha member Derek O’Brien.

    While the Congress and other Opposition parties were protesting at different venues in the morning, by the evening, it seemed they had come together on the issue of price rise.

    Senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh visited the site of the protests and said his party will be part of the day-night dharna organised by the other Opposition parties.

    “Congress, DMK, TMC, CPM & AAP MPs from both Houses on 50-hour continous dharna by turns in Parliament precincts. They are protesting their suspension for demanding URGENT debate on price rise and GST on food items,” he tweeted later at night.

    “There’s a 170% increase in the suspension of MPs under Modi govt compared to UPA. 24 MPs suspended this Monsoon session alone!” he said.

    “We are fighting the Modi-Shah onslaught on democracy and it’s clear that the Modi regime will be seen as a black spot in Indian history. All four Lok Sabha MPs are standing in solidarity with RS MP and are sitting in batches,” said Manickam Tagore, one of the four Congress MPs suspended from Lok Sabha.

    The CPI, whose one member has been suspended, said in a statement the suspension is an assault on the basic rights of freedom of expression of members of Parliament.

    “The suspension of 4 opposition MPs of the Lok Sabha and 20 MPs of the opposition in the Rajya Sabha including two MPs of the CPI(M) on successive days is a serious blow to the democratic functioning of Parliament.”

    “It is the Modi government that has been stubbornly refusing to accept any motion moved by the opposition under the Rules for a structured discussion on the burning problems being faced by the people, destroying their lives, like price rise, unemployment etc.”

    Opposition sources also said feelers from the “other side” has indicated that there is a view within the government that suspending 19 opposition MPs at one go in Rajya Sabha was a wrong strategic move and should have been avoided.

    In fact, in the morning, Rajya Sabha Chairman Venkaiah Naidu met leaders of the Opposition parties in RS and an offer was made to them that if they express regret over their behaviour in the House, another resolution will be brought to revoke the suspensions, the sources said.

    However, none of the leaders acquiesced, saying instead that the government should express regret over the decision of not discussing the price rise.

    With the suspension of the MPs in RS concluding on Friday, a discussion on price rise will be taken up after that.

    Sources in the Opposition also said a detailed plan of action has been drawn out for the dharna and a roster of duties was created which is being circulated on a dedicated WhatsApp group.

    While on Wednesday, idli-sambhar breakfast was organised by DMK MP Tiruchi Siva, lunch with curd rice was arranged by the DMK.

    Dinner will be roti, daal, paneer and chicken tandoori courtesy the TMC.

    On Thursday, the DMK would be in charge of breakfast, the TRS of lunch and the AAP will arrange dinner.

    Sources said the parties have taken upon themselves to appoint leaders to take turns of one to two hours to sit at the site in support of those who have been suspended.

    In fact, parties such as the NCP and JMM who have no members suspended will also join the protests, sources said.

    The leaders, however, will have to sleep under the sky, with their request of a tent being denied by the authorities, as no structures can be built, even temporarily inside the premises.

    The protesting MPs can, however, use the toilet in the bathroom of the Parliament library.

    From curd rice to ‘gajar ka halwa’, Opposition parties arrange regional cuisine for 50-hour protest

    From curd rice and idli-sambhar to chicken tandoori, ‘gajar ka halwa’ and fruits, Opposition parties are taking turns to arrange regional cuisine for MPs on a 50-hour relay protest against their suspension and demanding discussion on price rise.

    In a show of solidarity and political strength, the Opposition parties have come together to create a duty roster for the protest with every party taking responsibility for making arrangements, including food, for those sitting on the dharna.

    The roster is being circulated on a dedicated WhatsApp group, keeping everyone in the loop about the day’s arrangements.

    Twenty suspended Rajya Sabha members started the protest inside the Parliament complex on Wednesday, with sources saying the Opposition declined the Chairman’s offer that they express regret over their members’ behaviour in the House to get the suspension revoked.

    The MPs are holding the protest near the Gandhi statue and will stay at the site through the night, said the Trinamool Congress (TMC) Dola Sen, who is one of the suspended.

    Those suspended over Monday and Tuesday, include seven from the TMC, six from the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), three from the Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS), two from the Communist Party of India (Marxist) and one each from the Communist Party of India (CPI) and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP).

    The parties which will be a part of the protests include the TMC, DMK, AAP, TRS, Samajwadi Party, Shiv Sena, CPIM, CPI, JMM and the Kerala Congress.

    Sources said the parties have decided that they will try to arrange regional cuisines for the MPs for their meals.

    On Wednesday, the MPs had idli-sambhar for breakfast which was organised by DMK MP Tiruchi Siva.

    The lunch of curd rice was also arranged by the DMK.

    The menu for dinner is roti, daal, paneer and chicken tandoori, courtesy of the TMC.

    DMK’s Kanimozhi, who was instrumental in planning the roster, came to the protest site carrying ‘gajar ka halwa’, while TMC arranged for fruits and sandwiches.

    On Thursday, the DMK would be in charge of breakfast, the TRS for lunch and the AAP would arrange dinner.

    The AAP was also in charge of erecting a tent for the MPs to shield them from the scorching sun but permission for it was denied by the authorities.

    Sources said that the parties have taken it upon themselves to appoint leaders to take turns sitting at the protest site for one to two hours in support of those who have been suspended.

    Samajwadi Party’s Ramgopal Yadav, Jharkhand Mukti Morcha’s Mahua Majhi and leaders of Nationalist Congress Party — none of whose members have been suspended — have given their time to sit with the protesting MPs as a mark of solidarity.

    The leaders, however, will have to sleep under the sky, with their request for a tent being denied by authorities, as no structures can be built, even temporarily inside the premises.

    The protesting MPs can, however, use the toilet in the bathroom of the Parliament library.

    Opposition leaders said the authorities have fully cooperated with them to arrange a security team and cleaning staff for the protesting MPs.

    Arrangements have also been made for their exit and entry.

    While Congress and the other opposition parties were protesting at different venues in the morning, by the evening, it seemed that they had come together on the issue of price rise.

    Senior Congress leader, Jairam Ramesh visited the protest site and said his party will be part of the day-night dharna organised by the opposition parties.

  • Monsoon Session day one: Congress gives adjournment notices in Rajya Sabha on Agnipath scheme

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: On the first day of the Monsoon Session of Parliament, the Congress has given adjournment notices in the Rajya Sabha on the Agnipath recruitment scheme for armed forces and sought a discussion.

    Congress member Deepender Hooda has moved a notice under Rule 267 in the Rajya Sabha, demanding a discussion on the Agnipath scheme after setting aside all other business of the House.

    He sought a discussion on the Agnipath scheme, which he alleged has been “implemented across the country by the government unilaterally without any prior discussion and deliberation”.

    Another Congress member, Shaktisinh Gohil, also moved an adjournment notice demanding immediate withdrawal of the scheme and saying that it is not good for the country’s national security.

    He claimed that the youth are agitated over the scheme and have been protesting against it.

    Similarly, in the Lok Sabha, Congress member Manickam Tagore has moved an adjournment notice on the rise in prices of domestic LPG prices to Rs 1,053 per cylinder.

    He has demanded that the government bring down the prices of domestic LPG to levels of 2014 and subsidies be provided to the beneficiaries of government schemes.

    “The government should come forward to reduce the price of domestic cylinders and petroleum products in the country to ensure a standardised price at least for a year,” Tagore said in his adjournment notice.

    Meanwhile, the Monsoon session of the Lok Sabha began on Monday with obituary references and new members taking oath, and was then adjourned till 2 pm so members could vote in the presidential poll.

    As the House met for the first time in the Monsoon session of Parliament, three MPs, including veteran Bollywood actor and Trinamool Congress’ Shatrughan Sinha, took oath as member of the Lok Sabha.

    Speaker Om Birla then read out obituary references to three foreign leaders, including former Japan prime minister Shinzo Abe, and eight former members who passed away recently.

    Birla said elections in India are celebrated as a festival.

    And since the election to the president was underway, it should also be celebrated, he said.

    Members should participate in the festival, the speaker said, and declared the House adjourned till 2 pm.

    Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Home Minister Amit Shah and Congress leader Sonia Gandhi were among those present in the House.

    NEW DELHI: On the first day of the Monsoon Session of Parliament, the Congress has given adjournment notices in the Rajya Sabha on the Agnipath recruitment scheme for armed forces and sought a discussion.

    Congress member Deepender Hooda has moved a notice under Rule 267 in the Rajya Sabha, demanding a discussion on the Agnipath scheme after setting aside all other business of the House.

    He sought a discussion on the Agnipath scheme, which he alleged has been “implemented across the country by the government unilaterally without any prior discussion and deliberation”.

    Another Congress member, Shaktisinh Gohil, also moved an adjournment notice demanding immediate withdrawal of the scheme and saying that it is not good for the country’s national security.

    He claimed that the youth are agitated over the scheme and have been protesting against it.

    Similarly, in the Lok Sabha, Congress member Manickam Tagore has moved an adjournment notice on the rise in prices of domestic LPG prices to Rs 1,053 per cylinder.

    He has demanded that the government bring down the prices of domestic LPG to levels of 2014 and subsidies be provided to the beneficiaries of government schemes.

    “The government should come forward to reduce the price of domestic cylinders and petroleum products in the country to ensure a standardised price at least for a year,” Tagore said in his adjournment notice.

    Meanwhile, the Monsoon session of the Lok Sabha began on Monday with obituary references and new members taking oath, and was then adjourned till 2 pm so members could vote in the presidential poll.

    As the House met for the first time in the Monsoon session of Parliament, three MPs, including veteran Bollywood actor and Trinamool Congress’ Shatrughan Sinha, took oath as member of the Lok Sabha.

    Speaker Om Birla then read out obituary references to three foreign leaders, including former Japan prime minister Shinzo Abe, and eight former members who passed away recently.

    Birla said elections in India are celebrated as a festival.

    And since the election to the president was underway, it should also be celebrated, he said.

    Members should participate in the festival, the speaker said, and declared the House adjourned till 2 pm.

    Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Home Minister Amit Shah and Congress leader Sonia Gandhi were among those present in the House.

  • Opposition parties in Parliament have shown worst possible behaviour: Piyush Goyal

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: The opposition parties in Parliament have probably shown the “worst possible” behaviour that they could and have left nothing to imagination in destroying the foundation of Indian democracy, Union Minister Piyush Goyal has said.

    The Prime Minister introduced ministers in both the Houses and that is a tradition that’s been going on for 70-odd years and the opposition for the “first time” did not even allow that, he said.

    “They have left nothing to imagination in destroying the very foundation, the very pillar of our Indian democracy, richly earned, richly deserved, but sadly put at this altar of competitive opposition competitive politics,” the minister said at the TIMES NOW India at 75: The Freedom Summit.

    He added that this time around, the opposition has exceeded all limits of tolerance.

    “That is the reason we demanded action, and there needs to be deterrence. Maybe even stricter deterrence. We are grateful to the honourable Supreme Court for the very strong judgement and strictures in the Kerala Assembly matter.

    ALSO READ | ‘Sorry state of affairs’: CJI N V Ramana on lack of debate in Parliament

    “And I do believe that this time around, some of the members will have to suffer the consequences of their actions,” Goyal said.

    Lok Sabha was adjourned sine die on August 11, bringing an end to the stormy Monsoon session which was scheduled to conclude on August 13.

    Opposition protests over the Pegasus snooping row, farm laws and other issues had continuously marred the proceedings since the start of the session on July 19.

    The Question Hour witnessed disruptions on most of the days during this session, while the House managed to pass a raft of bills, including the Constitution amendment bill that will allow states to make their OBC lists.

    Further, the minister said that it truly is a “very unfortunate” situation that when the country is preparing to celebrate India at 75, “we have had this very unfortunate and very unpleasant experience over the last four weeks where some sections of Parliament have demonstrated a deep frustration at the series of losses, a deep sense of insecurity about their future”.

    ALSO READ | Opposition, ruling party are like my two eyes, says Rajya Sabha Chairman Venkaiah Naidu

    Goyal alleged that the disruption was a pre-planned strategic decision, which was made well before the session.

    “And sadly, that gradually translated into a competitive scenario where parties were wild with each other for space not to show good performance, not to show to the people their active participation or high quality debate, high quality speeches, important issues which affect the people of India, but really a competition of who can disrupt better, who can harm the temple of democracy more,” he said.

  • Chair not very neutral; BJP’s ‘two gentlemen’ will lock down Parl if they have their way: Chidambaram

    On the government rejecting Opposition #39;s criticism of passage of bills amid the din, stating that it also happened in the UPA era, Chidambaram said this quot;whataboutery quot; must come to an end.

  • Rare house unity: Constitution amendment bill giving states powers to notify backward classes to see Opposition support

    Express News Service

    NEW DELHI:  Both Houses of Parliament may witness smooth functioning this week for the first time during the monsoon session as the Centre will introduce the Constitutional 127th Amendment Bill restoring powers of states to notify backward classes with full Opposition support as an exception.  

    Floor leaders of the Opposition parties in both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha are scheduled to meet at 10 am at the office of Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge on Monday to take the final call on the matter and discuss future strategy amid reports that the government may wind up the session early after passage of this bill.

    The session is anyway scheduled to end on August 13.

    Sources said all Opposition parties are on the same page on the importance of the bill, keeping in mind the Assembly elections scheduled early next year.

    The Congress and other regional parties have been pressing the Centre for bringing an amendment to the 102nd Constitutional amendment Act to overturn the May 5 Supreme Court judgment that vests sole power with the Centre to identify the Other Backward Classes (OBCs) list.

    “It is a very important issue and we have suggested that this bill be treated as an exception for participation in the discussion and passing,” said a senior Opposition leader, adding there is no stepping back on our demand for a discussion on Pegasus snoopgate.  

    Both Houses have seen repeated disruptions since the start of the monsoon session on July 19 over the demand to discuss the use of Pegasus to spy on citizens.

    For the Constitution to be amended, the bill must be passed in both Houses separately by absolute majority, which is more than 50% of the House strength, and a special majority of two-thirds of those present and voting. 

    Restoring  state right to  notify OBCs

    As a workaround to the SC directive, the Constitutional 127th Amendment Bill is expected to amend Articles 342 A — clauses 1 and 2 — and introduce clause 342 A (3) specifically authorising states to maintain their state list.

    Relax 50 per cent cap: Uddhav

    The Centre should also relax SC’s 50% quota ceiling, which is the stumbling block for Maratha reservation, says Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray.

  • ‘Mr Modi, listen to us’: Opposition releases video of members speaking on Pegasus, farmers

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: The opposition’s strategy of speaking on the Pegasus snooping row and farm laws during discussions of bills in the Rajya Sabha has now been compiled in a three-minute video in an attempt to make the government listen to their demands, leaders said on Sunday.

    The video, released by the TMC on Sunday morning from RS MP Derek O’Brien’s handle, urges, “Mr Modi come listen to us”.

    Opposition party sources indicated that over the last few weeks, leaders have realised that the disruptions by them in the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha are not enough.

    It was important to say the words, “farmers”, “Pegasus” and spyware on the floor of the Houses.

    Asked about the opposition MPs’ strategy of raising such issues while seeking to speak on bills in Parliament, O’Brien said that their “strategy was deliberate”.

    PM @narendramodi seems to have lost his nerves. Why is he not keen on answering questions in the Parliament?The opposition parties are ready for discussions in the Parliament, but @BJP4India Govt is stalling the proceedings so that the truth doesn’t get to the people. pic.twitter.com/1IpOxj2TX8
    — Leader of Opposition, Rajya Sabha (@LoPIndia) August 8, 2021
    “When the official channels are being denied, this is a new way to reach the masses,” said O’Brien who is also the leader of the TMC in the Rajya Sabha.

    “PM @narendramodi seems to have lost his nerves.

    Why is he not keen on answering questions in Parliament? The opposition parties are ready for discussions in Parliament, but @BJP4India govt is stalling the proceedings so that the truth doesn’t get to the people,” Congress’s Mallikarjun Kharge said in a tweet posting the video.

    The video, which has been compiled using clips from RSTV, comprises statements made by the opposition MPs in the Upper House, with the words “farmer” and “Pegasus” in the opening lines.

    “You are not allowing the discussion we have been asking for the past 14 days and the discussions we can do later. You are passing that bill now. If you have courage, begin the discussions on Pegasus now,” Kharge is heard saying in the video on the floor of the House.

    The compilation includes opposition speakers like Vandana Chavan of the NCP who raised the Pegasus issue, accusing the government of “not listening to the people”.

    RJD’s Manoj Jha too is seen speaking on the spyware issue.

    “Pegasus has reached everyone’s house. We have to discuss this,” says Jha.

    Congress’s Deepinder Hooda raised the issue of farmers stating that he would talk about the matter if his “microphone is not switched off”.

    The CPI(M) accused the government of “stealing” parliamentary democracy, while TMC’s Sukhendu Shekar Roy raised the issue of “freedom of speech in Parliament”.

    The other parties which have representation in the video include Samajwadi Party, TRS, DMK and AAP.

    One of the leaders in the video, Shiv Sena MP in Rajya Sabha Priyanka Chaturvedi said in a democracy if the government of the day has a responsibility, so does the opposition.

    “Whether it is about farmers, about the economy, safety and security of women, just the word mentioned by the opposition makes them silence our voices, makes them adjourn Parliament, makes them mute our microphones.

    “Our inability to be heard by a government which is so brazen has made us realise that the only way we can speak and make our point heard is when such bills are being discussed and passed in such a hurry,” Chaturvedi said.

    CPI(M) leader and RS MP Elamaram Kareem said that speaking during the discussion on bills was the only way to make the government listen.

    “This tactic is going to be continued the coming week as well. There is no other option as the government is not admitting our motions. Everyone is seeing how the chairperson is behaving, switching off microphones even as the Pegasus word is being uttered.

    The entire opposition is one on this and we will stick by it till the government relents,” said Kareem, who is the leader of his party in the Upper House.

    Chaturvedi also hit out at the government over the alleged switching off of microphones when opposition leaders raise certain issues, saying it shows the intolerance of the government.

    “By muting our mics, by trying to suppress our voices, they think they can silence us then they should be rest assured that we will raise our voice further and our voices will get louder,” the Shiv Sena MP said.

    Senior Congress leader and party spokesperson Manish Tewari said that what is happening in the House is a “complete murder of democracy”.

    “The institution of Parliament is being trifled with by the NDA-BJP government,” said Tewari, slamming the government for getting bills passed when the House is not in order.

    “There is a time honoured convention that a legislation is never passed in din and it is not even discussed when the House is not in order,” he said.

    Since the start of the Monsoon Session on July 19, parliamentary proceedings have been continuously witnessing disruptions due to protests by opposition parties and a logjam has persisted over their demand for a discussion on the Pegasus snooping row.

    The opposition has also been strongly protesting against the price rise issue and demanding the repeal of the farm laws.

    An international media consortium had reported that over 300 verified Indian mobile phone numbers, including that of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, Union ministers Prahlad Singh Patel and Ashwini Vaishnaw, businessman Anil Ambani, and at least 40 journalists, were on the list of potential targets for surveillance using Israeli firm NSO Group’s Pegasus spyware.

  • WATCH: Opposition releases video of its members sneaking in Pegasus, farmers during discussions in Rajya Sabha

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: The opposition’s strategy of speaking on the Pegasus snooping row and farm laws during discussions of bills in the Rajya Sabha has now been compiled in a three-minute video in an attempt to make the government listen to their demands, leaders said on Sunday.

    The video, released by the TMC on Sunday morning from RS MP Derek O’Brien’s handle, urges, “Mr Modi come listen to us”.

    Opposition party sources indicated that over the last few weeks, leaders have realised that the disruptions by them in the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha are not enough.

    It was important to say the words, “farmers”, “Pegasus” and spyware on the floor of the Houses.

    “Mr Modi,Come listen to us.” #Parliament @INCIndia@AITCofficial@samajwadiparty@ShivSena @trspartyonline @arivalayam @cpimspeak @RJDforIndia@NCPspeaks @AamAadmiPartyThree minute VIDEO

  • PM must intervene to end Parliament logjam; Monsoon session be extended: RJD MP

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: Accusing the government of “closing the door” on negotiations to break the logjam over the Pegasus issue in Parliament, RJD leader Manoj Kumar Jha on Sunday said Prime Minister Narendra Modi must intervene to end the impasse, and called for extending the Monsoon session to make up for the lost time.

    The Rajya Sabha member, who is an influential voice of the Opposition, also slammed the government for repeatedly stressing that it was “reaching out” to the Opposition parties, saying the phrase does not mean that “with hands in your pockets and a stiff face, you say ‘this is what I have to offer, nothing else’”.

    “Under the garb of reaching out they have been closing the door on negotiations. Many times I have noted that the so-called people entrusted with the idea of reaching out, probably lack the mandate in offering anything tangible to the Opposition,” Jha told PTI in an interview.

    Since the start of the Monsoon session on July 19, parliamentary proceedings have been continuously witnessing disruptions due to protests by Opposition parties and a logjam has persisted over their demand for a discussion on the Pegasus snooping row.

    An international media consortium has reported that over 300 verified Indian mobile phone numbers, including that of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, union ministers Prahlad Singh Patel and Ashwini Vaishnaw, businessman Anil Ambani, and at least 40 journalists, were on the list of potential targets for surveillance using Israeli firm NSO Group’s Pegasus spyware.

    The government has been denying all Opposition allegations in the matter.

    Asked about the Opposition’s demand for a discussion on the Pegasus issue and the logjam in Parliament over it, Jha said the government says in the media that it is reaching out but such efforts should mean “listening and not just hearing”.

    Jha alleged that the government was using the “language of enmity” which had taken away the possibility of “breaking the ice”.

    “But if Mr. Prime Minister himself intervenes and tells his people to break the ice and say ‘we are ready to discuss everything’, it is still possible to discuss. If possible, extend the session to make up for the time we have lost. We can sit after August 15,” the senior Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader said.

    Asked if extension of the Monsoon session, which is scheduled to end on August 13, was the way forward, Jha answered in the affirmative and pointed to his speech in Rajya Sabha on Covid, which has been widely appreciated and has gone viral on social media, to stress the importance of discussing critical issues in Parliament.

    On Parliament being unable to discuss the devastating second wave of Covid at length, he accused the government of being in “brazen denial” of facts.

    “The day I made that speech, a response from the government said that nobody died on account of unavailability of oxygen. When you fight a pandemic, you should be able to acknowledge failures as well as take credit for the success,” he asserted.

    “I don’t only blame the central government, many state governments were also in a brazen denial mode,” Jha said.

    Asked if the Opposition could have focused more on issues such as price rise, farmers’ protest and unemployment in the Monsoon session than Pegasus, he said all those issues were crucial and the Opposition was continuously raising them but the Pegasus matter had acquired an important dimension due to the level of snooping being reported by the media.

    “I won’t say Pegasus was No.1 for us but it acquired an important dimension due to the level of snooping which is being reported in the media with several countries in the world ordering probes, but in our case, there is not even acceptance (for debate),” Jha said.

    Slamming the government for saying that the snooping allegations were a non-issue, he said if after a detailed discussion it is proved so, the opposition will accept it, but denying discussion goes against the very idea of parliamentary democracy.

    “Have we forgotten that there was a discussion after Bofors (came to light). Same was with the Mundhra case during the Jawaharlal Nehru government but discussion was allowed even though the opposition was practically non-existent at the time,” he said.

    Jha also hit out at the government for passing the bills amid din, saying the legislations were being passed in roughly eight minutes and warned that if it becomes the new normal even future governments may take this route, making debate and discussion a thing of the past.

    On Opposition unity being witnessed during the current Parliament session and if seeds of a grand alliance had been sown for the 2024 general elections, Jha said when floor leaders are coordinating in Parliament, 2024 is not on their minds and the major concern is issues such as repeal of farm laws, inflation and unemployment.