News Analysis India

Tag: Rajya Sabha

  • Seven aircraft of IAF crashed in last two years: Government in Rajya Sabha

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: Seven aircraft of the Indian Air Force have crashed in the last two years, the government said in Rajya Sabha on Monday.

    Minister of State for Defence Ajay Bhatt said this while replying to a question in the House.

    “A total of seven aircraft of the Air Force have crashed in the last two years, including the Mirage 2000 which crashed recently in Madhya Pradesh,” he said.

    The minister said every aircraft accident in the IAF is investigated by a Court of Inquiry (CoI) to ascertain the cause of the accident.

    “The recommendations of the completed Court of Inquiry are implemented. Only after completion of the Court of Inquiry, the quantum of loss is finalised,” he said.

    Replying to a separate question, Bhatt said indigenously-developed Tejas aircraft is not being inducted as a replacement for MIG-21 fighter jets but as a part of the modernisation of the IAF.

    He said an amount of Rs 6,653 crore was spent on the manufacturing of 24 Tejas jets till September 30.

    Bhatt said 123 Tejas fighter aircraft are to be manufactured and that further production depends on the requirement of the services as well as possible exports.

    Replying to another question on whether the government is planning to propose compulsory military training for youths, he said there is no such plan.

    “Our armed forces have a large number of volunteers to draw upon and there is no problem in getting adequate numbers of volunteer recruits. All the able-bodied persons of the country, therefore, do not compulsorily need to be given military training,” he said.

    Asked about the AK-203 rifle contract with Russia, Bhatt said the first lot of 35,000 guns is required to be delivered within 10 months of making the advance payment to the Indo-Russian joint venture.

    “The contract for procurement of quantity 6,01,427 Assault Rifles (AK-203) from Indo-Russian Rifles Private Limited (IRRPL) has been signed on December 6,” the minister said.

    “As per the contract, the first lot of quantity 35,000 rifles is required to be delivered by 10 months of the release of advance payment to IRRPL,” he said.

  • Opposition rejects Modi government’s invitation to resolve issue of Rajya Sabha MP suspension

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: There is no resolution in sight for the stalemate in the Rajya Sabha over the suspension of 12 MPs as a united opposition on Sunday rejected the government’s outreach to resolve the logjam.

    Top sources in the opposition said they will not attend the Monday morning meeting convened by Leader of the House Piyush Goyal as invitations were sent to leaders of the four parties whose MPs have been suspended and not to the entire opposition.

    Responding to a letter from Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi inviting the four parties, Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge said “select invitations were unfortunate”.

    The government’s invitations have gone to the Congress, Trinamool Congress, Shiv Sena and the CPI(M), sources said.

    The meeting was convened at 10 am on Monday as the Winter Session of Parliament enters its final week.

    “We will not attend tomorrow’s meeting with the government as the opposition stands united in its fight,” a senior opposition leader told PTI.

    Kharge said he received a letter on Sunday evening asking leaders of the four parties, whose members in the Rajya Sabha have been suspended, to the meeting.

    “All Opposition parties are united in the protest against the suspension of the 12 MPs. We have been requesting from the evening of November 29 itself that either the chairman of the Rajya Sabha or the Leader of the House Piyush Goyal should call leaders of all Opposition parties for a discussion to break the stalemate,” he said.

    “This reasonable request of ours has not been agreed to. Further, inviting only leaders of four Opposition parties instead of inviting leaders of all Opposition parties is unfair and unfortunate,” Kharge said in his letter to Parliamentary Affairs Minister Joshi.

    TMC leader Derek O’Brien tweeted, “Monday morning STUNT from a government who do not want Parliament to function.

    Government calls leaders of the four Opposition parties whose 12 RS MPs have been arbitrarily suspended.”

    “Government leaves other 10 Opposition parties out. Failed stunt. All opposition clear: First revoke arbitrary suspension,” he said on Twitter.

    A similar letter has also been sent to Joshi by CPI(M) MP Elamaram Kareem.

    “It is quite unfortunate that the government has delayed such talks with the opposition even after three weeks of the suspension. Even now the action of the government is not sincere as the meeting is meant for only the floor leaders of the suspended MPs’ parties,” he said in the letter.

    “You are well aware that the entire opposition has been taking a unified stand on this suspension issue and all the opposition parties together requested the Chairman and government to hold such a meeting to resolve the stalemate from day one.”

    He alleged that it is the government who delayed it and the decision of inviting only a section of the opposition party leaders for the meeting is “completely unfair and unacceptable”.

    “If the government is sincere in resolving this issue, I would request you to convene the meeting of all opposition parties,” Kareem said in his letter to Joshi.

    The Opposition parties have decided to meet on Monday morning to develop their joint strategy in Parliament during the last week of the Winter Session.

    The Rajya Sabha has failed to transact any significant business as the opposition is unitedly protesting in the House leading to repeated disruptions over the issue of suspensions.

    While the government wants the suspended MPs should apologise first, the opposition is saying that the suspensions be revoked without any apology.

    Rajya Sabha Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu had urged the government and the opposition to resolve the deadlock over suspensions and find an amicable solution.

  • Rajya Sabha proceedings adjourned till 2 pm amid Oppoaition ruckus

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: Rajya Sabha proceedings were adjourned till 2 pm on Thursday amid protests by some opposition party members.

    Soon after the listed documents were tabled, Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu said he has not admitted notices by some members for suspension of scheduled business and take up their issues.

    To this, some opposition members protested.

    The chairman adjourned the proceedings till 2 pm.

    Among other reports and papers, the report of the Joint Committee on the Personal Data Protection Bill, 2019 was also tabled in the House.

    The proceedings of the House have been repeatedly obstructed following the suspension of the 12 Opposition MPs from the Rajya Sabha on November 29 for the entire winter session of Parliament for their “unruly” conduct in the previous session in August.

    The Opposition has described the suspension as “undemocratic and in violation of all the Rules of Procedure” of the Upper House.

  • Ready to accept demand of revoking suspension of MPs if they apologise: Government

    Opposition members continued to protest inside and outside the house and caused disruptions over the suspension of 12 MPs.

  • Sonia Gandhi slams Centre on farmers’ issue, Nagaland civilian killings, price rise at CPP meet

    Express News Service

    NEW DELHI: Congress chief Sonia Gandhi hit out at the Central government on multiple issues at the Congress’ parliamentary party meeting on Wednesday and said that the Congress will continue to support the cause of the farmers.

    Sonia Gandhi said that the three farm laws were repealed “undemocratically”, just as their passage last year was pushed through without discussion. She added that the Congress stands firm in its commitment to stand by the farmers in their demands for a legally guaranteed MSP, remunerative prices that meet the costs of cultivation and compensation to the bereaved families.

    Addressing the Congress Parliamentary Party (CPP) at Central Hall in the Parliament, she said, “Farmers and their organisations have been strongly protesting and agitating against these laws for the past thirteen months. It is the solidarity and tenacity, of the farmers, their discipline and dedication that has forced an arrogant Government to climbdown. Let us salute them for their great achievement.  Let us remember that more than 700 farmers have been martyred in the past twelve months and honor their sacrifice.”

    She attacked the Centre over price rise of essential commodities and the Narendra Modi-led Centre’s failed attempts to address the issue.

    “Since this session commenced, we have also been raising the issue of spiralling prices of all essential commodities. I cannot understand how and why the Modi Government is so insensitive and that it continues to deny the seriousness of the problem. It seems impervious to the suffering of the people,” she added.

    Terming the reduction in petrol, diesel and cooking gas prices a totally insufficient and inadequate move, Sonia Gandhi said, “As usual, the government has passed on the responsibility for duty cuts to financially strapped state governments – when it itself has far greater room for action.  And all this while, the Centre persists with huge public expenditure on vain glorious projects!  The prices of edible oils, pulses and vegetables are burning a hole in the monthly budget of every household. The rising prices of cement, steel and other basic industrial commodities also does not bode well for economic recovery.”

    On the ongoing rift at the India-China border, she said it is extraordinary that Parliament has been given no opportunity whatsoever so far to have a discussion on the challenges we continue to face on our borders. 

    “Such a discussion would have also been an opportunity to demonstrate a collective will and resolve. The government may not want to answer difficult questions but it is the right and duty of the Opposition to seek clarifications and explanations. The Modi Government steadfastly refuses to allocate time for a debate. I would once again urge for a full-fledged discussion on the border situation and relations with our neighbours,” she added.

    With new Covid-19 variant Omicron creating global scare, she said “medical experts have clearly said that every adult must receive two doses of vaccination.”

    “The Modi Government indulged in massive publicity and celebrations when the 100-crore dose mark was reached. Needless to say, it never bothered to mention that the 100-crore mark figure was for a single vaccination only. The sad reality is that the country is nowhere close to reaching the level of double-dose vaccination announced by the Government for the end of the year.  Efforts must clearly be intensified—the daily vaccination dose has to increase four-fold so that even 60 per cent of the population is covered with both doses,” she said.

    She demanded justice for families of civilians killed in Nagaland by army and that credible steps must be taken to prevent the recurrence of such ghastly tragedies.  

    On the suspension of 12 Rajya Sabha MPs, Sonia Gandhi called it outrageous and  unprecedented, and that it violates both the Constitution and the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in the Council of States.

  • Rajya Sabha adjourned for the day amid Opposition protests over suspension of MPs

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: Rajya Sabha proceedings were adjourned for the day on Monday amid protests by Opposition parties over their demand to revoke the suspension of 12 members of the House.

    As soon the House reassembled at 4 pm following four adjournments of varying durations, Deputy Chairman Harivansh called Home Minister Amit Shah to give a statement on the Nagaland firing incident in which 14 civilians were killed.

    Even as the minister was making a statement, Opposition members kept raising slogans against the government.

    Shah had made the same statement earlier in the Lok Sabha.

    As soon as Shah finished his statement, the Deputy Chairman adjourned the House for the day as Opposition members refused to relent and continued their uproar over the suspension of 12 MPs.

    Earlier, Rajya Sabha proceedings were adjourned till 4 pm as the House was unable to function amid protests by opposition MPs who had trooped inside the well over the suspension issue.

    This was the fourth adjournment of the day.

    After the House assembled at 3 pm following the third adjournment, Sushmit Patra, who was in the Chair, called for a short-term discussion on the situation in the country due to inflation, including the rise in the prices of petroleum products.

    Patra called the Leader of Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge to speak on the matter.

    The septuagenarian leader, however, asked the chair to first revoke the suspension of the 12 MP and allow them to participate in the discussion.

    Kharge said, “In a democracy, it is a crime to run the House and start a discussion after suspending 12 members.”

    Patra said that the proposal for the short-term discussion was brought by them only and now they don’t want to discuss it.

    “This topic is decided by them. The opposition wanted to discuss this and the government has agreed for this discussion,” said Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman.

    “They are talking about democracy and we have agreed for it. Is it not democracy and spirit of the house?” “We are not running away from debate. We want to debate and discuss price hikes but you are seeing this. This is the hypocrisy of the opposition,” Sitharaman said pointing towards the MPs who trooped in the well of the House with placards and were raising slogans.

    After this, Patra asked Congress leader Anand Sharma to speak on the inflation issue as Kharge was not speaking on it.

    However, there was no answer.

    “You had given a proposal for short-duration discussion,” Patra said.

    Patra also called NCP MP Fouzia Khan to participate in the debate, who too asked the Chair to first revoke the suspension of the opposition MPs.

    Patra again called for Kharge, who asked him to first bring the House in order, then only he would speak.

    “You first bring the House in order. I am ready to speak but you revoke the suspension,” the Leader of Opposition said.

    Patra requested the protesting MPs to return to their seats saying Kharge was ready to speak, The protest, however, continued.

    Amid the din, Leader of House Piyush Goyal said, “Now the leader of opposition claims that he is ready to speak and wants to start the discussion and asks you to bring the House in order. This is like playing a game. Their own members are here (in the Well)….The Congress members are in the House.”

    The Leader of the Opposition “on one hand claims to bring the House in order and on other hand encourages its own MPs to be in the well,” Goyal said while holding the opposition responsible for the price rise, particularly of petroleum.

    The Union government has not only reduced excise duty on petroleum products the BJP-ruled states have also reduced VAT on petrol and diesel, he said.

    ​ALSO READ | Nagaland firing incident case of mistaken identity, govt expresses regret: Amit Shah in Lok Sabha”They (non-NDA parties) are responsible for this situation, particularly on petroleum prices and to cover up they are in action,” Goyal said, adding the whole nation is watching.

    Following this, Patra adjourned the House session.

    Earlier in the day, following a round of adjournment, when the House gathered in the afternoon, Deputy Chairman Harivansh called for laying on the table the statement of Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman.

    The deputy chairman then sought initiation of the short-duration discussion on the ‘situation arising out of price rise in the country including the rise in the prices of petroleum products’.

    Kharge stated that he was ready for the discussion but requested that the suspended MPs be first called in the House.

    “I request you to please call them inside (the House) for once,” he said, noting the 12 MPs have been out of the House for five days.

    To this, the Chair said the Leader of Opposition and Leader of the House should sit together to find a solution to this.

    Kharge said the suspended MPs also want to discuss the price rise issue.

    However, the deputy chairman called out his name to initiate the discussion.

    When Kharge continued with his plea to call the suspended MPs to the House, Harivansh called the name of Anand Sharma then Fauzia Khan and subsequently Manoj Jha to participate in the debate.

    However, no member spoke a word on the issue of price rise.

    Opposition members started shouting and many members trooped into the well following which the deputy chairman asked them to go back to their seats.

    As the protest continued, he adjourned the House for an hour till 3 PM.

    Twelve Opposition MPs were suspended from Rajya Sabha last Monday for the entire Winter Session of Parliament for their “unruly” conduct in the previous session in August.

  • Rajya Sabha adjourned amid Opposition protest over 12 MPs’ suspension, Nagaland firing

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: Rajya Sabha proceedings were adjourned for about 50 minutes till 12 noon on Monday amid protest by some opposition members soon after Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu called for the first Zero Hour mention.

    After the listed papers were laid on the table in the House, Leader of Opposition and senior Congress MP Mallikarjun Kharge demanded a statement from the Home Minister on the Nagaland firing incident.

    Naidu said it is a very serious issue, and he has spoken to the defence minister and the home minister on it.

    The chairman said the home minister has informed that he will make a statement on the issue this afternoon.

    As the Chairman called for the first Zero Hour (where matters are raised with the permission of the Chair) mention, some members wanted to raise their points.

    Naidu tried to carry on with the Zero Hour, but the protest continued.

    “The House is adjourned sacrificing Zero Hour, public issues because of some people are not cooperating,” he said, and adjourned the proceedings till 12 noon.

    Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge and other Opposition MPs raised slogans in front of Gandhi statue in Parliament complex and demanded that the suspension of the MPs be revoked.

    The 12 opposition MPs — six from the Congress, two each from the Trinamool Congress and Shiv Sena, and one each from the CPI and CPI(M) — were suspended from the Rajya Sabha last Monday for the entire Winter Session of Parliament for their “unruly” conduct in the previous session in August.

    The Opposition has termed the suspension as “undemocratic and in violation of all the Rules of Procedure” of the Upper House.

    The 12 suspended MPs have been sitting in protest against their suspension, which they claim is against the rules.

  • After Priyanka Chaturvedi, Tharoor now steps down as Sansad TV host in protest against suspension of Opposition Rajya Sabha MPs

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: Expressing solidarity with the 12 suspended Rajya Sabha MPs, senior Congress leader Shashi Tharoor on Monday said he has decided to suspend hosting of a talk show on Sansad TV until the suspension of the legislators is revoked and a “semblance of bipartisanship restored to the conduct of Parliament”.

    Tharoor has been hosting the talk show “To The Point” on Sansad TV.

    “I believed that my accepting Sansad TV’s invitation to host a show was in the best traditions of India’s parliamentary democracy, reaffirming the principle that our political differences did not prevent us, as Members of Parliament, from participating fully in various parliamentary institutions which belong to us all,” the MP from Thiruvananthapuram said.

    “However, the prolonged suspension of 12 MPs from the Rajya Sabha, expelled in an arbitrary manner for actions committed during a previous session, has called into question the very assumption of a bipartisan spirit animating the work of Parliament,” he said.

    ALSO READ | ‘Can’t continue when my oath to Constitution denied to me’: Priyanka Chaturvedi quits from anchoring Sansad TV show

    Tharoor said that in solidarity with the protesting MPs, he has decided to suspend hosting of the talk show “To the Point” on Sansad TV until such time as the suspensions of MPs are revoked and a “semblance of bipartisanship restored to the conduct of Parliament and the functioning of Sansad TV”.

    His statement comes a day after Shiv Sena MP Priyanka Chaturvedi, who is among the 12 suspended Rajya Sabha MPs, said she has stepped down as the anchor of the Sansad TV’s show “Meri Kahaani”.

    The 12 opposition MPs — six from the Congress, two each from the Trinamool Congress and Shiv Sena, and one each from the CPI and CPI(M) — were suspended from the Rajya Sabha last Monday for the entire Winter Session of Parliament for their “unruly” conduct in the previous session in August.

    The Opposition has termed the suspension as “undemocratic and in violation of all the Rules of Procedure” of the Upper House.

  • Opposition members walk out after Rajya Sabha Dy Chairman rejects discussion on inflation

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: The Congress and other opposition parties on Thursday walked out from the Rajya Sabha over the issues of inflation, price rise and farmers.

    The Congress was the first to walk out after Deputy Chairman Harivansh rejected their demand for a discussion on inflation.

    Leaders of other parties like the Left and some smaller parties also joined them soon.

    The TMC, TRS and DMK and some other parties also walked out of the House while raising the issues of farmers.

    Leader of Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge sought to raise the issue of inflation and price rise and demanded a discussion on it.

    The deputy chairman said it cannot be entertained as the Question Hour was on.

    Soon other parties also walked out as they wanted to raise the issues of farmers and MSP.

  • Centre firm, Opposition unrelenting, Winter Session of Parliament in limbo

    By Express News Service

    NEW DELHI:  Uproar in Rajya Sabha over the suspension of 12 MPs is expected to continue this week, with the Opposition determined to continue pressing for revocation of the suspension order and the Centre adamant that MPs should apologise.

    Rajya Sabha saw repeated adjournments on Wednesday, with Chairman Venkaiah Naidu saying that suspended members have no remorse. He reiterated that these MPs did everything unparliamentary and there is no question of revoking the suspension. “It is a sacrilege of the House and what can we do?” he said.

    Sources said the Upper House is expected to witness similar scenes in the coming days.Suspended MPs sat in protest at the Gandhi statue, while MPs from various parties joined them. It turned out to be an embarrassing situation when Lok Sabha Chairman Om Birla led a Mongolian parliamentary delegation on a tour of the Parliament compound and could not take the visiting delegation to the Gandhi statue where suspended MPs sat with placards saying ‘democracy killed’ and ‘save democracy’.

    The suspended MPs were quick to call out and wave at Birla, who briefly smiled and waved back.   A senior Congress leader said there has been no effort from the Centre to break the logjam. “We have repeatedly requested the Chair and even Leader of Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge has written to him but the Chair is not ready to accept it. We will continue with our demand. There is no question of apologising.”As the House met post lunch, Kharge again raised the matter but the Chair asked Union Water Resources Minister GS Shekhawat to table the Dam Safety Bill, 2019 before adjourning for the day. 

    The Lok Sabha also continued to witness disruptions with the Opposition raising slogans and displaying placards. Congress MP Manish Tewari brought an adjournment motion to discuss the issue of inflation. TRS MPs too raised slogans on farmers’ issues. Birla’s efforts to pacify agitating members went in vain. In brief business conducted during the day, Lok Sabha passed the “Reproductive Technology (Regulation) Bill, 2020”. 

    Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi met ministers Rajnath Singh, Amit Shah, Nirmala Sitharaman, Pralhad Joshi to discuss the situation in Parliament.