News Analysis India

Tag: Rajya Sabha

  • Rajya Sabha adjourns for one hour as mark of respect to departed sitting member

    By PTI
    NEW DELHI: Rajya Sabha proceedings were on Wednesday adjourned for one hour as a mark of respect to departed sitting MP A Mohammed John.

    Rajya Sabha Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu mentioned the death of the AIADMK MP at the age of 72 years on March 23.

    Naidu described him as a very polite, very simple, duty-minded finest gentleman.

    It is “very very sad,” he remarked.

    A social worker, John was elected to the Upper House on July 25, 2019.

    It is “indeed saddening to lose a colleague so early,” he said.

    “In passing away of Shri A Mohammed John the country has lost a dedicated social worker and an able parliamentarian. We deeply mourn the death of Shri A Mohammed John,” Naidu said.

    Members stood in silence as a mark of respect to the memory of the departed.

    Naidu thereafter adjourned the proceedings for one hour.

  • Brief uproar in Rajya Sabha as BJP members raise Deshmukh issue

    By PTI
    NEW DELHI: BJP MPs in the Rajya Sabha on Tuesday demanded the dismissal of Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh and sought to raise the issue of alleged charges of corruption against him, leading to uproar in the House for a while.

    The trouble started towards the end of the morning session when BJP MP Sushil Kumar Modi said he had given a Zero Hour mention seeking Deshmukh’s dismissal.

    This lead to noisy scenes in the House with members from the opposition benches objecting to it.

    Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu told Sushil Modi that he had not given permission to raise the issue.

    As several members from both treasury and opposition benches were on their feet with some raising slogans, Naidu asked them to sit down.

    “I have not permitted” he said, and reminded the members that the House had lost precious time on Monday. He asked the members not raise slogans in the House. Naidu also said the issue was a matter related to a state.

    “It is a political issue. Settle it outside,” he said.

    The House later started with its scheduled Question Hour.

  • Parliament passes bill to boost private investment in mining, Opposition protests

    By PTI
    NEW DELHI: Parliament Monday passed the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2021 which seeks to bring more reforms in mining sector for boosting private investment and creating more jobs.

    However, opposition parties demanded a select committee scrutiny of the bill, saying the government may face same backlash against this Bill as they are in the case of farm laws.

    Assuring members in Rajya Sabha, Mines Minister Pralhad Joshi said the “progressive” bill will not curb the powers of states while creating more jobs.

    The Bill was passed by a voice vote in Rajya Sabha Monday.

    It was passed in Lok Sabha on March 19, 2021.

    The Bill seeks to create employment opportunities and also allow private players in mining activities that would bring in modern technology.

    Allaying concerns of the members about the Bill curtailing states’ powers, the minister told the Upper House, “I assure you that not a single iota of power of state will be snatched or taken away by this bill.”

    On the demand of the Parliamentary standing committee scrutiny, he said, “Wide consultations on bill were held. The bill was circulated to states and 10,500 comments were received. As many as 10 association and six NGOs had recorded their comments.”

    “A 143 mines have been gives to states. Since 2015, these mine are with them. Neither those were allotted nor auctioned.Who suffered the loss? We are importing coal despite having the 4th largest resource of coal.”

    The minister submitted before the House that the funds allocated for exploring mines remained largely under-utilised as they don’t have the capacity to explore.

    Earlier while moving the bill for consideration, Joshi said its major objective is to generate employment in the sector and enhance the contribution of the mining sector in the total GDP of the country.

    “Currently, the contribution of the mining sector, putting all together, is around 1.75 per cent and we want to take it to 2.5 per cent which is our commitment,” he added.

    According to him, the mining sector contributes around 7 to 7.5 per cent of the GDP in countries like South Africa and Australia which are just as mineral-rich as India.

    “Major reason why we are lacking in the mining sector is we do not have explored mines. Only 10 per cent of the Obvious Geological Potential (OGP) area we have explored so far and out of that, in only 5 per cent of OGP we are mining,” he said, adding that in countries such as Australia and South Africa 70 to 80 per cent of OGP is mined.

    The reason is that only government agencies are involved in the process, he said.

    “We want to bring private players into this because we have rich minerals like coal, gold, silver, but we are not being able to bring it out. That’s why we are bringing these changes and trying to redefine exploration,” he added.

    The government is proposing to make National Mineral Exploration Trust (NMET) an autonomous and professional body, which would provide fund for exploration, Joshi added.

    The minister informed the House that the bill was even supported by many non-BJP-ruled states as it is in national interest.

    A total of “334 working merchant mines have expired in 2020 and out of that, 46 mines were working and were dispatching.

    Out of that 46, only 28 have been auctioned despite all clearance given by us and in between that there was a shortage of iron ore,” he said.

    It would create a level-playing field and end the system of captive and non-captive mines, which was followed in India only and “created a lot of problems”.

    The government is also fixing the mechanism to calculate extra royalty into the schedule of the bill.

    “Without any charges, we have allowed the transfer of mines. We want to bring a transparent system,” he said, adding it is a progressive bill and will bring a lot of change.

    The bill to amend the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957, would bring in mega reforms in the sector with resolution in legacy issues, thereby making a large number of mines available for auctions, he said.

    Congress leaders Digvijaya Singh and Jairam Ramesh among other opposition members pressed the government to send the bill to a select committee for scrutiny.

    Participating in the discussion on the bill, Ramesh said, “Eleven parties in House, have requested that the bill be referred to a select committee. Consensus today is that the bill should go to select committee but government is unlikely to agree and respect this consensus. By passing this bill, today we are going against the general consensus.”

    Singh also echoed similar views said, “Don’t treat this bill as you had done with the farm laws.”

    M Thambidurai (AIADMK) said the minister should ensure that states’ rights are not taken away.

    He referred to the spectrum case where joint Parliamentary committee was constituted.

    K Keshava Rao (TRS) said, “If you want to take people along then send this bill to a select committee. Don’t make the same mistake you have done with farm laws.”

    V. Vijayasai Reddy (YSRCP), “This bill should not be passed in its present form. It is pro-private sector and anti-public sector.”

    Ram Gopal Yadav (SP) said, “This bill will take towards privatisation of the entire mineral sector. Heaven would not fall if this bill would be passed in next session after the select committee scrutiny.”

    AAP and Congress Rajya Sabha members referred to mining-related irregularities in the past as they opposed the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Bill which seeks to bring more reforms in the mining sector for boosting private investment and creating more jobs.

    The NCP called for sending the bill to a select committee as the government brought a fourth amendment that will open up the option for captive mines other than atomic minerals to sell up to 50 per cent of their annual mineral production in the open market after meeting their objectives.

    AAP member Sanjay Singh demanded the government roll back the decisions of 100 per cent disinvestment of Vizag Steel Plant and restarting mining activity in Goa.

    “India will not develop by selling the entire nation,” Singh said.

    He said that private steel plants were set up due to politics at places where there was no availability of raw material.

    Singh said that in 2012 the Justice MB Shah Commission report had come and it was said a scam of Rs 35,000 crore had taken place in illegal mining.

    Based on that report, entire 88 mines were closed which led to suffering of three lakh families dependent on them.

    “It has been 9 years since operations have not been restored. Many have committed suicide. The Supreme Court directed to hold auction, but the BJP government started renewing lease instead of auction,” Singh alleged.

    CPI(M) member Jharna Das Baidya said the bill has provision that if the state government delays the auction, then the central government may take over the action.

    “Minerals are permanent assets of this country. We should ensure that they are properly utilised for the benefit of the country and not for the benefit of a few people. The bill should be sent to the select committee,” she said.

    Congress member Syed Nasir Hussain alleged a Rs 1-lakh crore mining scam took place in Karnataka in 2015.

    He said that the current chief minister of Karnataka was arrested in the case based on a Lokayukta report.

    “I fail to understand why they keep bringing so many amendments in 2015, 2016, 2020, 2021. I fail to understand is the ministry not capable of bringing amendments at one go and get all the amendments after complete discussion,” Hussain said.

    He alleged lobbying behind amendments.

    He said that states own the land and they have the right on auction of mines.

    RJD member Manoj Jha said that he has been hearing a lot about cooperative federalism and seeing it getting killed in each bill.

    “I have not seen a single bill in the last three years which strengthens the foundation of cooperative federalism. I can see ‘Gangs of Wasseypur’ developing from these 13 reforms. There is no mention of people who live around these resources,” he said, referring to the Hindi film centred on coal mafia.

    “These days I understand immediately for whom you are bringing these bills, who will be its beneficiaries and we will join the obituary of the public sector. You will also accept someday,” Jha said.

    He said that he gets representation from Vizag Steel Plant every day.

    “I have seen that plant. It is a marvel. Those who say nothing has happened in 70 years, they should go once and see plants like Vizag Steel Plant,” Jha said and demanded its revival.

    TDP member Kanakamedala Ravindra Kumar said that Vizag Steel Plant (VSP) does not have its own captive mines.

    “There is a chance of revival of VSP. The iron ore that is being brought by the VSP for about Rs 7,000 per tonne whereas other plants which have captive mines spend only Rs 1,500 per tonne only. This means VSP currently spends 65 per cent of the production cost on raw material alone,” Kumar said.

    He said that in 2007 parliamentary committees had recommended that VSP should have its own captive mines.

    “Since then the demand is pending,” Kumar said.

    NCP Fauzia Khan said that there are innumerable concerns regarding the bill.

    “We are of the opinion that this should go to the select committee and be scrutinised thoroughly. This is the 4th consecutive amendment to this bill. Why is the government indecisive in its approach?” she said.

    BJP member Ram Vichar Netam countered the opposition charges and said that several states gave their consent to the bill and it was drafted after wide consultations with associations, various departments and the public.

    Netam said that the bill has been brought after removing all discrepancies of past years and this will provide jobs to one crore people in the mining area.

    He said that the auction of mines will take place only after consultation with the state government.

  • Beef up cyber security: Demand in Rajya Sabha after hacking attempts on Mumbai power distribution system, vaccine makers

    By PTI
    NEW DELHI: A demand to strengthen cyber security to ward off cyber attacks from unfriendly nations was made in Rajya Sabha on Monday with an MP citing recent attempts to attack the Mumbai power distribution system and vaccine makers.

    Raising the issue through a Zero Hour mention, nominated member Narendra Jadhav said cyber terrorism or attacks on critical information infrastructure is a matter of grave concern.

    “Critical information infrastructure typically includes those facilities, those systems, those functions, whose incapacity or destruction can weaken national security, governance, economy and overall well-being of the country,” he said.

    Jadhav said that cyber attacks can lead to huge financial loss, cause environmental damage and pose a threat to defence security and integrity of the country.

    The recent cyber attacks on Mumbai’s power grid is a reminder of the vulnerability of India’s key installations, he said.

    “As reported in the international media, a hacker group called Red Echo — one can guess the country of its origin — has repeatedly targeted the control rooms of the Power System Operation Corporation Limited. The Maharashtra Government Cyber Police has found evidence of Trojan infiltration of the server of the Maharashtra State Electricity Board,” Jadhav said.

    Another hacker group, Stone Panda has recently aimed its cyber modes at Serum Institute of India and Bharat Biotech to exfiltrate intellectual property, he said.

    “This is nothing but proxy warfare. I don’t want to be an alarmist but there is a non-trivial possibility that this could escalate even to a nuclear plant meltdown,” Jadhav said.

    He urged the government to strengthen cyber security demonstrably.

    “The time has come to give an effective, return signal. We must demonstrate to any country which is threatening our national security what we are capable of,” the MP said.

    RJD member Manoj Kumar Jha demanded the re-issue of three to four crore ration cards that were cancelled due to non-seeding with Aadhaar.

    BJP’s Mahesh Poddar wanted the SRTMI – a dedicated platform for undertaking the development of disruptive and cutting-edge technologies for the iron and steel industry – to be set up in Ranchi, while Rewati Raman Singh of the Samajwadi Party demanded that construction be stopped on the Himalayan trek to protect the fragile ecosystem.

    Shaktisinh Gohil of the Congress raised the issue of 393 Asiatic lions being killed in accidents on rail tracks during the last two years and wanted steps to be taken to prevent such deaths.

    BJP member Ram Vichar Netam and Kanakamedala Ravindra Kumar of the TDP raised the issue of construction of houses under Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana in Chhattisgarh and Andhra Pradesh respectively.

  • Congress MP gives Zero Hour notice in Rajya Sabha seeking end to farmers’ agitation

    By ANI
    NEW DELHI: Congress Member of Parliament (MP) Deependra Singh Hooda on Monday gave a Zero hour Notice in Rajya Sabha over demand for compensation to all the farmers who lost their lives in the ongoing farmers’ agitation and also to end the deadlock.

    Farmers have been protesting at the different border of Delhi since November last year against the three newly enacted farm laws — Farmers’ Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Act, 2020; the Farmers Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Act 2020 and the Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act, 2020. 

  • Rajya Sabha passes bill to raise FDI in insurance

    By PTI
    NEW DELHI: Rajya Sabha on Thursday approved a bill to raise the foreign investment limit in the insurance sector to 74 per cent with Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman saying while control will go to foreign companies, the majority of directors and key management persons will be resident Indians who will be covered by law of the land.

    “The laws of the land are fairly mature. They can control every operation which happens in this country. (No one can) take it (money) away and make us sit and watch,” she said replying to a debate on the bill.

    Giving out reasons for the decision to raise the foreign direct investment (FDI) limit, she said insurance companies are facing liquidity pressure and the higher limit would help meet the growing capital requirement.

    On change of definition of ‘control’ of the insurance company with the hike in FDI limit, she said control means right to appoint a majority of directors, control the management of policy decisions including by virtue of their shareholding or management right or shareholder agreements or voting agreements.

    By raising the FDI limit to 74 per cent, the current provision of control being vested with Indian companies had to be dropped.

    But conditions have been attached to the control.

    “Majority of directors in the board and key management persons to be resident Indians which means every law of the land will be applicable on them. And a specific percentage of the profits is to be retained as general reserves. It cannot be (taken away),” she said.

    These conditions, she said, should remove doubts that higher FDI would bring colonialism.

    Replying to a debate on the Insurance (Amendment) Bill, 2021, Sitharaman said India received FDI worth Rs 26,000 crore in the insurance sector after 2015 when the foreign investment limit was raised to 49 per cent from 24 per cent.

    The bill to hike the FDI limit in insurance, she said, was been brought after extensive consultations by sector regulator IRDAI.

    The bill, which will now go to the Lok Sabha for approval, was passed by voice vote after opposition Congress and other parties staged a walkout in protest of the bill.

    They had forced four brief adjournments of the proceedings when the bill was taken up for discussion over their demand for it being referred to a Select Committee of the House for greater scrutiny.

    The bill seeks to increase the FDI limit in the insurance sector to 74 per cent.

    The announcement regarding it was made by the minister while presenting the Union Budget on February 1.

    Currently, the permissible FDI limit in life and general insurance stands at 49 per cent, with ownership and management control with Indians.

  • Not in public interest to disclose quantity of uranium extracted in country: Govt

    Uranium purchase agreement has also been entered with Canada, Kazakhstan, Russia and Uzbekistan.

  • Over 33.42 lakh public grievances received in 2020: Govt

    In 2020, a total of 33,42,873 complaints were received. It included 10,71,603 brought forward from the previous year, the reply said.

  • Any attempt to create imperialism of internet by few companies unacceptable: Prasad

    Speaking during Question Hour on the banning of Twitter accounts, Prasad said the government welcomes dissent but cannot allow misuse or abuse of social media.

  • Nirmala Sitharaman to move Insurance Amendment Bill 2021 in Rajya Sabha

    By ANI
    NEW DELHI: Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will move the Insurance (Amendment) Bill 2021 in Rajya Sabha for passing on Thursday.

    The Insurance (Amendment) Bill 2021 seeks to amend the Insurance Act to pave the way for 74 per cent foreign direct investment (FDI) in the sector.

    The Finance Minister introduced the Bill in Rajya Sabha on March 15. She introduced the Bill for amendments in the Insurance Act, 1938. The Union Cabinet on Wednesday had given its nod for amendments in the Insurance Amendment Bill 2021.

    Currently, the permissible FDI limit in life and general insurance stands at 49 per cent with ownership and management control with Indians.