Parliament house in New Delhi on July 24th 2015. Express photo by Ravi Kanojia.
Day 2 of Parliament monsoon session began on a stormy note as the Opposition tried to corner the government on the recent lynching and over the plight of farmers across the country. In the Rajya Sabha, BSP supremo Mayawati threatened to resign when she was not allowed to complete her statement on the alleged atrocities against Dalits. Speaking to media after staging a walkout from the House, the former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister said that she was not being allowed to speak up at the House. “I will resign from Rajya Sabha. I was not allowed to speak in the House,” Mayawati told reporters.
The sessions in Lok Sabha also saw a rocky start as the Opposition raged protest over several issues including increasing violence at the hands of “cow vigilantes” and farmers’ issues. The session was adjourned till 12 pm but was later adjourned till 11 am on Wednesday.
Parliament session Live updates:
3:02 pm: Rajya Sabha Session adjourned till tomorrow.
2:00 pm: Rajya Sabha Session adjourned till 3 pm.
1:35 pm: Gopalkrishna Gandhi told reporters that he does not have any party affiliation. Speaking to reporters outside Parliament, the former West Bengal governor said, “I am an ordinary citizen, and I am not associated with any party. My views are my own.”
1:00 pm: Rajya Sabha session adjourned till 2 pm.
12:40 pm: Congress leader Renuka Chaudhary came out in support of Mayawati after she threatened to quit Rajya Sabha. Speaking to news agency ANI, the Congress leader said, “A dalit leader does not have the right to speak up in Parliament?”
12:25 pm: Opposition’s Vice-President candidate Gopalkrisna Gandhi filed his nomination papers in the presence of several senior Opposition leaders including Congress President Sonia Gandhi and Vice- President Rahul Gandhi. TMC’s Derek O Brien and former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh were also present.
(Screengrab/Rajya Sabha TV)
12:20 pm: NDA’s Vice-Presidential candidate after filing his nomination papers for the post of Vice-President, said that he hopes to do justice to the post. “I think I will be able to do justice to the august post; I thank all parties who have supported my candidature,” Naidu said. The former Union Minister, who resigned from the post earlier in the morning, said that it is painful to leave the party. “I come from humble background and I came here with support of people; Don’t belong to BJP now as post is above party,” Naidu said.
12:12 pm: BSP leader S C Mishra told NDTV, that Mayawati is adamant on her decision to quit Rajya Sabha. Mishra told the news channel the BSP Chief is likely to tender her resignation today.
12:10 pm: Lok Sabha session adjourned till 11 am tomorrow. The session was adjourned earlier after the opposition started noisy protests in the House over several issues, including increasing instances of violent attacks at the hands of “cow vigilantes” and the problems faced by farmers. The Opposition took up the entire Question Hour session.
12:00 pm: “When I tried speaking about the weaker sections today in the Rajya Sabha, I was not allowed to speak. Why?,” the former UP CM said. “It’s a disgrace. If I can’t put the concerns of the weaker sections in parliament, then I dont have the right to be in the House,” she added. “This is the reason I have decided to quit from Rajya Sabha. I am not being heard, not allowed to speak,” Mayawati said.
11.45 am: “I will resign from Rajya Sabha. I was not allowed to speak in the House,” Mayawati told reporters.
The Uttar Pradesh government remained a mute spectator despite the violence against Dalits in Saharanpur. When BSP leaders sought permission to visit the families of the victims, we were denied citing a helipad issue. Then, we wrote to the authorities seeking permission to go by road: Mayawati.
11:30 am: Venkaiah Naidu filed his nomination papers in the presence of senior BJP leaders.
Delhi: #VenkaiahNaidu files nomination for #VicePresidential poll; PM Modi, BJP president Amit Shah and other NDA leaders present pic.twitter.com/uTpyFDhuK9
— ANI (@ANI_news) July 18, 2017
11:25 am: Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad, in Rajya Sabha, alleged that the ruling government is stifling the voice of the opposition. He further added that the government has failed to help the farmers. He also raised the issue of violence against Dalit community. CPI(M) General Secretary Sitaram Yechury also spoke against the atrocities against Dalits and minorities at Rajya Sabha before the session was adjourned.
11:23 am: Meanwhile, senior NDA leaders reach Parliament to file Venkaiah Naidu’s nomination papers for vice-president
Delhi: PM Modi, BJP president Amit Shah and other NDA leaders reach Parliament to file nomination of #VicePresident candidate #VenkaiahNaidu pic.twitter.com/czhUZCJuKb
— ANI (@ANI_news) July 18, 2017
11:18 am: Congress and CPI leaders raised the issue of farmers in the country, while BJP leaders continued their protest in Rajya Sabha, demanding an apology from Mayawati. Opposition leaders started raising slogans against the ruling government over farmer’s rights following which the speaker adjourned the session.
11:10 am: Speaking in the Rajya Sabha, BSP supremo Mayawati claimed that there was a rise in atrocities against Dalits. On Sahranpur riots, Mayawati alleged that BJP is spreading communalism. The former UP CM also threatened that she will resign if she was not allowed to finish her statement after the Speaker asked her to sit down. A ruckus broke out in the House as BJP leaders asked Mayawati to apologise for issuing “threats” in parliament.
11:05 am: Lok Sabha session has been adjourned till 12 pm after ruckus in parliament.
10:52 am: NDA’s Vice-Presidential candidate Venakaiah Naidu, who will file his nomination papers in \Parliament on Tuesday, has resigned from his post as Union Minister. Additional charge of Ministry of Urban Development will be given to Union Minister for Rural Development Narendra Singh Tomar, while the addition charge of I&B Ministry will be givent to Union HRD Minister Smriti Irani.
10:40 am: Karnataka BJP MP Shobha Karan, outside parliament on the second day of the Monsoon session, said the state government is not serious about political killings. “Why was IPS D Roopa transferred abruptly,” the MP added.
10:30 am: TMC gave notice in Rajya sabha on rise in mob lynching incidents, news agency ANI reported.
10:23 am: Opposition Vice-Presidential candidate Goplakrishna Gandhi, before filing his nomination papers, spoke to media and said that he feels a sense of responsibility. Speaking to news agency ANI, the former West Bengal governor said, “I have accepted the invitation with a sense of gratitude and responsibility. He added: “Opposition in India is a very large entity & 18 parties have asked me to be their vice -president candidate.”
10:20 am: Opposition leaders are currently attending a meeting in Paliament. Senior Congress leaders Ghulam Nabi Azad and Mallikarjun Kharge were seen attending the meeting. CPI leader D Raja, JDU leader Sharad Yadav, and TMC leader Derek O’ Brien are also present at the meeting, among other leaders.
Opposition leaders attending a meeting in Parliament. (Credits: ANI)
10:10 am: Adjournment motion notice was given by RJD leader JP Yadav in Lok Sabha against ‘harassment of opposition leaders including Lalu Prasad Yadav”, news agency ANI reported.
10: 07 am: NDA’s Vice-Presidential Candidate Venkaiah Naidu reached Parliament to file his nomination papers. Before filing his nomination papers, Naidu met with senior BJP leader Murli Manohar Joshi and L K Advani.
Delhi: NDA’s #VicePresidential candidate Venkaiah Naidu meets MM Joshi & LK Advani; to file nomination today. pic.twitter.com/B1lDbJLKwg
— ANI (@ANI_news) July 18, 2017
10:05 am: A day after Karnataka IPS officer D Roopa was transferred to the traffic department, Karnataka BJP leaders launched a protest outside the parliament. Roopa, a few days ago, had alleged that AIDAMK general secretary V K Sasikala, who is serving time in Parappana Agrahara central prison after conviction in disproportionate assets case, was being given VIP treatment inside the prison.
9:10 am: Congress moves adjournment motion notice in Lok Sabha on the issue of farmers’ plight.
9:00 am: Opposition leaders’ meeting scheduled to take place at 10 am in the Parliament today.
Both the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha were adjourned on the first day of the monsoon session, which coincided with the Presidential polls, just after the obituary references were read and the oath was administered to the new ministers. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who arrived at the Parliament to cast his vote in the Presidential polls, hoped that all parties would contribute constructively during the House debates in this session.
