Budget Session 2018 Live Updates: In back-to-back speeches, PM Modi underlined that the “New India” initiatives of his government were qualitatively different from the ones of “Old India” championed by the Congress.
Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley’s reply to the Opposition in the Lok Sabha was briefly disrupted after the Congress protested against his remarks on party president Rahul Gandhi.
Speaking on the Rafale deal, Jaitley said the breakup cost of the deal cannot be disclosed as it would reveal to the enemy what weapons system is part of the aircraft. Saying that security pacts are “inherent” to such deals, Jaitley asked Congress MP Veerapa Moily: “Ask your kabadi (scrap dealer) president to kindly go back to Pranab Mukherjee (who served as defence minister in UPA) and take lessons from him.”
Earlier today, the Rajya Sabha was adjourned till 12 pm soon after it began as leaders from the Congress Party protested against PM Narendra Modi’s remark against Renuka Chowdhury.
Yesterday, while the Prime Minister was arguing that the Aadhaar scheme was conceptualised by the A B Vajpayee government, Renuka Chowdhury laughed out hysterically. As Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu pulled her up for her conduct and told her that he may have to name her, PM Modi requested him not to say anything to her.
He said he heard such laughter for the first time after the Ramayan serial telecast on Indian television in the late 80s.
Yesterday, while replying to the Motion of Thanks to the President’s address, Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched a blistering attack on the Congress and its first family. In back-to-back speeches, he underlined that the “New India” initiatives of his government were qualitatively different from the ones of “Old India” championed by the Congress. READ MORE
Lok Sabha is adjourned till tomorrow.
On revenue deficit, Jaitley said: They are expecting something. We are trying to narrow the gap. These will be worked out in a couple of days.On the demand make Vishakapatnam a separate railway zone and other demands, he said: We are already in consultation with various ministries...trying to find the best solution possible.
Even when we supported the creation of Telangana, we said Andhra was going to be at a disadvantage...A special package was announced as part of the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act. Some of them are being implemented and some are work in progress: Jaitley.'Funds have been given and funds will be given for the establishment of all the institutions that have been mentioned,' said Jaitley. As far as creation of capital (Amaravati) is concerned, we made payments for the capital, for Polavaram project...Monies are being given: Jaitley.
"I mentioned the stand that he (Rahul Gandhi) and his party had taken. I don't see why my speech must be interrupted," Jaitley on ruckus in Lok Sabha.
Ruckus in Lok Sabha as Congress MPs don't allow Jaitley to continue his speech.
Arun Jaitley says the cost was not disclosed as giving out detailed outlay for each aircraft will disclose what specified weapons are part of the defence system of the aircraft: Jaitley.
Congress MP Shashi Tharoor interrupts Jaitley. "We (Congress) are asking for an overall cost and the unit cost," says Tharoor.
Jaitley retorts: Ask your party president, why manufacture this issue falsely at the cost of national security.
I am sure India's capital gains tax did not impact Dow Jones and other markets: Arun Jaitley.
Demonetisation was a difficult decision, it had its disruptive impact. Now, let's look. Before demonetisation India's GDP growth was 7.1 per cent. This year we are expected to grow at 6.7 per cent. The difference is 0.4 per cent. That too because of the impact of the GST: Jaitley
Capping of GST at 18 per cent is wrong. Few countries have the same GST for eating out and on a luxury car. Can the same be applied in a country like India which has a huge number of families below the poverty line: Jaitley.
You (Congress) brought in Aadhaar without the support of law. The law could not passed. You brought in a draft law...the law was silent on what purpose it would be used for and all the privacy requirements. We looked into the law and put in a full chapter on privacy. We specified in the law, in detail, for what purpose this will be used. The ones who brought it in has disowned it and challenged it in the court: Jaitley.
"It is no easy task that India earned an upgrade only after 14 years," says Arun Jaitley.
"The narrative which we inherited and the narrative which we have now created are entirely different," says Jaitley.
During the UPA regime, nobody spoke about the economy being a bright spot in the global economy. Nobody said India is a fastest growing economy then, it only happened now: Jaitley.
Congress MP Moily tried to paint a gloomy picture of the state of the economy. Between 2004-14, when the UPA government was in power, that was period when the economy was doing well. When there is a boom in the global economy, then it has a transcending effect in rest of the world: Jaitley.
Congress MP Sunil Kumar Jakhar raises Punjab crop-burning issue in Parliament.
He asks whether the people in Delhi aren't affected by suicides of the same farmers who are being blamed for burning of crops in Punjab and Haryana.
Protesting TDP MPs have now entered the Well of the Rajya Sabha Chairman. Rajya Sabha MP T K Rangarajan, who is in the Chair, requested the MPs to go back to their seats. "Please don't force to adjourn the House," he said.
In 2016-17, the Union Finance Minister announced a health cover of Rs 1 lakh for economically weak families. The scheme was not approved by the Cabinet and it was quietly buried. Two years later, the same minister came up with a new scheme with a Rs 5 lakh cover for 10 crore families...where will the money come from to fund this?
'This must be the only country in the world where GDP falls and employment increases...What kind of Jumla is this?'
Former finance minister P Chidambaram addresses the Upper House as BJP continues to disrupt proceedings.
Rajya Sabha resumes proceedings amid protests from BJP and Congress.
Rajya Sabha session adjourned again till 2.21 pm as BJP, Congress disrupts proceedings.
Congress MPs demand apology from BJP for remarks against Renuka Chowdhury.
Leader of Opposition Ghulam Nabi Azad addresses the Rajya Sabha, says, "This government has failed to run the house."
Session at Rajya Sabha resumes
"There is tension in the border area. At a time when China is all set to enter the country, the government should be more careful towards security," says Tej Pratap Yadav in Lok Sabha.
Samajwadi MP from Uttar Pradesh, Tej Pratap Yadav, addresses the Lok Sabha. He says, "More than a Budget, it appears to be a manifesto for the 2019 general election."
"In all its years of existence, Aligarh Muslim University doesn't provide reservation to SCs," says BJP ML Vinod Sonkar in Lok Sabha.
I request the Government of India to allocate funds to open an AIIMS in Tamil Nadu. Also, the Centre has not provided any allocation for Cyclone Ockhi relief in this Budget," says AIADMK MP J Jayavardhan in Lok Sabha
Muslims are citizens of this country. They are equally loyal to our country,' says Dinesh Trivedi.
"The Kanyashree Prakalpa scheme should be taken as model for entire country. Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao has been effectively implemented in Bengal, thanks to Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee," Trivedi adds.
If you want Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, you will have to look at West Bengal. If you lose the trust of people, then everything is lost. If you want to seek Sabka Saath Sabka Vikas, you should come to Bengal," Trinamool Congress MP Dinesh Trivedi says at Lok Sabha.
'PM Modi is very sensitive to the issues raised by the people of Andhra Pradesh. Finance Minister Arun Jaitley will address his concerns in his reply to the House,' says Parliamentary Affairs minister Ananth Kumar in Lok Sabha.
Rajya Sabha adjourned again till 2 pm due to protests against budget allocated for Andhra Pradesh
Venkaiah Naidu says, "As a chairman, I will not suspend Question Hour. But since there is a broad consensus, we will move on to discussion on the General Budget."
A BJP leader attacks Congress, asks Rahul Gandhi to respond to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's questions which was put forth in the Parliament on Wednesday.
The Question Hour at Lok Sabha concludes.