Parliament Budget Session 2018 Live Updates: PM Modi on Wednesday had said he heard such laughter for the first time after the Ramayan serial telecast on Indian television in the late 80s.
The proceedings in both the houses of the Parliament on Friday was repeatedly abrupted, mainly because of the protest staged by the TDP members over their demand of special status to Andhra. The Lok Sabha was adjourned minutes after it was convened today after protests from TDP members over the issue of budgetary allocation for Andhra Pradesh. Speaker Sumitra Mahajan straightway took up the Question House as the proceedings commenced. Soon members of the TDP crowded the Well raising slogans.
In Rajya Sabha, an uproar was witnessed after Samajwadi Party member Naresh Agarwal urged Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu to ask for an apology from Minister of State Kiren Rijiju over his social media post on Congress’ Renuka Chowdhury.
Earlier in the day, Renuka Chowdhury filed a privilege motion against Rijiju for posting a video of Prime Minister Narendra Modi mocking her laughter in the Rajya Sabha.
Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley yesterday denied Congress leader P Chidambaram’s charges on economic policy, saying structural reform may pose momentary difficulty initially but will prove to be beneficial in the long run. His reply to the Opposition in Lok Sabha was also briefly disrupted yesterday 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.
GST collections to increase as anti-evasion measures are added to indirect tax regime, says Jaitley, adding that the tax net has widened and direct tax collection went up 19.3 percent in April-January as a result of campaign against black money.
Fiscal deficit slippage is statistical primarily due to shortfall of GST revenue of one month in current fiscal, says FM Jaitley. He added that the NDA government has covered journey from policy paralysis to structural reforms, from economy being in fragile five to bright spot.
UPA had unacceptable level of current account deficit while under BJP rule it has been less than 1 per cent, says Finance Minister Jaitley.
The Finance Minister also pointed out that GDP growth in 2012-13 was 5.3 percent and 6.3 percent in following year under Congress, compared to 5.7 percent in one quarter under BJP.
Rs 55,000 crore allocated for MNREGA, Rs 1.7 lakh crore for food subsidy; spend on rural roads up manifold, says Finance Minister Arun Jaitley in Rajya Sabha
UPA had unacceptable level of current account deficit and under BJP rule it has been less than 1 per cent, says FM Jaitley.
Congress leader Renuka Chowdhury claimed that the BJP-ruled central government tried to project the budget as 'pro-farmer' as it faces the heat from the farming community ahead of next year's general elections.
CPI leader D Raja questioned the Central government over the budget allocation for the SC/ST and described the Union Budget as 'anti-poor'.
Trinamool Congress leader Derek O'Brien castigated the Central government over a wide range of issues, including unemployment. He also targeted the Centre over GST and alleged discrepancies in budget allocation for opposition-ruled states.
Proceedings have begun in Rajya Sabha and Samajwadi Party leader Neeraj Shekhar is presently speaking.
Odisha MP AV Swamy has been taken to the hospital. He fell down inside the Parliament. (Express photo by Praveen Jain)
When the Rajya Sabha met for the Question Hour, Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu informed members that the member from Odisha had fallen down and rushed for treatment. Whether it was due to sugar level or some other reason, it is yet to be ascertained, Naidu said.
Rajya Sabha chairman Venkiah Naidu adjourns the House till 2.30pm amid uproar by Andhra Pradesh members. Meanwhile, Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan has adjourned the house till March 5.
Proceedings begin in both the houses of the Parliament. As proceedings begin, TDP members storm into the Well of the houses with placards to demand special package for Andhra Pradesh.
Union Minister of Parliamentary Affairs Ananth Kumar had earlier in the day said that BJP national president Amit Shah branded Congress president Rahul Gandhi's style of politics as 'undemocratic'.
Both Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha have been adjourned till 12 pm because of the uproar in both the houses. The Lok Sabha was adjourned minutes after it was convened today after protests from TDP members over the issue of budgetary allocation for Andhra Pradesh. Speaker Sumitra Mahajan straightway took up the Question House as the proceedings commenced. Soon members of the TDP crowded the Well raising slogans. "This cannot happen everyday," the Speaker told the protesting members.
In Rajya Sabha, Samajwadi Party member Naresh Agarwal urged Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu to ask for an apology from Minister of State Kiren Rijiju over his social media post on Congress’ Renuka Chowdhury.