The sessions, this time, will register many firsts, including sitting of the two Houses in shifts without any off day.Parliament Today LIVE News Updates: Ahead of the Monsoon Session, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday exuded confidence that members of Parliament will speak in one voice to express their solidarity with the soldiers guarding the country’s borders. Amid the ongoing border row with China in Ladakh, Modi said that the soldiers are bravely discharging their duties while standing guard in difficult hilly terrains with snowfall expected in the coming days and weeks.
After a considerable delay due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the 18-day monsoon session in Lok Sabha kicked off on Monday at 9 am. Minutes later, it was adjourned for an hour over the demise of former president Pranab Mukherjee.
The Congress and some other Opposition parties are preparing to oppose four Bills, including three farm-related ones that are to replace ordinances, and demand that these be sent to the select committee of Rajya Sabha. The CPM said it will oppose all 11 ordinances promulgated during the lockdown. Its members have moved notice for statutory resolutions opposing these ordinances and demanding their withdrawal in both Houses of Parliament.
Vice-President Venkaiah Naidu oversees arrangements in Rajya Sabha.
Speaking on the current situation of the pandemic and the government's efforts, Health Minister Harsh Vardhan said: "The maximum cases and deaths have been removed from primarily Maharashtra, Odisha, Assam, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal and New Delhi among others. India has been able to limits its cases and deaths, the rate is one of the lowest in the world when compared to country with similar situations."
Speaking on the drug menace, BJP MP Ravi Kishan said: "The problem of drug trafficking/addiction is on the rise. A conspiracy is being hatched to destroy the country's youth and our neighbouring countries are contributing to this. The smuggling of drugs from Pakistan and China is done every year, the items are brought via Punjab and Nepal."
NCP's Supriya Sule raised the issue over the economy and urged more funds for Maharashtra which has registered the maximum number of cases across the country.
DMK MP Thalikkottai Ballu raised the issue of holding of NEET exams. "There are 12 incidents of suicides among students so far. They had passed class 12 through state board while NEET is conducted only based on the CBSE syllabus," he said.
Home Minister Rajnath Singh said: "Leaders of most parties agreed over no Question Hour and Zero Hour for 30 minutes. We apprised you (Speaker) of the following which the decision was taken by you. I appeal to all members of House to co-operate as Session is being held in an extraordinary situation. We all need your support. Precisely, why I had said we should remove the Question Hour during the session but hold a Zero hour for 30 minutes, incase any one has any questions."
Responding to the opposition's claims, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Prahlad Joshi said: "All states are holding session for two days and are passing several bills within 25 minutes. We are holding a 18-day session. Also, in the last five years, 60% of the session in Lok Sabha and 30% in Rajya Sabha have been wasted over Question Hour."
Chowdhury added: "The Question Hour is the golden hour but you say that it cannot be held due to the circumstances. You conduct the proceedings but single out Question Hour. You are trying to strangulate the democracy."
Raising questions over the removal of the Question Hour, Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury said: "The Question Hour is the essential of Parliament democracy. It is the soul of the House. By removing it, the government is trying to stifle opposition views." Speaking along similar lines, AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi "urged the executive not to encroach into the territory of the legislature."
Shiva Sena leader Sanjay Raut also reacted to PM Modi's remarks earlier in the day. He said: "The entire country has stood by the Army, irrespective of whose government is at the Centre and will always do the same."
The session in Lok Sabha resumed at 10.20 am today.
Amid the pandemic, the entry of former MPs/MLCs/MLAs/personal secretaries/personal assistants/family members/personal guests and visitors, accompanying the present ones, have been restricted inside Parliament till further orders, ANI reported.
Reacting to PM Modi's remarks that MPs must speak in one voice to show solidarity with the soldiers, Congress leader Shashi Tharoor said: "The government is accountable to Parliament. When have they reported to us on talks between the Defence and Foreign Ministers (of India & China)? The nation needs to be taken into confidence. The question of support for military is beyond debate; we are strongly with our Army."
The session in the Lok Sabha was adjourned for an hour over the demise of former President Pranab Mukherjee, one sitting MP and 13 ex-parliamentarians.
Congress MPs Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury and K Suresh today gave an Adjournment Motion notice in Lok Sabha over the Chinese incursion in Eastern Ladakh. DMK and CPI(M), on the other hand, gave an Adjournment Motion notice over the 'suicide of 12 teenage students due to NEET'.
The Monsoon session of Parliament, cut short due to the pandemic, will not have Question Hour, during which Members of Parliament ask questions to ministers and hold them accountable for the functioning of their ministries. Zero Hour, during which members raise matters of public importance, will also be curtailed and there will be no private members’ Bill. Protesting the move, Opposition leaders accused the government of trying to reduce Parliament to a “notice board”. In the face of criticism from the Opposition party against doing away with the Question hour, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Prahlad Joshi said the government is ready to take up unstarred questions. Members get answers to unstarred questions in writing, and it is deemed to be laid on the table of the House.
After exploring a number of possibilities, including virtual and hybrid meetings for the monsoon session, the presiding officers of both the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha have decided to conduct a fully physical session. According to the current plan, while members of the Lower House could be seated in the chamber of Lok Sabha, its galleries, the chamber of Rajya Sabha and its galleries, the elders could sit in both the chambers for the meetings. Sanitation will be done between the shifts. Face masks have also been made compulsory for all within the premises. Apart from following basic sanitisation protocols and social distancing in both the houses, the ministers, MPs, officials, mediapersons and others entering the Parliament have to be tested Covid negative. Lok Sabha speaker Om Birla had said all those entering the premises would have to undergo the test at least 72 hours before the start of the session. Click here to read more.
Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla began his address by paying tributes to former president Pranab Mukherjee, who passed away recently after a surgery.
The session in the Lok Sabha began at 9 am with the national anthem.
In his address prior to the session outside Parliament, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said: "Parliament session is beginning in distinct times. There is coronavirus and there is duty. The MPs chose the path to duty. I congratulate and express gratitude to them. This time, the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha will be held at different times during the day. It'll be held on Saturday and Sunday too. All the MPs have accepted this." He added: "I believe that all members of Parliament will give an unequivocal message that the country stands with our soldiers."