Parliament LIVE Updates: Covid-19 Lockdown a Shock Like Demonetisation, TMC's Derek O'Brien Tells RS; Cong Calls Curbs 'Shocking'

TMC' Derek o 'Brien Hits out Over Covid Preparedness | Alluding to HM Amit Shah's 'chronology' comment, O'Brien says, "On January 30, the first COVID-19 case was detected in India. On February 24, PM Modi hosted US President Donald Trump and during all this, many Chief Ministers were working for Covid. On March 25, a 21-day lockdown was announced with a four hours notice. My question to the government is this, was at least one video conference held before March 26 for coronavirus?  On public health, states have spent Rs 63 out of every Rs 100 spent. When things are going well, you want to take credit. When they are not, you start talking about CMs, he says. 

Can Light Diyas at India Gate, not for Covid Warriors | BJP MP from Maharashtra says that many have been criticising some of the good measures implemented by the Centre during COVID-19. For instance, when we lit diyas to honour the frontline workers, there were people who made fun of that as well, he says. "Those who light candles at India Gate don't like the lighting of diyas in honour of those fighting COVID," says Sahasrabuddhe, to general protest. He also said that there is lack of coordination between the different departments of Maharashtra government even while dealing with a pandemic.

No CM opposed lockdown, says BJP MP | BJP MP Vinay Sahasrabuddhe said he hoped that Congress would give some policy suggestions. Responding to Sharma's comments on the implementation of lockdown, Sahasrabuddhe says that the Chief Ministers of states were consulted numerous times during the decision-making process and they did not oppose the lockdown. "None of the Chief Ministers in about 15 meetings with the PM and other Ministers ever said the lockdown shouldn't be opposed," he says. "This double-faced behaviour of the Opposition should be avoided," he adds.

Anand Sharma says the government should have coordinated with States before announcing the lockdown. Says we can't deny the image of India that was seen abroad of migrant workers in distress. He adds that if quarantine centres were set up in advance, the disease may not have reached villages. While ending his addressal, Sharma says it is the duty of the house to listen to all inputs from the members of the House. 

After a heated discussion on the time alloted for COVID-related queries and comments, Congress MP Anand Sharma resumes speaking. Mr Sharma asks government to speak to states about improving the public health system. He says that 70% of ICU beds are in private sector.

Confusion ensues over the timing alloted for the discussion. Chairman says 2.5 hours, members say they were promised 4 hours.

Cong's Anand Sharma on Covid | Congress MP Anand Sharma says Health Minister told the House on September 15 that the deaths per million of 55 was among the lowest in the world. Sri Lanka and South Africa have had lower deaths per million, he says. COVID 19 is an unprecedented event an event that no one could have predicted... but the question is how prepared were we? Today our medical fraternity has more knowledge of how to handle a disease. The announcement of the lock down shocked the country, there should a discussion on how benificial was the lock down and how prepared or ill prepared were we for it.

RS Passes Ayurveda Bill | Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan thanks the MPs for their inputs on Institute of Teaching and Research in Ayurveda Bill, 2020. He says that despite being a doctor of modern medicine, he is appreciative of and practices ayurveda and other traditional medicine. On issue of Jamnagar institute being selected, Health Minister says he has respect for the other institutes. Right now there are 103 institutes of national importance, but none for ayurveda.

Rajya Sabha passes the Institute of Teaching and Research in Ayurveda Bill, 2020. pic.twitter.com/CVOS6Cfiqo

— ANI (@ANI) September 16, 2020

Inst Should Not be Limited to One State, say MPs | On the Institute, most MPs say that the institute should not be constrained to one particular state, i.e Gujarat. Bodoland People's Front MP from Assam Biswajit Daimary asks the government to make a similar ayurveda institute of national importance in the North East. NCP MP from Maharashtra Dr. Fauzia Khan wonders if it might be more cost-effective to improve existing institutes rather than establishing a new one. She says choice of Gujarat again has led to eyebrows being raised.

AIADMK MP M Thambidurai in Rajya Sabha said the Siddha is also a very important medicine system and requested the Centre to consider giving the status of national importance to National Institute of Siddha in Tamil Nadu.

Siddha is also a very important medicine system. I request the (health) minister to consider giving the status of national importance to National Institute of Siddha in Tamil Nadu: AIADMK MP M Thambidurai in Rajya Sabha pic.twitter.com/6S45Hx7LYz

— ANI (@ANI) September 16, 2020

RS Takes up Ayurveda Institute Bill | Rajya Sabha takes up 'Institute of Teaching and Research in Ayurveda Bill 2020' for discussion. 

Rajya Sabha takes up 'Institute of Teaching and Research in Ayurveda Bill 2020' for discussion #RajyaSabha#MonsoonSession2020 pic.twitter.com/OWwVj6Jj4R

— Prasar Bharati News Services (@PBNS_India) September 16, 2020

Congress MP Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury has given Adjournment Motion notice in Lok Sabha over the issue of 'Chinese surveillance on political leaders and key officials.'

On Day 3 of the Parliament Monsoon Session, the COVID crisis expected to be discussed in Rajya Sabha. Pressure on govt by the opposition for a full-fledged discussion over the India-China Faceoff issue also expected. A CNN-News18 report. 

Parliament #MonsoonSession Day 3.

COVID crisis expected to be discussed in Rajya Sabha. Pressure on govt by the opposition for a full-fledged discussion over the #IndiaChinaFaceoff issue.

Here's what you can expect to happen in the parliament today.@_pallavighosh explains. pic.twitter.com/32Af4Vxsko

— CNNNews18 (@CNNnews18) September 16, 2020

No Inflitration on Indo-China Border, MHA to RS |  Ministry of Home Affairs told Rajya Sabha today that no infiltration had taken place on Indo-China Border in six months, even as the standoff between the two countries continues in Ladakh. 

KC Venugopal on India China at LAC | Congress MP KC Venugopal in RS said as per a media report, a Shenzhen based tech company with links to Chinese govt is tracking over 10,000 Indians in its global database of foreign targets. I want to know from the govt if it has taken note of it. If so, what actions have been taken?

As per a media report, a Shenzhen based tech company with links to Chinese govt is tracking over 10,000 Indians in its global database of foreign targets. I want to know from the govt if it has taken note of it. If so, what actions have been taken?: Congress MP KC Venugopal in RS pic.twitter.com/cZa7R08Idp

— ANI (@ANI) September 16, 2020

Congress MP KC Venugopal gives Zero Notice on the Chinese surveillance issue in Rajya Sabha as he demands the government to address the matter.

AAP MP Sanjay Singh has given Zero Hour notice in Rajya Sabha over 'him being stopped from discharging his duties of an MP.'

Congress Speaks on J&K | Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad speaks on the unemployment among the youth and lack of tourism in Jammu & Kashmir. Azad says since the bifurcation of the state, these opportunities need to be brought back. 

Delhi: Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut and Union Ministers Hardeep Singh Puri & Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi arrive at the Parliament, as proceedings of the Raya Sabha begin on third day of #MonsoonSession. pic.twitter.com/hCmkdLF9dm

— ANI (@ANI) September 16, 2020

The Upper House session begins, Mausam Noor (West Bengal) makes the prescribed oath or affirmation of allegiance to the Constitution. 

Day 3 of #MonsoonSession2020

Presenting episode 5 of our #New series #InsideParliament

My prediction. Govt will condescend to discuss #Covid_19 today in Rajya Sabha for about 2 hours. And then Oppn will be told, now go- that’s more than enough. pic.twitter.com/tbYL7cDXA6

— Derek O'Brien | ডেরেক ও'ব্রায়েন (@derekobrienmp) September 16, 2020

Congress MP Anand Sharma has given short duration discussion notice in Rajya Sabha over 'the incursion of Chinese Army across the LAC and military standoff between the Armies of India and China on the LAC.'

— ANI (@ANI) September 16, 2020

Finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman will move the Banking Regulation (Amendment) Bill, 2020 for its passage in the Lok Sabha today. The Bill seeks to protect the interest of the depositors by bringing co-operative banks under the regulatory framework of Reserve Bank of India (RBI).

RS to Hold Talks on Pandemic | The Rajya Sabha is set to discussion the pandemic and the steps taken by the Centre to curb the spread of the deadly virus. Union Minister Harsh Vardhan had on Monday told Parliament that the decision to impose nationwide lockdown prevented 14-29 lakh Covid-19 cases and 37,000-78,000 deaths in India. Reports now state that the number of infections in the country have crossed the 5 million mark with 91,136 new cases.

RJD MP Manoj Jha has given Zero Hour notice in Rajya Sabha over 'COVID-19 and its impacts on migrant workforce.'

MPLAD Fund Restoration | Opposition parties, including the Congress, in the Lok Sabha had demanded the restoration of Member of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme (MPLADS) fund, even as they supported the government's decision to cut salaries of MPs. Participating in a discussion on the Salary, Allowances and Pension of Members of Parliament (Amendment) Bill, 2020, in the Lower House, members of the Congress, TMC, BJD, NCP, TRS, TDP and other parties pitched for the restoration of the funds.

BSP MP Veer Singh has given Zero Hour notice in Rajya Sabha over 'increase in unemployment due to lockdown and COVID-19 pandemic.'

PDP MP Gives Zero Hour Notice | PDP MP Nazir Ahmad Laway has given Zero Hour notice in Rajya Sabha over "MPLAD funds and poor condition of National Highway from Jammu to Srinagar."

Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut has given Zero Hour notice in Rajya Sabha over 'proposed privatisation of JNPT
(Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust) ports and concern over national security.' pic.twitter.com/HqltRyCtH0

— ANI (@ANI) September 16, 2020