Day six of the monsoon session of the Parliament will see Rajya Sabha taking up two bills related to banking while the Lok Sabha is expected to discuss and pass amendments to Companies Bill and Taxation Bill.
Meanwhile, three Opposition parties — TMC, NCP and DMK — approached the government calling for a shorter monsoon session of Parliament owing to the rising COVID-19 cases. The government is unlikely to curtail the session till all the 11 ordinances are cleared.
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Here are the latest updates:
BJP MP Arun Singh says the amendment to Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016 was a remarkable and bold step.
He cites statistics, including ease of doing business ranking, that has improved under the NDA government, says that it is testament to the sucess of the Bill.
He praises PM Modi and former Finance Minister Arun Jaitley for introducing the Bill. He paises the BJP workers for the good work done during the pandemic, and praises PM Modi numerous times.
Protects corporations, affects MSME traders, says Congress MP
Vivek Tankha of Congress speaks on the Bill.
He says that the ordinance came on March 25. "Madhya Pradesh lost its government and a new CM was sworn in. Following this, a 21-day lockdown was imposed. In this lockdown, some ordinances were hurriedly issued and this was one of them," says Mr. Tankha.
He says the enactment of 10A will be counterproductive as there is no certainty in how long the pandemic will continue. So I have moved an amendment to remove the cap, he says.
Mr. Tankha says that small traders will be affected by this ordinance, and that the government is trying to protect big corporates. MSMEs must be allowed to initiate CIRB proceedings irrespective of the provisions, he says.
He asks: Do we want to protect COVID category of industries or all industries based on their performance in the past? Section 10A does not distinct between COVID and other defaults, so suitably amend Section 7 and 9 by protecting COVID-related defaults on case to case basis, says the Congress MP.
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman moves that the Bill to further amend the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016, be taken into consideration.
Special Mentions by MPs begin.
Ruckus follows as Opposition demands discussion on Agriculture Bills passed in Lok Sabha. Chairman Naidu says that Bills are to be taken next day, and the discussion can take place then.
DMK MP P. Wilson says that there is a decline in representation of all communities in appointment of judges to the Supreme Court. He asks that the government look into this matter.
MPs K.K. Ragesh, Elamaram Kareem, Binoy Viswam and K.C. Venugopal move the resolution: “That this House disapproves the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (Amendment) Ordinance, 2020 (No. 9 of 2020) promulgated by the President of India on 5th June, 2020.”
CPI(M) MP K.K. Ragesh demands to know how many ordinances have been promulgated in the past six years.
Shiv Sena MP Priyanka Chaturvedi raises the request for awarding age relaxation to economically weaker sections of unreserved category. Many children have to delay education due to lack of support, but no age relaxation provision is provided in the Bill passed last year, she says. Extend age relaxation to children in the EWS category, she requests the government.
BJP MP K.J. Alphons says that tuberculosis awareness programmes have taken a hit during COVID-19. India has over 24 lakh TB patients. Our entire health mechanism is busy fighting COVID, thus slowing down the one against TB. He requests the Centre to pay attention to the TB patients' suffering.
BJP MP Y.S. Chowdary raises the issue of water scarcity in the country. He says that 182 cities require immediate attention in regard to water management, and that most of the rain water goes into the sea. He adds that 80% of discharge from households is untreated, and the government should take suitable measures to address this issue.
BJP MP Neeraj Shekhar raises the demand that Bhojpuri be included in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution. He says that this issue has been raised for past 50 years. Nepal and Mauritius has given it constitutional strength, he says. "Previous Home Minister in UPA who did not even speak Hindi, spoke in Bhojpuri and said he understood our feelings, but nothing came of it," he says.
Congress MP Ahmed Patel brings up the woes of students ill-equipped to handle online classes during COVID-19. "Schools have been shut for six months now. Students who are poor and without access to laptops or smartphones are unable to participate in online classes. This is putting stress on both the students and their parents. Digital India should not increase the barrier between students. Some students have also died by suicide. According to a survey, only 9% students in rural India have access to Internet. A task force should be constituted to find the impact online education is having on children," he says.
BSP MP Raja Ram raises the issue of OBC reservation in Jammu and Kashmir.
Only 2% reservation for OBCs, and 8% reservation for SCs, he says. Mayawati supported the revocation of Article 370 on the grounds that they will be given reservation, but this has not been followed, says Mr. Ram.
TMC's Derek O Brien points out that the All India Handicraft Board in Kolkata has been abolished by the Centre. He adds that All India Handloom and Powerloom board has also faced the same fate, and appeals that they be reopened.
BJD MP Subhash Chandra Singh says MGNREGA working days should be increased to 200 days.
SP's Chandra Pal Singh Yadav says that when the 97th Constitutional amendment (right of the people to form cooperative societies) was brought in 2011, 16 States made changes. However, it was stayed because of a petition by one person from Gujarat. It has been nearly 10 years now, and the amendment is yet to be implemented. He says that the Centre should appeal in the SC in this regard.
Zero Hour mentions by members begin.
BJP MP Sambit Patra raises the issue of terrorism, with regard to Pakistan. He asks the government to escalate the issue with international media organisations. "We do not see India's version in BBC, CNN, Washington Post etc," he says. He says that the Indian media has stated that Dawood Ibrahim lives in Pakistan, but international media has not raised it, and hence India should push such narratives.
The Upper House proceedings begin with an obituary reference.
Papers laid on table. Chairman Venkaiah Naidu reminds members of the facilities available, and safeguards and precautions to be taken for COVID-19 containment.
The Chairman says: "COVID-19 testing facility is available everyday in Parliament, members are requested to undergo tests at their convenience. Yesterday a meeting was held with Union Home Secretary, health ministry and ICMR. They told me that the best safeguard against COVID-19 is wearing face masks. Whenever you meet outside your house, wear mask. Second is safe distance, third is hygiene- washing and cleaning hands, and fourth is healthy food habits and exercise (whatever you like-yoga or exercise). I am concerned about the people. I am concerned about my members as well."
Bills for Consideration and Passing
- Banking Regulation (Amendment) Bill, 2020
- Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (Second Amendment) Bill, 2020
Bills to be introduced
- The Industrial Relations Code, 2020
- The Code On Social Security, 2020
Bills for consideration and passing
- The Companies (Amendment) Bill, 2020
- The Taxation and Other Laws (Relaxation and Amendment of Certain Provisions) Bill, 2020
Bills to be withdrawn
- The Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Code, 2019
- The Industrial Relations Code, 2019