The Parliament will function today sans Opposition parties. Opposition parties boycotted Parliament on Tuesday too, first walking out of Rajya Sabha in the morning and later from Lok Sabha at around 4 p.m., protesting against the flawed passage of the two farm bills in the Upper House on Sunday that resulted in violent protests by Opposition members and suspension of eight MPs.
Here are the latest updates:
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman moves motion for considering of The Bilateral Netting of Qualified Financial Contracts Bill, 2020.
Mr. Rai moves motion that the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Amendment Bill.
The Rajya Sabha passes the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2020.
MoS Home Affairs Nityanand Rai starts his reply
Mr. Rai says FCRA is a national and internal security law.
When the FCRA law was brought in, in 2010, the then-Home Minister Chidambaram said that out of Rs. 20,000 crore funds received, there was no information on where Rs. 10,000 crore went, Mr. Rai says. "This meant there was appropriation somewhere."
Responding to Mr. Balasubramoniyan, he says the bill is not against those NGOs doing good work. "It is in the interest of good NGOs instead," he says. "Jobs will not be lost, but employment will be generated."
The NGOs won't have to come to Delhi to open a bank account in SBI, New Delhi. They can open the account through their nearest SBI branch, he clarifies, in response to Mr. Kumar.
There will be no delay in transfer of funds to NGOs. Government will be able to trace and monitor the funds with the bill, he says.
Prashanta Nanda of BJD supports the bill but says genuine NGOs should not be troubled by the officials.
Ram Chandra Prasad Singh of JD(U) supports the bill.
Swapan Dasgupta, nominated member, says says some NGOs are involved in "proxy politics". He suggests appointment of a commission to look into what NGOs are doing. He calls the bill an important and major step to check this "proxy politics".
Kanakamedala Ravindra Kumar of TDP supports the bill. He says the clause for all NGOs to have an account in SBI, Delhi will lead to problems.
After a confusion over the Supplementary Agenda List being taken up before Legislative Business, the latter begins.
RS discusses Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Amendment Bill
The Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2020 is taken up for consideration.
The Chairman says the bill will get one hour for discussion.
BJP MP Arun Singh says some NGOs were misusing funds by "buying chocolates and renting big houses". The bill provides for verifying if the funds received by the NGOs are indeed being used for the purpose. "Some NGOs are using such funds for forced conversions, like some NDGOs in Kerala," he says. The bill checks the anti-national activities of NGOs which receive funds from outside the country, he says, adding he supports the bill.
S.R. Balasubramoniyan of AIADMK says the bill shouldn't be used to antagonise the political parties. "The government should assure us this won't happen, that political opponents won't be targeted." There may be some bad NGOs, but majority are genuine NGOs doing good work, he says. "Such NGOs should not be bulldozed."
On the one hand the government is encouraging foreign investments, on the other hand it also restricts the good work that such investments could bring in. "The bill has good intentions, but bad implications on the ground," he says. He supports the bill.
Special Mentions begin
Satish Chandra Dubey of BJP says EWS quota should have relaxation of age and fees.
Dr. Sonal Mansingh of BJP seeks financial package for freelance artists during the ongoing pandemic since cultural activities are on a standstill.
Kailash Soni of BJP seeks that conditions of PMAY scheme be relaxed to include those affected by floods.
Anil Desai of Shiv Sena asks that the Bombay High Court be renamed as Mumbai High Court. He says the State government has been in constant touch with the Centre regarding this.
BJP MP Bhupender Yadav says today is the birth anniversary of poet and former MP Ramdhari Singh Dinkar from Bihar, we should set up a chair in his name. He recalls the friendship that Dinakar and Ram Manohar Lohia shared both inside and outside the Parliament.
K.C. Ramamurthy of BJP raises matter of flood damage in Karnataka. He says the State has suffered loss of Rs. 9,440 crore in this season alone. He seeks special financial assistance from the Centre for the flood management.
Social Justice Minister Thaawarchand Gehlot moves a motion for election of one member to the Rehabilitation Council of India.
Zero Hour begins
BJP MP Lt. Gen (retd.) Dr. D.P. Vats says important rail and road projects get delayed due to pending court cases. He asks Law Ministry to come up with a legislation to speed up development works.
Mamata Mohanta of BJD asks that the Kurmi Mahanta community be added in the ST list.
Nazir Ahmed Laway of PDP raises the matter of home guards and other government employees who don't get permanent jobs for years.
Birendra Prasad Baishya of AGP says he requests the government to complete the India-Myanmar-Thailand trilateral highway immediately for the progress of the northeast.
Subhash Chandra Singh of BJD says remuneration of anganwadi and ASHA workers, who are COVID warriors, is very low. He asks Centre to come up with a special package for them.
Chairman announces that the House is bidding farewell to some members from U.P. and Uttarakhand today, as they are set to retire in November. They include P.L. Punia, Ram Gopal Yadav, Hardeep Puri, Neeraj Shekhar, Raj Babbar and Javed Ali.
"Though some members may be re-elected, I hope, this House will miss those who will not be coming back immediately," he says.
Neeraj Shekhar, the son of former PM Chandra Shekhar, says he used to play in the Central Hall when visiting the Parliament as a child with his father. Mr. Shekar switched from the Samajwadi Party to the BJP last year. He
Rajya Sabha proceedings for the day begins
MoS Parliamentary Affairs V. Muraleedharan laying papers on the table.
Mr. Muraleedharan says the government has decided to recommend adjournment of the House sine die today, but there is some important legislative business to be completed before that. He gives time stipulations within which the pending bills are to be discussed, as recommended by the Parliamentary Advisory Committee meeting on September 22, 2020.
Chairman Venkaiah Naidu says government can recommend the adjournment of the House, but when to adjourn is the chair's decision.
Bills for consideration and passing
The Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2020
The Bilateral Netting of Qualified Financial Contracts Bill, 2020
The Appropriation (No.3) Bill, 2020
The Appropriation (No.4) Bill, 2020
Bills for consideration and passing
The Major Port Authorities Bill, 2020
The Assisted Reproductive Technology (Regulation) Bill, 2020
The Factoring Regulation (Amendment) Bill, 2020