Opposition protests outside Parliament (ANI)Parliament Monsoon Session Live Updates: The Rajya Sabha on Wednesday was adjourned sine die, amid concerns of the spread of coronavirus among lawmakers. While the opposition boycotted the proceedings, the Upper House today passed The Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2020, The Bilateral Netting of Qualified Financial Contracts Bill, 2020, the three labour codes and the Jammu and Kashmir Official Languages Bill.
Various opposition parties, meanwhile, took out a silent protest march in the Parliament complex against the contentious farm Bills passed recently. The protesting MPs carried placards with messages such as “Save Farmers, Save Workers, Save Democracy” during their march from the Mahatma Gandhi statue to the Ambedkar statue on the premises. They also stood before Gandhi’s statue in a line. Members of the Congress, Trinamool Congress, CPI, CPI-M, DMK, Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), Samajwadi Party and the NCP participated in the protest.
The opposition has also written to President Ram Nath Kovind, urging him not to sign the contentious Bills because, they have said, the proposed legislations were passed in the din without division of votes. They are likely to meet him at 5 pm today.
In Lok Sabha, meanwhile, The Major Port Authorities Bill, 2020; The Assisted Reproductive Technology (Regulation) Bill, 2020; The Factoring Regulation (Amendment) Bill, 2020; will be taken up for discussion.
SP MP Jaya Bachchan speaks with Congress MP Anand Sharma as opposition leaders stage a walkout from (PTI)
BSP supremo Mayawati Wednesday hit out at the government as well as the Opposition for the ruckus and chaos during the ongoing Monsoon Session, saying their conduct has harmed the dignity of Parliament and the Constitution.
In a tweet in Hindi, she said "Although Parliament is called the temple of democracy, its dignity has been shredded many times. Even during the ongoing Parliament session, the functioning of the government and the behaviour of Opposition in the House are embarrassing for the dignity of Parliament, Constitution and democracy. Very sad!?
Mayawati's reaction came in the wake of eight Rajya Sabha Opposition members being suspended from the House on Monday for the ruckus during the passage of two key farm Bills a day earlier. (PTI)
The Rajya Sabha on Wednesday was adjourned sine die, amid concerns of the spread of coronavirus among lawmakers. While the opposition boycotted the proceedings, the Upper House today passed The Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2020, The Bilateral Netting of Qualified Financial Contracts Bill, 2020, the three labour codes and the Jammu and Kashmir Official Languages Bill.
Though the session has been satisfactory in terms of productivity, there were some areas of concern. He appeals to all members, "from the depth of his heart", to ensure that such unruly behaviour is not repeated. "To protest is the right of the Opposition. Any member, for that matter. But how should it be done? The floor of the House is the most effective way, and not through boycott," says Naidu. He also called Sunday's incidents as "unfortunate."
Chairman Venkaiah Naidu said the Rajya Sabha session is being concluded ahead of its planned session. In the 10 sittings, he says, 25 bills were passed and 6 bills introduced. 3.15 hours were lost due to disruptions in this session. 57% of total functional time of the House was spent on government legislative business. He says the high productivity of the previous sessions continued this time too.
Chairman Naidu says he received a letter by Leader of Opposition Ghulam Nabi Azad and others asking not to pass the three labour codes in their absence. But, he says, he has checked precedents and decided to go ahead with the bills.
Rajya Sabha discusses Jammu and Kashmir Official Languages Bill, 2020. "Unfortunate that Punjabi isn't being included in this Bill, as an official language in J&K. Punjabi is the richest & oldest language of north India, with its own script Gurmukhi. J&K was a part of Maharaja Ranjit Singh's empire & even after him the first Dogra Maharaja was a general of Maharaja Ranjit Singh. From that time onwards lakhs of Punjabis have settled in J&K. In the constitution of J&K, Punjabi was there as their official language," Shiromani Akali Dal MP Naresh Gujral said.
Rajya Sabha discusses Jammu and Kashmir Official Languages Bill, 2020. "Unfortunate that Punjabi isn't being included in this Bill, as an official language in J&K. Punjabi is the richest & oldest language of north India, with its own script Gurmukhi. J&K was a part of Maharaja Ranjit Singh's empire & even after him the first Dogra Maharaja was a general of Maharaja Ranjit Singh. From that time onwards lakhs of Punjabis have settled in J&K. In the constitution of J&K, Punjabi was there as their official language," Shiromani Akali Dal MP Naresh Gujral said.
The Rajya Sabha has cleared passed three labour code bills including the Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Code, 2020, the Industrial Relations Code 2020 and the Code on Social Security Bill, 2020. Labour Minister Santosh Gangwar, who moved the bill said that the reforms that are being undertaken by the government will prove to be “milestone for the welfare of workers”.
Here's our explainer on what changes for the workers now
Minister of Information and Broadcasting Prakash Javadekar, in the capacity of Member of Parliament, speaking on the codes, says workers had become entangled in labour laws so far. "73 yrs after independence, labourers are getting the right they'd been waiting for. The Bills guarantee wage, social & health security," he said. Taking a dig at the Opposition, he added, "When a Bill that assures wage security, social security and health security to 50 crore labourers has been brought, the Opposition is absent because they are distanced from the public."
Opposition parties write a letter to Rajya Sabha Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu asking him not to pass the three labour related bills in Rajya Sabha in absence of the opposition party MPs. A discussion is underway in the House on the three bill — The Industrial Relations Code, 2020; The Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Code, 2020; The Code of Social Security, 2020
Opposition parties write a letter to Rajya Sabha Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu asking him not to pass the three labour related bills in Rajya Sabha in absence of the opposition party MPs. A discussion is underway in the House on the three bill — The Industrial Relations Code, 2020; The Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Code, 2020; The Code of Social Security, 2020
Earlier in the day opposition parties met at the chamber of Leader of Opposition in the House, Ghulam Nabi Azad to discuss the further course of action.
A demand for a special legislation to ensure time-bound disposal of litigations relating to development projects was made in Rajya Sabha on Wednesday to ensure such projects are not kept hanging for long. Raising the issue through a Zero Hour mention, D P Vats of the BJP said development projects particularly rail and road projects get delayed due to court cases. A matter concerning a road project has been pending in court for 45 years, he said. "I urge the government to bring special legislation for time-bound disposal of litigations related to developmental projects," he said. Mamta Mohanta of the BJD raised the demand of including the Kudmi-Mahato caste in the ST list. She said Kudmi was classified as a notified tribe by the British Raj but they were subsequently excluded from the ST list.
The Opposition, which is boycotting Rajya Sabha proceedings, Wednesday staged a joint protest in Parliament premises over the recently passed farm bills. Congress' Ghulam Nabi Azad, TMC's Derek O'Brien, and NCP's Praful Patel present are among the MPs present at the protest. The leaders can be seen carrying placards of 'Save Farmers' and 'Save Farmers, Save Workers, Save Democracy' seen.
Rajya Sabha on Wednesday bid farewell to 11 of its members who will retire in November this year. When the House met, Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu mentioned that 11 MPs from Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand will be retiring in November. They include Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri, Samajwadi Party leader Ram Gopal Yadav, BSP's Veer Singh and Raj Babbar of Congress. Others who will retire are: Javed Ali Khan (SP), P L Punia (Congress), Rajaram (BSP), Neeraj Shekhar (BJP), Arun Singh (BJP), Ravi Prakash Verma (SP) and Chandrapal Singh Yadav (SP). Naidu said some of the members will return to the House after re-election.
This legislation will help us make an actual risk assessment, in gross terms, rather than a notional risk assessment, Sitahraman said. "The bill will empower regulatory authorities. I would strongly appeal for the bill to be supported by the House since it provides a buoyant credit market."
Rajya Sabha passes the Bilateral Netting of Qualified Financial Contracts Bill, 2020
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman says the Bill is "absolutely critical for financial stability in the country." The Bill brings in a firm legal basis for bilateral netting for two counterparties, Ms. Sitharaman says.
Sujeet Kumar of BJD says this is a welcome financial reform step. He calls it a milestone that will improve the financial health of the nation, by bringing in the much-needed liquidity, reducing transactional cost and boosting investor morale.
A. Vijayakumar of AIADMK supports the bill.
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman moves motion for the consideration of The Bilateral Netting of Qualified Financial Contracts Bill, 2020.
Amid Opposition boycott of proceedings over suspension of eight MPs, Rajya Sabha unanimously passed The Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2020. Replying to debate on the bill, Minister of State for Home Nityanand Rai said the legislation was not against any NGO and is an effort to maintain transparency. This amendment is in the interest of good NGOs which want to do good work in the country. The bill was passed in Lok Sabha on Monday and will now be sent to the President for his assent. The minister said the bill provides for reduction in administrative expenses of any NGO receiving foreign funding, from 50 per cent to 20 per cent of annual funds to ensure spending on their main objectives. Among other provisions, the bill proposes to enable the Centre to allow an NGO or association to surrender its FCRA certificate.
"The Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2020 is a law for national and internal security. Its main motive is to ensure that foreign funds don't dominate the political and social discourse of India. Experience says that many organisations attempted to hide their identity & were successful in doing that. The reason behind this is that they had no fear because their identity wasn't established completely. So Aadhaar Card has been brought in to establish their identity," Minister of State MHA Nityanand Rai had said in Rajya Sabha today.
Lok Sabha had passed the Bill on 21st September.