Rahul Gandhi in Lok Sabha on Thursday.Parliament Live Updates: Congress MP Rahul Gandhi on Thursday spoke extensively on farm laws evoking uproar from BJP MPs who demanded he should stick to speaking on Union Budget. Gandhi said the aim of the first farm law is to end Mandi system whereas the content of the second law is aimed at unlimited hoarding in India.
He also said the country is being run by four people –– ‘hum do, hamare do’, –– a way to exclude small businessmen, farmers, among others. “There was a slogan for family planning ‘hum do, hamare do’. Like Corona comes back in a different form, this slogan has come back in a different form. Nation is run by 4 people,” he said.
Earlier in the day, Congress leader P Chidambaram told the Rajya Sabha on Thursday that the government has failed to stimulate demand for growth in the country and the GDP will go back to the figures of three years ago because of “incompetent economic mismanagement”. He claimed that the budget for 2021-22 has failed as even a small amount of cash transfer has not been given to the poor and the rations are not being continued with. “This is a budget for the rich, of the rich, by the rich.”
A discussion on the Union Budget was held in the Upper House today. Earlier in the day, Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh Thursday addressed Rajya Sabha on the ground situation in Eastern Ladakh. “Our sustained talks with China have led to agreement on disengagement on the north and south banks of Pangong Lake. After this agreement, India-China will remove forward deployments in a phased, coordinated manner,” Singh said, adding that India is committed to maintaining bilateral ties and peace along the LAC. Singh’ statement comes a day after Indian and Chinese troops along the border in Ladakh initiated the process of disengagement. Meanwhile, Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said action will be taken against social media companies if they are misused. “We have flagged Twitter, and is in dialogue with them. Why is it that when police has to act in U.S. Capitol Hill they stand in support, but when a similar action is taken at Red Fort, they oppose it? Freedom of speech is there, but with reasonable restrictions. Why double standards?” he said.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi
The sitting of the Rajya Sabha fixed for February 13 has been cancelled: Rajya Sabha Secretariat
Opposition members in Lok Sabha on Thursday criticised the Union Budget as disappointing and hit out at the government's policies, even as BJP leaders put up a strong defence saying that different sections of the society have praised the budget. During a discussion on the budget, National Conference's Hasnain Masoodi also lauded the budget, saying a better one could not have been presented under the circumstances dictated by the COVID-19 pandemic. He, however, used the occasion to highlight the situation in Jammu and Kashmir, alleging that silence has been imposed there following the revocation of its special status and this should not be construed as peace. --PTI
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Thursday said that fixing 41 per cent as share of states from the divisible pool of taxes should not be seen as a 'reduction' but was a result of one state becoming two Union territories. Her remarks came in response to a query in Lok Sabha about the allocation by NCP member Supriya Sule. States' share coming down to 41 per cent from 42 per cent should not be read as a reduction, the minister said. '42 per cent was the devolution formula based on the Finance Commission's recommendations as states' share but when there is one less state, which has become a Union territory... to that extent that one per cent was brought down,' she said during an intervention on Budget discussion. It is because that portion has to be added to Union territories to which the Centre distributes, she added. --PTI
SP MP S T Hasan asks what the central government has done for the migrants who suffered during the Covid-19 lockdown.
The Union Budget 2021 is a budget to make India Atmanirbhar, said Smriti Irani.
As many as 2,788 khadi institutions are registered with and working under Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC) as on date, Parliament was informed on Thursday. In a written reply to the Lok Sabha, MSME Minister Nitin Gadkari said these institutions have created cumulative employment for 4.97 lakh persons. "As on date, 2,788 number of khadi institutions (KIs) are registered with and working under KVIC, including the KIs located in the rural and backward areas of the country," he said. In a separate reply, he said as per Udyog Aadhaar Portal, 1,02,32,468 MSMEs are registered since September 2015 to June 30, 2020. --PTI
"This Budget shows a hope -- a hope to build new India, a hope for stronger India, a hope to build Aatmanirbhar Bharat. I would like to thank the Finance Minister because this is going to set the path to make India an economic & manufacturing powerhouse," said MoS Finance Anurag Thakur.
By imposing demonetisation and GST, i.e Gabbar Singh Tax, the government has finished small businessmen, now by introducing farm laws they want to finish the farmers. The country is being run by four people –– 'hum do humare do', excluding small businessmen, farmers.
"This is not a farmers' protest, it is the protest of the entire country. Farmers are just showing the way. They are holding a torch in the darkness," said Rahul Gandhi.
"The content of the third law is that when a farmer goes before the biggest businessman of India to demand the right price for his crops, he will not be allowed to go to the Court," said Congress leader Rahul Gandhi in Lok Sabha.
"The content of the second law is that big businessmen can store as much food grains, fruits & vegetables as they want. They can hoard as much as they want. Content of the second law is to end the Essential Commodities Act. It is, to start unlimited hoarding in India," said Rahul Gandhi in Lok Sabha.
"The content of the first law is that one can have unlimited purchase of foodgrains, fruits & vegetables anywhere in the country. If the purchase is unlimited anywhere in the country, then who would go to Mandis? The content of the first law is to finish the mandis," says Rahul Gandhi.
Rahul Gandhi in Lok Sabha: 'The country is run by 'Hum do, hamare do'.
"Yesterday while addressing the House, PM said that the Opposition is talking about the agitation but not about the content and intent of Farm Laws. I thought I should make him happy today and speak on the content and intent of the laws," said Congress MP Rahul Gandhi in Lok Sabha.
"It's because of this bravery of our Armed Forces in harsh adverse climatic conditions that we maintained the edge. Our Armed Forces proved yet again that territorial integrity of our country remains safe in their hands & their grit & determination is unwavering," said Defence Minister Rajnath Singh.
Our Armed Forces responded to challenges by unilateral Chinese action & have shown valour & courage on both South & North bank of Pangong Tso. Many strategic points were identified & our troops positioned themselves at locations very important from our point of view, said Defence Minister Rajnath Singh
Since last September, both sides (India & China) have maintained communication with each other through military & diplomatic channels. Our objective was to effect disengagement & maintain status quo along the LAC so as to restore peace and tranquillity: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh in Lok Sabha
Lok Sabha proceedings start. Union Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari answers queries from MPs on road, transport development works.
SP leader Vishambhar Prasad Nishad on Thursday demanded a repeal of three contentious farm laws and pitched for a new law to make minimum support price (MSP) mandatory for the procurement of agriculture produce. Farmers are protesting against the three new farm laws for more than two months at Delhi's borders, demanding a repeal of these legislations. They are also pressing the government for making MSP mandatory. Participating in a debate on the Union Budget in the Rajya Sabha, Nishad said, "The farm bills were drafted on the directions of corporates. When the farmers do not want these bills, why are these being imposed on them? I demand that the farm laws should be taken back and a new law to guarantee MSP should be brought." --PTI
A total of 340 non-performing officers were prematurely retired by the government in the past six years, Parliament was informed on Thursday. In a written reply to a question in the Rajya Sabha, Minister of State for Personnel Jitendra Singh said, "As per the information/data provided by different ministries/ departments/cadre controlling authorities, provisions of FR 56(J)/similar rules have been invoked against 171 Group A central government officers, including All India Services officers, and 169 Group B officers of different ministries/departments during the period from July 2014 to December 2020."
The rules have provisions to retire a government employee in public interest, prematurely for being allegedly corrupt and non-performing, among others. As on March 1, 2018, the sanctioned strength of civilian regular employees under the central government is 38,02,779 and 31,18,956 employees are in position, he said. "Vacancies in the central government are caused due to retirement, resignation, death, promotion, and the posts falling vacant are required to be filled as per the recruitment rules by the concerned ministries/departments/organisation," Singh said.