A view of the Rajya Sabha during the Monsoon Session of Parliament, in New Delhi. (RSTV/PTI Photo)Parliament Monsoon Session Highlights: As it briefly came into session on Monday, the Lok Sabha introduced the Constitution (Scheduled Tribes) Order (Amendment) Bill, 2021. The Bill amends the Constitution (Scheduled Tribes) Order of 1950 and permits the Parliament to modify the list of notified STs in it. The Bill also aims to restore power to the states to identify backward classes.
Two other bills — Limited Liability Partnership (Amendment) Bill, 2021 and the Deposit Insurance and Credit Guarantee Corporation (Amendment) Bill, 2021 — were passed in the house.
Meanwhile, the Central Universities (Amendment) Bill, 2021, which seeks to amend the Central Universities Act, 2009, to provide for the establishment of a university in the the Union territory of Ladakh, was passed by the Rajya Sabha. Both the Houses have adjourned for the day.
This year’s Parliament Monsoon Session, scheduled to end on August 13, was dominated by multiple adjournments and Opposition protests and demands to discuss the issues of Pegasus snooping, farm bills, hike in fuel prices among other things. As the session enters its last week, the possibility of a smooth house functioning seems grim. The Opposition parties on Sunday reiterated that they will not back down and continue to insist on a discussion of the concerned issues. The government, on the other hand, is unlikely to engage in one.
Mallikarjun Kharge (PTI)
The Rajya Sabha has been adjourned for the day.
Parliament passes Central Universities (Amendment) Bill, 2021 with its passage in Rajya Sabha. The bill seeks to amend the Central Universities Act, 2009, to provide for the establishment of a university in the the Union territory of Ladakh.
Amid allegations against the government for snooping, Minister of State for Defence Ajay Bhatt told the Rajya Sabha that the Ministry of Defence has not had any transaction with NSO Group Technologies, the software company behind Israeli spyware Pegasus.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has issued a three-line whip to its party MPs in the Rajya Sabha, asking them to be present in the House on August 10 and August 11, news agency ANI reported.
Following a walk-out by the Opposition over The Taxation Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2021, the Rajya Sabha Monday returned the Bill, PTI reported.
Rajya Sabha Monday took up The Taxation Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2021, with Opposition Congress, DMK and TMC staging a walkout, saying adequate time was not given to them to prepare for a discussion on the proposed legislation.
The bill was listed in the supplementary agenda for the day. When the House assembled at 3.30 pm after a brief adjournment, Leader of Opposition and Congress MP Mallikarjun Kharge protested against the taking up of the bill, saying the supplementary agenda was circulated at 2.15 pm. (PTI)
Social Justice and Empowerment Minister Virendra Kumar introduced the Constitution (127th Amendment) Bill, 2021 in the Lok Sabha on Monday. The bill seeks to restore the states' power to make their own OBC lists. In the statement of objects and reasons, Kumar said in order to adequately clarify that the states and Union territories are empowered to prepare and maintain their own list of SEBCs (Socially and Educationally Backward Classes) and with a view to maintain the federal structure of this country, there is a need to amend Article 342A and make consequential amendments in articles 338B and 366 of the Constitution. --PTI
Rajya Sabha adjourned till 3.30 pm.
Rajya Sabha passes the Tribunals Reforms Bill, 2021.
After four adjournments, Lok Sabha was adjourned for the day amid protests by opposition members over Pegasus and other issues.
After passing 3 Bills on Monday, Lok Sabha was adjourned, for the fourth time, till 2 pm.
Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Monday introduced the the Limited Liability Partnership (Amendment) Bill, 2021, which was then passed by a hand count in the house. During Sitharaman's speech on the bill, opposition MPs came at the well of the house to protest over issues like Pegasus and demanded a discussion on them.
Lok Sabha on Monday passed the Deposit Insurance and Credit Guarantee Corporation (Amendment) Bill, 2021.
Shiromani Akali Dal MP Harsimrat Kaur Badal on Monday criticised the Centre for being “insensitive” and crushing the voices of Opposition in the same way farmers’ voices have been crushed. “When 'annadata' is dying every day, everything should be halted and black laws should be discussed to stop further deaths. But I'm sad that the Government has become so insensitive that they've crushed our voices like they crushed farmers' voices in the past 13 months, Badal said while protesting outside Parliament premises.
For the second time on Monday, Rajya Sabha was adjourned, now till 2 pm as Opposition leaders continue to protest over 'Pegasus project' media report.
Rajya Sabha on Monday got adjourned till 12 noon as Opposition MPs raise slogans over 'Pegasus project' media report.
Shortly after it came into session on Monday, Lok Sabha was adjourned till 11:30 amid Opposition protests over Pegasus snooping issue.
Rajya Sabha Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu on Monday called India’s performance at the Tokyo Olympics the best till now and said that the games “heralded resurgence, renaissance and national awakening in sports in our country by restoring the depleting confidence and self-esteem.” Naidu also congratulated Neeraj Chopra for his historic gold win.
In a small breakthrough, Opposition parties on Monday decided to cooperate with the Centre to pass the Constitution 127th Amendment Bill in both houses of the Parliament. The bill aims to restore power to the states to identify backward classes. The government will introduce the bill in Lok Sabha today.
Opposition leaders on Monday met at the Parliament for a meeting to chalk out a strategy for the last week of the Monsoon Session. This comes as the Centre and Opposition continue to be locked in a logjam over the Pegasus snooping issue, farm bills among other things.