Samajwadi Party President Akhilesh Yadav joins the protest to support the suspended Rajya Sabha MPs, demanding revocation of their suspension, during the Winter Session in New Delhi, Wednesday, Dec. 8, 2021. (PTI Photo)Parliament Winter Session 2021 Latest Updates: The Opposition members apart from the Telugu Desam Party (TDP), as reported by ANI, boycotted the Rajya Sabha proceedings on Wednesday, seeking the revocation of the suspension of a dozen members. The suspended MPs have continued their sit-in at the Gandhi statue in the Parliament complex. Congress’ chief whip Jairam Ramesh, Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge and Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav, too, joined the protesting MPs.
Meanwhile, Nagaland People’s Front leader K G Kenye on Wednesday raised a demand in the Rajya Sabha to withdraw the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA), which has once again come under scrutiny in the wake of the Nagaland firing incident that left 13 civlians and one soldier dead.
Kenye stated that the special powers to armed forces have done nothing for this country except for (creating) “animosity” between people of north eastern region and the mainland. He added that several members had raised concerns about the “misuse and abuse of special powers” when a draft law of the same was debated in Parliament.
At the Congress Parliamentary Party meet, Sonia Gandhi on Wednesday raised issues of farmers, price rise, border security and the suspended MPs . “The Modi Government steadfastly refuses to allocate time for a debate. I would once again urge for a full-fledged discussion on the border situation and relations with our neighbours,” she said. She also reiterated to party’s commitment “to stand by the farmers in their demands for a legally guaranteed MSP, remunerative prices that meet the costs of cultivation, and compensation to the bereaved families.”
Congress MP Shashi Tharoor speaks in the Lok Sabha during the Winter Session of Parliament, in New Delhi, Tuesday, Dec. 7, 2021. (PTI)
Raising the matter during the Zero Hour in the Rajya Sabha, YSR Congress party leader V Vijayasai Reddy on Wednesday asked the Centre to set up a Joint Parliamentary Committee to discuss the issue of legal guarantee for minimum support price (MSP) of agricultural crops.
Reddy said the Andhra Pradesh chief minister has been vocal on the MSP issue and in fact has announced support price for additional 24 crops in the state. "However, there is a need to cover all crops under MSP at the national level. For which, it is imperative to conduct a wider consultation with farmers and farmers organisations and all stakeholders," he was quoted as saying by PTI.
Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge said that of the 12 MPs, who have been suspended from the Rajya Sabha, none threw papers or broke mic.
"Nobody has committed any mistake or violated rules. Everybody has the right to protest. They (BJP) did it during (Arun) Jaitley’s time, justifying disruption as a part of democracy," he was quoted as saying by ANI.
Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge said that suspension is against Article 85 of Constitution.
"We don't want the House to function like this, but they are forcing us so that the House doesn't function and no issues are raised, be it of farmers, Pegasus, inflation, fuel prices, Nagaland," he was quoted as saying by ANI.
Congress president Sonia Gandhi on Wednesday launched a scathing attack on the Centre, accusing it of refusing to allow a discussion in Parliament on the border situation, among others. She also questioned the government’s Covid-19 vaccination strategy.
On the issue of rise in prices of essential commodities, she said, “I cannot understand how and why the Modi Government is so insensitive and continues to deny the seriousness of the problem. It seems impervious to the suffering of the people.
On the border standoff with China, she said, “It is extraordinary that Parliament has been given no opportunity whatsoever so far to have a discussion on the challenges we continue to face on our borders. Such a discussion would have also been an opportunity to demonstrate a collective will and resolve.” Read more
In the wake of the Nagaland firing incident, which left at least 13 civilians dead, the Nagaland People's Front leader K G Kenye on Wednesday raised a demand in the Rajya Sabha for the withdrawal of the controversial Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA).
Raising the matter during the Zero Hour, the Kenye said several members had expressed apprehension about the "misuse and abuse of special powers" when a draft law to give special powers to armed forces was debated in Parliament. Several members had said that if armed forces were given impunity, they would go scot free without any prosecution from any court of law without the previous sanction of the central government, he said.
The special powers to armed forces have done nothing for this country except for (creating) "animosity" between people of north eastern region and the mainland, he said, and added, ultimately the casualty has been inflicted on the unity and integrity of this country. (PTI)
The Congress party's chief whip Jairam Ramesh has been sitting with the protesting MPs, demanding the recvocation of their suspension from Rajya Sabha.
Meanwhile, Leader of Opposition in the Upper House, Mallikarjun Kharge reiterated that they have been continuously putting forth their views in the House regarding the revocation of suspension of our MPs. "We have requested the Chairman several times that we are not at fault and still, we have been punished. I have also said that the suspension is against rules," Kharge was quoted as saying by ANI.
Samajwadi Party President Akhilesh Yadav on Wednesday joined the protest to support the suspended Rajya Sabha MPs, demanding revocation of their suspension, during the Winter Session of Parliament.
SP MP Jaya Bachchan, Congress MP P Chidambaram and TMC MP Sushmita Dev briefly joined the suspended Rajya Sabha MPs' protest at the Gandhi statue in the Parliament complex.
Following the brief adjournment, the Rajya Sabha has resumed its proceedings. However, the entire Opposition except the TDP (Telugu Desam Party) have boycott the proceedings.
The Upper House has been adjourned till 12, shortly after it commenced dur to the Opposition's protests over the suspension of 12 MPs.
Efforts must be intensified to cover 60 per cent population with both doses of Covid-19 vaccine, Congress interim president Sonia Gandhi said at the CPP meeting.
Union Law Minister Kiren Rijiju is expected to make a statement over the High Court and Supreme Court Judges (Salaries and Conditions of Service) Amendment Bill, 2021, in the Lok Sabha on Wednesday.
Initiating the debate on the Bill Tuesday, Congress MP Shashi Tharoor said the judiciary had failed to stem the tide of “militant majoritarianism”. Read more
Congress MP Deepender Singh Hooda on Wednesday gave an adjournment motion notice in the Rajya Sabha for discussing farmers' issues such as a legal guarantee on MSP, ex-gratia payment to kin of farmers who died during their year-long protest against farm laws, and withdrawal of cases against them, ANI reported.
In the Lok Sabha, Congress MP Manish Tewari gave an adjournment motion notice to discuss the Sino-Bhutan MoU on three-step resolution of boundary disputes, which he said, "could lead to the transfer of strategically important territory of Doklam to China."
At the Congress' Parliamentary meeting on Wednesday, party interim president Sonia Gandhi said that the party demands a full-fledged discussion in Parliament on border issues.
She also expressed solidarity with the 12 suspended MPs of the Rajya Sabha, saying it was "unprecedented and unacceptable."
At the Congress' Parliamentary meeting on Wednesday, party interim president Sonia Gandhi said, "Let's honour the 700 farmers who sacrificed their lives (during their year-long agitation against farm laws). The Modi government is insensitive towards farmers and common people. The rise in prices of essential commodities is burning the monthly budget of every family."
Amid Opposition's demand for revocation of suspension of MPs, the Rajya Sabha Tuesday saw barely any business being conducted. The government stated it was unwilling to pass Bills in the Upper House amid a din. The Opposition leaders continued to protest the suspension, with the Leader of Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge calling the move undemocratic.
On Tuesday, the House functioned for a total of around 30 minutes and was adjourned twice before being adjourned for the day.
Pointing to the protesting Opposition members, who were in the Well of the House, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi said: “If they continue to behave like this, we have no option left. I request, let them apologise, the government is willing to promptly take it (the suspension) back.” Read more
RJD MP Manoj Kumar Jha has given a suspension of business notice in the Rajya Sabha under Rule 267 to discuss the repeal of Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA), ANI reported.
AFSPA has come under scrutiny once again in the wake of the Nagaland firing which left 13 civilians and one soldier dead.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi Tuesday presented in the Lok Sabha a list that he said contained names of farmers who had died during the year-long protest against the three agricultural laws, adding that the government has said it had no such details.
The Congress leader said the party’s Punjab government had given compensation of Rs 5 lakh each to 400 farmers. “Of these (kin of) 152 farmers have been given jobs. I have the list and will lay it on the table. We have a list of 70 farmers from Haryana as well. So, if the PM is apologising and you are saying you don’t have the names, then here they are. I want them to be given compensation and jobs, which is their right.” Read more