Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh TomarParliament Winter Session 2021 Live Updates: Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar on Friday said that no farmer died to police action during the year-long agrarian protests.
Responding to a joint question by Congress leader Dhiraj Prasad Sahu and AAP leader Sanjay Singh, Tomar in a written reply to the Rajya Sabha, said, “the subject of compensation, etc. to the families of the deceased farmers in the farmers’ movement is with the concerned state governments. No farmer died as a result of police action during the farmers’ agitation.”
Farmers were protesting against three new farm laws, which have now been scrapped. The year-long protest at the Delhi borders was suspended by the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM) on Thursday after the Union government accepted their key pending demands, including withdrawal of police cases against the protesters and on Minimum Support Price.
Out of respect for late CDS General Bipin Rawat and the other victims of the chopper crash near Coonoor, Opposition leaders will not protest outside Parliament today, Congress leader Jairam Ramesh tweeted.
“Since the last rites of Gen. Rawat and others are being conducted this afternoon, out of profound respect Opposition will refrain from its protests against the unconstitutional and illegal suspension of 12 Opposition MPs in the Rajya Sabha today as well,” he wrote.
The Bills scheduled for consideration and passing in the Lok Sabha today include The Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (Amendment) Bill, 2021. While the Rajya Sabha will also conduct Private Members’ business, PTI reported.
Meanwhile, with Question Hour being an opportunity for MPs to hold ministers accountable for policies and administrative measures, “unsatisfactory replies” from the treasury benches are becoming a frequent complaint among Opposition MPs. On at least three occasions on Thursday, the ruling party MPs’ “inability” to address questions directly came up in Lok Sabha.
Suspended Rajya Sabha MP's protest demanding revocation, during the Winter Session of Parliament, in New Delhi. (PTI Photo)
Instances of fake COVID-19 vaccination camps and vaccines have come to the central government's notice from Maharashtra, West Bengal and Uttar Pradesh, the Lok Sabha was told on Friday.
The Ministry of Health has directed the state governments to investigate these instances and take stringent legal and administrative actions so that such fraudulent activities are not repeated in future, Minister of State for Health Bharati Pravin Pawar said in a written reply to a question in Lok Sabha.
She was responding to a question on whether the government has identified any fake vaccines of approved Covishield, Covaxin, Sputnik V across the country since the beginning of the vaccination programme and measures taken to identify and stop the fake vaccines from circulation. (PTI)
Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw told Rajya Sabha that amid the Omicron scare, railways would do due diligence before making any decision regarding resuming providing bedrolls.
Last month, railways had decided to remove the "special" tag from trains which brought down train fares and restarted serving hot meals. Restoring concessions and providing bedrolls, is yet to be decided.
Vaishnaw further added that the decision would not be taken in haste as it is about the security of the nation and the health of citizens.
Opposition said on Friday that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had done a "volte-face" by setting a 'Net Zero' target of 2070 at the climate summit in Glasgow and questioned the rationale behind it.
PTI reported, "Even a week before the COP 26, the government of India did not show any inclination to announce Net Zero target. Actually, the Environment Secretary had ruled it out in the media," Trinamool member Saugata Roy said.
Rajya Sabha has been adjourned till 2:30 PM
Out of respect for CDS General Bipin Rawat, whose last rites are being conducted today, the Opposotion will not hold a sit-in outside Parliament to protest against the suspension of 12 Opposition MPs, Congress MP Jairam Ramesh tweeted.
Lok Sabha has now begun a discussion on climate change. BJP MP Ramesh Bidhuri accused the previous government of doing little to prevent air pollution. He highlighted two incidents in particular -- Bhopal Gas Tragedy and Warren Anderson.
Lok Sabha proceedings began on Friday with a discussion on Covid-19 booster shots. RSP MP NK Premachandran asked for an update on the booster shot policy in the country, to which Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya said: "We want that as soon as possible, once the country achieves 100% vaccination."
The Bills scheduled for consideration and passing in the Lok Sabha today include The Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (Amendment) Bill, 2021. While the Rajya Sabha will also conduct Private Members’ business, PTI reported.
Rajya Sabha proceedings began with the Chairman noting that today marks the 73rd anniversary of the adaptation of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
Congress MP Manickam Tagore gave an adjournment motion notice in Lok Sabha to discuss "the intrusion of Chinese military into the Indian Territory."