AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi. (Sansad TV)Parliament Budget Session Live Updates: All India Majlis-E-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) chief Assaduddin Owaisi on Friday rejected the Z category security offered by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA). Taking the floor of the Lower House, Owaisi said, “I don’t fear death. I don’t want Z category security, I reject it; make me an ‘A’ category citizen. I’ll not remain silent. Please do justice…charge them (shooters) with UAPA…appeal govt to end hate, radicalization.”
A day after in western Uttar Pradesh, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has accorded him Z category security of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF). Owaisi’s security detail will entail six-eight armed commandoes while travelling apart from security at his residence, sources said.
Soon after Rajya Sabha proceedings commenced on Friday, DMK MPs began to protest against Tamil Nadu Governor R N Ravi returning to the Assembly Speaker a Bill that seeks exemption for the state from the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET). Congress, DMK and TMC leaders staged a walkout over the issue. Meanwhile, the government has written to the Rajya Sabha Secretariat to disallow an MP’s provisionally accepted question (PAQ) in the Upper House on the ‘Position of India in Democracy Index’, seeking the reason why India slid to the 53rd position in the Economist Intelligence Unit’s Democracy Index, The Indian Express has learnt.
Mahua Moitra in Lok Sabha on Thursday.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah will give a detailed reply in Parliament on February 7, on firing incident at the AIMIM MP Asaduddin Owaisi's car in Uttar Pradesh, news agency ANI reported.
All India Majlis-E-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) chief Assaduddin Owaisi on Friday rejected the Z category security offered by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA). Taking the floor of the Lower House, Owaisi said, "I don't fear death. I don't want Z category security, I reject it; make me an 'A' category citizen. I'll not remain silent. Please do justice...charge them (shooters) with UAPA...appeal govt to end hate, radicalization."
After the Question Hour ended, All India Majlis-E-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) chief Assaduddin Owaisi took the floor of the Lok Sabha, a day after he was attacked by alleged assailants near Delhi-Meerut expressway.
A day after in western Uttar Pradesh, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has accorded him Z category security of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF). Owaisi’s security detail will entail six-eight armed commandoes while travelling apart from security at his residence, sources said. (Read more)
Women and Child Development Minister Smriti Irani on Friday in the Lok Sabha said, 'If an MP is seriously shows concern about nutrition campaign and Anganwadi arrangements in 'Disha' meetings, then the district administration takes this matter seriously.'
'For the first time, the GOI arranged an administrative structure between the district, the state and the center, including the MPs, who can play an important role in the state of nutrition' the minister said.
The 22nd Law Commission will get very little time to delve into the sensitive subject of a uniform civil code for the country if the government decides to seek its recommendation on the issue.
The Law Commission is constituted for three years and the 22nd Law Commission was notified on February 24, 2020 but key vacancies in the panel, including that of the chairperson, are to be filled up, sources in the government said.
BJP Lok Sabha member Nishikant Dubey had raised the issue of the importance of having a uniform civil code in a Zero Hour reference in December last year. Responding to the issue, Law Minister Kiren Rijiju wrote to Dubey in January, saying Article 44 of the Constitution provides that State shall endeavour to secure for the citizens a uniform civil code throughout the territory of India.
'In view of the importance of the subject matter and sensitivity involved and it requiring in-depth study of the provisions of various personal laws governing different communities, a proposal to examine issues relating to uniform civil code and to make recommendations has been forwarded to the 21st Law Commission of India,' he said.
However, the term of the 21st Law Commission ended on August 31, 2018. 'The matter may taken up by the 22nd Law Commission of India,' Rijiju said. (PTI)
Lok Sabha Spekar Om Birla took to the chair and the proceedings of the Lower House started. Question Hour session is being held right now.
BJD MP Prasanna Acharya on Friday criticised the Union government for paying only lip service on women empowerment and not fulfilling its promise to double the income of farmers by 2022. Participating in the discussion on Motion of Thanks on the President's Address in the Rajya Sabha, he also raised concerns about the attempts being made by the Centre to “weaken” the federal structure of the country.
Acharya also pointed out that the central government was not accepting Odisha's demand to give special category status to the state.
Though the senior BJD leader supported the motion, he said there were some contradictions in the words and deeds of the Union government. At the outset, Acharya said, the government has taken the right decision to start the Republic Day celebrations from January 23, which is the birthday of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose. He appreciated the Centre for taking a “nationalistic approach in some respect”.
Raising the issue of farmers, Acharya said the government has not been able to meet the target of doubling their income by 2022. He also expressed concern over cases of farmer suicides. (PTI)
The government is committed to forming a panel on Minimum Support Price (MSP) and the Election Commission has said it can be done after the polls are over, Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar said in the Rajya Sabha on Friday.
While announcing the repeal of three farm laws in November last year, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had promised to set up a committee to discuss the farmers' demand for a legal guarantee on MSP.
Replying to a supplementary question during the Question Hour, Tomar said the government had written to the Election Commission in view of assembly elections in five states.
The minister said the matter of forming the Committee on MSP is under consideration of the ministry and will be formed after the elections are over. (PTI)
Promoting exports through subsidies has not really given the desired results, but the government's RoDTEP scheme is helping grow exports which is expected to reach a record USD 400 billion this year, Commerce and Industries Minister Piyush Goyal said on Friday in the Rajya Sabha.
Goyal, while responding to a query during the Question Hour in the Upper House on cut in budget for export promotion schemes, said the government has found "very good acceptance" of the RoDTEP (Remission of Duties and Taxes on Export Products) scheme.
"Based on that (RoDTEP), exports have also been growing," he said.
While there is a thinking that the government has reduced the export subsidies, the Goyal said the reality is this year, India is going to see a "record performance in exports". (PTI)
The Upper House was adjourned to meet at 10 AM on Monday, February 7.
"Hero worship" is the biggest threat to democracy, RJD MP Manoj Kumar Jha said in the Rajya Sabha on Friday. He accused the government of dividing the country on the lines of religion.
Responding to a question about an app which hosted doctored photographs and objectionable comments targeting Muslim women, IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said: "Protecting women dignity is a fundamental construct for us. We can't compromise on this issue, irrespective of religion or region."
"Action has been taken swiftly on all points that came to the fore. Whenever Govt takes any step to make social media accountable, Opposition alleges attack on freedom of speech, which is not true. We've to strike a balance," he added.
The government is committed to forming a panel on Minimum Support Price (MSP) and the Election Commission has said it can be done after the polls are over, Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar said in the Rajya Sabha on Friday. While announcing repeal of three farm laws in November last year, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had promised to set up a committee to discuss the farmers’ demand of a legal guarantee on MSP. (PTI)
Speaking about the walkout in Rajya Sabha over Tamil Nadu Governor R N Ravi returning a Bill that seeks exemption for the state from the NEET examination, DMK MP Trichy Siva said: "Tamil Nadu CM met Governor two times and urged him to send the NEET bill to Central Govt but he didn't. He acted against federal spirit. We wanted to highlight this in Rajya Sabha but were not allowed. In protest, Congress, CPI (M), CPI, TMC, RJD and IUML walked out."
Congress, DMK and TMC leaders staged a walkout in the Rajya Sabha on Friday over the issue of Tamil Nadu Governor R N Ravi returning to the Assembly Speaker a Bill that seeks exemption for the state from the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET). Chairman Venkaiah Naidu urged them to raise the issue during the Motion of Thanks to the President's address.
Rajya Sabha proceedings commenced on Friday morning, with several papers being laid on the table of the House.