The Lok Sabha, after the session convened at 4.00 p.m., is currently holding general discussion on the Union Budget 2022-23.
Earlier in the day, the Rajya Sabha also held general discussion on the Budget. The House was adjourned at 3.15 p.m.
Here are the latest updates:
1991 Budget result of economic compulsion; Nirmala Sitharaman's Budgets from Govt conviction: Tejasvi Surya
L. S. Tejasvi Surya of the BJP says the political commentariat speaks highly of the 1991 Budget and describes it as the Budget which opened the doors for India's economic growth. "One must keep in mind that the 1991 Budget and the reforms that were introduced therein were made at a time of economic compulsion," he says while adding that the reforms were not brought in as a result of the government's conviction.
"The difference between then (1991 Budegt) and all the four Budgets that Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has presented is that the economic reforms introduced in her Budgets is very dedicatedly, concertedly a results of the conviction of the Government to introduce economic reforms," he adds.
He further says India's history can be viewed as before Modi era and after Modi era. Referring to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's speech, he says the Waynad MP should have elaborated on these two Indias.
JD(U) MP Mahabali Singh says it has become a trend in democracy that no matter how good a government does, the Opposition has to criticise it.
He says the Congress could not provide the poor of the country with a house, clean drinking water and good healthcare facilities in over 60 years but it is criticising the Government which is taking initiatives in this area.
He, however, raises the issue of development in Bihar and says India cannot become a developed nation unless Bihar becomes a developed State.
YSRCP MP from Andhra Pradesh's Chittoor, N. Reddeppa is speaking on the subject in Telugu.
BJP MP Dr. Heena V. Gavit, supporting the Budget, says she has seen women carrying water in pots on their heads from a long distance and thanks the Government for the Jal Jeevan Mission.
Congress MP M. K. Raghavan, referring to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's speech in the House, says we don't belong to any 'tukde-tukde gang' but are part of an organisation called Indian National Congress.
He also says this government should thank Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru for setting up so many public sector undertakings. If he hadn't created the PSUs, how would the Government earn so much revenue, he adds.
D. M. Kathir Anand of the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam raises the matter of National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) and asks how does it make sense that the Tamil Nadu Government will put in all the money in a State medical college but a person from "North India" comes, takes the degree and leaves.
He alleges the Central Government is completely "neglecting the concerns of Tamil Nadu and is only focusing on North India".
Farooq Abdullah demands tourism be declared an industry
Noting that the economy of Jammu and Kashmir is dependent on two sectors -- Tourism and Horticulture, National Conference leader Farooq Abdullah says the apple growers of the Union Territory was in a bad state as the Government is importing apples from Iran without any taxes. And our own apples are rotting in the cold storage, he adds.
He says a large part of J&K's population was involved in the tourism sector while demanding the Government to declare it an industry. "We have been demanding this for a long time."
General discussion on Union Budget begins
The Lok Sabha is now holding general discussion on the Union Budget 2022-23.
YSRCP MP Kotagiri Sridhar raises the issue of shutting down of Sri Krishan Jute Mills in Andhra Pradesh's Eluru, a 100-year-old factory employing about 5,000 ministry, and reduction in Jute production in Andhra Pradesh. He says this happened due to the price restriction policy of the Jute corporation and the Food Ministry.
"While they are price sensitive, it is unfortunate that indirectly they are helping a plastic product from Reliance Industries in place of millions of farmers who are supplying from the Jute industry," he says.
He says the Government should encourage the Jute industry which is also helping the farmers and Jute bags will be essential to reduce the use of single use plastic.
CPI(M)'s S. Venkatesan is currently speaking in Tamil.
Ramesh Bidhuri calls Arvind Kejriwal 'chameleon'
Bharatiya Janata Party's Ramesh Bidhuri alleges Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal was 'hypocrite' for providing salary to the maulvis of mosques in Delhi and ignoring the pujaris of temples. He says Mr. Kejriwal was like "chameleon which changes its colour time to time".
He further goes on to talk about Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, but Chair N. K. Premachandran asks him to stick to one issue.
Various Opposition members objects to his comments calling them unparliamentary and demand ann inquiry into them.
Compensate kin of those who died during farmers stir: Bhagwant Mann
Aam Aadmi Party's Chief Ministerial candidate for Punjab Assembly polls and MP Bhagwant Mann raised the issue of pending cases against people involved in the farmers protest against the three farm laws (now repealed).
He also says that now that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has taken back the laws and apologised for them, the Government should also give compensation to the families of those who lost their lives in the year-long stir.
Lok Sabha takes up matters of urgent public importance
The House is now taking matters of urgent public importance.
Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury points out absence of several ministers
Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury of Congress says it has become a norm now that one Minister represents several of his/her colleague even if a question is not distantly related to his/her portfolio. He says some Ministers have made it an excuse to remain absent in the House.
Speaker Om Birla says he made this provision due to the COVID-19 outbreak and the system will end as the outbreak stops.
Papers being laid on the table
After the Question Hour ends, papers are now being laid on the lable in the Lok Sabha.
Om Birla disappointed over lack of discipline in Lok Sabha
Speaker Om Birla expresses his displeasure over MPs standing and talking to one another during the House proceedings. He says he noticed members standing and talking for minutes in the House but "after today if I find a member standing and talking for more than 10 seconds, I will call them out by name".
Arguments between DMK MP and Piyush Goyal
Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam MP A. Ganeshamurthi asks a question regarding FDI inflow in Tamil, to which Union Minister of Commerce and Industry, Piyush Goyal says he could not hear the first part of the question and asks Mr. Ganeshamurthi to repeat the question.
The DMK MP, however, says if I ask a question in Tamil, the Minister has to answer in English and not in Hindi. He says some MPs asked questions in Tamil but the Ministers replied in Hindi.
Mr. Goyal replies saying he could not switch on his translator immediately and missed some part of the question, but adds that he could answer in Hindi if he wishes and the translation tool was available with the MP.
The issue starts arguments between the DMK MPs and the Treasury Benches, leading to intervention from Speaker Om Birla.
Calming down the uproar in the House, Mr. Birla asks Mr. Ganeshamurthi to repeat his question once, which the DMK MP does.
Mr. Goyal, before getting to the answer to the question, asks the Speaker if there was a rule that a Minister had to reply in the same language in which the question was asked. After Mr. Birla confirms there was no such rule, Mr. Goyal says he would answer in Hindi.
He says the Government of India is committed to bringing more FDI into the country.
Revolutionary Socialist Party MP N. K. Premachandran says 4G network is still not provided for BSNL consumers in Kerala and demands a response on the matter.
Mr. Vaishnav, in his response, says the company had been in a bad state for a long time and efforts were being made to revive it. We're all trying to revive BSNL and it might take some time, he adds.
Danish Ali, Ashwini Vaishnav argue over BSNL's performance
Danish Ali of the BSP asks if the Government was planning on using the revival package of about Rs 44,000 crore to improve the performance of BSNL and sell it into private hands like Air India.
Union Minister of Communications Ashwini Vaishnav says BSNL and MTNL, with the capital investment from the Government, will revive properly and grow.
Lok Sabha proceedings begin
Lok Sabha session begins as the House takes up the Question Hour.
Rajya Sabha adjourned
The Upper House is adjourned and is set to meet on February 10 at 10.00 a.m.
Sanjay Singh, Aam Aadmi Party, says the government first promised 2 crore jobs but now they have promised 60 lakh jobs, admitting that they are not capable to give 2 crore jobs.
Elamaram Kareem, CPI (M), says this is an anti-people Budget. "Unemployment is so bad that there are job riots in Bihar. No Budget in the recent period has been presented at a time the economy is going through so many problems. Need of the hour was job creation. The Budget failed to address this", he says.
Kanimozhi N.V.N. Somu, DMK, in her maiden speech, says the road to recovery is very fragile. The only sure thing in the last three years is economic uncertainty. She adds, "we are sitting on a health time bomb."
Dola Sen, TMC, says Budget gave no assurance to the young, women, jobless migrants and MGNREGA workers. "When the government is trying to privatise everything it is time the government also is made private", says Ms. Sen.
Nirmala Sitharaman presented 100 times better Budget than Chidambaram: Sushil Kumar Modi
Sushil Kumar Modi,BJP, says Finance Minister has degree from JNU, not Harvard like P. Chidambaram and she presented a 100 times better Budget.
"If we did not have PM Modi’s leadership and the frontline workers, 50 lakh not 5 lakh people would have died of COVID-19", Mr. Modi says.
Speaking to the Finance Minister, he says "I request your party to field you in an election so you find out about the condition of people."
Mr. Sibal asks the Finance Minister to focus on the children of the country. Quoting an article by Raghuram Rajan, former RBI Governor, he says the thing that is lacking is the gross demand shortage.
This Budget has no vision, no long-term plan: Sibal
Kapil Sibal, INC, speaks on the Union Budget. He says words like "green", "digital" were used but words like "food security" and "poverty" were missing. He questions whether the budget is for the people who buy airports and asks who the budget is for. Mr. Sibal says to Finance Minister, "you look at the skies, you should look at the ground" and emphasises on the need for a budget rooted in reality. He says one should tackle unemployment sector-wise. "I believe that this budget has no long term plan.". "Wealth is always created by universities and never by industries." He says giving benefits to industries will not create wealth. Mr. Sibal highlights the importance of investing in Research and Development. "Give students the freedom to think", Mr. Sibal says. "Unless we invest in the university system to create IPs it is hard to create wealth", Mr. Sibal says. "Since 2014, I have been experiencing Rahu kaal, not Amrit kaal", he says. He adds, the leader of the tukde tukde gang is the one who drives a wedge between people and "the one who does tukde tukde of the constitution".
'This is a Ambani, Adani government': Binoy Viswam
Binoy Viswam, CPI, says the government was the reason for the pitiable situation of migrant workers. PM in turn blamed the Congress for it. - Damini Nath
Narendra Jadhav, Nominated, welcomes the Budget, says it is a no-nonsense Budget. - Damini Nath
A.D. Singh, RJD, says government only paying lip service to Atma Nirbhar Bharat. "We respect U.N. sanctions, not U.S. sanctions. Why are we scared? Government stopped buying urea from Iran because of U.S. and price went up from $300 to $1,000, says Mr. Singh - Damini Nath
Sukhram Singh Yadav, Samajwadi Party, asks how will farmers benefit from drone farming given the lack of education. - Damini Nath
M. Thambidurai, AIADMK, says his party supports the Budget and he appreciates the efforts of the Modi government in protecting the economy during the pandemic. "States are not getting sufficient funds after the implementation of GST. Centre should give more funds and arrears" - Damini Nath
Jharna Das Baidya, CPI (M) says PM Awas Yojana is fine but there should be allocation for it also. "They give only ₹1.30 lakh per house. How can you make a house in that much?" "Allocation for all schemes for farmers and agriculture has been cut when farmers are starving for legally guaranteed MSP." - Damini Nath
'No one's budget'
V. Vijayasai Reddy, YSRCP, says the budget is bad for Andhra Pradesh. "What about the aatmanirbharta of the States?", he asks. "Andhra is the only State that has controlled population but it is not getting the benefit of doing so from the Centre", he says. "Lakhs of people have complained about glitches in Income Tax portal. The Income Tax deductions should be linked to inflation." "Every year one element is added to Sabka Saath Sabka Vikaas; prayas and Vishwas were added later."- Vijaita Singh
K.R. Suresh Reddy, TRS, says the Finance Minister's 90 minute speech has left 90 crore Indians out of the budget. "Not even the PM can question the authority of the House, the bill was passed by this House, if the bifurcation of Telengana pains you so much, how many amendments did you bring to correct the mistake? How many meetings did you convene?", he asks.
He's responding to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s remarks in the House regarding bifurcation of erstwhile united Andhra Pradesh.
He criticises the government for their procurement policy. "With the talk of private players in agriculture in the budget speech, we are scared the three farm laws might make a back door entry and government should assure that MSP will continue to remain."- Vijaita Singh
Rural economy is under stress
Dr. Amar Patnaik, BJP, says the budget devotes about eight paragraphs on climate action and climate change and commends the Minister for the same. He says that it is important to devote a part of the budget to combat climate change and says that it is the poor who are disproportionately affected.
Mr. Patnaik quotes the 15th Finance Commission report and notes that investment in primary health sector requires a definitive push.
He demands for the implementation of Swaminathan Committee. He says that rural economy is under stress.
"What is more important to women, a diamond or a sanitary napkin?"
Mohamed Abdulla, DMK, is continuing his speech. Enforcing 30% tax on cryptocurrency without an Act has never been heard of, Mr. Abdulla says. "Does an illegal activity become legal if one pays tax?", he asks. "Is a diamond more important to a girl or a sanitary napkin?", he asks and condemns the taxation of sanitary napkins at 12%. The budget is not focussed on unemployment and agricultural crisis, he says. Quoting Oxfam report he notes that the number of Indian billionaires grew from 102 to 142. He says the poor and middle class have been hit and demands that the government tax corporate establishments suitably.
Discussion on Union Budget 2022-23 starts
Questions concerning the use of drugs are being taken up.
Questions concerning moral education in schools are being entertained in the House.
Binoy Viswam talks about the roots of left wing ideology. Deputy Chairman says it won't go on record. Mr. Rai says "we don’t use the term urban naxal, be it rural area or urban area, when it comes to LWE, be it a city or any other place we take strict action accordingly."- Vijaita Singh
Maoist ideology in India inspired by international groups: MoS Home Nityanand Rai
Rakesh Sinha, BJP, Nominated, says some sitting in universities and educational institutions are propagating urban naxal ideology and adds that it is happening under the garb of media too.
MoS Home Nityanand Rai says in India, Maoist ideology inspired by international groups. If some action is taken, then some international groups come forward to help them. Left wing Extremism is a dangerous ideology, those who raise Anti- India slogans can never be part Of Indian culture that is constructive, PM Modi is the messiah of the poor, the LWE ideology under wane under his leadership. Efforts taken to arrest the urban naxal ideology. Left Wing Extremists want to bring dictatorship at the point of gun. - Vijaita Singh
Questions concerning Highway construction are being entertained. BJP MP Neeraj Shekhar says no work done on road from Ghazipur to Hajipur, though work was sanctioned in 2016, big potholes.
Minister Gen. (Retd.) V.K Singh says four landing of road under process, DPR has been finalised. - Vijaita Singh
Question Hour begins
Question Hour begins in Rajya Sabha and questions concerning education of girls are being entertained.
On arrested fishermen
Shaktisinh Gohil, INC, says "yesterday night Pakistan Marine confiscated 10 boats and arrested 60 fishermen, 27 in the past few days , 643 Gujarat fishermen in Pakistani jails. Government should press for their release." - Vijaita Singh
On increasing cost of education
V. Sivadasan, CPI(M), Kerala, talks about the increasing cost of education for students during the pandemic and lists the fellowships whose grants have been slashed. He notes that scholarship for SCs by UGC have been cut down drastically from more than 9,500 in 2016 to 3986 in 2020-21. The post doctoral fellowships have come down from 553 to 332, he says. - Vijaita Singh
On Retirement age for judges and the naming of Odisha High Court
Prasanna Acharya, BJD, Odisha, asks that the name of Odisha High Court be changed to High Court of Odisha and P. Wilson, DMK, Tamil Nadu suggests that the age of retirement for judges be increased from 62 to 65. - Vijaita Singh
On forest cover and 'Clean Ganga' project
Vandana Chavan, NCP, Maharashtra, talks about how coffee, palm trees do not constitute as forest cover and Kumar Ketkar, INC, Karnataka, asks the status of the Clean Ganga project and notes that that about 20,000 - 30,000 crores has been alloted to the project. - Vijaita Singh
'We can raise an Afghan battalion and deploy them in Kashmir'
A.D. Singh, RJD, Bihar, says "hundreds of students stranded in Afghanistan are being denied visa. When we know Afghanistan is pro-India we can easily raise a battalion of Afghans like the Gorkhas and deploy them in Kashmir to give a befitting reply to Pakistan."
Zero Hour begins
Zero Hour begins in Rajya Sabha.
Rajya Sabha proceedings begin
Rajya Sabha proceedings begin. Papers are being laid on the table.
List of Business in Rajya Sabha (10.00 a.m.)
1. Papers to be laid on the table.
2. Question Hour
3. General Discussion on the Union Budget 2022-23
List of Business in Lok Sabha (4.00 p.m.)
1. Question Hour
2. Papers to be laid on the table.
3. General Discussion on the Union Budget 2022-23
Day 7 recap
The Rajya Sabha proceedings were marked by Prime Minister Narendra Modi's speech as a response to the Motion of Thanks to the President. The House also witnessed its first day of general discussion on the Union Budget 2022-23, with P. Chidambaram and former Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda taking part in the same.
The Lok Sabha continued the general discussion on the Union Budget. The House also discussed matters of urgent importance after the Question Hour.