Opposition members in the Rajya Sabha on Wednesday hit out at the government over high unemployment rate in the country and said the Union Budget 2022-23 failed to address the concerns of the poor. They said the Budget was only intended to benefit big corporate houses.
The discussions are scheduled to continue in the Parliament today.
Here are the latest updates:
Rajya Sabha adjourned for the day
After extending the session for 15 minutes, the deputy chariman adjourns the House for the day. Session to reconvene at 10 am tomorrow.
Discussion on the Budget continues
G.V.L. Narasimha Rao (BJP) says unemployment in U.P. is 3% and in Congress ruled Rajasthan it is 18%. India’s unemployment fell to 11 month low in January, he says.
"Union govt. has created employment in vigilante department"
Syed Nasir Hussain (Congress) says the government has given jobs in a new department - vigilante department. Latest is the hijab vigilante department, he says.
Abdul Wahab (IUML) says no company will invest in the country if society is not in order. "Girls wearing hijab in Karnataka are not being allowed to go to college. We need to eradicate hate economy. It is as dangerous as corruption or black money."
Discussion on the Budget continues
Rajmani Patel (Congress) says this is not Bharat’s Budget, it is India’s Budget, written in Nagpur and printed in Delhi.
On employment
K.J. Alphons (BJP) says we don’t claim to have done everything, we are in the process. Global inequality is a fact. What is the Opposition’s solution?, he asks.
You people spread canards that Christians are being persecuted. The Pope looked happiest when embracing PM Modi, says Mr. Alphons
Anyone who creates jobs, whether its Ambani or Adani, should be worshipped, he says.
Mahesh Poddar (BJP) says those days are over when Budget was used to make election promises.
Discussion on the Budget continues
Prashanta Nanda (BJD) says this Budget has no answer to price rise problems faced by middle class, poor and farmers.
Burden on States has increased due to hike in states’ share of Central schemes, he says.
"Union Budget is welfare-oriented, all-inclusive"
Sudhanshu Trivedi (BJP) says this is a welfare-oriented, all-inclusive development Budget.
Discussion on the Budget continues
M.V. Shreymas Kumar (LJD) says the Budget speech does not even mention MGNREGA, and at this rate the scheme will come to a standstill.
Akhilesh Prasad Singh (Congress) says he has seen a dozen Budgets as an MLA, as Lok Sabha MP and now as Rajya Sabha MP and has never seen such a direction-less Budget.
Discussion on the Budget continues
Ram Nath Thakur, JD(U), says there should be food processing units in all districts, this will lead to employment generation.
Government should have the caste census done and it should be included in this Budget, Mr. Thakur says.
He says that the farmers are in a bad condition and the govt. has reduced allocation for MGNREGA. Centre should give Bihar special category status, he says.
Discussion on the Budget continues
Anil Desai (Shiv Sena) says expectations and hopes of the common people are completely belied in this Budget. This Budget has left poor people high and dry, he says.
Jose K. Mani, KC(M), says India’s public spending as a percentage of GDP is the lowest of BRICS countries. The Budget has not addressed millions of Indians affected by COVID-19.
On MGNREGA
Vandana Chavan (NCP) MP says that a separate cadre for municipal officers should be created. There should be a scheme for urban poor on the lines of MGNREGA, she says.
Discussion on the Budget continues
Sujeet Kumar (BJD) MP, says that allocation to the health sector is less, and especially during the pandemic, it is worrisome.
"There is no mention of inflation and unemployment in the budget," he says.
Manoj Kumar Jha (RJD) says that no where the budget mentions about recruitment in defence sector.
He says that no vision for employment generation in railway sector. "We are a welfare State, don’t insult the poor by saying you are giving free vaccines."
Discussion on the Budget begins
Syed Zafar Islam (BJP) MP, Uttar Pradesh says that the UPA govt. did not do anything that was promised in their manifesto.
Chhaya Verma (INC) MP says that comments made by PM Modi that COVID-19 spread through migrants is shameful. When COVID-19 was spreading, you were busy toppling Madhya Pradesh government and were organising Namaste Trump, she alleges. "You reduced tax on diamonds and increased the price of artificial jewellery. Now, tell me, where do the maximum diamond traders come from?," she asks.
"Why don’t you bring women reservation bill?," she asks.
The moment elections are over in five States, people should be ready for increased petrol and LPG cylinder prices, she says.
"What was the need to build Rs 56,000 crore worth Central Vista during the time pf the pandemic?," she asks.
Question Hour ends
The Deputy Chairman signals the end of Question Hour.
On unemployment
Labour minister Bhupendra Yadav says that there has been a 22% increase in employment compared to 2014. He says that latest periodic labour report says two lakh more jobs added despite COVID-19. "3 crore 80 lakh jobs created in formal sector post 2013-14," he says.
On tiger deaths
Bhupender Yadav, Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change says that tigers die because of a myriad of reasons. Poaching, old age, health issues, in-fighting between them and electrification cause death. We do have stringent rules to reduce poaching, he says.
We have held meetings to bring out strict rules to criminalise poaching, and reports have been submitted, he adds.
He further says that many tigers live outside the designated tiger reserves. "I admit that there is a serious issue of human-animal conflict, and we will bring it down in areas of dense human population."
According to the Wild Life Protection Act, we have brought out guidelines to reduce human deaths in human-animal conflicts, he says.
On Priyanka Gandhi's tweet
Arun Singh (BJP), referring to Priyanka Gandhi’s tweet, without naming her, asks when will her account be blocked?
Ms. Gandhi has said that students should wear bikinis and go to schools if they want to.
Mr. Murugan says that we have a three tier mechanism, and a self regulatory body is there, inter department committees are there, and as per norms we will initiate action against fake news and those who write against the national sovereignty of the country.
Press Council of India
Dr. L. Murugan, Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting, as a response to a question by Vivek Tankha (INC) MP, says that Press Council of India is an autonomous body.
Mr. Tankha asked why there is no head for the PCI yet since November, and why has the govt. not done anything about it.
Manoj Jha (RJD) asks about steps taken to curb online harassment of women journalists, and Mr. Murugan says that it is an IPC offence, and is a State subject, and the union govt. cannot act on it.
Question Hour begins
Zero Hour is completed, and Question Hour begins.
Zero hour continues
Governments of West Bengal and Jharkhand encourage illegal mining, alleges a BJP MP from Jharkhand.
K.C. Ramamurthy (BJP) says that students getting lured by advertisements by Ed tech companies and private tuition centres.
Kailash Soni (BJP) says,"I want to mention the murder of Kishan Bharwad in Gujarat. ATS has revealed that the accused wanted to kill Sudarshan TV’s Suresh Chavhanke along with 11 others." He says that security to nationalist Suresh Chavhanke and Jitendra Tyagi (alias Wasim Rizvi) should be provided.
Protests in the House
TRS MPs are in the Well of the House with placards to oppose the PM’s statement on Andhra Pradesh Re-organisation Bill.
Zero hour begins
Manoj Jha (RJD) urges the House to open all universities and colleges. He says that many students don’t have digital access to education.
John Brittas (CPI-M) says that Covid has further deteriorated the situation of senior citizens in the country.
Leader of Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge speaks on the remarks made by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Bill.
Rajya Sabha proceedings begin
The House convenes at 10 am. Papers are being laid on the table.
List of Business in Rajya Sabha (10:00 am)
1. Papers to be laid on the table
2. Report of Standing Committee on Home Affairs
3. Reports of study visit of the Committee on the Welfare of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes
4. Further general discussion on the Union Budget
5. Statements by Ministers
6. Question Hour
List of Business in Lok Sabha (4:00 pm)
1. Question Hour
2. Papers to be laid on the table
3. Reports of study visit of the Committee on the Welfare of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes
4. Further general discussion on the Union Budget
5. Report of Standing Committee on Home Affairs
6. Matters under Rule 377
Day 8 recap
Ladakh MP further said Galwan valley is a large region and India had lost most of it during Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru's regime.
Nirmala Sitharaman, replying to a query, says the amount of Rs. 1 lakh crore is above the States' borrowing limits and will be given for a period of 50 years with zero interest.
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).
Discussion on the Union Budget was held in both the Houses.