Union Home Minister Amit Shah speaks in the Rajya Sabha during the discussion of the Criminal Procedure (Identification) Bill, 2022 . (PTI)Parliament Budget Session 2022 Updates: The Criminal Procedure (Identification) Bill, 2022 was passed in the Rajya Sabha on Wednesday. Union Home Minister Amit Shah moved the Bill for consideration and passing in the Upper House. The Bill seeks to authorize for taking measurements of convicts and other persons for the purposes of identification and investigation in criminal matters and to preserve records. Lok Sabha passed the Bill on Monday, April 4.
Meanwhile, the Lok Sabha on Wednesday passed The Weapons of Mass Destruction and their Delivery Systems (Prohibition of Unlawful Activities) Amendment Bill, 2022. The Lower House was later on adjourned till tomorrow 11 am.
Speaking on the war in Ukraine a few days after the Bucha killings came to the fore, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said in the Lok Sabha that India is “first and foremost” strongly against conflict. “We believe that no solution can be arrived at by shedding blood and at the cost of innocent lives. In this day and age, dialogue and diplomacy are the right answers to any dispute,” he added. Earlier, Jaishankar moved the Weapons of Mass Destruction and their Delivery Systems (Prohibition of Unlawful Activities) Amendment Bill, 2022.
Several opposition parties on Wednesday slammed as "unconstitutional" and "draconian" the bill that allows legal sanction to the police to take physical and biological samples of convicts as well as those accused of crimes and claimed it could be misused.
Taking part in the discussion on the Criminal Procedure (Identification) Bill, 2022, which was moved in Rajya Sabha by Home Minister Amit Shah, Congress leader P Chidambaram and other opposition members favoured sending the bill to a select committee for further deliberations, but the demand was rejected. The bill was passed by Parliament, with Rajya Sabha clearing it by a voice vote after Home Minister Amit Shah allayed opposition's concerns and assured the House that biometrics of political detainees will not be collected and brain mapping and polygraph tests will be excluded from its ambit.
Chidambaram claimed during the debate that the provisions in the bill can be misused as the police can arrest and take fingerprints and DNA samples of even those who are taking part in political rallies. "Is there anyone in this House who has not violated a law? I ask the honourable home minister who has had an active political career, have you never violated any law?...even if you are convicted of an offence where the punishment is Rs 100, this law applies," Chidambaram said. The former union home minister claimed that the worst sufferers will be the "oppressed and the poor". (PTI)
Home Minister Amit Shah on Wednesday accused former railway minister Lalu Prasad Yadav of trying to paint the Godhra train carnage of 2002 as an accident and not a conspiracy by appointing a new committee to probe into it.
BJP MP Brij Lal mentioned the Godhra issue during a debate on the Criminal Procedure (Identification) Bill and questioned formation of the U C Banerjee Commission by then railway minister Lalu Prasad Yadav in September 2004 to investigate the incident. While referring to the Godhra incident, Lal said a coach of the Sabarmati Express was put on fire on February 27, 2002, killing 59 people.
"The then railway minister of RJD formed one U C Banerjee Commission and it had submitted a report on January 17, 2005. The report said the fire was accidental and the coach was not put on fire," he said. (PTI)
"Every year seven and a half lakh cases against accused are dropped due to lack of evidence. Justice is also delayed due to lack of evidence," Union Home Minister Amit Shah said in Rajya Sabha while replying to the discussion on the Criminal Procedure (Identification) Bill, 2022.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday hailed the discussion on the situation in Ukraine in Lok Sabha, saying the rich level of debate illustrates there is bipartisanship on the matters of foreign policy which augurs well for India at the world stage. A short duration discussion was held in the Lower House on 'Situation in Ukraine' on Tuesday with members of both the treasury and Opposition benches expressing their views over the matter and External Affairs Minister replied to the discussion on Wednesday.
"Over the last few days Parliament has witnessed a healthy discussion on the situation in Ukraine and India's efforts to bring back our citizens through Operation Ganga. I am grateful to all MP colleagues who enriched this discussion with their views," Modi said in a tweet. The rich level of debate and the constructive points illustrate how there is bipartisanship when it comes to matters of foreign policy, he said. (PTI)
Parliament passed a bill on Wednesday for the inclusion of the Darlong community as a sub-tribe of Kuki in the list of Scheduled Tribes of Tripura. Rajya Sabha passed the Constitution (Scheduled Tribes) Order (Amendment) Bill-2022 with a voice vote. Lok Sabha had cleared the bill on March 28.
Speaking on the bill in the Upper House of Parliament, Minister of State for Tribal Affairs Renuka Saruta said the inclusion of the Darlong community as a sub-tribe of Kuki will give it an identity in the list of Scheduled Tribes of Tripura.
Kuki is one of the main tribal communities in Northeast India and the Darlong community in Tripura will become its 18th sub-tribe. The minister said Tripura has a tribal population of around 11.66 lakh, which is 31.76 per cent of the state's total population according to the census of 2011. (PTI)
Union Home Minister Amit Shah while replying to the Criminal Procedure (Identification) Bill, 2022 in Rajya Sabha said, 'Our law is 'bachha' (nothing) in terms of strictness as compared to other nations. There're more stringent laws in countries like South Africa, UK, Australia, Canada, US,which is why their conviction rate is better.'
The Bill has four objectives, increasing the rate of conviction, increasing forensic capacity, collecting scientific evidence by eliminating third degree, using the data through a certain process.'
Highlighting that politics should be kept out while considering security concerns of the citizens of the country, Saha said, 'Don't we want to move on? Won't we think of the country amidst the gulli-danda of politics? Politics should not be done on the question of public safety, punishment to the guilty.'
'We will ensure that the political agitators do not have to give their measurements. But if leaders are arrested in a criminal case, they will have to give their measurements,' the Home Minister added.
Lok Sabha on Wednesday passed The Weapons of Mass Destruction and their Delivery Systems (Prohibition of Unlawful Activities) Amendment Bill, 2022. The Lower House was later on adjourned till tomorrow 11 am.
Congress member Dean Kuriakose on Wednesday asked the government to roll back the price hike of over 10 per cent effected on some life-saving essential medicines.
Over 800 drugs, including paracetamol and azithromycin, under the National List of Essential Medicines (NLEM) have become expensive, he said in the Lok Sabha during the Zero Hour. Prices have been increased by a steep 10.7 per cent, he said, adding, these medicines have profound impact on the lives of people.
"I urge upon the government to reverse this decision and ensure that life-saving drugs stay affordable to people of India," he said. Last month, the National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) announced a 10.7 per cent change in the Wholesale Price Index (WPI) for the calendar year 2021 over the same period in 2020. (PTI)
Union Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievance and Pension is using artificial intelligence (AI) to prevent corruption, the government told Lok Sabha on Wednesday With the use of AI, it is possible to analyse a petition and see if there is "something more" in it than what has been stated by the petitioner," Minister of State for Personnel, Public Grievance and Pension Jitendra Singh said while replying to a question in the House.
It can read "between the lines", he said.
"Artificial intelligence is being used in various areas...You will be surprised to know that the ministry of personnel is using it in prevention of corruption," the minister told the Lower House during Question Hour.
"If a petition comes, what's there between the lines can be read through the help of artificial intelligence to see if there is something more in it than what has been stated (by the petitioner)," he added. (PTI)
As many as 87 civilians and 99 security personnel have been killed in Jammu and Kashmir since the abrogation of Article 370 on August 5, 2019, as compared to 177 civilians and 406 security personnel in the previous five years, Union Minister of State for Home Nityanand Rai informed the Rajya Sabha.
The minister said the central government has a policy of zero tolerance against terrorism and there has been a substantial decline in terrorist attacks from 417 in 2018 to 255 in 2019, 244 in 2020 and 229 in 2021. As many as 177 civilians and 406 security personnel were killed from May 2014 to August 4, 2019 in Jammu and Kashmir, while 87 civilians and 99 security personnel were killed from August 5, 2019 to November 2021, he said in a written reply to a question.
"A robust security and intelligence grid is in place to prevent any terrorist attack. In addition, day and night area domination, round the clock checking at Nakas, patrolling and proactive operations against terrorists are being carried out," he said. (PTI)
Four Kashmiri Pandits among 14 Hindus were killed by terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir since 2019, Union Minister of State for Home Nityanand Rai said in Rajya Sabha on Wednesday. Rai also said that 34 people belonging to minority communities were killed by terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir in the last five years., including 11 in 2021.
Replying to questions in the upper house, the minister said that after the repeal of Article 370 of the Constitution, 2105 migrants have returned to Kashmir valley for taking up jobs provided under the Prime Minister's Development Package.
"Four Kashmiri Pandits were killed by terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir since 2019 while 10 other Hindus were also killed by the militants during this period," he said in a written reply. (PTI)
Congress leader P Chidambaram on Wednesday while discussing the Criminal Procedure (Identification) Bill, 2022 in Rajya Sabha said, "It's unconstitutional. It violates liberty, privacy & dignity of people. The Bill wasn't referred to a select committee."
He also said that the government has not taken into account the historic verdicts of SC in Selvi and Puttaswamy cases.
"In the Selvi case, the court said that the polygraphy, narcoanalysis and brain electrical activation profile (BEAP) violate an individual's rights," Chidambaram added. (ANI)
The Weapons of Mass Massacre and their Delivery System (Prohibition of Unlawful Activities) Amendment Bill, 2022 is under discussion in the The Lok Sabha. The Bill has provisions to stop funding of weapons of mass destruction.
The indigenous 4G telecom network will soon be rolled out across India with the BSNL planning to install about 1.12 lakh towers throughout the country, Telecom Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said in Lok Sabha on Wednesday.
The minister also said the internet connection inside trains can be available only when the 5G network will be rolled out as communications get disrupted with 4G technology in trains running with the speed of 100 km per hour.
“I am happy to inform you that the 4G telecom network is ready for roll out soon and it is developed in India by Indian engineers and scientists. Our development of 4G network is being appreciated worldwide and it has a core network, radio network with full telecom equipment,” he said during Question Hour. The minister said the BSNL is in the process of ordering 6,000 towers immediately and then 6,000 more and finally 1 lakh to be installed all over the country for the 4G network. (PTI)
Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Wednesday moved 'The Criminal Procedure (Identification) Bill 2022' for consideration and passing in Rajya Sabha. The Bill seeks to authorize for taking measurements of convicts and other persons for the purposes of identification and investigation in criminal matters and to preserve records. Lok Sabha passed the Bill on Monday, April 4. (ANI)
The Rajya Sabha on Wenesday passed the Constitution (Scheduled Tribes) Order (Amendment) Bill, 2022.
After the Parliament reassembled post-lunch during the ongoing second part of the Budget session, the Lok Sabha undertook discussion on matters under Rule 377. While, the Rajya Sabha floor is currently taken up by Minister of State for Tribal Affairs, Renuka Singh Saruta, who is replying to the discussion on The Constitution (Scheduled Tribes) Order (Amendment) Bill, 2022.
Earlier, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar informed the Lower House that the government of Ukraine has decided to allow a relaxation for medical students with respect to promotion from third to fourth year.