The 20 MPs, suspended over the last two days, include seven from the Trinamool Congress, six from the DMK, three from the Telangana Rashtra Samithi, two from the Communist Party of India (Marxist) and one each from the Communist Party of India and the Aam Aadmi Party. (Photo: Twitter/@AITCofficial)Monsoon session highlights: The Union government Wednesday said it will consider revoking the suspension of four Congress Lok Sabha MPs if the Opposition “guarantees” that their members will not enter the well of the House and show placards. Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi said the government was also ready to hold a debate on price rise as Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman had returned to work after recovering from Covid-19. “The government has been ready for a discussion from day one. We are ready today as well. If they (Opposition) are ready, so are we. But will they guarantee that they will not troop into the well, holding up placards? Placards are even put up on the face of the Speaker,” Joshi said in Lok Sabha.
Meanwhile, 20 opposition MPs, who were suspended from the Rajya Sabha for disrupting proceedings, on Wednesday started a 50-hour-long protest inside the Parliament complex, news agency PTI reported. The MPs are holding the relay protest near the Gandhi Statue and will stay at the site through the night, said TMC MP Dola Sen said, who is one of the suspended parliamentarians. The 20 MPs, suspended over the last two days, include seven from the Trinamool Congress (TMC), six from the DMK, three from the Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS), two from the Communist Party of India (Marxist) and one each from the Communist Party of India (CPI) and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP). As many as 24 opposition MPs – 20 from the Rajya Sabha and four from the Lok Sabha – have been suspended for their unruly behaviour and creating ruckus in Parliament.
The Lok Sabha Wednesday passed a Bill that seeks to create a statutory framework for the National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA). Piloted by the Union Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, the National Anti-Doping Bill, 2021, was first introduced in Lok Sabha in December. It was then scrutinised by a standing committee comprising members of both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha. The Bill was passed after an over 3.5-hour discussion. While it received support from most parties, some voiced concerns with certain parts of the proposed legislation.
Congress MPs are continuing their protest condemning the suspension of their colleagues even late at night.
The Lok Sabha on Wednesday took up a bill to provide a statutory framework for the functioning of the National Anti-Doping Agency and the National Dope Testing Laboratory for consideration and passage.
The National Anti-Doping Bill, moved by Sports Minister Anurag Thakur, seeks to strengthen measures to check drug abuse by sportspersons. The minister said the bill will give effect to a UN convention on anti-doping.
While moving the Bill for consideration and passage, Thakur recalled the achievements of Indian sportspersons in the recent past and expressed hope that Indians will win more medals in international tournaments in future. (PTI)
The Union government Wednesday said it will consider revoking the suspension of four Congress Lok Sabha MPs if the Opposition “guarantees” that their members will not enter the well of the House and show placards.
Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi said the government was also ready to hold a debate on price rise as Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman had returned to work after recovering from Covid-19.
“The government has been ready for a discussion from day one. We are ready today as well. If they (Opposition) are ready, so are we. But will they guarantee that they will not troop into the well, holding up placards? Placards are even put up on the face of the Speaker,” Joshi said in Lok Sabha. Read More
TMC MP Saugata Roy on Wednesday urged the government to immediately withdraw Agnipath scheme in the interest of the country, citing the protests by youths and security concerns expressed by experts.
Raising the issue in Lok Sabha during discussion on matters of urgent public importance under Rule 377, Roy said soldiers would be recruited for four years only under the Agnipath scheme with no retirement benefits like pension and medical insurance.
After four years, only 25 per cent of recruits would be absorbed as regulars for 15 years while the remaining 75 per cent will be relieved, he said. (PTI)
The AAP will continue to raise the 'fundamental issues' of the masses, including spurious liquor sale in Gujarat, both in Parliament and on the streets, said party MP Sanjay Singh after his suspension from the Rajya Sabha.
Taking to Twitter, Singh said Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah, both of whom are from Gujarat, could have come and told the House 'how spurious liquor trade is going on in Gujarat.' 'I had raised the issue yesterday also. Today, I gave notice under Rule 267 and was repeatedly requesting the Chair and the government for an answer... But the government did not give any answer. I was suspended,' Singh added.
The Rajya Sabha on Wednesday adopted a motion to suspend the Aam Aadmi Party member for the remaining part of the week for his 'unruly behaviour' in the House. This came a day after he tore some papers and threw them on the Chair during the Opposition's protest in the Upper House. The AAP has 10 members in the Rajya Sabha.
Leaders of many opposition parties met Rajya Sabha chairman M Venkaiah Naidu on Wednesday and demanded the suspension of 20 MPs be revoked, but Naidu made it clear that it can happen only after the MPs express regret over their "misconduct".
Sources said 10 leaders of opposition parties met Naidu in his Chamber and raised the issue and their demand for a discussion on price rise.
Stating that the number of suspended members was on the higher side, they suggested that the action may be revoked so as to have good attendance in the House. They also suggested that a specific date may be indicated on which the issue of price rise could be discussed. (PTI)
Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi on Wednesday said the suspension of Opposition MPs can be revoked by the Chair if they apologise and assure they would not show placards in the House.
As many as 24 opposition MPs – 20 from the Rajya Sabha and four from the Lok Sabha – have been suspended for their unruly behaviour and creating ruckus in Parliament.
'We have been maintaining that the government is ready for discussion on price rise and today Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman resumed her office after recovering from Covid,' Joshi said. If the Opposition wants, 'we can start discussion from today', he further said. (PTI)
Congress MPs staging a protest at Vijay Chowk here over the alleged misuse of investigative agencies were detained by police on Wednesday, with the party calling it a "murder of democracy" and claiming that the government wants an "Opposition-mukt Bharat".
Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge, leader of the Congress in the Lok Sabha Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury and a host of party MPs sat on a protest and raised slogans against the "misuse" of agencies such as the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and the suspension of Opposition MPs from both houses of Parliament. They also raised the issues of price rise and imposition of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) on certain essential daily-use items.
The MPs marched from the Parliament complex to the Vijay Chowk lawns, where they held a sit-in and raised slogans. (PTI)
More from India
Of over 22.05 crore applicants for central government jobs during 2014 and 2022, over 7.22 lakh were recommended by the recruiting agencies, the Lok Sabha was informed on Wednesday.
As many as 7,22,311 candidates were recommended by recruiting agencies for appointment in different central government departments from 2014-15 to 2021-22, according to a written reply given by Union Minister of State for Personnel Jitendra Singh.
Of these, 38,850 were recruited during 2021-22, 78,555 in 2020-21, 1,47,096 in 2019-20, 38,100 in 2018-19, 76,147 in 2017-18, 1,01,333 in 2016-17, 1,11,807 in 2015-16 and 1,30,423 during 2014-15, it said. (PTI)
As Opposition members continued sloganeering, the Rajya Sabha was adjourned within minutes of reconvening at 2 pm.
As per information provided by Jammu and Kashmir government, 15 persons who embarked on the Amarnath Yatra lost their lives due to flash floods but no person has been reported missing. Government agencies like NDRF, SDRF, Army, CAPFs and UT govt officials were deployed for search operations, rescue and relief of pilgrims, MoS Home Nityanand Rai said in a written reply.
"The Yatris were immediately evacuated to safer places/camps and provided accommodation and food while the injured yatris were moved to the nearest medical facilities, the reply pertaining to the recent flashflood in July stated.
The Government of Jammu and Kashmir has intimated that there were no significant protests against the report of the Delimitation Commission. However, various political parties have expressed different views on the report, MoS Home Nityanand Rai informed Rajya Sabha in a written reply
Delimitation Commission conducted delimitation exercise of Union territory of J&K based on the census data of the year 2011 and criteria prescribed under section 9(1)(a) of Delimitation Act, 2002 read with Section 60(2)(b) of J&K Reorganisation Act, 2019, the reply stated.
MoS Home Nityanand Rai further said in the reply that the Commission has also considered the representations for geographical areas having inadequate communication and lack of public conveniences due to their excessive remoteness or inhospitable conditions on the international border.
As against the previous number of 37 and 46 Assembly seats for the Jammu region and Kashmir region respectively, the Delimitation Commission has notified 43 seats for the Jammu region and 47 seats for the Kashmir region, the reply stated.
An advisory specifically on the safety of journalists was issued to States/UTs on October 20, 2017 requesting them to strictly enforce the law to ensure the safety and security of media, MoS Home Nityanand Rai informed the Rajya Sabha.
The sanctioned strength and the number of vacancies in each of the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFS) in the country is 10,05,779 and vacant post 84,405, MoS Home Nityanand Rai informed the Rajya Sabha.
The government has taken a decision to fill up existing vacancies in CAPFS by December 2023. It is stated that examination for filling up of 25,271 posts of Constable (General Duty) has already been conducted. Government has taken inter alia to fill up the vacancies expeditiously in CAPFS, the reply stated.
TMC MP Dola Sen, among the 20 Rajya Sabha MPs suspended for unruly behaviour in the House, said that they will hold a relay protest for 50 hours in the Parliament complex. While 19 Rajya Sabha MPs were suspended on Tuesday, AAP's Sanjay Singh was suspended today.
Four Lok Sabha MPs were suspended earlier this week.
AAP MP Sanjay Singh was suspended from Rajya Sabha for the remaining part of the current week for shouting slogans, tearing papers and throwing them toward the Chair on Tuesday.
The House was adjourned till 12.18 pm.
As per the day's list of business, the Rajya Sabha is scheduled to take up the Weapons of Mass Destruction and their Delivery Systems (Prohibition of Unlawful Activities) Amendment Bill, 2022 for consideration and passage.
Meanwhile, the Lok Sabha is scheduled to discuss the National Anti-Doping Bill, 2021.
The Opposition staged a protest at the Gandhu statue within the Parliament premises over the suspension of 23 MPs. On Tuesday, 19 Rajya Sabha MPs were suspended till Friday, while earlier this week, four Lok Sabha MPs were suspended for the remainder of the session.
Congress MP Kodikunnil Suresh gave an adjournment motion notice in the Lok Sabha over "the blatant misuse of investigation agencies by Union govt to exact political vendetta against Congress President Sonia Gandhi"