Parliament live: Modi asks SC for quick steps on MPs with criminal cases

7.54 pm: Modi requests SC for quick decisions on MPs with criminal cases Modi also said that he would request the Supreme Court of India to take speedy decisions on MPs facing criminal charges. “I request SC to take quick decisions on people facing criminal charges in Parliament,” he said. This has been a huge issue during the election campaigns since the Congress has repeatedly blamed the BJP of having MPs in its coterie of having criminal charges against them. 6.30 pm: Can’t implement on state’s model on another, says Modi Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who during his entire political campaign touted the Gujarat model of development,  today said that ’the model of one state cannot be imposed on others’. Similarly, Modi said ’the Centre’s views cannot be forcefully imposed on states’. Modi was speaking in reply to the President’s address to the joint session of Parliament. The PM further said that casteism and regionalism have damaged the country and that’s why the government is talking of “ek Bharat, shreshta Bharat." 6.00 pm: ‘Believe in Team India - PM and CMs’ Addressing the Rajya Sabha, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said one has lessons to learn from both - victory and defeat. “India has got a stable government after a long time, will implement suggestions mentioned in the government’s agenda,” Modi said, while replying to the President’s speech. Highlighting the need for the country to move ahead, the Prime Minister said “If India has to progress our states have to progress. If our country has to be strong, our states must be strong.” Referring to the President’s speech, Modi said: “The President’s address talked about cooperative federalism. This big brother-small brother attitude will not work." “If we take states into confidence our working can become much better. We believe in the concept of Team India of PM and all CMs.” 5.30 pm: Lok Sabha passes Motion of Thanks The Lok Sabha on Wednesday passed the Motion of Thanks to the President’s speech after Prime Minister and Leader of the House Narendra Modi addressed the House. The Speaker then passed various amendments moved by MPs before adjourning the House sine dine. 5.00 pm: There should be competition between states, says PM Referring to the Gujarat model, Modi said there was a lot of debate over the Gujarat model. “Whatever it is, at least there is a debate on development… even in Gujarat, the famed ‘model’ was not blindly implemented across the state. It was different in different areas of the state.” “Our model must be to learn the good everyone is doing irrespective of who is in power and who is not. In West Bengal, Mamata didi is doing hard work to lift the state out of poverty. India’s model should be created by taking the positives from all good projects in each state.” “We don’t believe in big brother attitude towards states; We believe in co-operative federalism. I want to hear states say ‘we have left Gujarat behind’.” 4.57 pm: Don’t want to move ahead without you, Modi tells Cong “Victory teaches us humility and we should learn from victory. I don’t want to move ahead without you,” Modi said, referring to the Congress party. “We don’t want to move ahead only on numbers but on unity and consensus… we must not be arrogant,” the prime minister said, adding that he was open to any form of criticism. “Criticism is the best form of guidance, I’m open to all kinds of criticism,” he said. 4.53 pm: ‘Let’s turn development into a people’s movement’ Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the entire country should believe that their efforts are a part of taking the nation forward and the entire process should become a people’s movement. “If people can unite during a cricket match, why can’t they do it for development? Even a teacher should think if I am teaching I am doing it for my country. Labourers, farmers should feel they work for country.” Just like Mahatma Gandhi made every Indian feel that he/she was working for freedom movement, in the same way now development should be ‘desh seva’. We should plan from today how we will celebrate Mahatma Gandhi ji’s 150th birth anniversary after 5 years. 4.51 pm: Must focus on development of minorities, says Modi “Why are our Muslim brothers in such a bad situation? We have to focus on their development. When I was young, a Muslim man used to repair my cycle,today his son is doing the same job. Why is this? We need to focus on their development,” Modi said. “If any section of the society is powerless, the society will never become self-sufficient.” 4.47 pm: Mere certificates won’t help, says Modi “Our identity has now become scam India, we should make it skill India… and we can achieve it, Modi said, adding that a new entrepreneurship and skill development ministry, was needed. “People say they are graduates, but when asked what they can do, they have no answer. You must have skills in your hand not just certificates.” 4.45 pm: ‘Stop politicising rape, it doesn’t suit us’ Breaking his silence on the Badaun gangrapes and the Pune murder, Prime Minister Modi said what happened was sad and the administration should be stronger. “What happened in Pune, UP or in Manali are unfortunate incidents have been painful. The administration has to be strong. We have to stop politicising rape, it doesn’t suit us. We are playing with the dignity of women,” Modi said. 4.30 pm: ‘What’s in the lab is not on the land’ On agriculture, Modi said the government must focus on better technology that includes agro-based industries and better soil testing facilities. “What is in the lab is not on the land. We need to shift what’s in the lab to the land.” On Agriculture, Modi said people were now becoming organic conscious and the small state of Sikkim would soon be an organic state. " In the world there is now a market for organic good. People will stand in queues to buy organic goods.. the entire North East can be an organic region,” the Prime Minister said. Despite ruling the world in Information Technology, we still do not have real time data of agro-products. Why can’t we harness our famed IT for it? We will do everything to reduce prices. This is not about a poll promise. We want no person of India to remain hungry. “The faster we implement technology in agriculture the better it will be for us… there has been no research on pulses for years.” 4.15 pm: Govt must run for the poor, says Modi “Our government has to be for the poor,” Prime Minister Narendra Modi said, adding that if it was not working for the poor, “the nation would never forgive them.” “We must fight against poverty, and the biggest weapon is education. We have to give them the power to fight. We have to rid the poor of superstition and show them light through literacy,” Modi said. “The rich can afford best educational and medical facilities in the world, but what will the poor do? Should the government be only for the educated or for few? It should be for the poor first.” Modi also spoke of empowering villages to achieve their full potential by providing them more facilities. “A guest who arrives in a village is the guest of the village. We need more facilities in villages. Can’t we provide them broadband facilities? Now students can study through correspondent services. If we give villages the modern technology then they can contribute to the country’s development. Why would a villager want to leave his village if he has the required facilities? What do the youth want? Good facilities, a job. We can provide these things.” 4.00 pm: PM Modi responds to President’s speech Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his response to President Pranab Mukherjee’s speech today began by addressing veteran Parliamentarians seeking their forgiveness if he made any mistakes as he was a first time MP. “This house has high parliamentary standards…  The Parliament has many veterans. If a new person like me makes a mistake then forgive me,” Modi said. “It’s expected for some leaders to ask and worry as to how I will do so much work,” Modi said, while repeating an example he widely used in his election campaigns. “When I became CM of Gujarat for the first time, I was told that it would be impossible to give 24 hour supply, but it has been achieved now.” “Of course it is normal that some would question how we will achieve the things we have promised, but let me assure this House that we will fulfill our promises,” the Prime Minister said. “Will leave no stone unturned to fulfil the roadmap shown by the President, it was not a mere formality.” “The president’s speech can inspire us to achieve more. All of us in Parliament must work together to achieve these promises. Earlier we were the hope of the people as mere candidates, now we are the guardians of the hopes of our people as representatives,” adding that the “responsibility given by the people has to be fulfilled whether we are sitting in the opposition or treasury benches of Parliament.” Seeking to put forward India’s strength as a democracy, Modi said he was happy that the debates over the last two days was positive and conducive in nature. “India is mentioned as a big democracy in the world. Our democracy is bigger than the US and the EU put together.  Isn’t it time to show the world how strong our democracy and democratic principle are?”   12.04 pm: Sushma Swaraj brings her familiar literary touch to the affairs of the Parliament If literature and opulent language gets you ticking, Sushma Swaraj is your dream speaker come true. From her chaste Hindi to her allusions, Swaraj is easily one of the most dramatic and impactful speakers in the Parliament. In her first address a minister in this NDA government, Swaraj outlined what the Modi government’s focus should be. And she did it with an allusion to the Mahabharata. She poke about a conversation between Yudhishtir and his guru Bheeshm Pitamah. “I am reminded of a conversation between Bheeshm Pitamaha and Yudhishthir. Pitamaha had told Yudhisthir that ’never run from your responsibilities by blaming the ills of the past. If the past had been a good one, why would people change it?’” By making that comparison, Swaraj said that the Modi government will not dwell on what damage has been wrought by the previous government and look forward instead. She said that she is glad that the country now has a ministry that aims to take care of the Ganga. 11.41 am: Anand Sharma calls VK Singh’s presence ‘ominous’ BJP’s minister General VK Singh’s and tweets about the next Army Chief Dalbir Singh Suhag kicked up a storm in the Rajya Sabha today. Singh had lashed out at Suhag calling him a ‘dacoit’ on Twitter yesterday. Though he didn’t name Suhag, it was obvious from the tweet, who Singh was going after. https://twitter.com/Gen_VKSingh/status/476377064417656832 Congress MP Anand Sharma pointed out that VK Singh’s presence was ‘ominous’ for the Parliament. “How can he keep tweeting despite being a minister. He is demoralising the forces,” said Anand Sharma. He added that Singh shouldn’t be allowed to continue in the Parliament. It then fell to Defence Minister Arun Jaitley to douse the fire Singh has sparked. He said that the Army should be kept out of such politics. He also declared the Suhag’s appointment has the next Army chief was final and will not be changed. End of updates from 10 June 11.15 am: Rajya Sabha adjourned after protests by BSP Rajya Sabha Chairman Hamid Ansari adjourned the House for 10 minutes following protests by BSP MPs over the law and order situation in Uttar Pradesh. BSP MPs stormed the Well of the House as the Secretary General was reading out a notice from a parliamentary body. In Lok Sabha, proceedings carried on peacefully as MPs from various parties participated in the motion of thanks to the President’s address. Updates for 11 June end 4.35 pm: Arun Jaitley rips UPA apart Arun Jaitley, in his first address in the Parliament as the Finance Minister of the present NDA government, tore into the UPA, accusing the last government for leaving the country in a shambles. Like Rudy, he also pointed out that this election was one of hope and everything from the massive crowds in Modi’s rallies to the overwhelming mandate, everything pointed at the hopes the country has on the new government. “The burden on our government is, therefore, higher. The expectations are very high,” he said. He then went on to outline, the UPA’s many flaws. “In the last four years, growth came to a halt in the country. Even if India didn’t have a government, it would have grown at the a rate below five percent. There was low growth, high inflation and high fiscal deficit. As a result, even the tax collection was hampered,” he said. He then explained how enthusiasm in India’s economy had gone down. “Forget foreign investment, even domestic investors were leaving the country. If there’s no investment, there’ll be no jobs, to development in the social sector.” 12.02 pm: Rajiv Pratap Rudy re-introduces the BJP MPs again to the Lok Sabha Rajiv Pratap Rudy is literally on a roll. In fact, Narendra Modi couldn’t have gotten a better publicist than Rudy it seems. After going to lengths to explain how India’s vote for Modi was in fact a vote for ‘hope’, Rudy then went on to emphasise how the BJP government has come as a boon to the nation. He began that bit by mentioning the Saarc summit. “Has India ever seen ten Prime Ministers of other nations come together for an event in India? No. Not before Narendra Modi ji became the Prime Minister. I want to thank all BJP karyakartas for making this possible…” he trailed off. He then pointed at the motley crew of BJP MPs. “Look, there’s India’s number one dermatologist sitting beside a excellent political leader…” Rudy said, in an attempt of show off the cultural glitterati that comprised BJP’s brood in Lok Sabha. 11.31 am: Rajiv Pratap Rudy waxes eloquent about hope and Modi’s big heart Now that he finally has the attention of the house, Rudy is waxing eloquent about hope and Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s big heart. A pregnant mother voted for Modi with the hope that gets to see her baby alive in her arms and she can feed him”, he said passionately before telling a shouting Mr Hooda that it’s all about ‘hope’. “Our PM has a big heart. Everyone in the parliament will be included in the strive for India’s development”. 11.20 am: Rajiv Pratap Rudy initiates discussion on President’s address BJP leader Rajiv Pratap Rudy has initiated the discussion on the President’s address in the Lok Sabha. And in true Parliament style, there has already been ruckus and uproar minutes into his speech. New speaker Sumitra Mahajan sounds like a sterner version of her predecessor Meira Kumar. “Nothing will go on record! Please sit down! Your turn will come!” But unlike Kumar, Mahajan has taken some semblance of control, standing there and giving the shouting MPs a brief lesson on decorum. There is stunned silence. Pratap Rudy resumes speaking, but unfortunately so does the shouting. But not quite so loudly. Well done Mahajan. – end of updates for 09 June– 12.55 pm: Arun Jaitley to lead Rajya Sabha Rajya Sabha Chairman Hamid Ansari announced that Arun Jaitley will be the Leader of Rajya Sabha while Congress’s Ghulam Nabi Azad will be the leader of Opposition. Jaitley was earlier the Leader of Opposition in the House, while then prime minister Manmohan Singh was the leader of the House. 12.30 pm: TRS MPs storm Well of Lok Sabha, House adjourned When Members of the Lok Sabha met for the first time after President Pranab Mukherjee’s joint address, TRS MPs stormed the Well of the House, while BJD members protested over an ordinance on the Polavaram project. The Speaker then adjourned the House for the day. 11.55 am: President Mukherjee ends speech with another Modi classic And the President ends with yet another reference to a Modi classic on the campaign trail - Demography, Democracy and Demand. Outlining his development agenda, Modi during his PM-aspirant days, had repeatedly mentioned the need to focus on the three mentioned aspects of development. Since the government’s thrust seems to be the youth, the catchphrase from Modi’s poll campaign must have seemed like an apt inclusion in the President’s speech. 11.50 am: Pranab outlines Modi’s tough new policy on terror One thing that former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has always been criticised for, was being too soft on Pakistan over terror. Fresh from a foreign policy coup in which he met Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif at his swearing in ceremony, Narendra Modi is also clearly using the President’s address to Parliament as a forum to reiterate that this is a new era in neighbourly relations. “We will work with South Asian leaders to revitalize Saarc. We won’t shy away from raising issues of terrorism”, he said. He added that there would be zero tolerance for terror, and also paid attention to strengthening defence forces, another area that the UPA government was greatly criticised for, during its term in power. “My government will address the issue of shortage of manpower in the defence forces immediately”, he said, adding that a national war memorial would be set up to honour India’s martyrs. 11.44 am: Pucca houses, 24x7 power for all by 2022 This is an important promise made by the President on behalf of the Modi government. “When India will celebrate 75 years of Independence, every family will have pucca house, water facilities”, he said. “Soon 50 percent of India’s population will reside in urban areas. My government will treat that as an opportunity, not a challenge”. He also spoke of infrastructure development, saying that modernising and revamping of railways is a high priority item on the government’s revamping of the country’s infrastructure. In addition to this, he said that low cost airports would be developed to improve connectivity to the smallest towns, and facilitate and modernise the development of old ports and develop new ports. 11.40 am: Pranab commits to a clean, pristine Ganga The President mouths yet another BJP poll promise - a cleaner, better Ganga. The promise of a ‘pristine’ and clean river was met with much desk thumping and cheering by the assembled MPs. 11.32 am:  Getting economy back on track is a focus, says Pranab Calling it a ’extremely difficult phase’, the President said that it was paramount for the government to bring the economy back on track. The government will work to ensure that investment cycle is improved and investment confidence. “The government’s policies will be predictable, transparent and final,” he said.’ He said that reforms would be undertaken to improve the ease of doing business in India, adding that for jobs in the manufacturing sector, the government would promote employment intensive industry. The president said that the government will set up world class investment destinations along planned freight corridors and will aspire for a single window clearance for projects. 11.25 am: President Pranab talks of Kashmiri Pandits, illegal migration Two issues close to the heart of the BJP campaign, the return of the Kashmiri Pandits and illegal immigration in the northeast have found prominent mention in President Pranab Mukherjee’s joint address to both houses of Parliament. “Steps will be taken to make sure Kashmiri Pandits return to the land of their ancestors”, he said to great applause and bench thumping. Black money, another favourite BJP poll issue was also mentioned. The President said that the government would do its best to bring all black money back into the country. The issue of black money in fact, was one of the poll issues that greatly captured the imagination of the electorate. Caught in a news web of scams and looting the return of ‘black money’ was often touted as one of the most important tasks of any future government. He mentioned that a SIT in this regard had already been constituted. Prior to this the President spoke of developing India’s educational infrastructure. “A national madrasa development programme will be launched for minorities”, he said, adding that IITs and IIMs would be founded in every state. 11.15 am: IT to be used to improve governance, wi-fi zones coming soon Information technology will be used to improve service delivery in the government, the president said, adding that wi-fi zones will be introduced across the country. “A broadband highway will be rolled out across the country,” he said. He said the government was committed to bringing back black money in foreign bank accounts. 11:10 am: Committed to 33 per cent reservation for women in Parliament, says President The government is committed to 33 percent reservation for women in Parliament and state legislations, the President said. “The government will have a zero tolerance for violence against women and will strengthen the criminal justice system,” Mukherjee said. A new health scheme will be introduced as will a new scheme to develop toilets across rural areas of the country, the president said. The government will work on rural electrification, improving madrasas across the country and a benefit scheme for scheduled castes, Mukherjee said. 11.00 am: President Pranab mouths Modi mantra of minimum govt President Pranab Mukherjee has just mouthed the Modi mantra of minimum government. Prior to that, the President congratulated the people of India for delivering a decisive mandate to a single party in power, saluting their wisdom in electing a stable government. The President added that food inflation and poverty alleviation would be the top priorities of his government. “We will not settle for just poverty alleviation, we are aiming for poverty elimination”, he said.’ He promised supply side improvements in agricultural and agricultural products and to ensure that black marketing was targeted. He  also promised to ensure an improvement in agro-technologies. Crop insurance and post harvest management will be focus areas along with a focus on animal husbandry. 10.26 am: Zero tolerance for corruption, economic agenda push to be highlights of Pranab’s speech Much of the President’s speech could signal a clean break from the past, a jettisoning of indecision and policy and governance paralysis with a new focus on getting results. The Union Cabinet has already ratified the 35-page speech to be delivered by Mukherjee. According to a report in The Economic Times, the president’s address will detail a roadmap to tackle the slowing of the economy, boost heavy investment in infrastructure and governance reforms. Tying in with what Modi said in Delhi on Sunday, on the need for speedy decision-making, there will also be mention of zero tolerance towards corruption. The address will stress on “…streamlining government processes, especially in infrastructure projects, a prime reason seen as reason for slowdown of the economy,” the report said. 10.15 am: Pranab to address joint Parliament session President Pranab Mukherjee will address a joint-sitting of both Houses of Parliament today where he will list out the economic agenda of the new government. [caption id=“attachment_1561909” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  President Pranab Mukherjee.[/caption] At the 11 am session in Parliament’s Central Hall, Mukherjee will highlight the government’s priorities which include focusing on rural development, attracting foreign investments and taking India back to the path of economic growth. Updates for 5 June end 11.00 am: Modi, Advani, Sonia take oath as LS members Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is also the leader of the House, along with NDA Chairperson LK Advani and UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi were the first to take oath as Lok Sabha members. Interestingly, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj took oath in Sanskrit. The oath was administered by Protem Speaker Kamal Nath. After the MP takes oath, he/she has to sign the  Roll of Members of the House in the presence of the Secretary-General, before taking his/her seat. This is the full text of the oath: “I (name) having been elected (or nominated) a member of the House of the People do swear in the name of God/solemnly affirm that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the Constitution of India as by law established, that I will uphold the sovereignty and integrity of India and that I will faithfully discharge the duty upon which I am about to enter.” Of the 543 Lok Sabha MPs, 315 have been elected to Parliament for the first time. Members of the 16th Lok Sabha will meet in Parliament at 11 am today, where they will be administered oath by Protem Speaker Kamal Nath. [caption id=“attachment_1557245” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  Protem Speaker Kamal Nath along with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. PTI[/caption] While the newly elected MPs were supposed to be sworn in on Wednesday, the House unanimously agreed to be sworn in on Thursday as a mark of respect to Union Minister Gopinath Munde, who died after a car accident early Tuesday morning. When the House convened on Wednesday, the MPs observed two-minute silence as a tribute to Munde. The House was then adjourned. Nath, who is currently the senior-most Parliamentarian having been elected for the ninth term, was sworn in as Protem Speaker by President Pranab Mukherjee early Wednesday morning. The Protem Speaker performs the duties of the office of the Speaker from the commencement of the sitting of the Lok Sabha till the election of the Speaker. For a complete list of the newly elected Lok Sabha MPs, click here.