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The Parliament will meet on Wednesday after a four-day break amid continued logjam over Congress’ demand for an apology from Prime Minister Narendra Modi over his remarks against his predecessor Manmohan Singh during the Gujarat election campaign. The two Houses will meet after the weekend and a two-day holiday for Christmas. The government’s efforts to bring a bill to criminalise instant triple talaq, which has been listed for introduction on Thursday, may also lead to a tussle, with the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPM) conveying its intent to oppose the bill. The Biju Janata Dal (BJD) has also expressed reservations over penal provisions in the Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Bill, 2017, while Communist Party of India leader D Raja said it should be referred to the standing committee. CPM leader Mohammed Salim said that Modi government’s move to bring a bill criminalising instant triple talaq was unwarranted and politically motivated. He said that when the Supreme Court has already banned triple talaq, there is no need to bring such a bill. [caption id=“attachment_4271583” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] Representational image. Reuters[/caption] “As far as demanding a ban on the practice of triple talaq is concerned, we have been raising this issue ever since politicians like Narendra Modi had not even heard of the term triple talaq. But we recognise that divorce is a civil matter and there is no need to criminalise it,” Salim said. He said that the bill was “arbitrary”, since stakeholders such as the Muslim community, women rights groups and civil society have not been consulted. Salim said that there is no need to make a national law on something that is not practiced widely. BJD leader Bhartruhari Mahtab said there were some concerns regarding the penal provisions which will be raised during during the discussion on the bill. “At the time of introduction, it will only the constitutional viability which will be questioned. At the time of introduction, there will not be much resistance.” Other bills on the government’s agenda this week include The High Court and the Supreme Court Judges (Salaries and Condition of Services) Amendment Bill, 2017, and The Representation of the People’s (Amendment) Bill, 2017. The two Houses have witnessed repeated disruptions since the
session's start on 15 December over Modi’s remarks against the former prime minister, with the Congress vociferously raising the issue. While Rajya Sabha has seen daily adjournments, Congress has been staging protests and walk-outs in the Lok Sabha as well. Vice-President Venkaiah Naidu on Friday
made his displeasure known about frequent adjournments during the ongoing session of Parliament, saying the House being “on and off” these days is not good for the country. On Friday, the Rajya Sabha was adjourned for the day as the Congress insisted on resolving the impasse over Modi’s remarks against Manmohan Singh. The virtual stalling of the Rajya Sabha proceedings due to Congress’ protests over Modi’s remarks against his predecessor denied cricket icon Sachin Tendulkar his maiden attempt to speak in the House. “Parliament is in session… these days, it is on and off. It is not a good thing for the country,” said Naidu, who is also the ex-officio chairman of the Rajya Sabha. The constant endeavour, Naidu said, is to make India the global economic leader by adopting a holistic approach towards inclusive economic growth, highlighting that progress must be made to achieve double-digit economic growth at the earliest. He was speaking at the foundation stone-laying ceremony of the International Exhibition-cum-Convention Centre (IECC) and the Integrated Transit Corridor Development Project in New Delhi. Referring to various territorial invasions in the past, Naidu said, “This country with its over 10,000-year old civilisation has no record of attacking any country at any time… because we want to live in harmony with all. Before the invasion, 27 percent of world GDP was from India alone. So, let us all remember that, and we must all work towards making further progress in crossing 7.5 percent to double digit at the earliest.” Observing that the world economy is slowing, Naidu said, “Even our powerful neighbour (in an apparent reference to China) has gone a little negative. The only economy which is moving forward is India, thanks to the reforms and thanks to the leadership of the country as well as contribution made by people in various sectors.” He outlined a series of reforms such as GST, ‘Digital India’, liberalisation of foreign direct investment regime and ‘Start Up India’, that have significantly improved the domestic business and investment climate and have led to huge investment inflows. Development and good governance should be the focus of everybody, including the public sector and the government, the vice-president stressed. Pointing to the lack of “proper convention centres” in a country as large as India, Naidu said world-class infrastructure in terms of convention facilities is essential to promote trade and commerce, and a growing economy needs “high quality venues to host events”. Calling on stakeholders for speedy completion of the IECC, he said, “I hope this project will be completed at the earliest. I would like to see that before the deadline (September 2019). The deadline that you have set for yourself should not be confined to a headline one day.” He observed that such a complex was long overdue in Delhi without adding to the congestion and the IECC project will be a landmark state-of-the-art structure. He also spoke of the need for such convention centres in other cities of the country, including in ‘Smart Cities’ and state capitals. On the proposed decongestion plan around Pragati Maidan’s redevelopment, the vice-president asserted that the traffic interventions being implemented will not just significantly improve access to the new complex, but also benefit the public. With inputs from agencies
Winter Session of Parliament updates: Rajya Sabha passes Indian Institute of Petroleum and Energy Bill, 2017
The Parliament will meet again on Wednesday after a four-day break amid continued logjam.
 "Winter Session of Parliament updates: Rajya Sabha passes Indian Institute of Petroleum and Energy Bill, 2017")
Ram Gopal Yadav, SP MP from Uttar Pradesh flags issue of passengers being drugged on trains
Railway Minister Piyush Goyal replies that action against such oganised gangs will be taken and if any member has information about it, they should come forward and inform the ministry. The ministry is also trying to bring in a network of CCTV surveillance on trains and stations, Goyal informed the Rajya House.
Tripura MP raises question of security reinforcements in railways in Rajya Sabha
Jhama Das Badiya, CPM MP from Tripura says her luggage was stolen from Rajdhani Express. There are thousands like her who go through this with no security reinforcement.
Break up of business addressed during Winter Session of Parliament
Jairam Ramesh, Viplove Thakur raise questions over MSP provided to farmers
Congress MP Viplove Thakur asks if Narendra Modi’s promise of paying 50 percent more than the MSP to the farmer is being fulfilled. Jairam Ramesh also asks how is the cost of production fixed for MSP, “What is the new system for fixing the cost of production?”
Lok Sabha records higher productivity than Rajya Sabha
Lok Sabha sat for 13 days, 61 hours during Parliament’s Winter Session
As per PRS Legislative, LS sat for 13 days, 61 hours with 78 percent productivity. Sixteen bills were introduced during this time in the Lok Sabha. Twelve bills were passed by the Lower House. Apart from this, 46 starred questions were answered orally during Question Hour.
Productivity during Question Hour in both Houses
Productivity during this Winter Session of Parliament
Narendra Modi attends Lok Sabha proceedings
Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi attends Lok Sabha proceedings. pic.twitter.com/IgtfSbN2NG
— ANI (@ANI) January 5, 2018
Consumer Protection Bill, New Delhi International Arbitration Centre Bill introduced in Lok Sabha
Ram Vilas Paswan rose to withdraw the The Consumer Protection Bill, 2015. The Consumer Protection Bill and the New Delhi International Arbitration Centre Bill have been introduced.
Extract from the Parliamentary panel chaired by TMC MP Derek O’Brien on rude staff behaviour, especially IndiGo
“The Committee observes that the problems affecting the airlines are not personal; it is institutional. An institution like Indigo has to develop a consumer friendly approach in dealing with their passengers. The Committee believes that being a leader in market share, Indigo needs to look inward and find out the reasons for the discourteous attitude and rude and indifferent behavior of their employees, whether it is their cabin crew or the ground staff. The Committee emphasizes that the arrogant behavior of employees should stop.”
WATCH: TMC MP Dinesh Trivedi earlier asked about the alternative medicine system
#WinterSession #LokSabha Dinesh Trivedi asks a supplementary question on alternative system of medicine | WATCH pic.twitter.com/snbUDG68k5
— All India Trinamool Congress (@AITCofficial) January 5, 2018
Retiring Rajya Sabha members give farewell speeches
Delhi MPs Janardan Dwivedi, Parvez Hashmi and Karan Singh. Congress MP Singh has made his farewell speech.
Arun Jaitley says Centre making effort to exceed farmer loan target in financial year 2018
Making effort to exceed farm loan target for FY18; Farm inputs have to be at reasonable price, says FM @arunjaitley in #LokSabha
— CNBC-TV18 (@CNBCTV18Live) January 5, 2018
List of business in the Lok Sabha for today:
Consumer Protection Bill
New Delhi International Arbitration Centre Bill
Constitution (123rd Amendment) Bill.
Dentists (Amendment) Bill
National Council for Teacher Education (Amendment) Bill
Representation of the People (Amendment) Bill
Arun Jaitley responds to queries on MSP and fertiliser subsidy
“There are crops where the Centre fixes the minimum support price (MSP). Sometimes market rate falls below MSP and we resort to market intervention. Farmers are also being provided subsidy for fertilisers as well,” said Jaitley in Lok Sabha.
Agriculture sector needs support, says Arun Jaitley on farm loan waiver
Arun Jaitley says the agriculture sector needs support. “Both the central and state governemtns have been making efforts,” says Finance Minister Arun Jaitley in Lok Sabha.
BJP issues whip directing members to be present in both Houses today
BJP issues whip asking all its MPs to remain present in both the houses of Parliament, today
— ANI (@ANI) January 5, 2018
Jammu and Kashmir MP Farooq Abdullah seeks govt response on short course for Ayurveda doctors
Farooq Abdullah asks if there could is a way the government could introduce a short MBBS course for Ayurveda practitioners to undertake.
NMC Bill could lead to more quacks, says BJD MP in Lok Sabha
Bayjayant J Panda, BJD MP from Odisha, says Medical Council of India is one of the most corrupt bodies in the country. He also says that with the introduction of the National Medical Commission Bill, 2017, there is a greater chance of quacks across the country.
Both Houses to be adjourned sine die post lunch
According to News18, MPs from Opposition parties have been told that both houses will be adjourned sine die (with no appointed date for resumption) post lunch.
WATCH: Explainer on triple talaq bill
Three Minute Explainer on the Triple Talaq Bill: https://t.co/96gaN87WHS
— PRS Legislative (@PRSLegislative) January 5, 2018
Parliamentary panel says behaviour of airline staff, especially Indigo, condescending
While narrating some of the incidents of misbehavior in airlines, especially in Indigo, majority of the Committee Members opined that the attitude of airlines staff is very condescending, often uncooperative and on many occasions, downright rude.
— ANI (@ANI) January 5, 2018
RECAP: Parliamentary panel discusses exorbitant airfares, rude behaviour by airline staff
The Committee on transport deliberated on the issue of exorbitant airfares charged during the festival seasons, holiday seasons, natural disasters and political/social unrest in Rajya Sabha, reported ANI. The Committee also noted there were many incidents of manhandling, discourteous and rude behavior by airlines staff.
RECAP: Report on issues related to improving consumer satisfaction of airlines tabled in Rajya Sabha
Parliamentary Standing Committee for Transport laid on the table of Rajya Sabha yesterday a report on the issues related to improving consumers satisfaction of airlines.
— ANI (@ANI) January 5, 2018
Triple talaq could most likely be taken up again in 2018 Budget Session
Various reports suggest that owing to the lack of numbers and consensus in the Rajya Sabha the ruling party will be forced to send the bill to a Select Committee of the House. And it would only be taken up again in the Budget Session in 2018.
RECAP: Triple talaq bill creates uproar in Rajya Sabha forcing House to be adjourned
The government tactically placed the bill in the bottom of priority in the list of business on Thursday, which the Opposition strongly objected to and demanded that its motions for referring the bill to a Select Committee be taken up first. The business list had the Goods and Services Tax (Compensation to States) Amendment Bill ahead of the Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Bill, 2017.
Deputy Chairman PJ Kurien pleaded helplessness on the ground that the listing of business was the government’s priority and decided to go ahead with the GST bill, triggering an Opposition uproar which finally forced him to adjourn the House for the day.
As per Friday’s list of business, the triple talaq bill has been slated second for discussion after the GST amendment bill.
With inputs from IANS
List of legislative business in Rajya Sabha for today:
Goods and Services Tax (Compensation to States) Amendment Bill, 2017
Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Bill, 2017
Prevention of Corruption (Amendment) Bill, 2013
Central Road Fund (Amendment) Bill, 2017
Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Bill, 2017
Appropriation (No. 5) Bill, 2017
Triple talaq bill flawed in its present form and fails Muslim women
The Bill provides for the maintenance of a wife divorced via instant triple talaq. It does not provide for the maintenance for a wife divorced via other forms of triple talaq. It also doesn’t provide maintenance for the wife divorced via any other means, notably when a Muslim woman is granted divorce by a court. The Bill also doesn’t invalidate the infamous Shah Bano law, which was passed by the Rajiv Gandhi government in 1986, denying alimony to divorced Muslim women.
The bulk of cases of instant triple talaq involve the lower income groups of Muslims, affecting families in which men are mechanics, labourers, tailors, and so on. In cases affecting them, the major problem is for the woman because she will be required to go to court to prove that the husband divorced her via instant triple talaq. In cases of oral instant triple talaq, it will be almost impossible for such a woman to prove any case against the husband, who will languish in jail before finally being acquitted.
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