Parliament Live: Privacy not an absolute right, says Arun Jaitley on Aadhaar Bill in Rajya Sabha

PM jumps from one vision to another: Rahul on govt’s Pak policy

“What is required is a coherent strategy. PM does not have that vision. He jumps from one vision to another,” said Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi on the Modi government’s policy on Pakistan.

A person should have the option to opt out of Aadhaar: Jairam Ramesh in RS

“I don’t have an Aadhaar number. I don’t need one,” said Congress leader Jairam Ramesh. He added that he did not need it because he does not take the benefit of any subsidies.

“I believe that if you read this legislation in this current form, it makes it a mandatory proposition as opposed to a voluntary proposition,” said Ramesh.

“Every individual must have the option to opt out of Aadhaar,” he said.

Don’t embarrass the country: Congress tells govt

“This government’s Pakistan policy has been aptly described by Kapil Sibal. It is like an unguided missile which is a spectacle when it is fired but loses its course,” said Scindia.

“On one hand, our soldiers are sacrificing their lives. Farmers are committing suicide. And you are giving lessons on nationalism?” he said. “Don’t embarrass the country,” he added.

Congress attacks govt over policy on Pakistan

“Talks are necessary between India and Pakistan. But it has to be strategic and process-driven,” said Congress leader Jyotiraditya Scindia in Lok Sabha.

“Does your policy involve Pakistan and Hurriyat leaders holding talks with each other? Does it involve only exchange of shawls and saris between Narendra Modi and Nawaz Sharif?” he said.

National security valid ground for sharing information: Jaitley in RS

“The only question is, can national security be the ground for sharing information? The answer is yes,” Arun Jaitley cites US judgements while debating  Aadhaar Bill in Rajya Sabha.

“Privacy not an absolute right,” says Jaitley

“Privacy not an absolute right, it is subject to a restriction that it can be restricted by a procedure established by law, " Arun Jaitley in Rajya Sabha. “Present law is completely different. It borrows UPA’s idea (UID), but the privacy law is much more tightened.

Jaitley takes on Yechury in RS

“If you criticize me, it is your freedom of speech. If I criticize you, it is my intolerance?” Arun Jaitley to Sitaram Yechury in Rajya Sabha

(In Lok Sabha)

Lok Sabha Speaker refers the issue of alleged bribery involving TMC MPs to Ethics Committee for investigation and report

Tapes should be investigated, says Sitaram Yechury

Even as Question Hour begins, the House is still being rocked by members asking for a probe into the sting. Sitraram Yechury called it a “scam of the highest order”. NDTV reports sources who say that internal members of TMC are seeking a probe as well.

Derek O’Brien, however says that the video is doctored; Sitaram Yechury maintains that the tapes must be investigated even if they are doctored. 

Sitaram Yechury: Please do not protect corruption in the House

PJ Kurien: I understand what you say. Earlier the House was unanimous, now it is divided. I cannot give any directions. 

The Deputy Chairman, directed the other members to carry on with their work, while CPI-M created ruckus in the Rajya Sabha.

Deputy Chairman PJ Kurien pleaded the members of the Sabha to maintain order in the House. 

Gouri Chatterjee writes for Firstpost about the sting operation and the state of affairs in West Bengal, here is an excerpt: 

“True, the videos of ruling Trinamool leaders accepting thick wads of notes so brazenly, nay, so matter of factly, do leave one rather shaken. Is it the sight of the money itself, I wonder, stacks of currency that few in an industry-less, jobless, economically backward state like Bengal have seen at one go? Or is it the manner of the exchange, so common place, so routine that the politicians don’t even bother to probe deeply into who is dishing out so much cash so willingly.”

Read more here .

Chair calls upon CPI-M to maintain their good reputation: 

The deputy chairman PJ Kurien commented that CPI-M should maintain their good reputation by not causing an uproar in the well. To this, Sitaram Yechury said that they defend the integrity of the house. 

We defend the integrity of this house: Sitaram Yechury in Rajya Sabha

— ANI (@ANI) March 16, 2016

Uproar in Rajya Sabha; CPM demands probe into the alleged sting showing TMC leaders accepting cash for favours.

— ANI (@ANI) March 16, 2016

Sting operation causes uproar in Rajya Sabha

A video was released on Monday showing 11 members of the Trinamool Congress accepting bribes. The sting operation caused a bigger stir, a fter TMC gave a clean chit to all of the 11 members caught accepting bribes. 

Derek O’Brien is quoted by The Indian Express: “We have given a notice for discussion under Rule 267. This is a first when foreign funds are being used before elections to influence Indian elections. There is money coming in from abroad. We are a transparent party and we want to find out the truth about who funded this company, when it was incorporated, and how they are trying to distort the election process.”

RSS should stop making such comments, says Uma Bharti in Rajya Sabha

Now Uma Bharti is not happy with the RSS comments and she is making it clear in the Rajya Sabha. “RSS should be told about the criterias in the Indian Constitution,” she says while PJ Kurien tries to dissuade her from ambushing the issue. But in vain. 

“They should stop making such comments,” Bharti manages to raise her voice over the pleades of Kurien.

Azad known for politeness, but he slipped with Islamic State remark, says Jaitley

Now Arun Jailtey speaks on the RSS issue in Rajya Sabha. He says, “Ghulam Nabi Azad is known for his politeness. But this time with his comment on RSS he has slipped.”

“Islamic State is an organisation that is spreading terror across the world. To say that it is like any other organisation, I think you have unknowingly given respectability to it,” Jaitley tells Azad.

Azad clarifies remarks on RSS, says never compared it to Islamic State

Azad clarifying his comments says he had said “we condemn organisations like ISIS as much as we condemn the RSS.” 

“Where is the comparison between in the RSS and ISIS?” Azad asks the Rajya Sabha.

“I had said we have to fight anyone who is against humanity,” Azad says.  

Fight not between Hindus, Muslims but that of ideologies, says Azad 

In his reply to BJP’s demands for apology Azad says, “I would like to congratulate the anchors and editors who are fighting despite this government. I would like to congratulate all the Hindu brothers who have returned their awards.”

“The fight is not between Hindu and Muslims in this country. Who says there is a fight between the Hindu and Muslims?” Azad asks . 

“This is fight about ideologies and thoughts,” Azad says.

For the BJP everyone except themselves and RSS are terrorists, says Azad in RS

Amid much shouting from the BJP, Ghulam Nabi Azad tells the Rajya Sabha, “Yeh intolerance jo aap bahar karte hai, wohi intolerance aap idhar dikha rahein hain.”

“For the BJP everyone except the BJP and the RSS are terrorists,” Azad tells Rajya Sabha.

For the BJP everyone except themselves and RSS are terrorists, says Azad in RS

Amid much shouting from the BJP, Ghulam Nabi Azad tells the Rajya Sabha, “Yeh intolerance jo aap bahar karte hai, wohi intolerance aap idhar dikha rahein hain.”

“For the BJP everyone except the BJP and the RSS are terrorists,” Azad tells Rajya Sabha.

BJP demands Cong apology on Azad’s remarks on RSS

Now CNN-IBN reports that Rahul Gandhi has moved an adjournment motion in the Lok Sabha over crop damage. 

Meanwhile in Rajya Sabha BJP MP Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi tells the house, “The Congress should apologise for Ghulam Nabi Azad’s comments on the RSS.”

Clarifying the goverment stand on resrvations, Naqvi says, “The government’s stand on reservation is clear, there is no question of removing quota system.” 

This comes in the backdrop of the RSS saying on Sunday that reservations will harm the country to which Azad has likened the RSS to the the Islamic State.

Azad’s remarks on RSS to Oppn’s reservations on  Aadhaar Bill: Issues likely to rock Parliament today

Even before the Parliament began on Monday, reports suggest that fireworks are likely in both houses of the Parliament. According to NDTV while the opposition is going to ask for extention of the first phase of the budget session and are also against the government taking the Aadhaar Bill as a money bill. 

Meanwhile the BJP taking exception to Ghulam Nabi Azad’s comments on the RSS is likely to ask the Congress for an apology. NDTV reports they are also likely to question Rahul Gandhi’s dual citizenship. 

Given these controversial issues are on the agenda, the Parliament today is may not go smoothly. 

In Lok Sabha on Friday, the Aadhaar Bill was passed after extensive discussion among the members. Arun Jaitley presented his case for the bill. Aadhaar Bill was passed as a money bill. 

#Flash The Aadhaar Bill 2016 passed in LS.

— ANI (@ANI) March 11, 2016

Arun Jaitley on Aadhaar Bill

Arun Jaitley in Lok Sabha said that the Aadhar Bill is not so that information may be collected about people, but that the benefits reach everyone.

Lok Sabha debates the Aadhar Bill

Aadhaar Bill to be passed as a money bill, which means that it cannot be amended in the Rajya Sabha. Congress demanded that a standing committe be put in place.

Opposition members create a ruckus

Vijila Satyanant, AIADMK (Tamil Nadu) speaks about the pitiable condition of fisherman and how the Sri Lankan navy is encroaching upon Indian waters and worsening conditions for the fishermen who bring revenue to the country.

Satyanant maintains her speech even amid ruckus being created by the Opposition members.

Sri Sri controversy rocks Rajya Sabha again

The Sri Sri issue was brought up by the Opposition in the House again, the Government defended the event and said that the Opposition should not politicise the even unecessarily. Jairam Ramesh brought up ecological destruction. 

JDU questioned as to how Sri Sri was refusing to pay the fine and if he was above the law. 

Opposition cornered the government and alleged that the Sri Sri event is paralysing New Delhi.