Parliament updates: Kashmir governor told us no party is ready to form govt, hence President Rule, says Rajnath Singh in Lok Sabha

Lok Sabha adjourned until 3.30 pm

Don’t raise questions on the govt’s intentions, says Rajnath Singh

In the Lok Sabha debate on the imposition of President’s Rule in Jammu and Kashmir, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh said that the decision was made because Congress did not have majority in the state. Former state chief minister Farooq Abdullah objected.

“Don’t raise questions on the intentions of this government — if we wanted to form the government in the state, we could have done that a long time ago,” he said.

Shashi Tharoor initiates debate on President’s Rule in J&K

Initiating the debate on President’s Rule in Jammu and Kashmir, Shashi Tharoor of the Congress said Governor Satya Mal Malik acted in “gross violation” of a Supreme Court order in the SR Bommai case that had stated that whether an alliance has a majority or not can be decided only on the floor of the Assembly.

The governor’s “private assessment” is anathema to the Constitution and is also subject to personal malfeasance, he said.

Malik’s decision to impose Governor’s rule after the NC, PDP and the Congress made a move to form the government in the state was also in “violation” of the Sarkaria commission’s guidelines on Centre-state relations, he said.
 

Tharoor also objected to Malik’s rejection of the alliance as a tie-up of parties of ideological variance, saying he should not have arrived at a political determination. He added that the earlier alliance of the PDP and the BJP was also a case of “unnatural marriage”.

He suggested that Malik’s action was unconstitutional and asked Home Minister Rajnath Singh to share the reasons that Malik cited for his action. 

– PTI

NN Vohra said no party willing to form govt in Jammu and Kashmir: Rajnath Singh

As discussions were underway on the imposition of President’s Rule in Jammu and Kashmir, Home Minister Rajnath Singh told the House that former state Governor NN Vohra had sent a report in June that no party was willing to form the government in the state.

Vincent Pala asks govt for land customs stations on Bangladesh border

Congress MP Vincent Pala urged the government to establish land customs stations between northeastern India and Bangladesh, as the area is landlocked.

Women’s Reservation Bill, rising crop prices discussed

Amid Opposition leaders chanting “we want justice”, the Women’s Reservation Bill and rising crop prices were among the issues raised. SAD MP Prem Singh Chandumajra raised the issue of rising prices of potatoes and Basmati rice, and urged the government to listen to the pleas of farmers in Punjab.

Derek O’Brien calls disruptions in RS proceedings ‘so predictable’

Following All India Trinamool Congress leader Derek O’Brien’s prediction on Twitter that the Rajya Sabha will be disrupted, MPs entered the Well and began sloganeering. Chairman Venkaiah Naidu adjourned the House for the day shortly after the ruckus began.

O’Brien tweeted a response to the development, and called it “so predictable.”

So predictable https://t.co/X5AolGyY2F

— Derek O'Brien | ডেরেক ও'ব্রায়েন (@derekobrienmp) December 28, 2018

Lok Sabha resumes

Lok Sabha adjourned till 12 noon

Rajya Sabha adjourned for the day, to reconvene on 31 December

Chaos erupts in Rajya Sabha, House adjourned until 31 December

All India Trinamool Congress leader Derek O’Brien took to Twitter to accuse the government of disrupting proceedings in the Rajya Sabha to keep the House from discussing key issues. 

“Day 11 #Parliament Script written by government to disrupt Rajya Sabha so key issues can’t be discussed. Their ‘ally’ will jump into Well around 11.10 am,” he wrote.

Shortly after the tweet was posted, MPs swarmed the Well and began sloganeering. Rajya Sabha chairman Venkaiah Naidu adjourned the House until 31 December.

Day 11 #Parliament Script written by Govt to disrupt RS so key issues can’t be discussed. Their ‘ally’ will jump into Well around 11.10 am. #watch

— Derek O'Brien | ডেরেক ও'ব্রায়েন (@derekobrienmp) December 28, 2018

VISUALS: Naramalli Sivaprasad dresses up as Lord Shiva

Telegu Desam Party (TDP) MP Naramalli Sivaprasad, known for bringing sartorial flair to Parliamentary proceedings, on Friday dressed up as Lord Shiva. He has previously dressed up as a magician, a schoolboy, and even Narad Muni.

TDP MP Naramalli Sivaprasad is today dressed up as Lord Shiva during protest in Parliament demanding special status for Andhra Pradesh. He had earlier also dressed up as a school boy, Narad muni and others. pic.twitter.com/yQDkExsNNF

— ANI (@ANI) December 28, 2018

Ruckus resumes in Lower House

As the Lok Sabha began proceedings for the day, Opposition leaders began sloganeering in the Well. MPs had to speak over the din to be heard in the House.

Lok Sabha, Rajya Sabha convene for the day

Private members’ legislative business on day’s agenda for both Houses

38 private member bills are slated to be brought up in Rajya Sabha, with 32 of these slated for introduction, and six for consideration and passage. Meanwhile, in the Lower House, 135 private member bills are scheduled to be introduced, with 9 listed for consideration and passage.

WATCH: Smriti Irani’s speech on triple talaq goes viral

Union minister Smriti Irani on Thursday went viral online after her speech in the Lok Sabha on triple talaq. She posted footage of the speech on Twitter, and thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi, among others, for passing the Bill.

Irani  was lauded by the Twitterati for her speech.

Triple Talaq is an instrument of injustice. Congratulations to PM @narendramodi ji, Minister @rsprasad ji and members of Lok Sabha for passing The Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Bill, 2018. #TripleTalaqBill pic.twitter.com/K2RdCw1xbQ

— Smriti Z Irani (@smritiirani) December 27, 2018

BJP chief whip, on 30 party MPs being absent during triple talaq voting, says ‘some took prior permission’

Amid reports of 30 BJP MP’s being absent  while voting was underway for the triple talaq Bill in Lok Sabha, the party’s chief whip Anurag Thakur told ANI : I am aware, some MPs told me and took prior permission. About the others, we will look into the matter."

Parliament to convene at 11 am

In Rajya Sabha, some of the Bills to be considered include The Employment Bill (2018), The Railways (Amendment) Bill 2018, and The Armed Forces (Special Powers) Repeal Bill, 2018.

Lok Sabha, after passing the triple talaq Bill on Thursday, will be discussing the Jallianwala Bagh National Memorial (Amendment) Bill 2018, and The Indian Medical Council (Amendment) Bill 2018, among others. Union finance minister Arun Jaitley is also scheduled to bring up proposed hikes in basic customs duty (BCD), as part of the Customs Tariff Act 1975.

RECAP: Lok Sabha passes triple talaq bill

The Lok Sabha on Thursday passed the controversial triple talaq bill with 245 votes in favour and 11 against it, at the end of a day that saw intense discussions and a walkout by the Congress and the AIADMK. Almost exactly a year ago, on 28 December, 2017, similar scenes were witnessed in the Lok Sabha as the Lower House debated an earlier version of the bill.

Several arguments made in 2017 and 2018 were on largely similar lines, as were the positions that political parties took in the Parliament.

TMC ups ante on privacy debate, issues notice to Rajya Sabha

Ahead of Parliament convening for the day on Friday, West Bengal’s Trinamool Congress issued a notice to the Rajya Sabha under Rule 267, to take up a discussion on the subject of “Home Ministry notification which seeks to invade the privacy of all computers.”

Trinamool Congress give notice under Rule 267 in Rajya Sabha to take up discussion today on ‘Home Ministry notification which seeks to invade the privacy of all computers ‘ pic.twitter.com/hhxZnQKfzV

— ANI (@ANI) December 28, 2018