Parliament Updates: Amit Shah says 'coincidence' when asked about security breach at Priyanka Gandhi's home as RS passes SPG Amendment Bill

Rajya Sabha latest updates

Bill to merge two UTs passed in Upper House

The Rajya Sabha on Tuesday passed the Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu (Merger of Union Territories) Bill, 2019. The government reportedlt submitted that the merger will enable convenience in administration of the two regions "which are located in close proximity geographically".

News18 reported, "Issues of languages spoken in the two UTs, jurisdiction of the Bombay High Court and changes to administrative take place as part of the merger were discussed by the Upper House."

Rajya Sabha latest updates

Rajya Sabha adjourned till tomorrow

In addition to discussing the SPG (Amendment) Bill, the Upper House also discussed the Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu (Merger of Union Territories) Bill on Tuesday.

The Rajya Sabha has been adjourned till 11.00 am on Wednesday, 4 December.

Sharda Tyagi says 'deeply anguished' about security breach at Priyanka Gandhi's residence

Sharda Tyagi, who was in the vehicle which breached security at Priyanka Gandhi Vadra's residence in Delhi reportedly on 25 November, said, "I was born in the Congress and I am dedicated to the party. I was deeply anguished to find that security was left on the home guards. I went there for the first time and saw this."

"I didn't know her (Priyanka Gandhi Vadra's) house number and asked about it by calling the Congress office. When I went there, (security) didn't even care to see who was sitting in the car, barricade was removed immediately and gate was opened," she added.

Rajya Sabha latest updates

Amit Shah comments on security breach at Priyanka Gandhi's residence

In the duration of his response to arguments for and against the SPG Bill in the Rajya Sabha, Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday also spoke about the Opposition's accusation of "political vendetta" after the Centre terminated the special security for the Gandhi family.

On the security breach that occurred at Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra's house, Shah said, "Incident happened on 25 November. Priyanka Gandhi got information that Rahul Gandhi was coming to meet her in a black SUV, but another black SUV came at the same time which had Meerut Congress leader Sharda Tyagi in it. The car and timing were same, such was the coincidence. That's why the car with Sharda Tyagi went in without security check. Then also, we've ordered high-level probe and suspended 3 officers responsible for breach."

Rajya Sabha latest updates

Former PMs' SPG cover was also withdrawan: Amit Shah

Union Minister Amit Shah, in his address in the Rajya Sabha regarding the SPG Bill, said that former prime ministers' SPG cover had also been withdrawan. He was responding to the accusations raised by Opposition leaders over the withdrawal of the special protection from the Gandhi family.

He said, "Former prime ministers' SPG cover was also withdrawn. Narsimha Rao, Chandrashekar, IK Gujral, and Manmohan SIngh are among former prime ministers whose SPG security cover has been withdrawn. In a democracy, the law is the same for everyone, not special for a family."

Rajya Sabha latest updates

Upper Houses passes SPG Bill after Opposition stages walkout

The SPG Bill was passed by the Rajya Sabha on Tuesday after it was passed by Home Minister Amit Shah. While members of the Opposition raised arguments against the amendment and also accused the BJP of "political vendetta" against the Gandhi family over the withdrawal of their SPG cover, Shah responded to them by saying that the amendment had "nothing to do" with the Gandhis.

"It's not true that we've brought the SPG Bill by keeping only Gandhi family in mind. Security from Gandhis was withdrawn after the threat assessment analysis even before bringing this bill. After five years, the prime minister's SPG security will also be withdrawn. Now Manmohan Singh's security was also withdrawn and replaced it with ‘Z plus’ security cover."

The amendment was passed after the Congress staged a walkout from the Upper House.

Rajya Sabha latest updates

Uproar in RS after Amit Shah says Opposition has 'no right' to accuse BJP of political vendetta

Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday addressed the Upper House regarding the SPG Bill and responded to the "political vendetta" charge of the Opposition over the SPG cover being taken away from members of the Gandhi family. He said, "The Left Front and the Congress cannot accuse the BJP of political vendetta. Under the Left, 120 BJP-RSS workers were killed in Kerala."

Also making a veiled attack on the 'dynastic politics' the Gandhi family has been taunted about by the BJP, Shah said, "This is the fifth amendment in the SPG Act.This amendment is not brought in by keeping the Gandhis in mind, but, one thing that I can say for sure is that the previous amendments were done by keeping only one family in mind."

Rajya Sabha latest updates

Amit Shah says security not only question for Gandhis, but all Indians

The Centre needs to ensure security of all the citizens of India, said Home Minister Amit Shah in his response to arguments regarding the SPG Bill moved in the Rajya Sabha on Tuesday. Shah was addressing concerns and accusations regarding the SPG cover being taken away from the Gandhi family.

"Any citizen of India could also be facing more threats than the Prime Minister of India. Are we to give everyone SPG protection? The SPG cover is only for the prime minister," he said,

Rajya Sabha latest updates

Amit Shah addresses House on SPG bill

After various members of the Upper House delivered arguments for and against the bill related to the Special Protection Group moved by Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday.

Shah, after arguments by NDA member Ramdas Athawale, AAP leader Sanjay Singh, and the BSP, explained the motive behind bringing the bill. He said, "Security is not a status symbol," in reference to the SPG-level protection being taken away from the Gandhi family. "The SPG Bill has not been brought to target the Gandhis."

Rajya Sabha latest updates
 

CPM MP questions government's intention behind bringing the Bill

CPM’s KK Ragesh questioned the government’s intentions to bring such a Bill. He said that the Prime Minister has violated the SPG protocol many times, and it's called heroism. “When others do so, it is called disregard,” he said.

Congress’ BK Hariprasad said that in every third speech, Narendra Modi and Amit Shah train attacks on Sonia and Rahul Gandhi. “Do you not think there is a threat perception?” he asked. If there is no protection to those getting lynched in the country, how safe are these politicians, he further questioned.

Rajya Sabha latest updates
 

Why the privilege to one family, asks Subramanian Swamy

Welcoming the 'long overdue' Bill, BJP's Subramanian Swamy said that everyone is equal before the Constitution and law. He further asked why one family should get this privelege of SPG cover.

"Assassination of Indira Gandhi, Rajiv Gandhi had nothing to do with security. IB had given report to Indira that two of her guards were infected, but she did not approve their removal. Those guards assassinated her," he said.

He also presented a challenge to KTS Tulsi’s reference to a report that said that Rajiv Gandhi’s assassination was due to a security lapse.

"We want you to be alive, because we want to see you go to jail in corruption charges," he concluded.

Rajya Sabha latest updates
 

Threat perception should be decided by experts, says KTS Tulsi

Security must be above politics, Nominated Member KTS Tulsi said, standing to oppose the Bill. "Threat perception has to be decided by experts and we are not waiting for an incident to happen," he said.​

Tulsi quoted a report on Rajiv Gandhi’s assassination which said that the prime cause was withdrawal of SPG cover. "It will be decided on whims of those in office on who needs protection. Request home minister to lay on table any report that says that there is no threat to Gandhis," he said.

Rajya Sabha latest updates
 

SPG (Amendment) Bill tagets one party, says DMK's P Wilson

Opposing the Bill, DMK's P Wilson said that it targets one party and ignores the assassination of Rajiv Gandhi and Indira Gandhi.​ "Rajiv Gandhi’s SPG cover was revoked after he demitted PM’s office and then he was assassinated," he reminded the House.

He said that Sonia, Rahul and Priyanka Gandhi had SPG cover till September because there must have been a threat perception. He also hit out at the issue of government spending on security cover.

"Are we compromising security on account of saving a few lakhs? Democracy is not static. Tomorrow, you will occupy the Opposition bench. How can threat perception be fixed at 5 years?" he asked.

Wilson said that the government should consider that the amendment will not just affect Gandhi family but also them after they demit office.

Rajya Sabha latest updates
 

Demanding SPG cover sign of entitlement, says Neeraj Shekhar

BJP's Neeraj Shekhar said that wanting SPG protection is a sign of entitlement and that the party wants to end VIP culture. An uproar erupted in the Opposition benches after Shekhar asked if any other incidents occurred after the untoward deaths of Jawaharlal Nehru, Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi.

Lok Sabha latest updates
 

Centre approves 'in principle' induction of CISF at West Bengal's Visva Bharti University

In a written reply, the Centre informed the Lok Sabha that it has approved ‘in principle’, induction of CISF at Visva Bharti University in West Bengal based on "security assessment and the commitment received from Ministry of Human Resource Development" that the university will bear the cost of deployment of CISF.

In the reply, MoS Home Affairs Nityanand Rai stated that CISF deployment is done on the basis of threat perception and willingness of organisation to bear cost of deployment. The reply also said that Indian Institute of Remote Sensing, Uttarakhand and Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology, Kerala are the two campuses that have CISF deployed on its premises.

Rajya Sabha latest updates
 

G Kishan Reddy moves SPG (Amendment) Bill, 2019 in the House

Congress' Vivek K Tankha expresses dismay that politics have reached such a level that the security of leaders is being compromised.

Tankha cites assassination of Jawaharlal Nehru, Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi. Indira Gandhi’s demise led to the birth of the SPG Act, he said.

"It was then that the party kept urging that there is a threat to Rajiv Gandhi’s life and his security needs to be increased. We lost a youth leader," he said.

Talking about a security breach at Priyanka Gandhi Vadra’s residence as the security cover was reduced, Tankha said that Atal Bihari Vajpayee was granted security cover, which shows that these issues are above party politics.

"The country will not forgive you if any untoward incident occurs," he concluded.

Lok Sabha adjourned till 2.30 pm
 

Submitting a report by the government of Jammu and Kashmir, the Ministry of Home Affairs informed the Lok Sabha that 19 civilians including non-Kashmiri labourers were killed in terror-related incidents since 5 August.

“ An ex-gratia of Rs1 lakh is paid to the next of kins of civilians killed in militancy-related violence under the existing scheme of Jammu and Kashmir government. In addition, Rs5 lakh is given under a central scheme,” the reply stated.

Lok Sabha latest udpates
 

Incidents of infiltration increased after Article 370 abrogation, MHA submits in Lok Sabha

Incidents of terrorist violence declined after 5 August, Ministry of Home Affairs submitted in Lok Sabha in reply to a question on infiltration and attacks after Article 370 abrogation in Jammu and Kashmir. 

“Incidents of terrorist violence declined after 5th August. From 5 August 2019 till 27 November, there have been 88 such incidents as compared to 106 such incidents from 12 April till 4 August,” the reply stated.

There has been increase in the number of infiltration attempts from across the border, the Home Ministry replied. “From 5 August till 31 October, there have been 84 such attempts as against 53 such attempts from 9 May till 4 August,” the ministry said.

Lok Sabha latest updates
 

Large-scale trafficking of women, girls to gulf countries has not come to government's notice, submits MHA

Ministry of Home Affairs filed a written reply to a query in Lok Sabha on the kidnapping and trafficking of women and adolescent girls to gulf countries, which said that the occurrence of such incidents have not come to the government’s notice.

“Occasionally, reports from Indian Missions abroad indicate that some Indian women seek overseas employment, particularly in Gulf countries, without obtaining Emigration Clearance (EC). Such women become vulnerable to various employment related problems,” the reply stated.

Rajya Sabha latest updates
 

Sea level in Mumbai likely to rise by 3.3 cm by 2050, says Harsh Vardhan

Nominated Member Dr Rajendra Jadhav asks if the government has undertaken any study of its own to identify areas at risk of submersion, especially the city of Mumbai.

During a discussion on the threat to Mumbai owing to rising sea levels, Union Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan said that 10 ports in India, including Chennai, Kandla, Kochi, Vizag and Okha, have sea-level gauges. He said that from 1876 to 2005, the rise in sea level in Mumbai stands at an average of 0.74 mm. "Till 2050, total sea level rise is likely to be 3.3 cm," he said.

As per ocean vulnerability maps, Mumbai does not figure in high vulnerability zones.

Jaya Bachchan said the information about Mumbai being at risk of submersion has come from foreign countries, no research has been conducted in India. Most of Mumbai is reclaimed land, she pointed out. Harsh Vardhan replied, "Whatever we have said is based on long-time data collected by our own scientists. Mumbai is under no risk".

Lok Sabha latest updates
 

BJP MPs demand apology from Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury for remarks against Modi, Amit Shah, Nirmala Sitharaman

Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury raises issue of rising onion prices in Lok Sabha.

Uproar begins from Treasury benches demanding an apology from him for calling Narendra Modi and Amit Shah 'infiltrators' and calling Nirmala Sitharaman, 'nirbala' on Monday. BJP’s Poonam Mahajan calls him ‘nirbal’ or weak for supporting only one woman from a party, hinting at Sonia Gandhi. She also criticised him for supporting a party that practices dynasty politics.​

Chowdhury continues to criticise government over rising onion prices and the suffering of farmers.

An uproar breaks out in Parliament, following which Opposition MPs stage a walkout.

Rajya Sabha latest updates
 

Govt remains mere spectator as hoarders loot people, KK Ragesh says on rising onion prices

Pointing out that the rise in prices of onions began in October and is a yearly phenomenon, CPM's KK Ragesh ​alleged that the government was aware of the rise in demand for the produce.

"The government never intervened in the price rise, but only remained a mere spectator. You are allowing onions to rot in godowns, but not giving them to people," he said.

Highlighting that India is the largest exporter of onions, that given that the price rise is an yearly phenomenon. the government could have stored produce and intervened in the operation of market forces. "Hoarders and blackmarketers are benefiting and the government is letting them loot the people," he said.

Rajya Sabha latest updates
 

Digvijaya Singh speaks on Bhopal Gas Tragedy

Remembering the Bhopal Gas Tragedy, Congress' Digvijaya Singh said that the government should exercise caution to avoid such a disaster in the future.

Congress' Jairam Ramesh also spoke on the issue.

The gas tragedy that occurred 35 years ago claimed 3,787 lives, as per official records.

Lok Sabha latest updates
 

Centre has granted funds for Cyclone Fani relief, expenditure is state's responsibility, says Nityanand Rai

Odisha BJP MP Jual Oram asks about the relief measures, fund allocation and spending after the Cyclone Fani.

MoS Home Affairs Nityanand Rai responds saying that Rs 3,383 crore relief funds were granted by the Centre, while following Narendra Modi's visit to affected areas, an additional Rs 1,000 crore were also sanctioned. "Spending and monitoring of expenditure is the state government’s responsibility," he said.​

Criticising the lack of answers from the Odisha government, Oram demands a status report of relief work. To this, BJD's Pinaki Misra says he is disappointed about the MP politicising the disaster.

Misra said that the World Bank praised CM Naveen Patnaik for moving 12 lakh people to relief shelters. "I urge for special targeted assistance as no other state suffers such damage. Cyclone Bulbul also wreaked havoc in the state," Misra said.​

Rai praises the state government for moving over 15.7 lakh people to shelters during Cyclone Fani.

Rajya Sabha latest updates
 

Congress likely to raise issue of security breach at Priyanka Gandhi Vadra's residence

The Congress Party is likely to protest in Rajya Sabha against security breach of Priyanka Gandhi, News18 reported. Gandhi’s office revealed on Monday that the group went up to her and was able to click pictures of the Z-plus protectee.

Under the Z-plus security, the family has commandos from the CRPF paramilitary force in close proximity besides guards at their homes and where ever they travel in the country.

In comparison, SPG protectees are provided with guards, hi-tech vehicles, jammers and an ambulance in their motorcade. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is now the only SPG protectee in the country. The act was amended after the assassination of Rajiv Gandhi to include the immediate family members of former prime ministers, paving the way for Sonia Gandhi as well her children to get SPG security.

The need for a separate force for guarding the prime minister of the country was felt after Indira Gandhi was assassinated by her own security guards on 31 October, 1984.

Rajya Sabha latest updates
 

BJP, TMC, BJD give zero hour notices in Rajya Sabha

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Surendra Singh Nagar gives Zero Hour Notice in Rajya Sabha over mushrooming fake call centers in the country.

Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP Santanu Sen gives Zero Hour Notice in Rajya Sabha over fake currency notes in the country.

Biju Janata Dal (BJD) MP Prasanna Acharya has given Zero Hour Notice in Rajya Sabha over setting up of international disaster resilience and risk management institute in Odisha. 

Lok Sabha latest updates
 

Congress, TMC, DMK, IUML give adjournment notices in Lok Sabha

Congress and Indian Union Muslim League gave Adjournment Motion Notices in Lok Sabha over the rising prices of onion and other vegetables throughout the country.

Congress MP Saptagiri Sankar Ulaka has given Adjournment Motion Notice in Lok Sabha over rape of a tribal girl in Puri during Rath Yatra.

Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) gave an Adjournment Motion Notice in Lok Sabha over economic recession and unprecedented job loss in information technology sector.

Trinamool Congress (TMC) has given Adjournment Motion Notice in Lok Sabha over heavy loss of life and property due to cyclone Bulbul in West Bengal.

Bills to be tabled in Lok Sabha, Rajya Sabha today

Rajya Sabha

The Special Protection Group (Amendment) Bill, 2019
Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu (Merger of Union Territories) Bill, 2019
National Capital Territory of Delhi (Recognition of Property Rights of Residents in Unauthorised Colonies) Bill, 2019

Lok Sabha

Recycling of Ships Bill, 2019
Discussion on crop losses and resultant impact on farmers
Question Hour to see raising of issues pertaining to various government schemes, Cyclone Fani, geographical boundaries of the union territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh and tribal area status to Ladakh.