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Parliament LIVE updates: After Anand Sharma raised the topic of the MHA authorising 10 Central agencies to intercept data on any computer and accused the government of infringing citizen privacy, Union finance minister Arun Jaitley said that Sharma and Opposition leader Ghulam Nabi Azad should have gathered all the facts before raising the issue.
"What Anand said — every telephone and every computer will be monitored — that is not the case," he said, adding that the new law will only apply in matters of national security. Referring to the Indian Telegraph Act 1885 and the Information Technology Act, 2000, the finance minister said that the laws have only been updated to keep up with technological advancements.
Accusing Sharma of "making a mountain where even a molehill does not exist", Jaitley concluded his statement by saying that Congress should not use its power to create a ruckus over an issue that was created during its own rule.
Speaker Sumitra Mahajan adjourned the Lower House of Parliament shortly after proceedings resumed, and said that proceedings will resume at 11 am on 27 December. The recommendation for the Christmas holiday was made by MoS for Parliamentary Affairs Arjun Meghwal.
Earlier in the session, she granted the MPs days off on 24 and 26 December in lieu of Christmas.
Lok Sabha MP Ram Vilas Paswan, along with his son and Lok Janshakti Party leader Chirag, on Friday met with finance minister Arun Jaitley in his chambers in Parliament, ANI reported.
Ram Vilas Paswan had made a huge U-turn (having claimed earlier that he would prefer to drink poison than join hands with the BJP) and joined Modi's bandwagon ahead of the 2014 election. Reports have suggested that ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha election, he may yet again switch sides, leaving the NDA bandwagon to ride on the Mahagathbandhan ship.
As per a report from The Hindu, The National Network of Sex Workers (NNSW) has written a letter to Rajya Sabha Chairman Venkaiah Naidu, appealing to him to send the Anti-Trafficking Bill, scheduled to be introduced in the Upper House, to a Select Committee.
The Trafficking of Persons (Prevention, Protection and Rehabilitation) Bill, 2018, has not be taken up in the ongoing Winter Session because of disruptions over the Rafale deal as well as the Cauvery water issue. It was passed in Lok Sabha during the Monsoon Session.
As the Winter Session of Parliament gears up for its ninth working day, disruptions and adjournments are expected to continue in both Houses.
In the Lok Sabha, The Indian Medical Council (Amendment) Bill, 2018 is on the agenda. Health minister JP Nadda is scheduled to move that the Bill be taken into consideration. The Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Bill, 2017, popularly known as the triple talaq Bill, was put on the agenda for 27 December after Mallikarjun Kharge requested Speaker Sumitra Mahajan for the same. "I give you a commitment that Congress party will participate in the discussion on the Bill," he said.
On Thursday, proceedings in the Lok Sabha were adjourned thrice as members from Tamil Nadu and Karnataka sparred over the issue of building a dam on the Cauvery River and Congress leaders demanding a Joint Parliamentary Committee probe on the Rafale fighter jet deal.
As the House met for the day, the proceedings barely lasted for 10 minutes and Mahajan adjourned the House till noon around 11.10 am. Not a minute went by since Mahajan took her seat before MPs began their protests in the Lok Sabha. BJP MPs were chanting "Rahul Gandhi maafi maango" and "Rahul Gandhi chor hai".
The Lok Sabha passed the Consumer Protection (Amendment) Bill 2018, which enforces consumer rights, and provides a mechanism for redressal of complaints regarding defect in goods and deficiency in services. The Bill proposes to set up Consumer Redressal Commissions will be set up at the district, state and national levels for adjudicating consumer complaints. Appeals from the district and state commissions will be heard at the next level and from the national commission by the Supreme Court.
The Lower House also passed the National Trust for Welfare of Persons with Autism, Cerebral Palsy, Mental Retardation and Multiple Disabilities (Amendment) Bill, 2018.
Meanwhile, the Rajya Sabha was adjourned for the day without transacting any business after ruckus in the House over the Rafale fighter jet deal and Cauvery river issue.
Soon after the House met for the day, slogan-shouting members of Tamil parties — AIADMK and DMK — trooped into the well of the House over the Cauvery issue. Opposition Congress members also shouted slogans and held placards seeking a probe by the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) into the purchase of Rafale jets from France.
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Updated Date: Dec 21, 2018 15:02:36 IST
Highlights
Proceedings interrupted by sloganeering; Deputy Chairman adjourns House
The Upper House of Parliament erupted into chaos after Arun Jaitley and Anand Sharma debated the issue of data privacy. The din continued despite Deputy Chairman Harivansh Narayan Singh's repeated requests to settle down.
Finally, Singh adjourned the house until 27 December.
Don't create mountains where even a molehill does not exist: Jaitley responds to Opposition criticism on privacy infringement
After Anand Sharma raised the topic of the MHA authorising 10 Central agencies to intercept data on any computer and accused the government of infringing citizen privacy, Union finance minister Arun Jaitley said that Sharma and Opposition leader Ghulam Nabi Azad should have gathered all the facts before raising the issue.
"What Anand said — every telephone and every computer will be monitored — that is not the case," he said, adding that the new law will only apply in matters of national security. Referring to the Indian Telegraph Act 1885 and the Information Technology Act, 2000, the finance minister said that the laws have only been updated to keep up with technological advancements.
Accusing Sharma of "making a mountain where even a molehill does not exist", Jaitley concluded his statement by saying that Congress should not use its power to create a ruckus over an issue that was created during its own rule.
Both Houses convene for the day
Both, the Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha, have convened for the day. Just as business in the Lower House commenced, Opposition parties began sloganeering and disrupting proceedings.
MP's can be seen continuing business as usual amid the din in Lok Sabha.
15:02 (IST)
Visuals: Arun Jaitley explains rationale behind MHA order
14:59 (IST)
Proceedings interrupted by sloganeering; Deputy Chairman adjourns House
The Upper House of Parliament erupted into chaos after Arun Jaitley and Anand Sharma debated the issue of data privacy. The din continued despite Deputy Chairman Harivansh Narayan Singh's repeated requests to settle down.
Finally, Singh adjourned the house until 27 December.
14:50 (IST)
Don't create mountains where even a molehill does not exist: Jaitley responds to Opposition criticism on privacy infringement
After Anand Sharma raised the topic of the MHA authorising 10 Central agencies to intercept data on any computer and accused the government of infringing citizen privacy, Union finance minister Arun Jaitley said that Sharma and Opposition leader Ghulam Nabi Azad should have gathered all the facts before raising the issue.
"What Anand said — every telephone and every computer will be monitored — that is not the case," he said, adding that the new law will only apply in matters of national security. Referring to the Indian Telegraph Act 1885 and the Information Technology Act, 2000, the finance minister said that the laws have only been updated to keep up with technological advancements.
Accusing Sharma of "making a mountain where even a molehill does not exist", Jaitley concluded his statement by saying that Congress should not use its power to create a ruckus over an issue that was created during its own rule.
14:37 (IST)
Opposition leader says President's Rule in J&K should be discussed, chaos ensues
Opposition leader Ghulam Nabi Azad was the first to speak after the Rajya Sabha resumed proceedings at 2.30, and said that the House should discuss the President's Rule that has been established in Jammu and Kashmir.
He also said that the "undeclared Emergency has taken its final shape. All central agencies have been let loose," before the House erupted in chaos in response to his comments. Rajya Sabha deputy chairman Harivansh Narayan Singh asked the House to settle down amid the din, and said that it is essential that the Upper House discuss the issues on the agenda instead.
Governor's Rule ended in the state on 19 December.
14:31 (IST)
Rajya Sabha resumes
12:16 (IST)
Lok Sabha adjourned until 11 am on 27 December
Speaker Sumitra Mahajan adjourned the Lower House of Parliament shortly after proceedings resumed, and said that proceedings will resume at 11 am on 27 December.
Earlier in the session, she granted the MPs days off on 24 and 26 December in lieu of Christmas. The recommendation for the Christmas holiday was made by MoS for Parliamentary Affairs Arjun Meghwal.
On 27 December, the Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Bill, 2017, popularly known as the triple talaq Bill, will be discussed.
12:03 (IST)
Ramvilas Paswan, Chirag Paswan meet Arun Jaitley in his chamber in Parliament
Lok Sabha MP Ram Vilas Paswan, along with his son and Lok Janshakti Party leader Chirag, on Friday met with finance minister Arun Jaitley in his chambers in Parliament, ANI reported.
Ram Vilas Paswan had made a huge U-turn (having claimed earlier that he would prefer to drink poison than join hands with the BJP) and joined Modi's bandwagon ahead of the 2014 election. Reports have suggested that ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha election, he may yet again switch sides, leaving the NDA bandwagon to ride on the Mahagathbandhan ship.
12:02 (IST)
Lok Sabha convenes amid ruckus
11:30 (IST)
NNSW ask Venkaiah Naidu to send anti-trafficking Bill to Select Committee
As per a report from The Hindu, The National Network of Sex Workers (NNSW) has written a letter to Rajya Sabha Chairman Venkaiah Naidu, appealing to him to send the Anti-Trafficking Bill, scheduled to be introduced in the Upper House, to a Select Committee.
The Trafficking of Persons (Prevention, Protection and Rehabilitation) Bill, 2018, has not be taken up in the ongoing Winter Session because of disruptions over the Rafale deal as well as the Cauvery water issue. It was passed in Lok Sabha during the Monsoon Session.
11:22 (IST)
Rajya Sabha adjourned until 2.30 pm
The chairman of the Upper House, M Venkaiah Naidu adjourned proceedings until 2.30 pm as BJP and Congress leaders began sloganeering against each other over the Rafale deal.
11:19 (IST)
Disruptions seen in both Houses in Winter Session thus far
Both the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha have been plagued with chaos thus far in the Winter Session, with All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK), Telegu Desam Party (TDP), and Congress MPs staging protests during parliamentary proceedings.
Both Houses have been witnessing a ruckus over Rafale fighter jet deal and Cauvery river issue, among other matters. Additionally, TDP MPs have been demanding special category status for Andhra Pradesh and setting up a steel plant in the state.
11:09 (IST)
Lok Sabha adjourned until 12 noon amid chaos
The speaker of the Lower House Sumitra Mahajan adjourned proceedings until 12 noon as Opposition parties created a ruckus in the Well.
11:07 (IST)
Both Houses convene for the day
Both, the Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha, have convened for the day. Just as business in the Lower House commenced, Opposition parties began sloganeering and disrupting proceedings.
MP's can be seen continuing business as usual amid the din in Lok Sabha.