Parliament Updates: Lok Sabha passes Epidemic Diseases (Amendment) Bill, 2020 by voice vote

Lok Sabha LATEST Updates

Harsh Vardhan begins reply on Epidemic Diseases Amendment Bill

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Shiv Sena says doctors who succumbed to COVID-19 must be ‘martyrs’

Shiv Sena MP Shrikant Eknath Shinde on Monday told the Lok Sabha that doctors who have succumbed to COVID-19 after contracting it on duty, “should be treated as ‘martyrs’”. He added his arguments in the debate on the Epidemic Diseases Amendment Bill on Monday.

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RLP supports Epidemics Diseases Amendment Bill

Hanuman Beniwal of the RLP supported the Epidemic Diseases Amendment Bill in the Lok Sabha.

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BJP MPs hail Epidemic Diseases Bill

BJP MPs Sangeeta Kumari Singh Deo and Heena Gavit lauded the Centre for bringing the Epidemic Diseases Amendment Bill, 2020.

While Deo said that the Bill “seeks to restore the dignity and morale of healthcare workers”,  Gavit added that “even though the medical fraternity worked relentlessly, they often became the target of violence and perceived as carriers of the disease.”

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BJD questions decision to bring amendment to Epidemic Diseases Act

BJD MP Bhartruhari Mahtab questioned the Centre’s decision to bring an amendment to the Epidemics Diseases Act and said, “Why not bring a new Bill in 2020?” he added, “There is a need to give protection not just to health workers but also to the police.”

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JD(U), Shiv Sena support Epidemic Diseases Amendment bill

Shiv Sena’s Shrikant Eknath Shinde and JD(U) MP Kaushalendra Kumar participated in the debate on the Centre’s Epidemic Diseases Amendment Bill, 2020 and supported the proposed legislation on Monday.

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Suspended MP sings song on dharna in Parliament premises

Suspended Trinamool Congress MP Dola Sen is protesting with 7 other Rajya Sabha MP against their suspension in the Parliament premises.

Lok Sabha LATEST Updates

Lok Sabha takes up Epidemic Diseases (Amendment) Bill

The Lower House took up the Epidemic Diseases (Amendment) Bill for debate on Monday. The bill has already been passed by the Rajya Sabha. “The proposed amendment extends protection to frontline workers, including healthcare professionals,” The Hindu reported.

Lok Sabha LATEST Updates

Lok Sabha passes Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (Second Amendment) Bill, 2020

The Lok Sabha passed the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (Second Amendment) Bill, 2020 on Monday by voice vote. Congress MP Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury withdrew his statutory resolutions to the bill before it was put to vote, and urged Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman to ensure the bills provisions are “implemented on-ground”.

Lok Sabha LATEST Updates

Sitharaman gives NPA-related performance of IBC

“IBC’s performance related to NPA of public sector banks compared to other tools: Lok Adalat (2018-19) 40.89 lakh cases referred; Rs.2,816 crore ( 5.3%) recovery; in DRT, there were 10,574 cases with only 3.5% recovery; in SARFASI: with over 2 lakh cases, only Rs.41,876 crore (14.5%) was recovered. Under IBC, recovery rate is 42.5%,” she informs the House.

“This Code is not a recovery law,” she added, “MSMEs have several other ways through which they can recover their claims”.

Lok Sabha LATEST Updates

Nirmala Sitharaman replies in debate on Insolvency Code

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Monday said that the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (Second Amendment) Bill, 2020 has been brought in to provide “immediate relief” to companies.

“On the Bill, she says the ordinance brought on 5 June was a timely ordinance, which clearly suspended the application of three sections (7,9 and 10) of the Code,” The Hindu reported, quoting her as saying, “We had to prevent any company, stressed because of COVID, from being pushed into insolvency”.

“We did not want to hurt any other proceedings initiated before March 25 due to the reasons apart from those associated with the COVID-19 fallout,” she added.

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India’s imports from China dip 27.63% during Apr-Aug: Piyush Goyal informs Parliament

India’s imports from China declined by 27.63 percent during April-August this fiscal to USD 21.58 billion over the same period previous year, Parliament was informed on Monday.

Value of imports from China stood at USD 4.98 billion in August and USD 5.58 in July, according to the data provided by Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal in his written reply to the Lok Sabha.

“India’s imports from China have declined by 27.63 per cent during April-August, 2020-21 over the corresponding period of the previous year,” he said. In a separate reply, the minister said there is no proposal under consideration on withdrawal of Most Favoured Nation (MFN) status to China.

-PTI

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NCP MP Supriya Sule compliments Nirmala Sitharaman and her ministry

NCP MP Supriya Sule compliments Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in Lok Sabha, saying that the ministry regularly outperforms all other departments.

“We may have strong disagreements but I would like to compliment Finance Minister and her MoS that they are two people who constantly come with Bills to try and fix things which really need fixing at urgency,” Sule said.

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Today’s conduct of suspended Rajya Sabha MPs illegal: Ravi Shankar Prasad

Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad termed conduct of the suspended Rajya Sabha MPs within the Upper House on Monday as “illegal”.

“Today’s conduct of the suspended members of not refusing the House (Rajya Sabha) in spite of a declaration of suspension by the Chairperson is illegal and further aggravates their conduct as far as violating norms of the House is concerned,” he said

“There is enough visual evidence available that if the Marshals would have not protected the Deputy Chairperson of (Rajya Sabha) Harivansh Ji (on Sunday), he would have been nearly physically assaulted,” he added.

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Mamata Banerjee speaks to suspended RS MPs, lauds their efforts

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee Monday spoke to the eight Rajya Sabha MPs who have been suspended from Parliament over the protests against the farm Bills, and appreciated their efforts towards “upholding the values of Parliament”.

The MPs, who are now holding a protest against their suspension along with Opposition lawmakers from across parties, were suspended a day after the Upper House witnessed unprecedented unruly scenes during the passage of the two crucial farm Bills.

The WB chief minister spoke to the MPs for 10 minutes and in her conversation with them appreciated their efforts in fighting against farmer Bills, labour Bills and upholding the values of Parliament, a senior Trinamool Congress leader told PTI.

Banerjee, who in the morning condemned the government for its action, also released an audio clip in which she came down hard on the BJP, alleging the party is making an all out effort to make states powerless and itself all powerful.

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Need to save companies to save jobs: BJP MP on IBC Act

BJP MP Nishikant Dubey, BJP, said  NPAs to the tune of Rs.14 lakh crore was a result of the decisions taken under the Congress-led government, adding that the entire banking system was in a disarray when the NDA came to power.

“The banks could earlier recover dues through the Lok Adalat system, only 5.3% recovery was made through this system in 2018, just about 3% recovery was made through the Debt Recovery Tribunal route. However, the Code’s recovery rate is about 42.5%.

“Isn’t there a need to save companies to save jobs? As per an estimate, the world over 5% jobs will be lost amid the COVID-19 crisis.” he asked.

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Promulgation of ordinances shouldn’t be taken as a rule: Adhir Chowdhury

“I took a serious exception to the way one after another Ordinances are being promulgated on the pretext of COVID. What I would suggest the govt, is that the promulgation of ordinances shouldn’t be taken as a rule. It should be considered as an exception,” said Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, Congress MP. “What I am afraid of is that this Ordinance savvy govt, on one pretext or the other, is resorting to the promulgation of the Ordinance,” he added.

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Govt hikes wheat MSP by Rs 50 to Rs 1,975 per quintal

The government on Monday hiked the minimum support price of wheat by Rs 50 per quintal to Rs 1,975 per quintal to encourage farmers to increase cultivation of the crop.

The decision was taken at a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and was announced by Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar in Lok Sabha.

The announcement comes in the backdrop of widespread protests by Opposition parties as also by farmer groups in Punjab, Haryana and some other states after Parliament passed two key farm bills on Sunday, which the government says will give farmers’’ marketing freedom and better price for their produce.

The Farmers’ Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Bill, 2020 and The Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement of Price Assurance and Farm Services Bill, 2020 were passed by Parliament.

Tomar said that the CCEA has approved increasing MSP of six rabi crops. Wheat MSP has been increased by Rs 50 per quintal to Rs 1,975 per quintal.

The announcement comes in the backdrop of protests by Opposition parties and the farmer groups in Punjab, Haryana and some other states after Parliament passed two key farm bills on Sunday.

Lok Sabha LATEST Updates

Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (Second Amendment) Bill, 2020 moved by FM

The Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (Second Amendment) Bill, 2020 is being discussed. Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman moves the Bill.

Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury said that he took an exception to the fact that Ordinances are repeatedly promulgated under “the pretext of the COVID-19 pandemic”.

Lok Sabha LATEST Updates

Lower House passes FCRA Bill 

The Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Amendment Bill, cleared by the Rajya Sabha, is passed by the Lok Sabha by voice vote.

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Political agenda behind Bill, alleges Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury

Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, says on one hand the government invites foreign funds, but when such funds come for educational and charitable purposes, it is being prevented. There is a political agenda behind this, he says. He asks how much foreign fund has come into the PM-CARES Fund.

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Congress appeals for Bill to be sent to Standing Committee

Gaurav Gogoi, INC, appeals that the Bill be sent to the Standing Committee. “The present Bill will result in the closure of several organisations which are doing good work”.

Lok Sabha LATEST Updates

While Aadhar card is not mandatory, it is a significant proof of identification: Centre

Nityanand Rai, MoS, Home Affairs, responds to MPs’ concerns. He said PM’s attempts are to promote national security as “past mistakes” have endangered the country. This amendment is necessary for ‘atmanirbhar Bharat’, he said.

To ensure FCRA is not violated, emergency measures have to be taken, he asked. " If we do not freeze the bank accounts of those under investigation, how will we conduct the probe?"

He said the misuse of foreign funds will be prevented through the amendments. He claims that many NGOs use public funds for their personal use, to justify the step to cut administrative expenses from 50% to 20%.

While the Supreme Court has said that Aadhar is not compulsory for identification, but it is a necessity in certain scenarios, he says. The Aadhar Card is a significant proof of identification, he adds.

Lok Sabha LATEST Updates

Main aim of FCRA Bill is to bring transparency: Centre responds to debate on Bill

Nityanand Rai, MoS Home Minister responds to debate on FCRA Amendment Bill by saying that the amendments are not against NGOs and are not stopping foreign funds. “FCRA is a national & internal security law to ensure that foreign fund shouldn’t affect national interests. Here transparency is the main aim,”

Lok Sabha LATEST Updates

Ruling govt may curb dissent through FCRA Bill, says BSP MP

Ritesh Pandey from BSP said that the ruling government may curb dissent through the Bill. Speaking on suspension in case of contravention, he said the earlier suspension could be for six months but now the MHA can extend the suspension for one year, which would mean a freeze on those accounts under the MHA’s control.

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NCP’s Supriya Sule questions need of making Aadhar mandatory

Supriya Sule, NCP, questions the step making Aadhar mandatory, when the Supreme Court has repeatedly said that the Aadhar is not compulsory. “What logic is there behind the focus on SBI, Delhi?” she asks. “Are you trying to sow suspicion that other banks are not capable of opening an FCRA account?”

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YSRCP supports Bill, says draft law will bring transparency

YSRCP MP Bellana Chandra Sekhar while speaking on FCRA Amendment Bill says public servants can not take foreign funds. “It will prevent officials from taking money to show favouritism which could otherwise be detrimental to the nation. Aadhaar will bring transparency,” he said while supporting the Bill.

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Bill another example of HM acting as ‘Big Brother’: Sougata Roy

Alluding to Geroge Orwell’s novel ‘Nineteen Eighty-Four’, Professor Sougata Roy, AITC MP, from West Bengal says the FCRA BIll is another example of the Home Ministry acting as a ‘Big Brother’ and watching over the whole country to see who gets what money from where. “This Bill is meant to tighten the screws on those organisations that receive funds from abroad,” he said.

“While the Supreme Court has said that Aadhaar Card is not compulsory and is a document for identification for receiving targeted public distribution money. So why should you make aadhar card compulsory is not to keep a better control over the people?” the AITC MP asked.

He further said that the high-handed Hindu revivalism is this government’s credo and that there is no need for this Bill.

Lok Sabha LATEST Updates

FCRA Bill to prevent foreign aid to those opposing Centre: BJP MP

Dr. Satyapal Singh from BJP, said that the concept of FCRA Bill  came during emergency when the government wanted to prevent foreign aid to come to those opposing the Centre.

“We know what happened in northeast, how things changed there in last 50 yrs & a particular religion rose. There’s govt & intelligence report that how insurgency increased there with money under FCRA,” he said.

He further said that for proper monitoring, Aadhaar of all officer bearers, directors etc will be taken and they will be allowed to receive money only in SBI bank account in Delhi.

Lok Sabha LATEST Updates

BSP condemns custodial deaths, says Vikas Dubey should’ve been punished by ’legal procedure’

“Incidents of murders in police custody, in the form of police encounters are before us. Such murders are threat to a civilised society and have lowered trust of people in Police. Real culprits aren’t nabbed. Those nabbed are Dalits, oppressed, OBCs & Muslims,”  said Ritesh Pandey, BSP MP.

“Vikas Dubey should’ve been punished via a legal procedure so that people’s trust in rule of law isn’t weakened. I urge the home minister and Law Minister to take cognisance of this issue and make efforts to improve system so that police stop playing roles of judge, jury and executioner,” he added.

Lok Sabha LATEST Updates

FCRA amendments targetting minorities: Congress MP Anto Antony

A Bill seeking to regulate Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act is currently being taken up for discussion. Anto Antony from Congress is the first speaker. He calls the Bill “another exotic adventure” and warned the Bill will kill the NGOs.

The Bill also proposes to enable the Centre to allow an NGO or association to surrender its FCRA certificate. Antony claims the Bill was brought to target minorities. He said all Christian charities are not indulging in coversion. These charity institutions have uplifted the poorest of poor, he said.

Lok Sabha LATEST Updates

LS begins discussions on Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act, 2020

Lok Sabha starts discussions on the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act, 2020. The bill introduced in Lok Sabha on 14 September seeks to help micro, small and medium enterprises by providing additional avenues for getting credit facility. It seeks to amend the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act, 2010.

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Bengali language should be identified as ‘Classical Language’: Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury

The Bengali language should be given the identity of a ‘Classical Language’, said Congress MP Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury.

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Centre should intervene on SC squashing Maratha reservation: NCP MP

Srinivas Patil from NCP, spoke on the Supreme Court quashing Maratha reservation. “A legislature passed by Maharashtra Legislative Assembly and Council was struck down. Centre should intervene,” he said.

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Amit Shah likely to move Bill amending Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act

Union Home Minister Amit Shah expected to move the Bill to amend the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act, for consideration in Lok Sabha. 

The Centre on Sunday proposed amendments to the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act, or FCRA, to make Aadhar mandatory for all office bearers of non-governmental organisations that seek foreign contributions. The proposed stringent amendments also seek to bar public servants from receiving foreign funding.

This means any person who makes an application for prior permission, seeks registration under the FCRA, or wants to renew their FCRA licence, would first have to mandatorily furnish the Aadhar numbers of all office bearers, directors or other key functionaries.

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Help recover BSNL, MTNL from crisis: Shiv Sena

Shiv Sena MP Arvind Sawant alleged that government did not keep the promise of starting 4G internet services for BSNL. He requested the government to help BSNL and MTNL to recover from their current crisis.

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Zero Hour proceedings begin in LS

Pankaj Choudhury, Gorakhpur MP, seeks government to declare Terai region as a tiger reserve. Rama Naidu (TDP) opposed the closing down of Waltair division of Railways and sought a new South Coast railway zone from Centre, comprising of Andhra Pradesh and Odisha.

Congress MP from Thiruvananthapuram, Shashi Tharoor, draws attention to the plight of fishermen due to the Covid-19 pandemic and the floods, seeking assistance from the central government.

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Lower House tables papers of urgent public importance

After some obituary references by Lok Sabha speaker, the Lower House now discusses matters of urgent public importance. Papers being laid on the table. This includes various papers pertaining to various ministries, reports of committee on estimates, reports of committee on petitions, and statements by various ministers.

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Om Birla in Chair; House pays silent tribute

Lok Sabha assembles. Speaker Om Birla is in the Chair. He announces the demise of four former members. As per The Hindu the Speaker reads obituary references to the passing away of:

• Nandi Yellaiah (Member, Sixth, Seventh, Ninth, Tenth, Eleventh and Sixteenth Lok Sabha);
• Vijay Annaji Mude (Member, Eleventh Lok Sabha);
• Ramdeo Rai (Member, Eighth Lok Sabha);
• Roza Vidyadhar Deshpande (Member, Fifth Lok Sabha)

The House pays silent tribute.