Parliament Monsoon Session updates: August House recorded 74% productivity; Venkaiah Naidu thanks MPs

Media’s forecast for Monsoon Session proved wrong, says Venkaiah Naidu

Chairman Venkaiah Naidu said that the House managed to have 17 sittings, despite the prediction of a washout by the media. “The media forecast for this session was that this session too would be a washout. I am glad that media has been proved wrong. I compliment all for the same; though it is not to my full satisfaction,” he said.

Ruckus in Rajya Sabha over triple talaq bill

Towards the end of the session in Rajya Sabha, Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad lashed out at the Opposition for not supporting the triple talaq Bill. Earlier in the day, when the Rajya Sabha reconvened at 2:30 pm after two adjournments in the pre-lunch session, Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu said he has decided that the bills “on which there is some sort of broad consensus” will be taken up for discussion and passage later in the day.

RS discusses The Commercial Courts (Amendment) Bill, 2018

The Commercial Courts, Commercial Division and Commercial Appellate Division of High Courts (Amendment) Bill, 2018, passed by the Lok Sabha on 1 August, seeks to lower the pecuniary jurisdiction of Commercial Courts from Rs 1 Crore to Rs 3 lakhs.

Rajya Sabha passes The Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (Second Amendment) Bill, 2018

Watch: JD(U)’s Kahkashan Perween raises issue of poor defaulters

Smt. Kahkashan Perween's remarks | The Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (Second Amendment) Bill, 2018: https://t.co/ey75zllfUm via

— Rajya Sabha TV (@rajyasabhatv) August 10, 2018

D Raja says Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code being amended to help corporate houses

Opposing the amendment bill, CPI leader D Raja said, “I am of the view that this bill is to help the corporate houses. So many changes are being made to help the defaulters. What should be the priority of the government? The government wants to bail out defaulters. Why this soft corner for defaulters? The government should bail out poor people from poverty. This is not fair.”

Jairam Ramesh demands clarification on govt’s move against RBI over circular on stressed assets

Congress MP Jairam Ramesh questioned Centre’s move against RBI’s circular on stressed assets. “The circular said that even if you default by one day, the asset becomes a stressed asset. I welcome this, but I am amazed that the Government of India has challenged the RBI in the Allahabad High Court. The finance minister has given a statement in court which actually dilutes the circular. I would like the officiating finance minister to clarify on this,” he said.

Interrupting his speech, Congress MP Anand Sharma asked if officiating finance minister was an actual designation. Chairman Venkaiah Naidu responded by saying that the term was being used by Ramesh and Piyush Goyal is in fact a Cabinet minister.

Jairam Ramesh questions high proportion of active cases under the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code
Congress leader Jairam Ramesh said, “I rise to support bill which is converting the ordinance into a Bill. This is new territory for us. The code has been a major shift from past experience. I have five very specific questions. Some of these questions the officiating finance minister might have to answer. In the last 2 years, there are 700 cases under this IBC. Out of 700 cases, over 500 cases are active. The court says within 270 the process must be completed. My first question is: isn’t this a high proportion of case?”

Zero Hour ends; Rajya Sabha takes up The Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (Second Amendment) Bill, 2018

The Bill amends the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016 to clarify that allottees under a real estate project should be treated as financial creditors.

Rajya Sabha discusses private members’ resolution on the plight of widows

DMK MP Tiruchi Siva moved a private members’ resolution on the plight of widows in India.

Welcoming the resolution, Congress MP Amee Yagnik said, “India has 40 million widows. It shows a frightful picture of the society. How many women in the country can access the legal systems to get any help? There should be a legal aid component very specifically mentioned. This is the right time that the government brings out a special legislation for them. We have to see that they get their due in the society. This needs immediate action on the part of government.”

Ruckus in Rajya Sabha over negation of private members’ resolution 

After a voice vote on the resolution for need for uniform reservation system in country was held and the deputy chairman found the  “Noes” in majority, some BJP MPs demanded for a division of vote. After holding the electronic voting, the deputy chairman announced that the resolution stood negated in the House. Ruckus erupted over this in the Rajya Sabha. 

Union minister Ravi Shankar Prasad made statements against the Opposition for not supporting the resolution. RJD MP Manoj Jha raised objection and asked, “How come it happens that incriminatory statements are made. But how come suddenly some microphones are on. I demand that his (Prasad) words be expunged,” he said.

Monsoon Session of Lok Sabha ended after passing 21 laws

The Lok Sabha was adjourned sine die on Friday, as the Monsoon Session ended after passing 21 laws, including one to amend the SC/ST Act and another relating to the Fugitive Economic Offenders.

Speaker Sumitra Mahajan said the session has been the “more productive and safisfactory” compared to the previous Budget Session and 2017’s monsoon

session.

The House also greeted the people in advance on the occasion of the Independence Day.

PTI

Rajya Sabha discusses need for uniform reservation system in India

In Rajya Sabha, CPI leader D Raja targetted Rakesh Sinha and asserted that the communists strive for a casteless and classless society. “But reservations are affirmative actions needed to uplift the downtrodden,” he said.

Responding to the resolution, Minister for Social Justice Taawar Chaand Gehlot  said, “There is a procedure laid to add, delete or modify the Scheduled Caste lists.” He agreed that there is discrepancies over the spellings of castes and assured that the ministry will look into it.

Lok Sabha adjourned sine die

Lok Sabha discusses The Arbitration and Conciliation (Amendment) Bill, 2018
 

Calling it a “momentous legislation”, Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad, asked the House to pass the The Arbitration and Conciliation (Amendment) Bill, 2018 unanimously. “We want India to become an important hub for domestic and international arbitration. We are taking a giant leap in favour of institutional arbitration. Unless we have a strong element of institution, of judges, regulatory mechanism, arbitration will not take place at its peak,” he said.

Triple talaq bill deferred to next session

With there being no consensus among the different parties regarding the triple talaq bill, the legislation will not be tabled in the Rajya Sabha on Friday. With the Monsoon Session of Parliament unlikely to be extended further, the bill will now be taken up for debate in the Winter Session.

Sonia Gandhi wants triple talaq to be sent to select panel

Congress MPs have kept up their protest outside Parliament

MPs protest at Parliament seeking a Joint Parliamentary Committee probe into PM Modi's Rafale deal. pic.twitter.com/FkRTYeGLVE

— Congress (@INCIndia) August 10, 2018

Lok Sabha adjourned till 2 pm

Both Houses of Parliament have been adjourned; the Lok Sabha till 2 pm, and Rajya Sabha till 2.30 pm.

Rajnath assures Kerala of all assistance

Home Minister Rajnath Singh said Minister of State for Home, Kiren Rijiju has already visited the rain-hit state of Kerala, and has promised all assurance on behalf of the central government. He added that in the days to follow, he will speak with Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan.

Congress, CPM demand special package for Kerala floods

P Karunakaran of the CPM and KC Venugopal of Congress have both brought up the issue of floods and rivers running in spate in Kerala in the Lok Sabha on Friday, and requested the Centre to direct military assistance in rescue work, and also sought a special financial package for the state of Kerala.

Rajya Sabha adjourned till 2.30 pm

Repeated disruptions by Rajya Sabha MPs who sought to attack the government over the Rafale deal has forced Vice-President Venkaiah Naidu to adjourn the House till 2.30 pm.

Vijay Goel, Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs, urged all parties to maintain calm

Spoke at the parliament today, requesting opposition parties not to hurl allegations. Adopt people first policy. Help the parliament function and pass bills which are in the best interest of the people.#RajyaSabha #MonsoonSession2018 pic.twitter.com/YRtSWlJN9I

— Vijay Goel (@VijayGoelBJP) August 10, 2018

Highlights of the Monsoon Session of Parliament

As the Monsoon Session of Parliament comes to an end on Friday, the no-confidence debate and Harivansh Narayan Singh’s election as Rajya Sabha deputy chairman count as the session’s key highlights.

Read all the highlights of the 18-day Monsoon Session of Parliament here

DMK demands Bharat Ratna for M Karunanidhi

The Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) has demanded a Bharat Ratna for its patriarch M Karunanidhi, who died on Tuesday, calling him an “epoch”.

Sonia Gandhi joins Opposition protests outside Parliament over Rafale deal

Delhi: Sonia Gandhi at the protest by Opposition in Parliament premises over #RafaleDeal issue pic.twitter.com/IAMt3VxJN3

— ANI (@ANI) August 10, 2018

Congress, AAP, CPI and the RJD protest outside Parliament against the Rafale deal

Delhi: Congress, CPI, RJD and AAP hold protest outside Parliament over Rafale deal issue pic.twitter.com/hNnnM2ZB0D

— ANI (@ANI) August 10, 2018

RECAP: Harivansh Narayan Singh elected as Rajya Sabha deputy chairman

The ruling NDA on Thursday comfortably bagged the post of deputy chairman of the Rajya Sabha with journalist-turned politician Harivansh Narayan Singh of the JD(U) beating Congress’ BK Hariprasad in an election that was seen as a test for the Opposition unity ahead of 2019 Lok Sabha polls.

In a boost to the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA), its candidate Harivansh, the 62-year-old first-time MP from the Nitish Kumar-led party, got 125 votes as against 101 polled by Hariprasad, who was the Opposition nominee.

RECAP: Cabinet approves amendments to triple talaq bill on Thursday

On Thursday, the Cabinet approved inclusion of a provision granting bail, one of the demands of the Opposition parties, to men found guilty of giving instant triple talaq to their wives. It also approved that complaints in a triple talaq case can only be filed by the victim (wife) or a blood relative, with only a magistrate, not a local police officer, given power to grant bails with certain terms and conditions.

Triple talaq bill to be discussed in Rajya Sabha today

The Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Bill 2017 is set to be tabled in the Rajya Sabha, where the government lacks numbers, on Friday, a day after the Union Cabinet cleared the amendments to the bill.