Parliament Updates: Rajya Sabha passes Taxation (Amendment) Bill; Nirmala Sitharaman slams Opposition for 'elitist' jibe against govt

Rajya Sabha latest updates

Nirmala Sitharaman slams Opposition for ’elitist’ criticism against Centre

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman slammed the Opposition for calling the Centre’s policies regarding the economy, “elitist”. Sitharaman’s outburst comes amid trolling and criticism for her “I don’t eat onion, garlic” remark in the Lok Sabha earlier on Thursday, when asked about the rising prices of onions.

In the Rajya Sabha, during the debate on the Taxation (Amendment) Bill, she said, “I absolutely condemn the approach of the members calling me elitist. This govt. thinks of the poor much more.”

Rajya Sabha latest updates

Nirmala Sitharaman responds to arguments against Taxation (Amendment) Bill

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman began her arguments in the debate over the Taxation (Amendment) Bill in the Rajya Sabha. She broke down the clauses of the amendment and gave details of the government’s effort over the legislation.

Asserting that computer software development, mining, printing of books will not to be treated as manufacturing for lower tax, she said, “Good reforms to boost economy will continue.”

Lok Sabha updates

Nitin Gadkari expresses regret over hurdles in land acquisition for road projects

Union Minister Nitin Gadkari expressed regret in the Lok Sabha on Thursday over hurdles like land acquisition and environment clearance faced by various road projects, saying the country must have a positive approach towards development.

Gadkari also asked all MPs to remain aware about road projects in their respective constituencies and help in resolving problems coming on the way of constructing roads and bridges. “Everyone says ‘stop the work’. No one says ‘do the work’. The country has to have a positive approach and attitude towards development projects,” he said during the Question Hour.

Describing the process of acquiring land and environment clearance as the major hurdles, the Union road transport and highways minister said environment and development have to go together. “I am pro-environment. But environment and development have to go side by side,” he said.

Parliament latest updates

I don’t eat onions, so don’t know market situation: Ashwini Choubey

Union minister Ashwini Choubey on Thursday reacted to Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman’s statement on the increase in prices of onions. Earlier on Thursday, Sitharaman said in the Lok Sabha that she “doesn’t eat onions or garic”.

He said, “I am a vegetarian. I have never tasted an onion. So, how will a person like me know about the situation (market prices) of onions.”

#WATCH "I am a vegetarian. I have never tasted an onion. So, how will a person like me know about the situation (market prices) of onions," says Union Minister Ashwini Choubey pic.twitter.com/cubekfUrYW

— ANI (@ANI) December 5, 2019

Rajya Sabha latest updates

JD(U) says Taxation Bill is ‘messed up’

Ram Chandra Singh of the JD(U), asserting that action needed to be taken on direct tax code, said, “When a baby is born, its face is cute. But when it gets small pox, it gets all sorts of scars. The bill has got so many amendments that it’s messed up.”

DMK MP TKS Elangovan also said, “This government is tapping the poor and patting the rich. The government has not provided anything to the poorer sections of the society. Two crores of job creation every year was promised. Why has domestic consumption gone down? The welfare of 80 percent of the population is left out.”

Rajya Sabha latest updates

Taxation (Amendment) Bill is fundamentally flawed: Opposition MPs

The Congress, Trinamool Congress, and AIADMK raised objections regarding the Taxation (Amendment) Bill, 2019 in the Rajya Sabha on Thursday.

Congress leader Jairam Ramesh said, “There are significant issues between the ordinance that was issued and the bill. We are living in an era of QSQT, not qayamat se qayamat tak; It is quarter se quarter tak. I am not a believer in QSQT. Because economies grow in long term. But when you have 6 consecutive quarters of GDP decline, it is cause of worry. The assumption of the bill is fundamentally flawed.”

Sukhendu Sekar Ray of the Trinamool Congress said that Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman should “consider and clear the pending GST compensations to five states including West Bengal.”

Meanwhile, A Vijayakumar of the AIADMK said, “Our economy is under deep stress. The govt is targetting a $5 trillion economy. The size of the economy was $2.7 trillion. Out of the total 7 crore taxpayers, only 11.86 lakh are corporate tax payers.”

Lok Sabha latest updates

Om Birla urges states to draft action plan to curb incidents of digital banking frauds

Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on Wednesday urged the state governments to draft an action plan with the aim of tackling incidents of digital banking frauds across the country. His remark came after an MP raised the issue in the House during the Zero Hour.

BJP’s Arvind Kumar Sharma said that on one hand, the nation was moving towards digital India while on the other hand, such fraudulent activities were taking place, News18 reported.

Parliament latest updates

Parliamentary committee holds meeting on rising crimes against women on social media

Parliamentary Standing Committee on Women Empowerment on Thursday held a meeting with representatives of the Facebook group at the Parliament House Annexe building in view of the rising crime against women on social media.Cyber harassment and bullying is likely to be discussed in the meeting.

Lok Sabha latest updates

Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi says process for Hajj 2020 is now 100% digital

Union Minister of Minority Affairs, Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi in a written reply to a question in Lok Sabha  said that the process for the Hajj 2020 has been made 100 percent digital. “This includes the online application, E-Visa, Hajj mobile app, digital pre-tagging of baggage of pilgrims. E-MASISA (E-Medical Assistance System for Indian Pilgrims Abroad), Portal for Haj Group Organisers (HGOs) with their details and Haj packages. Government of India takes a number of measures for the welfare of Indian Hajj pilgrims both in India and in Saudi Arabia.”

Rajya Sabha latest updates

Venkaiah Naidu condemns attack on Unnao rape survivor 

Rajya Sabha chairman and Vice President of India, Venkaiah Naidu condemned the incident in which a rape survivor was set ablaze in Uttar Pradesh’s Unnao on Thursday. He said, “This entire House condemns the incident. I got in touch with the Chief Secretary of Uttar Pradesh, he has explained to me that the culprits have been arrested. What is needed, is not a mere arrest in one case. We must send out a signal to the entire country and society that in such incidents action should be taken promptly, swiftly, and adequately, so these things are not repeated again.”

Rajya Sabha Chairman & Vice President, Venkaiah Naidu: What is needed, is not mere arrest in one case. We must send out a signal to the entire country & society that in such incidents action should be taken promptly, swiftly, & adequately, so these things are not repeated again. https://t.co/HuSDPyQgtD pic.twitter.com/FOhRbRnfzA

— ANI (@ANI) December 5, 2019

Lok Sabha latest updates

MPs ask Centre to bring back bodies of Indians killed in Sudan tanker blast

Several members from across party lines on Thursday urged the Centre to make efforts to bring back the bodies of Indians killed in the Sudan tanker blast on Wednesday at the earliest.

News18 reported that TR Baalu of the DMK, Rajiv Pratap Rudy of the BJP and Selvaraj M of the CPI raised the issue in the House during Zero Hour. The MPs said that the government should provide adequate compensation to the families of the 18 victims as most were “sole bread earners”.

Rajya Sabha latest updates

House begins discussion on Taxation Laws (Amendment) Bill

One of the major bills to be moved in the Rajya Sabha on Thursday was the Taxation Laws (Amendment) Bill. The House has now begun a discussion on it.

KK Ragesh of the CPM moved the statutory resolution on the bill. Congress MP Jairam Ramesh began the arguments in the debate over the ordinance and extended his support to it. He said, “There are significant issues between the ordinance that was issued and the bill.”

Rahul Gandhi says Congress will oppose Citizenship (Amendment) Bill

As the Lok Sabha gears up for the tabling of the contentious Citizenship (Amendment) Bill on 9 December, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi reportedly said that the party will oppose the proposed legislation aimed at providing citizenship to non-Muslim refugees from Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan.

“Congress party is against any form of discrimination against anybody in this country. So anybody who discriminates against anybody who is Indian, we are against them. That is our line. We believe that India belongs to everybody — all communities, all religions, all cultures,” Rahul was quoted as saying by News18.

Rajya Sabha latest updates

Bhupendra Yadav says member used word ‘infiltrator’ against PM: Deputy Chairman

Soon after proceedings resumed in the Upper House at 2 pm, Deputy Chairman Harivansh Narayan Singh noted MP Bhupendra Yadav’s “point of order on rules of procedure and conduct of business in Rajya Sabha”. “Shri Yadav says a member had used the word infiltrator against the prime minister,” Singh was quoted as saying by The Hindu.

The House saw uproar over the attack on the Unnao rape survivor in Uttar Pradesh. The House was then adjourned till 2.37 pm, and is set to resume proceedings.

Lok Sabha latest updates

Congress slams Centre over agrarian crisis

Suresh Kodikunnil, Congress MP from Kerala, spoke about the agrarian crisis that the farmers across the country are reeling under. Detailing the issues being faced by farmers, he said “The BJP govt failed to address crop loss and its impact on farmers.”

“The onion crisis has left the people in distress. Are the farmers getting any benefit from the issue? Black markets are on the rise. Farmers are being killed. BJP government ignored the farmers and raised MSP.

“There is lack of policy and lack of timely execution. There is no declaration of any special package. Unemployment, job loan, agriculture failure and industrial slowdown are all gifts of Modi government. The BJP government is a failure and their idea of Indian farmers are seen as perishable communities,” he was quoted as saying by The Hindu.

Parliament latest updates

Food to be sold at MRP in Parliament canteen

Members of Parliament (MPs) will no longer avail the benefit of subsidies in the Parliament canteen, India Today reported, adding that they will now buy food at regular MRP rates.

News18 quoted a notice by the Business Advisory Committee of the Lok Sabha as saying that MPs of all parties had agreed to do away with subsidised food in canteens.

Prakash Javadekar says P Chidambaram violated bail conditions on ‘very first day’

Union Minister Prakash Javadekar  responded to Congress P Chidambaram’s press conference on Thursday, a day after he was granted bail by the Supreme Court in the INX Media corruption case filed against him.

Javadekar referred to one of the apex court’s conditions for the ex-finance minister’s bail, which was to not make public statements on the case. He said, “P Chidambaram ji has violated his bail conditions on the very first day. The court had asked him to not give any public statement on the case as a condition for bail but Chidambaram ji today said that his record as a minster was very clear.”

‘Shocked and ashamed’: P Chidambaram reacts to incidents of rape

Congress leader P Chidambaram, who addressed a press conference on Thursday, got emotional while answering a question on rapes and lynchings. Chidambaram’s statement comes in the context of the gruesome rape and murder of a vet in Telangana’s Hyderabad last week, which has sent shockwaves across the nation.

#WATCH Congress leader P Chidambaram gets emotional while answering a question on rapes & lynchings. pic.twitter.com/UDwY42vQsl

— ANI (@ANI) December 5, 2019

Even as Congress opposes Citizenship Amendment Bill, Manmohan Singh had backed Citizenship Act in Rajya Sabha in 2003

Former prime minister Manmohan Singh had backed the idea of Indian citizenship for persecuted refugees from Bangladesh when he was the Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha in 2003.

A reply by Singh in the Upper House dated 18 December, 2003, stated that minorities in countries like Bangladesh faced persecution after the 1947 partition. “It is our moral obligation that if circumstances force people to seek refuge in our country, our approach to granting them citizenship should be more liberal,” Singh stated.

He urged then deputy prime minister LK Advani to bear this reality in mind before “charting out the future course of action with regard to the Citizenship Act”. He added that minorities in Pakistan faced similar persecution.

The copy of the Rajya Sabha proceedings mentioned that another Congress MP Shankar Roy Chowdhury had said in the Upper House that a large number of illegal migrants were religious minorities facing persecution.

The statement came to light at a time when the Congress is opposing the Citizenship Amendment Bill, which got a Union Cabinet nod on Wednesday and is likelt to be tabled in the Parliament on 9 December.

Current govt incapable of bringing economy out of slowdown, says P Chidambaram

Rural consumption is down according to NSSO, rural wages and producer prices for farmers are down, former finance minister P Chidambaram said in the press conference.

“Daily wage earners get work for no more than 15 days a month. FMCG — both durable and non-durable — are selling less. Wholesale prices are up. CPI is going up. Onions sell at Rs 100 a kg. What do these point to? There is less demand among the people because they have less money and less appetite to consume due to uncertainty and fear,” he said.

Chidambaram pointed out that the UPA government had lifted 140 million people out of poverty between 2004 and 2014, while the NDA government has, since 2016, pushed millions of people below the poverty line.

“The economy can be brought out of the slowdown, but this government is incapable of doing that. I believe that the Congress and some other parties are better equipped to pull the economy out of the slowdown, but we have to wait for better times,” he concluded.

Lucky if GDP growth touches 5 percent at the end of the year, says P Chidambaram

Former finance minister p Chidambaram pointed out in the press conference that even after seven months into the fiscal year, the BJP government believes that the problems faced by the economy are cyclical.

“The government is wrong. It is wrong because it is clueless. It is unable to look for the obvious clues because it defends its catastrophic mistakes like demonetisation, flawed GST, tax terrorism, regulatory overkill, protectionism, and centralized control of decision-making in the PMO,” he said.

“8, 7, 6.6, 5.8, 5 and 4.5 are the quarterly growth rates of GDP in the last six quarters. The third and fourth quarters of 2019-20 are not likely to be any better. We will be lucky to end the year if growth touches 5 per cent,” he added.

Have confidence that courts will render justice, says P Chidambaram

Expressing that he is grateful for the Supreme Court order ordering his bail in the INX Media case, senior Congress leader P chidambaram said, “The order will clear the many layers of dust that have unfortunately settled on our understanding of criminal law and the manner in which criminal law has been administered by our Courts.”

He said that he has total confidence in courts and that they will ultimately render justice.

Government unusually silent, turned out to be an ‘incompetent manager’ of economy, says P Chidambaram​

Congress leader P Chidambaram said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been unusually silent on the economy. “He has left it to his ministers to indulge in bluff and bluster. The net result, as the Economist put it, is that the government has turned out to be an incompetent manager of the economy,” he said.

In a press conference, he said that his record as a minister and his conscience is absolutely clear. “Officers who have worked with me, business persons who have interacted with me and journalists who have observed me know that very well,” he said.

Must preserve freedom of leaders detained in Kashmir, P Chidamabaram says in first press conference after release from jail

Addressing the media for the first time after being released from Tihar Jail in the INX Media case, former finance minister and senior Congress leader P Chidambaram said, “As I stepped out and breathed the air of freedom at 8 pm last night, my first thought and prayers were for the 75 lakh people of the Kashmir Valley who have been denied their basic freedoms since 4 August, 2019.”

Expressing particular concern for leaders detained without charges in Jammua nd Kashmir, Chidambaram said, “Freedom is indivisible. If we must preserve our freedom, we must fight for their freedom.”

Lok Sabha latest updates
 

TR Baalu raised the issue of the deaths of 18 Indians in a factory blast in Sudan

DMK’s TR Baalu brought up the deaths of 18 Indians in a blast at factory in Sudan, expressing dismay over the incident. In response, BJP’s Rajiv Pratap Rudy urged the concerned minister to ensure that the bodies of the deceased are broguht back to the country and their families are duly compensated.

Lok Sabha latest updates
 

Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury asks govt to take serious note of killing five ITBP personnel 

Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury raises concern of killing of five ITBP personnel in Chhattisgarh’s Bastar by another soldier at the paramilitary force’s camp on Wednesday.

He demanded that the government takes serious note of the incident and takes steps to ensure the safety of India’s jawans.

Govt cannot suppress my voice in Parliament, says P Chidambaram

Former finance minister P Chidambaram said the government will not be able to suppress his voice in the House.

The senior Congress leader attended the Rajya Sabha proceedings today after being released on bail in the INX Media case.

“I am happy to be back. The government cannot suppress my voice in Parliament,” he said.

Citizenship Amendment Bill upholds India’s tradition of sheltering the persecuted, says Ram Madhav

A day after the Citizenship Amendment Bill received a nod from the Union Cabinet, BJP leader Ram Madhav said that it is a commitment from the party to the presecuted minorities of Afghanistan, Pakistan and Bangladesh.

He also said that no country in the world accepts illegal migrants and they will be treated as infiltrators in India too.

The Citizenship Amendment Bill is likely to be taken up by the Parliament on 9 December, according to media sources.

For all others about whom d bleeding hearts' are complaining, Indian citizenship laws are there. Naturalized citizenship is an option for others who legally claim Indian citizenship. All other illegals will be infiltrators. No country in d world accepts illegal migrants. https://t.co/MVpDmFglcf

— Ram Madhav (@rammadhav_) December 5, 2019

Govt had lied about law and order situation in UP, Priyanka Gandhi says after rape survivor was set afire in Unnao

Speaking after the gruesome incident of  rape survivor being set on fire in Uttar Pradesh’s Unnao, Congress leader priyanka Gandhi Vadra said that Home Minister Amit Shah and Chief Minister Yogi aDityanath lied about the law and order situation in the state.

“Such incidents being reported every day have resulted in anger in theminds of people. BJP leaders should opt out of fake propoganda now,” she said.

Chidambaram hits out at Nirmala Sitharaman over comment during debate on onion prices

Senior Congress leader hit out at Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman over her comment during a debate on rising onion prices in which she said that she does not belong to an “onion-eating family”.

“What does the finance minister mean when she says she does not eat onions? Does she eat avocados?” Chidambaram asked .

Rajya Sabha latest updates
 

Rajya Sabha adjourned till 12 pm following uproar by Congress MPs

The House was adjourned amid protests by Opposition MPs over the incident reported today in which a 20-year-old rape survivor was set afire by a group of men in Uttar Pradesh’s Unnao. The woman has been hospitalised and is in a critical condition.

The Upper House was adjourned till 12 pm shortly after the names of 18 out of 80 MPs with 100 percent attendance were read out by House Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu as a token of appreciation.

P Chidambaram joins Congress leaders in protesting against rising onion prices

Ahead of the Parliament proceedings, Congress leaders, including P Chidambaram, protested against the rising onion prices all over the country.

Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, Gaurav Gogoi and other leaders held banners and a basket full of onions and shouted slogans demanding that the government reduce the prices and “stop harassing” the poor.

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said the government had taken several steps to check the rising prices of onions and initiated steps to improve technology for better storage.

Delhi: Congress leaders, including P Chidambaram protest in Parliament premises over onion prices. pic.twitter.com/R7TWn7UMKD

— ANI (@ANI) December 5, 2019

Pictures of Piyush Goyal running to attend Question Hour goes viral

Pictures showing Railway Minister Piyush Goyal running to attend the Question Hour in the Lok Sabha went viral on Twitter. On Tuesday, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh had conveyed to the BJP lawmakers in a parliamentary party meet that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had expressed dissatisfaction over the absenteeism of MPs in both the Houses.

https://twitter.com/Arvindharmapuri/status/1202210905989115904

Minister @PiyushGoyal running to attend question hour on time after the cabinet meeting. Hats off! pic.twitter.com/CTF7ybKN3n

— Hitesh Bansal (@ihiteshbansal) December 4, 2019

Lok Sabha latest updates
 

Congress, IUML give adjournment notices over Citizenship Amendment Bill, killing of ITBP personnel

The Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) has given an Adjournment Motion Notice in the Lok Sabha over the Citizenship Amendment Bill, which received a Cabinet nod on Wednesday and is likely to be tabled in the Parliament on 9 December, according to sources.

Congress and IUML have given an Adjournment Motion Notice in the Lower House over ‘incident of killing of ITBP personnel’.

Rajya Sabha latest updates
 

Chidambaram reaches Parliament complex; to attend Rajya Sabha proceedings after getting bail

Former finance minister and Congress leader P Chidambaram reached the Parliament complex to attend the Rajya Sabha proceedings, a day after he was granted bail by the Supreme Court in the INX Media case.

He is also slated to address a press conference at 12.30 pm.

Delhi: Congress leader & Rajya Sabha MP, P. Chidambaram arrives at Parliament. P Chidambaram was yesterday granted bail by Supreme Court in the INX Media money laundering case registered by the Enforcement Directorate. pic.twitter.com/yyOl6ToNlz

— ANI (@ANI) December 5, 2019

RECAP | Parliament passes Unauthorised Colonies Bill, 2019

Parliament passed the National Capital Territory of Delhi (Recognition of Property Rights of Residents in Unauthorized Colonies) Bill, 2019 with the Rajya Sabha approving it on Wednesday. 

The law gives those living in unauthorised colonies the rights of transferring or mortgage rights also. They would be able to claim the rights on the basis of holding documents like Power of Attorney, Agreement of Sale, Will or Possession letters. It will provide relief to the residents of 1731 unauthorised colonies in the National Capital Region.

RECAP | Citizenship Amendment Bill cleared by Union Cabinet

The Union Cabinet on Wednesday cleared the contentious Citizenship Amendment Bill, which will be tabled in the Lok Sabha on 9 December, according to media sources. The legislation seeks to grant citizenship to non-Muslim refugees from Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan if they have faced religious prosecution.

Lawmakers from Assam registered their protest against the Citizenship Amendment Bill by lying on the floor of the state Assembly corridor.

The Cabinet also approved Personal Data Protection Bill and approved the withdrawal of Jammu and Kashmir Reservation (Second Amendment) Bill, 2019

Lok Sabha latest updates
 

BJP, Congress MPs give zero hour, adjournment notices in Lok Sabha

BJP MP Sushil Kumar Singh has givena  Zero Hour Notice in Lok Sabha over the ‘demand to include Magahi language in eighth schedule of Constitution’.

Congress Chief Whip in Lok Sabha Kodikunnil Suresh has given an Adjournment Motion Notice on ’tariff hike by telecom companies'.