Monday saw a stormy session in Parliament as six Congress members were suspended from the Lok Sabha for five days by Speaker Sumitra Mahajan for causing "grave disorder." However, the House proceedings went on for several hours before the Opposition stormed the Well, tore papers and threw them at the Chair, protesting lynchings.
Ordering their suspension amid noisy protests by Congress members and counter-slogans of "shame, shame" from the BJP benches, the Speaker said the conduct of Gaurav Gogoi, K Suresh, Adhir Rajan Chowdhury, Ranjeet Ranjan, Sushmita Dev and MK Raghavan was "highly unbecoming" and had undermined the Chair's dignity.
Members of the Congress and some other Opposition parties stormed the Well, raising slogans against the government and protesting lynching incidents in the name of cow protection almost since the House assembled in the morning and took up the Question Hour.
Representational image. PTI
However, after some time, only the Congress members remained in the Well and the ruckus continued during the Zero Hour in the afternoon, forcing an adjournment till 2.00 pm.
Mahajan pronounced her order as soon as the House reassembled at 2.00 pm and once again adjourned it till 2.30 pm due to the protests by Congress members that followed. Congress chief Sonia Gandhi also in the House.
"The conduct of the members is highly unbecoming and in abuse of the rules of the House. It seeks to undermine the dignity of the House. These members were persistently and willfully obstructing the business of the House and have caused grave disorder," the Speaker said.
In her statement in the House, Mahajan said all this had happened despite her agreeing to a discussion under proper notice the issue of atrocities against Dalits and Muslims which was raised by leader of the Congress in Lok Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge and a few other members.
Parliamentary affairs minister Ananth Kumar had also agreed to a discussion on the issue, she said. Despite this, the members stormed the Well, she said, while pronouncing the order. They did not stop despite her repeated requests for them to return to their seats, she said.
Meanwhile, despite the din, finance minister Arun Jaitley introduced a bill in the Lok Sabha to authorise the RBI to direct banks to resolve the problem of stressed assets, which have reached "unacceptably high levels".
The Banking Regulation (Amendment) Bill, 2017, seeks to amend the Banking Regulation Act, 1949 and replace the Banking Regulation (Amendment) Ordinance, 2017, which was promulgated in May.
The measure allows the RBI to initiate insolvency resolution process on specific stressed assets. The RBI would also be empowered to issue other directions for resolution, appoint or approve for appointment, authorities or committees to advise the banking companies for stressed asset resolution.
The government also introduced a bill providing for allocation of about Rs 2,000 crore from Central Road Fund (CRF) for developing national waterways (NWs).
The Central Road Fund (Amendment) Bill, 2017 to further amend the Central Road Fund Act, 2000 was moved by Minister of State for Shipping Pon Radhakrishnan in absence of Shipping Minister Nitin Gadkari.
Updated Date: Jul 25, 2017 19:44:06 IST
Highlights
Prabhat Jha of BJP hits back at Digvijay, says Modi's vision is to make farmers self dependent
Prabhat Jha said that unlike Congress, the BJP doesn't just quotes MS Swaminathan report. He said that Madhya Pradesh (a BJP-ruled state) is the first state to implement the report.
"Kisano ki koi sabse hamdard party hai to BJP hai," the MP said.
BJP ministers powerless, seat of governance is PMO: Digvijay Singh
Digvijay Singh said that he has very little hope from the agriculture minister. He said that the minister is listening to his arguments but he wouldn't be able to do much as the seat of the power in the BJP-led central government is in the Prime Minister's Office.
"And PM Modi, what do I say about him. He only believes in imposing his wishes. (Ye sarkar meri marzi ke usulo pe hi chal rahi hai,)" he said.
MSP should be announced three months before changes come in effect: Digvijay
Commenting on the excessive pulse produce this year, Congress leader Digvijay Singh said that the government has changed the minimum support price for pulses, which disappointed the farmers, who had planted the crop expecting a different price.
He said that the government must start announcing the MSPs three month before they come in effect so that the farmers can plan the payoffs before planting the crops.
Digvijay Singh blames faulty import policy of govt for farm crisis
Congress leader Digvijay Singh cornered the government soon after the Rajya Sabha reconvened after Presidend Ram Nath Kovind's swearing-in ceremony. He said that cheap imports and neglegible import duty has killed the demand for Indian produces.
Quoting the MS Swaminathan report, Singh said that importing foodgrains is like "outsourcing your farmers' interest to foreign countries.'
Rajya Sabha debates agrarian crisis
Rajya Sabha adjourned till 2.00 pm
HRD Minister takes on TMC's Derek O'Brien on Dinanath Batra controversy
After O'Brien raised the issue that RSS member Dinanath Tagore suggested removal of text related to Rabindra Nath Tagore, Prakash Javadekar said that the government is not doing any such thing.
He said that the members should not raise issues merely for publicity. Javadekar, however, said that certain factual errors relating to Tagore have been marked out for correction.
Derek O'Brien raises controversy on Dina Nath Batra's suggestions on removing Tagore from school books
Opposition MPs protesting on the recent incidents of lynching and farmer issues at Gandhi statue outside Parliament
Lok Sabha adjourned till 3.00 pm
Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan adjourned the House proceedings till 3.00 pm soon after the House was convened, to allow the Union ministers to partake in the swearing-in ceremony of 14th President of India
Rajya Sabha condoles death of former member Shivajirao Girdhar Patil
Rajya Sabah Chairman Hamid Ansari informed the House of the demise of former Member of Parliament Shivajirao Girdhar Patil, reading out the obituary references. The House then paid its respects to the departed member
Proceedings in both Houses begin
Opposition protests suspension of 6 Congress MPs outside Parliament
Recap from Monday
The Parliament met on the sixth day of the Monsoon Session on Monday, where a slew of legislations were debated despite persistent disruptions. While the Centre seemed keen on passing key bills, the Opposition, much like the initial days of the proceedings, took the BJP-led government to task on issues like mob lynching across India and demonetisation. This time, the BJP seemed to have fought back as well, with the ruling party members demanding a reopening of investigations into the Bofors scam.
However, later in the day, Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan suspended six Congress MPs for five consecutive sittings for improper conduct after they tore up papers and threw them towards her podium.
Rajya Sabha's agenda for the day
Union HRD minister Prakash Javadekar will move to further amend The National Institutes of Technology, Science Education and Research (Amendment) Bill, 2017 in Rajya Sabha. Collection of Statistics Amendment Bill, Constitution (One Hundred and Twenty-third Amendment) Bill, and National Commission for Backward Classes (Repeal) Bill are also listed for discussion.
Lok Sabha's agenda for the day
In the Lok Sabha, Javadekar will move to pass another set of amendments to the Indian Institutes of Information Technology (Amendment) Bill, 2017 and the The Indian Institutes of Management Bill, 2017.
Union finance minister Arun Jaitley will move amendments to the Companies (Amendment) Bill, 2016 and The National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (Amendment) Bill, 2017.
LIVE NEWS and UPDATES
16:41 (IST)
Only 20 percent GDP comes from agriculture: Praful Patel, NCP
"Even though majority of the population is engaged in farming, only 20 percent of the GDP comes from farming. We have achieved bumper harvest. We are exporting sugar. We are largest producer of milk and wheat. This is only because of the farmers," he said.
16:34 (IST)
Watch Derek O'Brien's entire speech
16:29 (IST)
Prasanna Acharya of BJD says government is cheating the farmers
Acharya congratulated the government for 4.3% growth in agriculture but said, "If there is growth, why are farmers agitating or committing suicide? That is because the benefits of growth doesn't reach the farmers. The monsoon or nature has not cheated the farmers, it is the government that has cheated the farmers."
15:46 (IST)
Lok Sabha adjourned for the day
Lok Sabha has been adjourned for the day after slogans by Opposition over revocation of suspension of Congress MPs.
15:43 (IST)
Derek O'Brien urges other states to follow the West Bengal model of crop insurance
"The annual income of farmers from 2010 to 2016 in Bengal have moved up from Rs 91,000 to Rs 2,00,000. I request everyone to look at Bengal's model, which is working very well. What is unique in Bengal is that the state government gives the entire money and the rest comes from Central government. The farmer doesn't even pay one rupee. I urge states to follow this model," says Derek O'Brien.
15:24 (IST)
Digvijay Singh's entire speech
15:23 (IST)
Ruckus in Lok Sabha
14:49 (IST)
Prabhat Jha of BJP hits back at Digvijay, says Modi's vision is to make farmers self dependent
Prabhat Jha said that unlike Congress, the BJP doesn't just quotes MS Swaminathan report. He said that Madhya Pradesh (a BJP-ruled state) is the first state to implement the report.
"Kisano ki koi sabse hamdard party hai to BJP hai," the MP said.
14:40 (IST)
BJP ministers powerless, seat of governance is PMO: Digvijay Singh
Digvijay Singh said that he has very little hope from the agriculture minister. He said that the minister is listening to his arguments but he wouldn't be able to do much as the seat of the power in the BJP-led central government is in the Prime Minister's Office.
"And PM Modi, what do I say about him. He only believes in imposing his wishes. (Ye sarkar meri marzi ke usulo pe hi chal rahi hai,)" he said.
14:28 (IST)
MSP should be announced three months before changes come in effect: Digvijay
Commenting on the excessive pulse produce this year, Congress leader Digvijay Singh said that the government has changed the minimum support price for pulses, which disappointed the farmers, who had planted the crop expecting a different price.
He said that the government must start announcing the MSPs three month before they come in effect so that the farmers can plan the payoffs before planting the crops.
14:23 (IST)
Digvijay Singh blames faulty import policy of govt for farm crisis
Congress leader Digvijay Singh cornered the government soon after the Rajya Sabha reconvened after Presidend Ram Nath Kovind's swearing-in ceremony. He said that cheap imports and neglegible import duty has killed the demand for Indian produces.
Quoting the MS Swaminathan report, Singh said that importing foodgrains is like "outsourcing your farmers' interest to foreign countries.'
14:09 (IST)
Rajya Sabha debates agrarian crisis
11:31 (IST)
Rajya Sabha adjourned till 2.00 pm
11:27 (IST)
HRD Minister takes on TMC's Derek O'Brien on Dinanath Batra controversy
After O'Brien raised the issue that RSS member Dinanath Tagore suggested removal of text related to Rabindra Nath Tagore, Prakash Javadekar said that the government is not doing any such thing.
He said that the members should not raise issues merely for publicity. Javadekar, however, said that certain factual errors relating to Tagore have been marked out for correction.
11:20 (IST)
Derek O'Brien raises controversy on Dina Nath Batra's suggestions on removing Tagore from school books
11:18 (IST)
Opposition MPs protesting on the recent incidents of lynching and farmer issues at Gandhi statue outside Parliament
11:09 (IST)
Lok Sabha adjourned till 3.00 pm
Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan adjourned the House proceedings till 3.00 pm soon after the House was convened, to allow the Union ministers to partake in the swearing-in ceremony of 14th President of India
11:06 (IST)
Rajya Sabha condoles death of former member Shivajirao Girdhar Patil
Rajya Sabah Chairman Hamid Ansari informed the House of the demise of former Member of Parliament Shivajirao Girdhar Patil, reading out the obituary references. The House then paid its respects to the departed member
11:02 (IST)
Proceedings in both Houses begin
11:01 (IST)
Opposition protests suspension of 6 Congress MPs outside Parliament
10:48 (IST)
Recap from Monday
The Parliament met on the sixth day of the Monsoon Session on Monday, where a slew of legislations were debated despite persistent disruptions. While the Centre seemed keen on passing key bills, the Opposition, much like the initial days of the proceedings, took the BJP-led government to task on issues like mob lynching across India and demonetisation. This time, the BJP seemed to have fought back as well, with the ruling party members demanding a reopening of investigations into the Bofors scam.
However, later in the day, Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan suspended six Congress MPs for five consecutive sittings for improper conduct after they tore up papers and threw them towards her podium.
09:58 (IST)
Rajya Sabha's agenda for the day
Union HRD minister Prakash Javadekar will move to further amend The National Institutes of Technology, Science Education and Research (Amendment) Bill, 2017 in Rajya Sabha. Collection of Statistics Amendment Bill, Constitution (One Hundred and Twenty-third Amendment) Bill, and National Commission for Backward Classes (Repeal) Bill are also listed for discussion.
09:56 (IST)
Lok Sabha's agenda for the day
In the Lok Sabha, Javadekar will move to pass another set of amendments to the Indian Institutes of Information Technology (Amendment) Bill, 2017 and the The Indian Institutes of Management Bill, 2017.
Union finance minister Arun Jaitley will move amendments to the Companies (Amendment) Bill, 2016 and The National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (Amendment) Bill, 2017.