Parliament will meet today on the 18th day of the Monsoon Session with the government intent on pushing through legislative business, with just two days remaining in the current session. Lok Sabha will discuss The National Sports University Bill, 2017, The State Banks (Repeal and Amendment) Bill, 2017, The Requisitioning and Acquisition of Immovable Property (Amendment) Bill, 2017, The Central Road Fund (Amendment) Bill, 2017, The Public Premises (Eviction of Unauthorised Occupants) Amendment Bill, 2017, and The Repealing and Amending Bill, 2017. The Rajya Sabha will discuss The Banking Regulation (Amendment) Bill, 2017 and The Indian Institutes of Management Bill, 2017. Wednesday’s session was specially marked out to mark the 75th anniversary of Quit India Movement. Invoking the spirit of Quit India Movement, Parliament on Wednesday pitched for strengthening secularism and democracy amid Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s call for a determined effort by all sections to rid the nation of ills like communalism, casteism and poverty by 2022. [caption id=“attachment_3911849” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]
Representational image. PTI[/caption] Congress President Sonia Gandhi, however, warned that the “forces of darkness” were trying to destroy the roots of democracy and the “clouds of the politics of division and hate” are hovering over the plural and egalitarian values enshrined in the Constitution. Parliamentarians paid rich tributes to the freedom fighters and recalled their sacrifices as both the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha took up a special discussion on the 75th anniversary of Quit India Movement launched on this day in 1942 by Mahatma Gandhi. Leaders from all parties were unanimous in underlining the need for strengthening democracy and secularism even as some in the Opposition equated the current situation to that prevailing during the colonial days. Some Opposition leaders contended that democracy and secularism was under threat today, with CPI(M)’s Sitaram Yechury warning against creation of “Hindu Pakistan”. The prime minister, who initiated the discussion in the Lok Sabha, underlined that everyone would need to rise above political and ideological affiliations to rid the nation of ills like communalism, casteism, poverty, corruption and dirt. He said ideological differences, which are there on Wednesday, existed even during the freedom struggle and despite the different approaches, everyone had worked for the common goal of Independence. Corruption, poverty, illiteracy and malnutrition are the greatest challenges that India now needs to overcome and to do that, there is a need to create the same spirit that existed between 1942 and 1947, he said. Setting 2022, the 75th anniversary of the country’s Independence as the target year, Modi said people should take a pledge of ‘Karenge, Aur Kar Ke Rahenge’ (We will do and surely do). “In 1942, the clarion call was ‘Karenge Ya Marenge’ (Do or Die) — today it is ‘Karenge, Aur Kar Ke Rahenge.’ The next five years should also be about ‘Sankalp Se Siddhi’, a resolve which will lead us to accomplishment,” Modi said. He said in the next five years till 2022, India must try to bring positive changes so that it can become inspiration for many other nations.
Parliament Day 19 highlights: Rajya Sabha bids farewell to Vice-President Hamid Ansari
Wednesday’s Parliament session was specially marked out to mark the 75th anniversary of Quit India Movement.
)
Ruckus in Lok Sabha
Lok Sabha disrupted as parliamentarians demand discussions on the Chandigarh stalking case, NEET in Tamil Nadu and Sasikala jail bribery case during Zero Hour.
Parliamentary Affairs minister Ananth Kumar also speaks on the Chandigarh stalking case
BJP MP Kirron Kher addresses Chandigarh stalking case in Lok Sabha
Arun Jaitley on the Banking Regulation (Amendment) Bill in Rajya Sabha
Minister of Finance Arun Jaitley once again discussed the Banking Regulation (Amendment) Bill in Rajya Sabha. He addressed the discussion in the House, saying that why to bring a regulator like RBI in the discussion. He stated that RBI is not a regulator and that the government is a shareholder of the banks. He said, “it is up to you to see if management of banks from the north bloc is the right policy.” He added that the government cannot micromanage the banks. He also says that for the first time defaulters have started going after the banks, saying that they will take action on the issue. Jaitley said that Lok Sabha supported the bill “in one voice” and that the problem of NPAs emerged out of the economic system.
When asked how the will the government make the banking system accountable, Jaitley replied, saying that NCLT and other bodies are being monitored to make the exercise successful.
Opposition in Lok Sabha says that Financial Resolution and Deposit Insurance Bill, 2017 should be introduced to a joint parliamentary committee
Regarding the Financial Resolution and Deposit Insurance Bill being introduced to a joint parliamentary committee, NK Premachandran said that the bill should have also been introduced to MPs at least 3 days before proceedings in the House. CPM leader PK Sreemathy also recommended that a woman should be included in the committee for better representation.
MoS for Parliamentary Affairs SS Ahluwalia replied that a standing committee could also look into the bill in consideration.
Financial Resolution and Deposit Insurance Bill, 2017 introduced in Lok Sabha
The Financial Resolution and Deposit Insurance Bill, 2017 was introduced in Lok Sabha by Arjun Ram Meghwal on behalf of Finance Minister Arun Jaitley.
Objections to the introduction of The Code on Wages, 2017 in Lok Sabha
Revolutionary Socialist Party leader NK Premachandran strongly opposed to the introduction of the Code on Wages, 2017, saying that the right of members of Parliament was being infringed through the introduction. He accusing the Centre of not consulting the state governments with regards to the bill. Considering how the issue in discussion comes under the concurrent list, this was a huge issue for the RSP leader. He also raised issue on the Payment of Gratuities Act and added that the fact that the government only gave members of Parliament access to the bill on the same day as the proceedings didn’t give the parliamentarians enough time to look into the bill. BJP leader and MoS for Labour and Employment Bandaru Dattatreya also resounded these objections.
Discussions on the Statutory Resolution and Legislative Business, Banking Regulation Bill, 2017 continue in Rajya Sabha
Over 115 politicians involved in corruption cases in India, 6,400 pending trials in all, govt tells Rajya Sabha
Over 6,400 corruption cases, involving 115 politicians, probed by the CBI are pending trials in various courts, the government said on Thursday.
The CBI has registered 339 cases of alleged corruption this year till June, involving 487 government employees, 660 private individuals and 14 politicians, Minister of State for Personnel Jitendra Singh said in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha.
Read more here .
BJD demands setting up of tribunal to resolve Mahanadi dispute
BJD members in Lok Sabha demanded the immediate setting up of a tribunal to resolve the Mahanadi water dispute with neighbouring Chhattisgarh.
Raising the issue during Zero Hour, Bhartruhari Mahtab said the tribunal to resolve the disputes was yet to be formed even though the Supreme Court had favoured it.
Terming the issue as “very serious”, agitated BJD MPs came into the aisles but did not enter the well demanding a response from the government on setting up of the tribunal. Mahtab also asked the Centre to direct the Chhattisgarh government to stop construction of projects on the upstream of Mahanadi, saying these were seriously affecting the flow of the river.
Chhattisgarh government has already rejected Odisha government’s demand to stop construction work. — PTI
A bill for India’s first sports university tabled in Lok Sabha
A bill to set up India’s first full fledged sports university of international standards was introduced in the Lok Sabha on Thursday.
The National Sports University Bill, 2017 will help set up the university in Manipur. As of now, there are some institutes which offer various courses for athletes and coaches.
“A void exists in the sports environment of the country in various areas such as sports science, sports technology, high-performance training,” the bill states.
The proposed university is expected to bridge this gap. The bill was introduced by Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs SS Ahluwalia as Sports Minister Vijay Goel is indisposed.
Jairam Ramesh on the Banking Regulation (Amendment) Bill
Indian economist and Congress leader Jairam Ramesh extends his support for the Banking Regulation (Amendment) Bill. But he asked Arun Jaitley why he keeping the onus of stressed assets on the RBI. He lauded that insolvency and bankruptcy code has been initiated in certain cases, but more is left to be desired.
He says that unlike the 26 billion dollars required for the recapitalisation of banks, the government has only committed to 3 billion, which is not enough. He questions how the government will meet this gap in recapitalisation. He says that there is ample evidence to suggest the sluggishness of the Indian economy.
He also commented on the total expenditure of the Union saying that about 6 lakh 50 thousand, or 30 percent of the budget was utilised in this quarter, unlike 26 percent in the past year. He said that this is good as the government had frontloaded the budget in the first quarter, but that means that government has reached over 80 percent of its deficit. He said that this meant that government expenditures would not grow in the coming quarters and it will hinder economic growth.
He added that there is a tendency to look at NPAs in a negative light. There are willful defaulters, but market conditions change, so to assume that everyone with NPAs suspiciousness is the wrong mentality to hold, he stated. He recommended that some form of documentation needs to be introduced to the public to see why the party has incurred NPAs, and that this will send a message to industries that investment is not a bad thing.
Government to fund ‘permanent solution’ to floods in North East, says Kiren Rijiju
The government proposes to fund a permanent solution to floods in the North East including Assam, the Lok Sabha was informed on Thursday.
Replying to a calling attention motion on the problem of floods in various parts of the country, Minister of State for Home Kiren Rijiju also rejected claims of opposition that the government has failed to respond to the “annual feature” of floods in time and gives little financial assistance to states to deal with the calamity.
Initiating the discussion, Gaurav Gogoi (Congress) alleged that the government was in deep slumber like the mythological ‘Kumbhkaran’ and fails to take quick action when a calamity like floods hits various parts of the country.
Saugata Roy (TMC) alleged that while funds for BJP-ruled Gujarat and Assam were released, no provision was granted for West Bengal. “We feel there is political discrimination,” he said.
Rijiju said the Centre does not discriminate and two instalments of the state disaster response fund have already to given to the state. He said Rs 100 crore has been earmarked to find a permanent solution to floods in the northeast region. “Experts will help find a solution,” he added. — PTI
Arun Jaitley discusses NPA issue
While discussing the Banking Regulation (Amendment) Bill, Arun Jaitley said that the steel industry is facing issues related to NPAs. He blamed cheap exports from nations like China for this excess stress. He also spoke of the infrastructure sector, as there was no legal setup to resolve issues related to this industry. The third sector he mentions is electricity.
He said that despite bringing the insolvency bill, the issue of debts is still a burning issue for the government. “The issue is that the debts are mounting up,” Jaitley asserts, saying that multiple lenders and bankers need to be streamlined to resolve the NPA issue. “It’s already too late,” he said, stressing the importance of the bill in discussion.
Finance Minister Arun Jaitley begins speaking about The Banking Regulation (Amendment) Bill, 2017
Dr T Subbarami Reddy initiates the Banking Regulation (Amendment) Bill in Rajya Sabha
Current bill for consideration and passing in Rajya Sabha- The Banking Regulation (Amendment) Bill, 2017 . An uproar is seen in the House ahead of the introduction of this discussion.
Sitaram Yechury gives an emotional farewell speech in Rajya Sabha
Following D Bandyopadhyay’s farewell address, Yechury gave his farewell speech in the Upper House. The veteran leader said. He joked about how he did not even know that ‘House’ meant Rajya Sabha before he took the designation, but he has grown ever since. “It has been such a great experience,” he said. He lauded the reporters and the staff of the House and expressed his gratitude for them. He also commented on the civil servants of the nation, calling them the ‘value system’ and ‘internal strength’ of India. He said that the House should look inwards to extend outwards, rather than outsourcing work.
He also stressed on avoiding the imposition of religious, linguistic and cultural syncretism, or else the country will implode. “Strengthening bonds of commonality should be the focus,” he said. He said that in his 12 years of experience a lot has changed and that now we live in the world of ‘post-truth.’ He spoke of these issues in the backdrop of farmers issues and the language debate.
BJP attacks Hamid Ansari for ‘insecurity among Muslims’ comment
The BJP criticised outgoing Vice-President Hamid Ansari for his comment that there was a sense of insecurity among Muslims and said such a “petty” remark was not expected from someone in his position.
BJP general secretary Kailash Vijayvargiya also wondered if Ansari was looking for “political shelter” after retirement.
“I condemn his comments. He has made political comments as he is retiring. He is still a vice-president and such comments do not suit his office’s dignity. It seems he is making such comments to find political shelter after retirement,” Vijayvargiya said. Nobody expects such “petty comments” from a person holding such a high post, he added.
Leaders bid farewell to Rajya Sabha
Secretary General of the Communist Party of India Sitaram Yechury, Trinamool Congress MP D Bandyopadhyay and Bharatiya Janata Party leader Dilip Pandya will not be returning to the Rajya Sabha.
Left may not always be right but the left is certainly very essential for the survival of secular values of this nation: Jairam Ramesh bidding farewell to Sitaram Yechury
Ram Gopal Yadav turns emotional bidding farewell to Sitaram Yechury
Yadav, who shares bench with the veteran CPM leader, bid an emotional farewell to Yechury. Referring to the list of prominent parliamentarians pointed out by Ghulam Nabi Azad, Yadav said that Yechury’s name will be a part of the list for coming generations.
LoP Ghulam Nabi Azad reiterates importance of Rajya Sabha
In his speech to bid farewell to retiring members of the Rajya Sabha, the Azad sought to remind the Treasury Benches the importance of Rajya Sabha. Naming distinguished memebrs of the House, Azad pointed out that the House has given the country five prime ministers.
Arun Jaitley heaps praise on Sitaram Yechury as the CPM veteran retires from the Upper House
“There are some contributions that raise the level of the debate in the Parliament, and Sitaram Yechury is one such parliamentarian,” Jaitley said.
He said that after Yechury was done talking, it became the onus of others to strive up to that level and contribute to the debate. Jaitley, however, added on a lighter note that Yechury has the privilege of making suggestion which are in good faith but implementable, because he has ever been in the government. He wished Yechury and the other two retiring members good health and luck.
Members recount hamid Ansari’s contribution the House, say grateful that you set the precedent of not passing a legislation in din
Members of rajya Sabha, including leaders like Sitaram Yechury and Tam Gopal Verma thanked Ansari for observing strictly a very important rule by not allowing a legislation to be passed when the House was not in order.
" I hope that this precedent is continued to be observed by those who follow you into the Chair," Yechury said.
Disturbed that Indianness of citizens being questioned: Hamid Ansari
A day before the Rajya Sabha bid farewell to the out-going vice-president, Ansari said that he had flagged the issue of intolerance with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his cabinet colleague.
Ansari, 80, also described as a “disturbing thought” that Indianness of citizens was being questioned. “Well, there is always an explanation and there is always a reason. Now it is a matter of judgement, whether you accept the explanation, you accept the reasoning and its rationale,” the seasoned diplomat said when asked about the response of the government.