Parliament LIVE updates: Discussion underway on supplementary demand for grants; Opposition corners BJP over 'failed' fiscal polices

NCP MP addressed needs of farmers, said that UPA’s MNREGA scheme was ‘beneficial’ 

Madhukrao Y Kukade of NCP addressed the issue of farmers and lack of funds issued by the government. He said the BJP government was completely ignoring the needs of the farmers, especially from his constituency in Maharashtra. Kukdade said that UPA’s MGNREGA is actually very beneficial, contrary to the government’s opinion.

AITC MP Saugata Roy attacks Modi govt over its fiscal policies

Discussion and voting are underway in the Lok Sabha on the supplementary demand for grants for 2018-19. AITC MP from Dam Dam in West Bengal Professor Saugata Roy said that the country is in a very bad state because of the BJP government’s fiscal policies. Roy said that the biggest failure of the Modi govt was demonetisation and the hurried implementation of GST. Whereas, he said, the biggest failure of Arun Jaitley as a finance minister was the failure to revive the banking sector.

AITC MP Saugata Roy attacks Modi govt over its fiscal policies

Discussion and voting are underway in the Lok Sabha on the supplementary demand for grants for 2018-19. AITC MP from Dam Dam in West Bengal Professor Saugata Roy said that the country is in a very bad state because of the BJP government’s fiscal policies. Roy said that the biggest failure of the Modi govt was demonetisation and the hurried implementation of GST. Whereas, he said, the biggest failure of Arun Jaitley as a finance minister was the failure to revive the banking sector.

Ghulam Nabi Azad supports Opposition’s demand of sending triple talaq bill to a select committee

Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad said that an important bill like this can’t be passed without prior consideration by a select Parliamentary committee.

Ghulam Nabi Azad, Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha: This is such an important bill which can positively or negatively affect the lives of crores of people can't be passed just like this without going to a select committee. #TripleTalaqBill pic.twitter.com/YU6rNrXI0X

— ANI (@ANI) December 31, 2018

Lok Sabha discusses Supplementary Demand for Grants 

BJP MP Nishikant Dubey argued in Lok Sabha that UPA’s NREGA is the ‘mother of all corruptions’ and led to government’s fiscal target getting out of order. He also praised BJP government’s move to bring in a National Register of Citizens (NRC) in Assam which he said was a much-needed exercise against Bangladeshi immigrants.

Opposition adamant on sendin triple talaq bill to select committee

TMC leader Derek O’Brien demanded in Rajya Sabha that the triple talaq bill be sent to a select committee. He moved a motion for the same, and all Opposition parties allied with his demand.

Centre yet to assess impact of note ban, GST in certain sectors

In response to a question asked by Hyderabad MP Assaduddin Owaisi, the Centre informed the Lok Sabha that it has yet to assess the impact of demonetisation and GST on workers engaged in the organised and unorganized sectors, including agricultural and contractual labourers, in the country.

#ParliamentWatch

In response to a question asked by @asadowaisi, Centre informs in Lok Sabha that it hasn't assessed the impact of demonetisation & GST on the workers engaged in organized/ unorganized sector, agricultural and contractual labourers in the country. pic.twitter.com/KY1C1G1SKs

— The Leaflet (@TheLeaflet_in) December 31, 2018

Demand for NRC in Jharkhand

Before the Lok Sabha was adjourned till 2 pm, an MP from Jharkhand demanded that the National Register for Citizens be implemented in the state as well as it has been dealing with Bangladeshis illegally settling there.

Remove defects, pass triple talaq bill, says BJD

Prasanna Acharya, BJD on #TripleTalaqBill in RS: Whatever judgement SC has given, we agree with that. The bill should be passed, but there are certain defects in the bill which should be removed. We want that the Bill should be passed as early as possible, but after corrections. pic.twitter.com/wSeOXBd81f

— ANI (@ANI) December 31, 2018

Statements during Zero Hour:

– BJP MP Ravindra Kumar Pandey brings up instances of jobs not being provided under the MNREGA scheme in Jharkhand

– BJD MP Brahtuhari Mahtab raises issue of UPSC candidates not familiar with English being affected by the introduction of CSAT in the civil service exams

– TDP brings up the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act and demands that its provisions be fulfilled as promised 

–  MP Sandya Roy calls for digitalisation of India Post

– Trinamool Congress MP Sanghamitra Mamtaz calls for the establishment of new power plants in her constituency

Sloganeering continues during Zero Hour in Lok Sabha

Shouts of “we want JPC”, “JPC mein nikal aayega” and “chowkidaar chor hai” continue in Parliament, even as the Lok Sabha speaker conducts the Zero Hour. The Opposition has been demanding a Joint Parliamentary Committee investigation into the Rafale deal.

Mehbooba Mufti speaks up against triple talaq bill to be introduced in Rajya Sabha

“When we talk about reservations for Muslims, the BJP rejects it on religious lines. But when it comes to this kind of law, then they run to Parliament,” Mehbooba Mufti said.

Mehbooba Mufti: I've gone through a broken marriage&I feel that women face biggest challenge economically after her marriage is broken.When we talk about reservations for Muslims,BJP rejects it on religious lines. But when it comes to this kind of law, then they run to Parliament https://t.co/Vydu4DZNsH

— ANI (@ANI) December 31, 2018

PDP leader raises Kashmir civilian deaths

PDP leader Muzaffar Hussain Baig raised the issue of civilian deaths in Jammu and Kashmir in the Lok Sabha. He pointed out recent incidents that he said indicated a rise in civilian deaths in the Valley and called for steps be taken to control such incidents, or risk promoting separatist feelings among residents.

Rajnath Singh replies to Mallikarjun Kharge

The home minister says the government has always been ready for a discussion on the Rafale deal. “Repeating a lie again and again won’t make it the truth,” Rajnath Singh said.

Mallikarjun Kharge speaks on Rafale deal

Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge rakes up the Rafale deal in the Lok Sabha again. He points out the difference in the price of the jets negotiated by the UPA and NDA regimes, adding that the NDA’s price for the fighter jets was three times higher than the UPAs. He demanded to know why the government was not revealing the price of the jets. “It’s a Rs 30,000-crore scam,” he said, demanding a JPC investigation.

Lok Sabha session resumes amid more sloganeering

Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan is conducting the proceedings despite MPs shouting slogans saying “Rafale scam pe JPC shuru karo” and “we want JPC”.

First Question Hour this Winter Session heading for completion

This is the first time since the Winter Session began on 11 December that the Question Hour is heading for completion in the Lok Sabha. So far, the House the adjourned within minutes of convening due to ruckus created by MPs and little discussion.

Prakash Javedekar says no need for special yoga curriculum in schools

HRD Minister Prakash Javedekar was asked in Lok Sbaha details of the number of universities, including private and deemed universities, in the country, and their performance-based rankings. He was also asked whether yoga will be made compulsory in all schools and colleges, to which he said: “There is already a physical education period in schools, during which yoga is also taught.”

Question Hour continues in Lok Sabha amid sloganeering

Lok Sabha speaker Sumitra Mahajan is proceeding with the session despite the ruckus created by MPs. Shouts of “JPC shuru karo” can be heard, with regard to the Opposition’s demand for a Joint Parliamentary Committee investigation into the Rafale deal.

Narendra Modi chairs meeting in Parliament

A meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi is underway in Parliament. BJP president Amit Shah, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley and Home Minister Rajnath Singh are present at the meeting. This comes ahead of the triple talaq bill being introduced in the Upper House for discussion and passing.

Rajya Sabha adjourned till 2 pm

Rajya deputy chairman Harivansh Narayan Singh adjourned the House till 2 pm as AIADMK MPs continued to shout slogans in the Well. This was after he appealed to MPs to allow the House to proceed on the last day of the year.

AIADMK MPs shout ‘we want justice’ in Rajya Sabha

Six AIADMK MPs stall the proceedings shouting “we want justice” in the Well regarding the Cauvery issue.

LoP Ghulam Nabi Azad requests the deputy chairman to ensure that the chaos in the House not be attributed to the Congress, as they want to hold discussions in Parliament.

Proceedings continue amid chaos in Lok Sabha, Rajya Sabha proceeds smoothly

MPs continue to shout slogans in the Lok Sabha, even as Speaker Sumitra Mahajan conducts the Question Hour. Rajya Sabha tables a number of reports of parliamentary standing committees.

Lok Sabha, Rajya Sabha sessions begin

Rajya Sabha pays tribute to filmmaker Mrinal Sen, who died on Sunday. Lok Sabha hold a minute’s silence over the death of deceased members Captain Jainarayan Prasad Nishad and MVVS Murthi.

‘Opposition should fight unitedly against BJP’s anti-Muslim attitude’

Andhra Pradesh chief minister Chandrababu Naidu appealed to his Telugu Desam party MPs in the Rajya Sabha “to obstruct the harassment of Muslims”, saying all Opposition parties should “fight unitedly against the anti-Muslim attitude of the BJP”. “The government forcibly imposing the triple talaq bill is a danger for secularism and national integrity,” he said.

AIADMK, DMK to oppose triple talaq bill in Rajya Sabha

The ruling AIADMK and the Opposition DMK in Tamil Nadu will oppose the contentious triple talaq bill in the Rajya Sabha today. 

Lok Sabha Deputy Speaker and AIADMK leader M Thambidurai said the party is against the Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Bill, 2018, and that the government should not “interfere” in religious matters. “It is the duty of the AIADMK to safeguard the welfare of minorities. AIADMK will fully oppose this bill against our Muslim brothers,” he said.

DMK leader and Rajya Sabha MP Kanimozhi said her party had been consistent in its position against “criminalisation” of triple talaq. “We are opposing jail punishment for pronouncing talaq. Even the Islamic tenets does not allow instant triple talaq,” she said, adding that if violation of such tenets were to happen, it should not be made a criminal offence as it was a civil issue.

PTI

TMC moves motion for reference of triple talaq bill

The Trinamool Congress has moved a motion of reference of the Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Bill, 2018, as passed by the Lok Sabha, to a Select Committee of Rajya Sabha.

Opposition leaders meet in Ghulam Nabi Azad’s chamber

Senior leaders of major Opposition parties in Rajya Sabha meeting now in Leader of Opposition Ghulam Nabi Azad’s chamber to ensure better coordination on issues in Parliament, reports said.

Opposition meets ... triple talaq bill in rajya sabha pic.twitter.com/kYxMJOl16e

— pallavi ghosh (@_pallavighosh) December 31, 2018

Opposition planning to stage a walkout in Rajya Sabha

The Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS), Congress and Samajwadi Party are planning to stage a walkout in the Rajya Sabha, reports said.

11 Opposition leaders move resolution on triple talaq bill

Eleven 11 Opposition leaders have signed a resolution — motion for reference — to have the the triple talaq bill sent to a parliamentary select committee and the Rajya Sabha chairman. According to the rules of Parliament, the resolution needs to be taken up before the actual bill comes up for discussion in the House.

BJP, Congress issue whips to MPs 

In light of the Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Bill being tabled in the Rajya Sabha, both the BJP and Congress issued whips to their MPs on Sunday to be present in Parliament on Monday — the BJP to ensure that the bill is passed and the Congress to ensure that the proposed legislation is not passed in its present form.

Triple talaq bill listed in Rajya Sabha

The contentious triple talaq bill that seeks to criminalise the practice of instant divorce among Muslims is set to be taken up in the Rajya Sabha today, with the Congress and other Opposition parties gearing up to send it to a select committee.