Parliament Updates: Looks like Parliament passed POCSO law in a rage, must rethink capital punishment, says RJD's Manoj Jha

Rajya Sabha discusses Private Member Bills 

Under-five mortality rate on decline, says govt

All states have shown a decline in mortality rate among children under five years of age, Minister of Health and Family Welfare Harsh Vardhan said in Lok Sabha on Friday. 

The government is implementing child health programme under National Health Mission to improve child survival and address factors contributing to infant and under-five mortality.

Congress criticises govt for bringing Ordinance on Companies Amendment Bill

Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury said that government is pushing legislation through Parliament at a fast pace. He said that while he doesn’t have a cogent argument to oppose this legislation, but he opposes the way this is being brought about in the House. He wanted to know how the government defines shell companies.

Lok Sabha discusses Companies Amendment Bill 2019

Lok Sabha to pass resolution against Azam Khan authorising Speaker to take action against SP leader

The Lok Sahha will pass a resolution condemning comments made by Samajwadi Party leader Azam Khan against BJP’ Rama Devi. The resolution will also authorise the Speaker to act against the MP.

14 parties write to Rajya Sabha Chairman against passage of RTI bill, says govt in hurry to bring in new laws

Reports say that at least 14 political parties have jointly written a letter to Rajya Sabha Chairman Venkaiah Naidu objecting to the way, the RTI (Amendment) Bill was passed in the Upper House. The parties have said that the government is bulldozing through the lawmaking process, and not giving enough time to MPs to study and scrutinise key bills.

Nirmala Sitharaman, Smriti Irani seek ‘exemplary action’ against Azam Khan

Women members in Lok Sabha on Friday spoke in one voice condemning the sexiest remarks by SP member Azam Khan against Bihar MP Rama Devi and demanded that he apologise or else he should be suspended from the House. During the Zero Hour, Union Textiles Minister Smriti Irani said the remarks of Khan in Lok Sabha on Thursday during the debate of Triple Talaq Bill were a “blot” on all legislators, including men.

“This is a blot on all legislators including men. We cannot remain silent spectators to it. We have to speak in one voice that this is unacceptable,” Irani said.

Lok Sabha to reconvene at 2 pm; Rajya Sabha to meet at 2.30

Speaker Om Birla says will decide on Azam Khan issue after consulting leaders of all parties

 " have everybody’s opinion. Now I will call a meeting of leaders of all parties and then take a decision on this issue," Speaker Om Birla said.

Chaos in House as Adhir Ranjan Chaudhary mixing Azam Khan vs Rama Devi issue with past insults hurled on Sonia Gandhi

Leader of Congress in Lok Sabha, Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury said, “Congress party is against disrespect of women” while reacting to Azam Khan’s comment against Rama Devi yesterday when she was presiding over the House proceedings as Deputy Speaker. However, Choudhary triggered a commotion as he tried to link the issue with past incidents when Sonia Gandhi was insulted by MPs in the House.

“There have been incidents when Sonia Gandhi ji was called ‘Italy ki katputli’ etc. in the Parliament.” Congress’ support to the cause along with these riders appeared pale in comparison to the unequivocal and total condemnation of the Samajwadi Party leader’s sexist slur by some of the party’s own allies, including the Nationalist Congress Party. Perhaps this is another case of missed opportunity for Congress, who could have used the occasion to unconditionally condemn an act which witnessed the rest of the Parliament united on an issue.

Azam Khan’s objectionable comment against BJP’s Rama Devi echo in Zero Hour in Lok Sabha

During the Question Hour, several MPs across party line raised yesterday’s controversy about Azam Khan’s comment against BJP’s Rama Devi who was sitting in the Chair at the time. Kanimozhi from DMK, Supriya Sule of the NCP and Nusrat Jahan of the Trinamool Congress were among those who rose to condemn Khan’s comments against the BJP MP.

Papers being laid on the table

Several ministers are rising to lay on the table of the House the various documents related to their various miniseries. 

 The practice of laying papers on the Table is the logical corollary of Parliaments’ inherent right to information as well as enforcing executive accountability to it.  In certain Central Acts, therefore,  specific provisions exist for the laying on the Table of certain documents, including the rules made by the Government in exercise of delegated powers of legislation.  Sometimes, Government on their own accord lays on the Table important reports, agreements and other miscellaneous papers with a view to making them public.  In order to enforce the accountability of public undertakings, it has been made mandatory for such bodies to lay their annual reports and audited accounts on the Table of the two Houses of Parliament.

Speaker disallows adjournment motions on over ’threats and intimidation of Padma award winning film director Adoor Gopalakrishnan by a Kerala BJP office bearer’

Samajwadi Party’s Javed Khan raises issue of dearth of hearse vans in govt hospitals 

Khan narrated the story of a man who had to dismember his relative’s body and bundle it up in a bale to carry it home on his head. Likewise, Khan narrated the plight of another peron who dragged their spouse’s body home because they couldn’t afford private means to transport their dead and the government hospitals denied them the service of a hearse van due to various reasons.  

Khan suggested that only those private hospitals be given a license to practice who prove that they have at least one or two hearse vans. He said that in government hospital too, their should be a facility to transport the body up till a set distance or the nearest area where more options for transport are available,

Venkaiah Naidu pays tribute to the soldiers of the Kargil war

Rajya Sabha Chairman Venkaiah Naidu pays tribute to the soldiers of the Kargil war on the 20th anniversary of the Kargil Vijay Diwas. He also congratulates the Indian athletes on their recent successes.

Lok Sabha debates on ways to protect Sundarban mangroves and Bengal tigers 

Mangroves like Sundarbans  and Ranthambore are being discussed. Minister of State for Environment Babul Supriyo says that the government is concentrating on protection of such areas – especially in West Bengal, Gujarat and Odisha – which comprise more than 70 percent of the mangroves in the country.

He also said that the government is committed to not only protect the existing mangroves but also increase their area.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh pays homage to Kargil war veterans, fallen soldiers in Lok Sabha

Rajnath Singh spoke about Kargil Vijay Diwas in the Lok Sabha today. We are remembering our martyrs today. We respect them for their bravery. Pakistan cannot fight full-fledged war with us. They can only get into a proxy war with India. All because of our brave jawans

लोक सभा में कारगिल विजय दिवस के अवसर पर जवानों के शौर्य और पराक्रम को नमन pic.twitter.com/ZeRtZLLQcI

— Lok Sabha TV (@loksabhatv) July 26, 2019

Why did Centre extend Parliament Session?

The NDA, which stormed to power twice with an absolute majority in Lok Sabha, has been on the back foot in Parliament during its last term because it lacked a majority in the Rajya Sabha. The Opposition took advantage of its position of strength in the Upper House to stall legislation, while the government on its part rushed through important bills in Lok Sabha even when the House wasn’t in order – the ultimate casualty of the chaos was governance. The government had often taken the Ordinance route to pass key policy decisions, which while offered a quick fix for the delay, but the value addition to the legislation from critical debate and any possible scope of in-depth review was ruled out. 

The government was often accused of steamrolling the Opposition by passing proper policy decisions in the guise of a money bill to avoid scrutiny from Rajya Sabha. 

Even though a majority in Rajya Sabha still evades the BJP, the decision to extend the Session this time shows the government is hopeful of support from other neutral parties like YSRCP, BJD and TRS. These parties are neither part of the UPA nor NDA but have supported the government on several occassions.

Parliament Session extended till 7 August

The Union government on Thursday decided to extend the Parliament session till August 7 to complete its legislative agenda. The decision was taken at a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Parliamentary Affairs here, official sources said.

Following the decision, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi told Lok Sabha that there were around 17 pending bills as he explained the reason for the extension. Speaker Om Birla then made an announcement in the House about the session’s extension till 7 August. The ongoing session had started on 7 June and was scheduled to end on 26 July.