Parliament Monsoon Session Day 10: Assam NRC row disrupts RS proceedings; LS amends law on commercial disputes

The row over the publication of the National Register of Citizens (NRC) in Assam echoed in Parliament where Home Minister Rajnath Singh asserted the Centre has no role in the preparation of the draft list and it was done on the directives of the Supreme Court.

Singh also asked the Opposition parties not to create panic and to politicise the “sensitive” issue. As the Trinamool Congress (TMC), the Samajwadi Party (SP) and other opposition parties triggered an uproar in the Rajya Sabha leading to the adjournment of the House ahead of schedule, Singh told the Lok Sabha that allegations against the government were baseless.

In the Lok Sabha, the TMC, Congress, Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPM) and the SP criticised the Centre over the publication of the list, saying it puts “human rights and democratic rights” of people at stake.

Over 40 lakh people in Assam have been left out from the NRC, which is being prepared to identify illegal migrants in Assam. The second draft of the NRC was published today in Guwahati.

Singh said the NRC was being demanded in Assam for a long time and the previous state government had set up foreign tribunals following the Supreme Court order. He appealed to Opposition members not to create “panic” since it is a “sensitive issue”.

“The government is not doing anything. Whatever is happening is under the supervision of the Supreme Court,” Singh said. Singh stressed the published NRC list is not the final list and applicants will have the option of raising claims and objections.

“People who feel their name should have been part of the NRC can file claims and objections. In how much time those claims and objections would be disposed off that will be decided by the Supreme Court,” he added.

Asking the Opposition to list out what role the government has played in the NRC, Singh said, “It is a sensitive issue and should not be politicised unnecessarily”.

Unsatisfied with the minister’s response, an unrelenting Opposition staged a walkout from the House.

The TMC had moved an adjournment motion in the Lok Sabha on the NRC issue, which was not taken up by Speaker Sumitra Mahajan.

Asking where the 40 lakh people will go, Sudip Bandyopadhyay (TMC) asked the Centre to ensure that justice should not be denied to the people who have been living in Assam for decades now.

Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge said “original citizens” of the state are being asked questions and this is creating division in the state based on caste and creed.

Mohammed Saleem (CPM) said the situation in Assam is fragile and “human rights and democratic rights” of the people of the state are at stake.

Jaiprakash Narayan Yadav (SP) said the move would lead to “hatred” and “violence” in Assam and dubbed it as a “war on people” who are living in the state for the last 40 years.

The Rajya Sabha witnessed three adjournments earlier in the day due to the continued uproar over the issue before the Chair called it a day at 2.13 pm.

When the House reconvened at 2 pm after the last adjournment, TMC leader Derek O’Brien stood up demanding a discussion on the notice given by him on the NRC.

However, Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu said he had taken the initiative earlier in the day and even called Home Minister Rajnath Singh to the House to respond on the issue, but the House was not in order.

Later, O’Brien told reporters that TMC has decided to circulate a note on NRC among other political parties. “We think the NRC is inhuman and violates human rights. We would circulate a note on it among all political parties,” he said. Alleging that the government did not consult West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee on the issue, the TMC leader said that a delegation of party MPs would soon visit Assam.

The Lok Sabha passed a bill to amend the law for speedy disposal of commercial disputes and seeking to reduce the pecuniary jurisdiction of commercial courts from Rs 1 crore to Rs 3 lakh. Replying to the debate on the Commercial Courts, Commercial Division and Commercial Appellate Division of High Courts (Amendment) Bill, 2018, Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said “this bill is a larger narrative pursuance to ensuring India’s performance in the ease of doing business.”

“We want to provide the option of using commercial dispute resolution to smaller traders also,” he said replying to opposition concerns regarding already over-burdened courts. The bill, which was passed by a voice vote in the Lok Sabha, also allows state governments to establish commercial courts at the district level, even in territories where high courts have ordinary original civil jurisdiction. In areas where high courts do not have original jurisdiction, state governments may set up commercial appellate courts at the district level to consider appeals from commercial courts below the level of a district judge, as per the bill which replaces an ordinance.

Prasad also rued about the Supreme Court’s decision to set aside National Judicial Appointment Commission Act as he said that the courts must not try to govern through PILs.

“I would like to state humbly that right to rule is for only those who are elected by the people and answerable to the House (Parliament). The right to enact laws is with those who are voted by the people and answerable to the House. I would like to humbly state that the work of high courts or the Supreme Court is not to rule through PIL. This right is given by the Constitution to elected representatives,” he said during Question Hour.

The Lok Sabha also took up for consideration the National Sports University Bill, 2018, aimed at promoting education in the areas of sports sciences, sports technology, sports management and sports coaching.

With inputs from agencies