Parliament updates: Lok Sabha passes SEZ Amendment Bill; House adjourned till 11 am tomorrow

D Raja says Centre should see interstate river water disputes are settled
Speaking on the drinking water crisis in Tamil Nadu, CPI leader D Raja said, "There is drinking water crisis in Chennai and several cities. People are agitated; there is unrest in Tamil Nadu. Despite rainwater harvest, Chennai is facing a severe water crisis. Tamil Nadu has river water problem, because except one river, rest are all shared with other states. There is an interstate river water dispute; Centre should see these disputes are settled." 

Tharoor says SEZ have potentional to be driving forces of our economy
Speaking in Lok Sabha, where a debate is underway for Special Economic Zones (Amendment) Bill, 2019, Shashi Tharoor said, "Unemployment has reached the highest rate in about 45 years. In the last five years, our exports have barely increased by 10 percent. According to replies in the House, 150 SEZs are non operational. Half the land notified for SEZ is lying vacant, exports are not growing fast enough to help generate employment... SEZ do have potential to be driving forces of our economy."

What's the plan, asks Congress MP on groundwater scarcity
In Rajya Sabha, where the members are discussing the challenges of water crisis, Congress MP Amee Yagnik said, "Water scarcity is going to be the issue of the century. How are we going to deal with it? If we want to be the economy of the future, water has to reach the last person."

On a NITI Aayog report that 21 cities running out of groundwater by 2020, she asked the government what the plan was. "We can't tell citizens to harvest rainter individually. We need to give them facility so they can start rainwater harvesting." 

Modi addressed deaths in Bihar due to encephalitis

Following the deaths of over 100 children in Bihar due to the outbreak of acute encephalitis syndrome on the state, Narendra Modi on Wednesday finally addressed the issue while speaking in Rajya Sabha. "The deaths in Bihar due to acute encephalitis syndrome are unfortunate and a matter of shame for us. We have to take this seriously. I am in constant touch with the state government and I am sure we will collectively come out of this crisis soon," he said.

The reaction comes after few parliamentarians, including Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, had criticised the government for lack of discussion on the issue.

Rajya Sabha passes Motion of Thanks to President's address 

The Rajya Sabha passed the Motion of Thanks to President's address without any amendments. 

Modi appeals to House to shun obstructionism 

Accepting that his party was not in majority in Rajya Sabha, Modi quoted former president Pranab Mukherjee. "The former president had clearly said that it is that the majority has got the mandate to rule and the minority has got the mandate to oppose but nobody has got the mandate to obstruct'. We all must follow this mantra in letter and spirit," Modi said. 

If Sardar Patel was India's first PM, Kashmir problem may not have existed, says Narendra Modi 

"I still believe had Sardar Patel been made the first Prime Minister of India, Kashmir issue would have been resolved. Sardar Patel lived and died as a Congressman. When we are paying tributes to the great leader, Congress has a problem," he asked.

Narendra Modi takes a jibe at Ghulam Nabi Azad

"I think Ghulam Nabi Azad is having blurred vision, maybe he is seeing everything from political spectacles. Ghalib said something for such people 'ta umr Ghalib ye bhool karta raha, dhool chehre pe thi, aaina saaf karta raha," Narendra Modi said.

'Can't claim partial credits,' Narendra Modi reminds Congress Rajiv Gandhi accepted NRC in Assam accord

Narendra Modi said that the Congress party wants to claim credit for their contribution in the past. "They want votes, they want credits, but they will only tell the half story. This is not done," Modi said. "Please be reminded that it was Rajiv Gandhi who first agreed to NRC in Assam accord. The Supreme Court intervened and asked us to implement. It's not a political issue or a vote bank for us. We will implement it with complete sincerity. 

Narendra Modi raises Tabrez Ansari lynching in RS, says punish guilty but can't demonise entire state

On the issue of lynchings, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that the entire state of Jharkhand cannot be blamed for a lynching. Condemning the violence, he said the perpetrators must be brought to law. "All violence, be it Jharkhand or West Bengal or Kerala, must be condemned," he said.  "But Jharkhand also has a lot of good people, are we doing them justice by maligning the image of the whole state," Modi asked.

Narendra Modi's advice to Congress on winning polls  

Prime Minister Narendra Modi said, "The BJP too once had just two MPs in the House. We had faith in our karyakartas. We worked hard to reach here." The prime minister added that we never questioned the election process. Only those who have lost elections, blame the EVMs. This will only demoralise your cadre, the Prime Minister said.

Narendra Modi slams Congress for objecting to every 'progressive' idea, cites debate over Aadhaar, EVMs, GST as example

The Election Commission invited parties on the issue of EVMs and only two parties went, CPI and NCP. I appreciate them for going to the EC to learn more about the issue. But, why did the rest of the parties questioning the EVMs not even go, they should answer. We are seeing this same attitude when it comes to discussing 'One Nation, One Election.' Yes, people may not like the idea or have inputs on this. But, it is important to present these ideas and have discussions on the subject. They have problems with technology, digital transactions, Aadhaar, GST, Bhim App. Why such negativity? This negativity was one of the chief reasons why some parties have not been able to win people's trust:

Why question EVM today 

"There have been so many polls with EVMs and parties that are represented in the Rajya Sabha have got opportunities to govern in some state or the other after elections conducted through EVMs. Then, why question EVMs today?," Modi asked.

He said, "This trend to blame EVMs for loses is a new sickness that is spreading. I want to ask the Opposition, you claim credit for everything done in the past, but isn't this too something you introduced? Then why do you oppose EVMs now."

Congress' loss does not mean India's loss, says Narendra Modi 

Addressing the Rajya Sabha, Narendra Modi said that Congress loss does not mean India's loss.  "Do our friends in the Congress Party feel if they do not win, India does not win? Are India and the Congress Party the same thing? No, they are not. It is important to respect our electoral process and democracy," Modi said.  

'Congress' arrogance knows no bounds'; PM slams party for 'India lost with Narendra Modi's win' comment

"I was saddened when some leaders said- the BJP and allies won the elections but the nation lost, democracy lost. I want to clearly say that such statements are unfortunate.  Why question the wisdom of voters," Modi questioned. 

He slammed the Congress party stating, "Their arrogance has no limits or what? well arrogance shouldn't exist in the first place... but what do they mean. Did democracy lose in Wayanad and Raebareilly..?" Modi asked. 

Lok Saha election mandate smells of a matured electorate, says Narendra Modi 

"It is after a long time that a Government with a full majority was elected once again with a full majority. In this mandate we see the desire of the people for stability. In fact, this trend of stable governments is being seen in various states too," Modi said.   

Narendra Modi begins Rajya Sabha address by thanking voters for greater mandate

Prime Minister Narendra Modi started his first Rajya Sabha address after re-election by thanking the voters for reposing faith in him and electing him with a far greater mandate.  

Mimi Chakraborty, Tejasvi Surya among maiden speakers in Lok Sabha

H Vasanthakumar, the Kanyakumari Congress MP asks for tourism infrastructure in his constituency. Tejasvi Surya urges the government to revert to the requirement of Kannada language proficiency for banking jobs in Karnataka so that the local youth can find employment. 

Mimi Chakrabarty demanded a flyover for better connectivity in her Jadavpur constituecy, while Nusrat Jahan sought Kendriya Vidyalaya in her constituency.

Locket Chatterjee speaks about the violence in West Bengal. "Rabindranath Tagore's Bengal is burning," she says to raised voices in the House. Dilip Sakia, the next speaker, is stalled from saying his bit because of the ruckus following Chatterjee's short speech. 

Tejasvi Surya gives maiden speech in Lok Sabha 

In his maiden speech in the Lok Sabha, Tejasvi Surya brings up a 2014 bank employment notification that the changed the local language proficiency requirement for banking jobs. Switching to Kannada, he urges the government to revert the 2014 notification to help the youth of Karnataka gain employment.

He also spoke about the rising nationalism under the BJP government.

"The most important and irreversible change that India has witnessed under Modi ji is the proud revival of our cultural and civilisational identity. Young Indians today are not apologetic about wearing their Hindu identity up their sleeve." 

Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla dismisses notices for adjournment motions on Jharkhand mob lynching  

Speaker Om Birla said that although the matter was of great importance, but it would not be possible to disrupt the planned agenda of the House on its account. He said the matter can be taken up another time. 

Manish Tewari slams 'filibustering' Piyush Goyal; minister says Congress leader insulted House by comment

Congress leader Manish Tewari and Union minister Piyush Goyal — both articulate speakers with excellent command on the English language — had a little back and forth during the question hour. 

Goyal took some time laying out his government's plan of action and successes while replying to a member's query on US' withdrawal of GSP status to India. Tewari in turn posed another question and advised Goyal to give a straight reply rather than filibustering and giving a long-winded one. 

Goyal in his reply quipped in, "It is usually considered a good thing if a minister presents a detailed reply but the MP here, by calling it filibustering, are insulting the House and the members of his own party who asked the question."

7 ministries, departments haven't allocated funds for tribal welfare schemes: Officials

Seven central ministries and departments have not earmarked funds for tribal welfare schemes in their budget for 2019-20 and 12 have "kept the provision below the level stipulated by the Niti Aayog", officials said Wednesday. 

Lok Sabha takes up question hour on the ailing public-sector telecom companies

MPs discussed the poor condition of state-run BSNL and MTNL telecom companies. BJP MP from Bihar's Sheohar, Rama Devi suggested that the government sets up an expert committee to look into the root causes of the bleeding resources of the company and to formulate a resurrection mechanism if possible. 

MP from Jammu and Kashmir's Srinagar, Farooq Abdullah sought to know whether the government was planning to do infrastructural improvements to ensure better connectivity in border areas. 

Union minister Ravi Shankar Prasad responded to members and said he will work towards improving the health of the public sector companies 

Rajya Sabha debates on Motion of Thanks 

A discussion on the motion of thanks for the president's address is being held in Rajya Sabha. Accordingly, rules 14 to 21 of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in Rajya Sabha make provisions for the discussion of the Address.  Under rule 15, discussion on the matters referred to in the President's Address takes place on a Motion of Thanks moved by a member and seconded by another member. 

The scope of the discussion on the Address is very wide and members are at liberty to speak on every matter of national or international importance and other issues. Generally, three days are allotted for the discussion on the Motion of Thanks.   

Modi likely to reply on the motion of thanks on President’s address in Rajya Sabha today

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is likely to reply on the Motion of the Thanks to the President’s Address in the Rajya Sabha on Wednesday, the last day of the Parliament before it is adjourned sine die. The Parliament will meet again next week. The Economic Survey will be tabled on 4 July and the Union Bidget will be presented on 5 July.