Review of Parliament (LS&RS) Proceedings

Courtesy : RAJESH AHUJA (UNI) via AIR

REVIEW OF PROCEEDINGS OF RAJYA SABHA-

Both the houses of Parliament witnessed repeated adjournments over several issues including the Pegasus snooping and farm laws.
Proceedings in the Rajya Sabha today began with Chairman M. Venkaiah Naidu and members paying tribute to Freedom fighters and martyrs during the Quit India Movement on the occasion of its anniversary. The day marks the 79th Anniversary of the historic day, on which Mahatma Gandhi, the Father of the Nation, launched the ‘Quit India Movement’, in the year 1942. This ‘Bharat Chodo Andolan’, was one of the most defining moments of the country’s long drawn freedom struggle.

The clarion call given by the Mahatma Gandhi of ‘Do or Die’, which means ‘Karo Ya Maro’, for the freedom of the  motherland and the response it got from the countrymen, yearning for ‘self-rule’ unsettled the then colonial rulers. 
The Chairman said that spirit of ‘Quit India’ should guide the country to banish poverty, illiteracy, corruption, casteism, communalism, criminality in public life, inequalities, discrimination and all other forms of evils from our motherland, to fully realize the goals of freedom struggle. On this solemn occasion, we pay our humble and respectful homage to all those martyrs who laid down their lives and also those who underwent untold sufferings for the cause of our freedom. We also re-affirm our commitment and renew our resolve to uphold the sovereignty, unity and integrity of our country. The members observed silence as a mark of respect to the memory of the martyrs.
Thereafter, the house congratulated the medal winners at the Tokyo Olympics. Mr. Venkaiah Naidu said, the house has the tradition of taking note of and bringing on the record the spectacular initiatives, endeavors and accomplishments of the country as and when they happen. One such latest occasion has been provided by the commendable performance of our contingent in the Tokyo Olympics that concluded yesterday. He said, the Tokyo Olympics turned out to be the best for the country, not only in terms of the highest ever number of seven medals won, but also in terms of the grit demonstrated as was evident in quite a few close finishes and a large number of our athletes entering medal winning rounds of competition. He said, Tokyo Olympics heralded resurgence, renaissance and national awakening in the sports in our country by restoring the depleting confidence and self-esteem.

The Chairman said that the Tokyo Olympics would be etched in the history as the first moment of national awakening in sports. He said, the Tokyo performance, besides other takeaways, has defined India’s mission for the future. He said, our mission shall be to be in the top ten at the earliest possible.

Congress members Anand Sharma and Jairam Ramesh said, the interventions by the previous governments should also be recorded in the reference to the Quit India Movement.

Opposition members were in the well shouting slogans against the government over the Pegasus issue leading to repeated adjournment. Amid the uproar, the Chairman adjourned the house till 1200 hours.

When the house reassembled at 1200 hours, members of the Opposition again raised noisy scenes, resulting in Deputy Chairman Harivansh adjourning the house till 2 P.M.

When the house reassembled at 2 P.M., Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs V. Muraleedharan suggested that the house take up Taxation Laws as the second bill instead of the General Insurance Bill.

Leader of Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge objected to the government bringing a supplementary business in the house without giving prior notice to members. He said that the Opposition has been fighting for 20-25 days demanding a discussion on Pegasus.

Responding to the Leader of the Opposition, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Prahlad Joshi said, he would only like to clarify whatever has been brought in the supplementary business was circulated well in advance. They should have prepared for it.

Soon after, members of the Opposition stormed to the well of the house shouting slogans against the government over the Pegasus issue.

Amid the uproar, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman moved The Tribunals Reforms (Rationalisation and Conditions of Service) Bill, 2021.

Supporting the bill, Sujeet Kumar of Biju Janata Dal said, the two main reasons to establish the Tribunal was to de-clog the courts. The discussion continued amid uproar by the Opposition. Shakti Sinh Gohil of the Congress, N.R. Elango of DMK, Banda Prakash of TRS, Venkataramana Rao Mopidevi of YSRCP, Manoj Kumar Jha of RJD and Kanakamedala Ravindra Kumar of TDP participated in the debate.

Responding to discussion on the bill, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said that a member from the Congress party raised the issue of judicial independence. She said, the bill is replacing an ordinance. This is a house that makes laws. The primacy of legislature in making laws is as important as the independence of judiciary.

After the Minister’s reply, the statutory resolution disapproving of the bill, moved by Shaktisinh Gohil, was put to voice vote and defeated.

However, Opposition Members sought division which was rejected by the house with 44 voting in favour and 79 voting against it.
Thereafter, the bill was put to vote. It was passed by voice vote and returned to the Lok Sabha.

After passage of The Tribunals Reforms (Rationalisation and Conditions of Service) Bill, 2021, Mr Sasmit Patra, who was in the Chair, adjourned the house till 3.30 P.M. due to uproar.
When the house reassembled at 3.30 P.M., Leader of Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge pointed that there was no mention of supplementary business.

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman introduced the Taxation Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2021. It proposes amendments to the Income Tax Act, 1961. Speaking on the bill, she said, it does not forgo the sovereign right of collecting taxes. She said, the government could not bring it earlier due to pendency of cases. She said, without consistency in taxation, businesses won’t be able to go forward. The Finance Minister said, 17 cases, where India had raised a demand based on retrospective tax, most of them are in litigation.

The Taxation Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2021 is a money bill, which means the Upper House cannot seek any amendments. The house can discuss and return the bill to the Lok Sabha.
Amar Patnaik of Biju Janata Dal, A. Navaneethakrishnan of AIADMK, Vijaysai Reddy of YSRCP participated in the discussion.
After Minister’s reply, the bill was returned to the Lok Sabha by voice vote.

Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan moved the Central University Amendment Bill, 2021 for consideration of the house. The bill seeks to provide a Central University in Ladakh. Mr. Pradhan said, there was a demand for Central University in Ladakh. This bill, which has already been passed by Lok Sabha, will set up Sindhu University in Ladakh. He said, four thousand students from Ladakh go to other parts of the country to study every year.

Among others, Banda Prakash of TRS and Thambi Durai of AIADMK participated in the discussion.

Minority Affairs Minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said, there was a long-pending demand for Central University in Ladakh. People of Leh and Kargil had kept two demands before the Prime Minister – Zojila Tunnel and Central University. Both the demands have been fulfilled.

Responding to the discussion on the bill, Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan said, the record of Narendra Modi Government on reservation is straight. He said, it is Mr. Modi only, who started EWS reservation and OBC reservations in NEET.

After the minister’s reply, the bill was passed by voice vote.

Later, the house was adjourned for the day.

REVIEW OF PROCEEDINGS IN LOK SABHA-

In the Lok Sabha, when the house assembled for the day, Opposition parties from Congress, TMC, DMK and others continued with their sloganeering and trooped to the well. The house was adjourned for 30 minutes till 11.30 A.M.

When the house reassembled after the first adjournment, Opposition members again created ruckus. Amid uproar, the Presiding Officer adjourned the House till 12 noon and then till 2.00 P.M.

When the house re-assembled in the post-lunch session at 2 P.M., Opposition members again trooped to the well. The house was adjourned for the day as Opposition members continued with their protests. 

Earlier, the Limited Liability Partnership (Amendment) Bill, 2021, Deposit Insurance and Credit Guarantee Corporation (Amendment) Bill, 2021 and the Constitution (Scheduled Tribes) Order (Amendment) Bill, 2021 were passed amid din by voice vote.

The National Commission for Homoeopathy (Amendment) Bill, 2021 and the National Commission for Indian System of Medicine (Amendment) Bill, 2021 were introduced amidst Opposition by Congress and TMC members. The Constitution (One Hundred and Twenty Seventh Amendment) Bill, 2021 was also introduced.

In the morning, the house paid homage to freedom fighters on the Anniversary of the Quit India Movement. It also lauded the Indian track and field athlete Neeraj Chopra for winning the Gold Medal in the Javelin Throw and Wrestler Bajrang Punia for winning Bronze Medal in Tokyo Olympics