Parliament Monsoon Session Live Updates | RS adjourned after passing Registration of Births and Deaths (Amendment) Bill

The Rajya Sabha has been adjourned for the day, will now resume on August 8 at 11 a.m.

The Rajya Sabha on Monday passed the Registration of Births and Deaths (Amendment) Bill, 2023, by voice vote on Monday.

The votes of the people of Delhi no longer have any value; they have elected a government but that government has no powers anymore. BJP hates the people of Delhi. This time people of Delhi won’t give a single seat to the BJP in Lok Sabha, said Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Monday, in an address, following the passage of the Delhi services Bill by Rajya Sabha.

“Home Minister Amit Shah said in the Parliament that Constitution has given power to them to pass laws. You have been given power to serve the people, not to oppress people. Don’t be this arrogant,” said Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal after the Delhi services bill was passed in Rajya Sabha on Monday.

He further added, “Today you people have stabbed people of Delhi in the back.”

“As per this law, people of Delhi can elect any government, but the government will be run by L-G sir (appointed by the Central government) and Modi ji. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is saying that he won’t listen to the Supreme Court. These people have this much arrogance,” said AAP chief and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal after Rajya Sabha passed the Delhi services bill on Monday.

The Registration of Births and Deaths (Amendment) Bill, 2023 was introduced in the Rajya Sabha for consideration and passage.

Delhi services Bill gets support of 131 MPs in Rajya Sabha, 102 members oppose it.

Two members — BJD MP Sasmit Patra and BJP MP Dr Sudhanshu Trivedi — are saying that they have not signed the motion to be part of select committee on Delhi services bill that was moved by Aam Aadmi Party MP Raghav Chadha in the House, Amit Shah said in the Rajya Sabha on Monday.

He further added, “Now it is a matter of investigation how the motion was signed.”

Voting on the Delhi services bill is underway in the Rajya Sabha after more than six-hours of discussion.

We are ready to discuss Manipur issue, we have nothing to hide, Opposition is running away instead, said Home Minister Amit Shah in Rajya Sabha.

Taking a swipe at Congress, Amit Shah said AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal will quit Opposition bloc INDIA once Delhi services bill is passed.

Opposition parties are opposing Delhi services bill only to save their alliance, he further said.

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government does not conduct Delhi Cabinet meetings regularly, Union Minister of Home Affairs Amit Shah said on Monday in the Rajya Sabha.

Mr. Shah said that the Delhi government has “held only six meetings in 2022, including three on budget, and only two in 2023 so far.”

After Supreme Court ruling, AAP government in Delhi ordered immediate transfers in vigilance department as it was probing scams, including in CM house renovation, said Amit Shah during services bill debate in Rajya Sabha.

Home Minister Amit Shah said that the Congress government amended the Constitution giving Parliament powers to frame laws for Delhi on all subjects, including services.

“Congress is opposing Delhi services bill only to appease Aam Aadmi Party,” said Amit Shah while replying to debate on Delhi services bill in Rajya Sabha.

Delhi services bill has not been brought to impose emergency or take away rights of people, said Home Minister Amit Shah in Rajya Sabha.

“Some people said that the Centre wants to take power into its hands. The Centre doesn’t need to take power from any State as the people of India have given us the power and the right. We have been elected by 130 crore people,” said Union Home Minister Amit Shah, responding to Opposition’s charge that the Centre is trying to take away powers from elected non-BJP governments.

Delhi services bill brought not to usurp powers of Delhi government, but to stop encroachment on Centre’s right by it, said Home Minister Amit Shah in Rajya Sabha.

Delhi services bill in no way violates Supreme Court judgement, said Home Minister Amit Shah as he responded on the National Capital Territory of Delhi (Amendment) Bill, 2023 in the Rajya Sabha.

Speaking on the Delhi services bill, Home Minister Amit Shah on Monday said, “Delhi services bill is aimed at effective, corruption-free governance in National Capital.”

Condemning Mr. O’Brien, Chairman Jagdeep Dhankar claims that he is engaging in bad conduct and theatrics as a strategy to gain personal publicity. He adds that Mr. O’Brien is disrupting the Upper House repeatedly with his actions. Opposition raises protest against the censure.

Speaking in opposition to the GNCTD Bill, TMC MP Derek O’Brien notes that PM Narendra Modi and Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal were children of federalism. He questions why was Mr. Modi then killing federalism. He said 1/3rd of the bills passed in past three years were anti-federal.

“BJP is doing transactional federalism. This will not work against Mamata Banerjee. We will oppose this Bill irrespective whether you pay us our Rs 12000 crores in GST dues and MNREGA funds,” says Mr. O’Brien. As he names PM, HM and WM (Washing machine), Chair Jagdeep Dhankar condemns him and expunges his statements. Treasury benches rises in protest and Opposition storms into the Well of the House.

Mr. Derek O’Brien notes that Ex-PM Dr. Manmohan Singh is present in the House in a wheelchair, JMM chief Hemant Soren is also present as this Bill is important enough to vote against.

Reliving the India against Corruption movement, UP MP Surendra Singh Nagar notes the AAP chief’s vow against corruption and his many allegations against the UPA government. He claims that the corruption and mishandling rampant in the Delhi government is the reason there was need to bring a GNCDT bill. Claiming that the Delhi CM was shirking off his responsibilities, it was the Union Home Minister who stepped to save Delhi during the COVID-19 oxygen crisis.

His statements were opposed by several Opposition MPs including Raghav Chhadha and Manoj Jha claiming that Mr. Nagar were referring to people who were not members of the Rajya Sabha.

Opposing AAP government, BJP MP Dr. Anil Jain lists the appointment of 473 advisors, excessive spending on advertisement, Delhi ministers arrested in many ED cases. Naming Satyendra Jain, Manish Sisodia and many others who were arrested, Dr. Jain terms Arvind Kejriwal as their ‘kingpin’.

Amid BJP MP Dr. Anil Jain’s speech, Opposition rises in protest. Citing rule 238, MPs claim that the member used derogatory speech and named several names in matters subjudice. Reading from the Rajya Sabha rulebook, Dr. John Brittas raises points of order saying that the member is talking on irrelevant issues. Similarly, AAP MP Raghav Chhadha cites rule 188 saying that during debate one must only raise points on the Bill.

Opposing the GNCTD Bill, SP MP Javed Ali Khan claims that BJP has lost all hopes of ever winning Delhi electorally and hence was taking it over centrally. Responding to AAP’s treatment of chief secretaries, he claims that a BJP MP in Uttar Pradesh was physically assaulting state secretaries on a monthly basis and not even the Home Minister was acting on.

Amid protests from the treasury benches, Chair Jagdeep Dhankar demanded Mr. Khan to place relevant documents supporting his serious allegations.

In response to Opposition against the GNCTD Bill, Union Urban Affairs Minister Hardeep Singh Puri says that the Bill recognises the sui generis character of Delhi as a Union Territory and the national capital. Attacking the AAP government, he alleged that the Delhi chief secretary was mistreated and physically assaulted by AAP MLAs over advertisements of the Chief minister.

He also reveals that Delhi government had spent Rs 1100 crores on advertisements in past 3 years and appointed 473 advisers to various departments. Questioning the INDIA alliance, he reminds that the Delhi CM had once held the government to ransom in 2014 for 36 hours by protesting at Rail Bhawan, claiming he is an ‘anarchist’.

Minister of Animal Husbandry, Dairying and Fisheries, Parshottam Rupala is replying to he discussion the the Bill, which had been sent to a Parliamentary Standing Committee in April this year.

Mr. Rupala says the Committee returned the Bill with 56 recommendations and the Ministry has accepted 45 amendments suggested by the Standing Committee. We have welcomed almost all of the Committee’s suggestions.

He says that previously, fishermen would get three years imprisonment merely fir he lack of registration with the authority but the proposed Bill does away with this clause.

With Deputy Chair Harivansh overseeing the proceedings in the Upper House, MDMK chief Vaiko opposes the GNCTD Bill saying it attacks the foundations of federalism, democracy and the Constitution. He adds that the Bill renders the CM as a mere puppet of the Delhi civil services board run by the Union government.

Vehemently opposing the GNCTD bill, Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut says, “Those bringing in this Bill are betraying Mother India (Bharat Mata)“. Calling it an attack on federalism, he says that BJP has a habit of taking over elected governments - be it Delhi, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh. Touting that the INDIA alliance will win the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, he says global leaders are not hugging Narendra Modi, but the leader of a great democracy.

The Bill seeks to amend the Coastal Aquaculture Authority Act, 2005. The Act defines coastal aquaculture as farming, under controlled conditions, of: (i) shrimp, (ii) prawn, (iii) fish or (iv) any other aquatic life in saline or brackish water. The new Bill seeks to expand the scope of coastal aquaculture to include allied activities such as hatcheries and nucleus breeding centres.

In his maiden speech in the Rajya Sabha, ex-CJI and Rajya Sabha MP Ranjan Gogoi said that the question of the constitutionality of the Ordinance which is being contested in court does not hamper the passage of the Bill by Parliament. Citing 239 3B, he says Parliament has the power to make laws beyond the state subjects i.e public order, police and land in Delhi. Hence the Union government does not overreach, adds Mr. Gogoi.

He re-iterates that the Bill does not hamper fundamental rights or basic structure of the Constitution, adding, “The Bill is a watered down style of federalism as Delhi is not a full-fleged state”. He also adds that the Bill make not be to his liking, but is not arbitarary.

His speech was briefly interrupted by protests raised by Opposition members, but was tamped down by Chair Jagdeep Dhankar.

Following the minister’s response to the debate, the lower house passed the Mediation Bill, 2023 through voice vote.

BJP MP Mahesh Jethmalani says that by establishing the Delhi civil services body, the nature of the Union territory of Delhi and the Central government has been truly reflected. Supporting the GNCTD Bill, he says those who are opposing it want misadministration of Delhi.

Responding to the debate on the Mediation Bill, Minister of State for Law and Justice Arjun Ram Meghwal said that mediation has been part of the Indian consciousness for long and is not new. He told the house that mediation is part of the path map for the country’s progress.

Mr Meghwal told the house that once provided with legal backbone, people would consider mediation. Further, he informed the house that it is not as if mediation did not exist, but the incumbent administration expanded the scale and speed.

Speaking against the GNCTD Bill in the Rajya Sabha, Congress MP P Chidambaram says that the Bill has been brought by the government three times only to be struck down by the Supreme Court. Likening the BJP to a moth, he says, “this government is like a moth attracted to the fire, only to end in a spectacular failure”.

He adds, “People of Delhi are watching us as you take away the power of the elected government and place it in the hands of the bureaucrats”. Noting that the Bill allows the bureaucrats to convene a meeting without the CM, he asks, “What is the merit in this Bill?”. He says that the passage of the Bill is the breakdown of the constitutional machinery of the nation.

“This Bill is formulated by the bureaucrats, of the bureaucrats, and for the Union government,” says the MP.

The essence of democracy is vanished, the MP says. The Bill undermines the rights of Delhi’s citizens as well as the State’s rights and authority, turning it into a mere puppet under the central government’s control, he adds.

It seeks to promote alternate dispute resolutions by means of institutional mediation. The bill was first introduced in 2021.

Union Health Minister responding to the debate elaborated on the government’s existing initiatives to provide for quality medicines to the populace at large and at affordable prices.

Presiding Chair P.V. Mithun Reddy, YSRCP MP from Rajampet (Andhra Pradesh) put it through voice vote. The bill was subsequently passed.

Mr. Jha questions parties like BJD and YSRCP who, despite their opposition to BJP, have expressed support for the Delhi services Bill.

Commenting on the quorum mentioned in the Bill, the MP says, “It is not quorum, it is actually an instrument to decimate the very idea of elected government.”

Broadly, the bill seeks to insert Section 32C. It entails that any person who has been recognised in the register of pharmacists as maintained under the Jammu and Kashmir Pharmacy Act, 2011 or possess the essential qualification (medical assistant/pharmacists) be also deemed to be included in the reconstituted schedule following the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act, 2019.

Responding to the debate on the Anusandhan Bill, Dr Jitendra Singh, told the house that it “spells out democratisation of human resource and funding”.

He told the house that the world looks up to India “with seriousness”. The Minister for Science and Technology stated that India has taken lead in global issues that were earlier believed to be the prerogative of developed countries. He added that economic development would be entirely technology driven.

Dr Singh emphasised that to attain a global standing, “Our parameters, strategies and competitiveness has to be global.”

He concluded stating provisions for National Research Foundation and the bill would enable “democratic pooling” of scientific resources and funding.

Loud protests erupt in the Upper House during Mr. Reddy’s speech as he accuses AAP of collecting funds from separatists.

Arguments that have been put forth by Abhishek Manu Singhvi do not stand for judicial scrutiny, Mr. Reddy says.

Countering AAP MP Raghav Chadha, Mr. Reddy says AAP is “absolutely anarchy party”. Members demand his comment be expunged.

Referring to the ongoing era as that of science and engineering, the bill, according to Mr Sinha, holds particular importance. It would facilitate capability for cutting-edge research in this space.

He also said that several universities and institutes would benefit from the grant making and expertise that would be facilitated by the establishment of the National Research Foundation, as provided for in the bill.

Mr. Patra’s speech invites loud protests in the Upper House.

Parliament has the legislative competence in such matters, he says.

The Bill will result in an administrative logjam in Delhi, the MP says.

The MP also reiterates views of BJP leaders like Lal Krishna Advani who introduced a Bill for Delhi’s full statehood in Parliament in 2003.

BJP has been unable to win Delhi elections in the last 25 years and will continue to lose for the next 25 years too, which is why they are trying to destroy the powers of Delhi’s elected government, the MP says.

“This Bill attempts to overturn Supreme Court judgements (in the matter) and override the powers of the Delhi government,” Tiruchi Siva says.

Presenting the bill Minister of State for Dept of Space termed the bill as “historical” and the first of its kind in India’s history. Broadly, the bill proposes “to establish the National Research Foundation, a new body that will provide “high level strategic direction for research, innovation and entrepreneurship.”

Dr Singh also told the house that bill would enable synergy between research, academia, industry and entrepreneurship.

Proposed National Research Foundation to provide ‘strategic’ direction, generate private funding

The Anusandhan National Research Foundation Bill, which proposes to establish the National Research Foundation, a new body that will provide “high level strategic direction for research, innovation and entrepreneurship”, was tabled in the Lok Sabha. The National Research Foundation proposes a more expansive definition of research which includes science, engineering, information technology, liberal arts, social sciences and the humanities.

Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury raised a point of order citing Rule 353 of parliamenatary proceedings for remarks made against reinstated member Rahul Gandhi. He alleged that it amounted to an attempt to malign his image.

The chair, Kirit Premjibhai Solanki rejected the assertion. Following this, members of the opposition walked out of the house.

The Lower House passed the Digital Personal Data Protection Bill (2023) through voice vote.

BJD MP from Cuttack Bhartruhari Mahtab sought why the government is not considering to build an independent regulator. He had stated before that the bill is about data processing and not data protection. Mr Mahtab asked the government about what provision is being made towards the same.

The Cuttack also sought clarity on the need for clarity and checks on cross-border data transfer restrictions

Mr Vaishnaw, responding to concerns about the missing inclusion of members from the judiciary, told the house that TDSAT would be the appellate body which would have a mandatory judicial member. Furthermore, grievances could further be taken in the Supreme Court, thus, endowing thorough judicial process.

Mr. Trivedi reiterates the view that Delhi is a special category of Union Territory and not a full State.

Minister for Electronics and Information Technology Ashwini Vaishnaw allaying concerns raised by the house informed that bill specifically stipulates in a graded manner, adhering to age, the accessibility to apps. He added that features in the DigiLocker would facilitate acquiring permission from the parents for accessibility.

About the right to be forgotten, he said the bills holds ‘the right to erase’ which is also of a similar extent.

Furthermore, on the independent functioning of the members, he assured the board would be an independent body. He said there is nothing as ‘absolute power’, all provisions or change would have to go through the “time tested methodology from the parliament”.

Mr. Chadha spoke about how the Bill will give the Lieutenant-Governor of Delhi control over transfers and postings of civil servants, whether the party made a mistake by supporting the Centre to pass the J&K Reorganisation Bill, 2019, and if the ‘Delhi model’ of governance has been hit by the arrests of former AAP Ministers. Read here

Members from the opposition benches raise concerns about the “excessive centralisation of power (to the Union Govt)“. Concerns were also raised about alleged politically motivated censorship.

Mr. Chowdhury stood up to invoke Rule 353 of Lok Sabha to criticise the allegations laid (by BJP’s Nishikant Dubey) on Congress leader Rahul Gandhi as he came to Parliament today after his reinstatement as a Member of Parliament after a recent Supreme Court verdict.

Rule 353 says that no allegation of a defamatory or discriminatory nature shall be made by a member against any person unless the member has given adequate advance notice to the Speaker.

Mr. Singhvi calls the central government “control freak” for bringing the Amendment, and says that the Bill is “fundamentally anti-democratic”.

“...(this government’s) visiting card appears to be vendetta, whose identity batch is that of a graceless and fuming electoral loser, whose approach is to control, control, and control, by hook or by crook, usually more by crook and less by hook,” Mr. Singhvi says.

Electronics and IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw has tabled and is speaking on the Digital Personal Data Protection Bill, 2023, amid Opposition slogans of “shame shame” and down down”. Read The Hindu’s explainer on the Bill here.

Mr. Vaishnaw says it would have been great if the members of the Opposition engaged in the discussion on this important Bill but they are not worried about the rights of the citizens of this country, which is why they are busy sloganeering.

Lok Sabha passed the Bill on August 3. Read more here

As the Lok Sabha proceedings have resumed to the din of Opposition Sloganeering, members are laying papers on the table, as BJP leader Kirit Solanki presides over the proceedings.

Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar lists legislative business.

Leader of Congress in the Lok Sabha Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury has written to Speaker Om Birla regarding BJP MP Nishikant Dubey’s comments in the Lower House earlier today.

“We demand under Rule 380 that his [BJP MP’s] remarks be expunged in full and that an inquiry be conducted into how such an allegation was permitted to be raised on the record,” Mr. Chowdhury has written.

(Credit:ANI)

In a post, Congress’s Manickam Tagore said that he will move a privilege motion against a BJP MP who “spoke unparliamentary words in Parliament.” Mr. Tagore, however, didn’t identify the MP in his post.

Before attending the session, Rahul Gandhi on Monday paid floral tributes at the Gandhi statue. “Victory of truth. Love has won against hate,” wrote Congress in a post on social media.

With Congress MP Rahul Gandhi in attendance, proceedings in the Lower House resumed amid loud sloganeering after BJP’s Nishikant Dubey cited an article by The New York Times and claimed that Beijing engaged with a U.S.-based lobbyist to peddle influence in India, and target the Congress leadership.

The BJP leader’s allegations were met with loud protests from the Opposition benches. Amid the din, the House was adjourned to meet at 2 p.m.

The Lok Sabha Secretariat on Monday restored the Lok Sabha membership of the Congress leader after Supreme Court stayed his conviction in the ‘Modi’ surname remark case.

Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi in Parliament on August 7, 2023. (Credit:Special Arrangement)

Amid protests and din, the Chair adjourns the Rajya Sabha to meet at 2 pm.

As Treasury benches clamour for a discussion on the gangrape in Rajasthan of a 14-year-old girl, Opposition protests for a discussion on Manipur.

Leader of the House Piyush Goyal says the government has been open to a discussion on Manipur since day one.

The Privilege Committee finds Indian National Congress MP Rajani Ashokrao Patil guilty of breach of privilege for reportedly circulating video shot inside the house. She has been under suspension for four months. The committee rules that her suspension so far, should be deemed as punishment and proposes her reinstatement.

The Rajya Sabha adopts a motion to let Indian Congress MP Rajani Ashokrao Patil attend the session, passed unanimously by voice vote.

The Lower House was adjourned amid sloganeering and protests. Proceedings will resume at 12 p.m.

The Upper House reconvened proceedings at 11 a.m. with the Chair extending birthday greetings to Minister of State B.L. Verma.

Proceedings of the day have begun with the Lower House taking up Question Hour. The first question is releated to the development of eco-tourism circuits.

Over four months after he was disqualified from the Lok Sabha, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s MP membership was restored today following a stay on his conviction in the the ‘Modi’ surname case.

Speaking to ANI, Rajya Sabha MP said that all parties in the INDIA bloc will make all possible efforts to stop the Delhi Services Bill in the Upper House. “This Bill is an experiment. If this experiment is successful in Delhi, similar experiments will be brought in all non-BJP ruled States in an attempt to take away their powers,” the MP said. ​

1. Congress MP Manish Tewari has given an Adjournment Motion notice in the Lok Sabha, demanding a discussion on the border situation with China.
2. His colleague and Congress MP Manickam Tagore has moved an Adjournment Motion notice in the Lower House to discuss the alleged misuse of probe agencies by the government.
3. In the Rajya Sabha, RJD MP Manoj Kumar Jha has given a Suspension of Business notice to discuss the Manipur situation.
4. AAP Rajya Sabha MP Sandeep Pathak has also given a notice under Rule 66 and Rule 67 to oppose the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (Amendment) Bill 2023.

With the Supreme Court staying the conviction of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi in a 2019 defamation case over his Modi surname remark, the Congress leaders have urged Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla to restore Mr. Gandhi’s status as an MP at the earliest.

“He [Lok Sabha Speaker] decided on the disqualification [of Rahul Gandhi] in 26 hours. Now that it’s a Supreme Court order, I hope that the Speaker will act quickly. It has already been more than 48 hours,” says Congress MP Manickam Tagore.

Congress General Secretary K.C. Venugopal added, “The formality [of restoring Rahul Gandhi’s Parliament membership] needs to be done by the Lok Sabha Secretariat. We expect it to happen today. Here’s the video.

AAP MP Raghav Chadha has demanded a discussion on the Manipur issue.

Congress leaders Jebi Mather and Syed Naseer Hussain have also submitted similar notices in the House.

Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhar on August 6 cautioned that if Parliament does not engage in dialogue and discussion and is plagued by disruption, the space will not remain vacant and will be occupied by forces that are not accountable to the Constitution.

His remarks came amid daily disruption of Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha proceedings during the ongoing Monsoon Session over ethnic violence in Manipur.

Mr. Dhankhar, who is also the chairman of Rajya Sabha, said that “some among us make sinister efforts with pernicious motivations to taint, tarnish, demean our institutions”.

PTI

As many as 20 Bills have been cleared by the Houses since the session began on July 20. The Lok Sabha has passed 15 Bills so far during the Monsoon Session, of which 13 were passed after the no-trust motion was admitted on July 26.

The Rajya Sabha has passed 12 Bills during the session so far, while nine Bills have been passed by both Houses.

Crucial Bills such as the Forest (Conservation) Amendment Bill, the Biological Diversity (Amendment) Bill, the Multi-State Cooperative Societies (Amendment) Bill and the Inter-Services Organisations (Command, Control and Discipline) Bill have been passed with little discussion.

In the Lok Sabha, the government has listed the Digital Personal Data Protection Bill, 2023; the Anusandhan National Research Foundation Bill, 2023; The Pharmacy (Amendment) Bill, 2023; and the Mediation Bill, 2023 for consideration and passage on Monday.

PTI