The Monsoon Session is in its concluding week and the Opposition remained relentless in its demand for a discussion on the Pegasus surveillance issue and farm laws.
The Lok Sabha passed the Constitution (One Hundred and Twenty-Seventh Amendment) Bill, 2021.
Rajya Sabha also witnessed some ugly scenes when an AAP member climbed the Secretary General's table, leading to adjournment.
Here are the latest updates :
Opposition MPs continue to raise slogans in the Lok Sabha. The House takes up discussion on The National Commission for Indian System of Medicine (Amendment) Bill, 2021. The Bill is passed.
The House is adjourned till 11 a.m. tomorrow.
Lok Sabha takes up discussion on The National Commission for Homoeopathy (Amendment) Bill, 2021. It is passed in the Lower House.
The Lok Sabha passed the 127th Constitutional Amendment granting OBC reservation. It was passed with 385 Ayes and zero Noes.
Social Justice and Empowerment Minister Virendra Kumar on Tuesday said there is a need for careful examination of the demand made by several Lok Sabha members for increasing the cap of reservation beyond 50% as constitutional issues are involved.
Replying to the debate on the Constitution (127th Amendment) Bill, 2021, he said that several members have expressed their views on raising the reservation cap, which was fixed 30 years ago.
The government is aware of the wishes of the members, he said.
Now the Bill is taken for clause-by-clause voting. This is also by division of votes.
The Bill is taken up for voting. This, being a Constitutional Amendment Bill, division of votes is a must.
The lobby is being cleared. Members get back to their seats. Ministers who are not part of the House cannot vote on the Bill.
It is an almost full House. Due to COVID protocol some members are seated in the gallery and chambers. All MPs will be supplied with voting slips and they have to record their votes. It will be manually counted. For the Bill to be passed, at least three-fourth of the members present in the House must support it.
The Secretary General explains the voting process. Ayes are printed in green and Noes in red. The members should write their division number. For members who want to Abstain, a separate slip will be provided. All members have to submit only one slip.
Bhartruhari Mahtab suggests we should use IC number instead of Division numbers since members are not seated according to their number. Minister Pralhad Joshi agrees.
You then write your name and constituency, says the Speaker. You remember your constituency right, he asks.
Social Welfare Minister Veerendra Kumar thanks every member for supporting the Bill. On Maratha reservation, he says it is State subject. With this Bill, we have empowered the Maharashtra government to implement the quota.
He lauds DMK member T.R. Baalu's speech. Be it Periyar, Anna, Ambedkar, Lohia or Deen Dayal Uphadhyay, they might have taken different paths, but all sought upliftment of the marginalised.
He says the National Front implemented the Mandal Commission Report, and the BJP was supporting the government.
The government is also of the view that the ceiling of 50% should be discussed. But the Supreme Court has always stood by the ceiling limit. We should also look at the judicial scrutiny, he says.
He requests the House to pass the Bill.
Bhagwant Mann (AAP) speaks in Punjabi. He also supports the Bill. The AAP opposes a Bill only if it is against people We are supporting this Bill. He insists on repealing the farm laws. Only then the OBCs will be happy, he says. He is the last speaker.
The Minister rises to reply.
JMM member Vinay Kumar Hasdak questions why the ruling party is going gaga over reservation when all PSUs are being privatised. He presses for Sarna Code for Adivasis. Why don't you come up with a uniform code for Adivasis, he asks.
Kerala Congress (M) member Thomas Chazhikadan says caste is State-specific. If the State lists are abolished over 600 OBCs communities would be affected. He urges the government to find out the position of Economically Weaker Section of the society. He also insists on reservation for Dalit Christians.
Thol Thirumavalavan (VCK) speaks in Tamil. He says the Bill is brought keeping in mind the Supreme Court verdict against Maratha reservation. While he supports the Bill, he says he is not ready to accept this government is in favor of OBCs or supports federalism.
Independent MP Navneet Rana says it is the practice in Maharashtra to take credit for everything nice and blame the Centre for any wrongdoings. He requests the Maharashtra government to call for a special session and discuss this Bill.
The Chair asks the member to conclude. She addresses the Chair in Telugu asking for more time. (Midhun Reddy is in the Chair.) But it doesn't work. He speech is cut short.
BJD member Achydananta Samanta says some communities are better in one state and backward in another state and this Bill will ensure they are catered. Now it is high time that a central legislation to adopt a rational reservation based on proportional representation by doing away the 50% ceiling.
N.K. Premachandran (RSP) supports the Bill. He says the powers of States were taken away in 2018, and it is being restored now.
He also reminds the House his 2018 speech where he had warned the government against taking away states' powers.
I wish UP elections come every year: Dayanidhi Maran
Dayanidhi Maran (DMK) says the OBCs were exploited for thousands of years. After the Independence, it was Tamil Nadu that recognised the concerns of OBCs. The State is a forerunner in reservation.
NTR once said all the powers lay with the State. But you wanted all the powers vested to PM and Home Minister. This landed in a legal tangle.
It was South Indian leaders effort led to implementation of Mandal Commission in 1990 based on 1931 caste census. Who pulled the chair of VP Singh. It was the BJP. The UPA government wanted caste-based census. The late Jaitley had said the caste census data will be released in 2021. They are yet to release it. I wish UP elections come every year!, he says.
The credit for OBC reservation goes to M.K. Stalin. The case was filed by DMK, he says. He asks the government to emulate the TN model. He also asks the government to do away with the NEET.
Malook Nagar (BSP) says the major political parties are not implementing reservation in giving tickets to candidates. He speaks about Gujjar reservation, how Gujjars were historically marginalised. His speech is cut short due to paucity of time.
Hanuman Beniwal (RLP) speaks on Gujjar agitation and hundreds of youngsters still in the jail. He says the farmers are also from OBC community. You should listen to them.
Mrs. Pritam Munde says the Chair. I am Dr. Pritam Munde, she clarifies. She continues to speak in Marathi.
Chandeshwar Prasad JD(U) supports the Bill. He also associates with the demand of caste census. This bill protects the right of states to make their own list of OBCs.
Anupriya Patel is the next speaker. She also supports the Bill. She says the legislature, judiciary, executive and the media should join hands in uplifting the marginalised. Since our party’s founding in 1995 it has struggled for social justice and we believe that proportional representation in all spheres of these communities is important. Nobody can do this better than state governments.
There is no real count of backward communities. We need to know the real count for welfare programmes and representation to deprived sections is important, she says.
'Why is the Centre afraid of breaching the 50% cap on reservations?'
Asaduddin Owaisi (AIMIM) supports the Bill. Through this Bill, the government has proved that it can bring a law to nullify a Supreme Court judgement. So you shouldn't talk about Shah Bano case now. You have kept the tradition of what happened during the Shah Bano issue of bringing a bill after SC order.
He accuses the government of supporting only a few OBCs. Telangana provides reservation for backward Muslims, but Centre doesn't recognise it.
Why don't you remove the ceiling, what is stopping you? Your eyes are on OBCs vote and not the actual people, he says.
How many of the 89 Secretaries are OBCs?
Congress, NCP and Shiv Sena only talks of Maratha reservation whereas Muslims have also been deprived. And you don’t speak on that, he says.
Rama Naidu (TDP) recalls the contribution of the late NTR who was the convenor of National Front that implemented Mandal Commission report.
This bill is inevitable. The Centre is compelled to bring the Bill because of the Supreme Court judgement. I am happy that all parties are supporting the Bill.
He also strongly pitches for caste census. Unless we have the numbers we cannot ensure proper policy making in our country.
He demands a separate ministry for OBCs.
Rajesh Verma (BJP) supports the Bill. He urges everyone to support the Bill. The NSSO survey in 2005 has highlighted the poor status of the OBCs. At this juncture it is better for the States to decide the list of OBCs and the reservation needed for them.
There have been varying assessment of the correct proportion of OBC s in India this every state must do an enumeration of OBCs. States right to make the OBC list be protected. This bill will protect that right, he says.
Rajya Sabha adjourned for the day.
CPI MP Selvaraj speaks in Tamil. He supports the Bill. The Union government is silent on atrocities against the marginalised. He speaks about Pegasus and farm bills. He seeks inclusion of Dalit Muslims and Dalit Christians in SC list.
Harsimrat Kaur (SAD) has a placard in her place. The Chair asks her to remove it. In Punjabi, she says her party is opposed to new farm laws. She says she supports the OBC Bills. This bill restores the rights of the states to make their own list of OBCs, she says.
She speaks on price rise, rising fuel price, and waves placard of farmers who allegedly lost their lives in the farmers agitation. She also takes the Pegasus issue.
Now a Maharashtra MP speaks in Marathi. Pratap Jadhav (Shiv Sena) accuses the government of letting the State down in Supreme Court in the Maratha reservation issue.
M. Bharat (YSRCP) speaks in Telugu. He says he supports the Bill. He explains the welfare measures adopted by YSR Congress government in Andhra Pradesh.
He also pitches for caste and socio-economic based census.
Namo Nageshwar Rao (TRS) welcomes the Bill. He says the Telangana government is implementing Dalit Bandhu scheme which provides Rs. 10 lakh to every family and seeks the Union government to implement it across the country. He lauds the Minister. It is because of this Bill, the parliament is functioning today, he says.
Efforts of TN led to reservation in medical admission: Jothimani
Jothimani (Congress) speaks in Tamil. She recalls anti-Mandal Commission protests and reminds BJP it was because they withdrew support to the V.P. Singh government.
On OBC reservation in medical admission, she narrates social justice movement of Tamil Nadu. It was Tamil Nadu's case that led to reservation now. It was BJP government that told the court that 27% reservation is not possible in medical admission. It was after Madras High Court judgement and the contempt case the reservation has come now.
We have 50% reservation for BCs in Tamil Nadu. The Union government is dilly dallying in implementing it in the State, she says.
She also speaks against NEET. The people of TN will not forgive Modi and the BJP government. Let's not even talk about reservation in IITs and IIMs. As an OBC committee member, we have raised it many times, irrespective of parties.
Why is the government silent on reservation in private sector? Even now our relentless fight led to this reservation, we will continue this fight, she says.
Ganesh Singh, another BJP speaker, supports the Bill. He welcomes opposition members who are taking part in the discussion.
Mr. Singh lauds the efforts of PM Modi on welfare of OBCs.
Undo injustice meted out to J&K: NC
Hasnain Masoodi (NC) says the government brought this Bill to undo the wrong it did during the previous government. He says in such a grave injustice was done in Jammu and Kashmir. The government has problem with Bengal and Tamil Nadu now, will the make it a UT. Then why did it take a step in J&K now, he asks.
He asks the government to undo the injustice meted out to Jammu and Kashmir, just it is doing with OBC Bill now.
Bhubaneswar Kalita in chair says Deputy Chairman has invited leaders of parties for a discussion in his chambers. House adjourned till 4pm.
BJP's OBC policy is not honest: IUML
E.T. Mohammad Basheer (IUML) says the BJP's OBC policy is not honest. He accesses the government of diluting existing reservation policy. You are playing in calculation tricks, he says.
You have crushed the crux of reservation by introducing EWS. It is deadly against the principle of reservation. Quota was never meant to be a poverty alleviation programme, he says.
What is the condition of OBCs now? The OBC Commission has noted that only 13% of Central government employees are OBCs. The stipulated quota is 27%. Of them most are engaged as safai karmacharis, he says.
Reservation should be extended to private sectors, he says.
'Is tapping phones of opposition is also part of cooperative federalism?'
A.M. Ariff (CPI-M) accuses the government of shedding crocodile tears. Did this government think of cooperative federalism while enacting farm laws or NEP. He accuses the government of leaving the States at the mercy of vaccine manufacturers who were looting using differential pricing, until the Supreme Court intervened.
He asks if tapping phones of opposition is also part of cooperative federalism?
He says this Bill would not be needed had the government applied its mind while enacting the previous amendment. If UP doesn't go for elections, they would not have thought about OBCs.
He recalls the involvement of Madras High Court, which, he says forced the government to give OBC quota in AIQ of medical seats.
Creamy layer, a concept of SC, not any government: Kalyan Banerjee
Kalyan Banerjee (TMC) supports the Bill. I also appreciate the amendment of Article 342a of the Constitution. Our constitution is a tool for removal of disparities. The very purpose of reservations is to remove disparities, he says.
He recalls how the then PM Narasimha Rao added the economic criteria to reservation in 1990. The Supreme Court only struck down the Clause 6. The creamy layer was brought by Supreme Court in the Indira Sawhney case. It is not the concept of any government, he says.
He says the glory of India's democracy lies with legislature and judiciary.
Today you are making a structured speech. I won't interrupt you, says the Chair.
He ends the speech invoking Pegasus issue. He demands a debate on it.
Suresh Dhanorkar (Congress) gives overview of the circumstances of the amendment. As he ends the speech, the Chair asks so you are supporting or opposing the Bill. Then he realises he didn't say it and quickly adds I support the Bill.
Sanjay Jaiswal (BJP) attacks Congress for its faulty policies. Congress is a party that buried most reports regarding social justice.
Those speaking of federalism, we have increased the financial share of states to 42%. We brought this amendment within 45 days of SC judgement. This demonstrates our commitment to social justice, he adds.
Rajya Sabha reassembles only to be adjourned for another 30 minutes.
Members sitting on Reporters table: Sanjay Singh, Pratap Singh Bajwa, Deepender Hooda, Binoy Viswam, V Sivadasan and Rajmani Patel.
Currently inside the house opposition and treasury parties are carrying on a slogan competition.
The press gallery has been emptied out till the House reconvenes - Sobhana K. Nair
Make caste census public: SP
Akhilesh Yadav (SP) says he supports the Bill but there are several other things he wants to talk. He questions the intention of the government, since it has not removed the ceiling.
You are building a Central Vista to accommodate more members but you want to accommodate all OBCs, Dalits and minorities under 50%.
You promised a OBC CM in the State but brought a Kshatriya as CM, he says.
He wants the government to make public the caste census.
Time for reservation in private sector?
Ritesh Pandey (BSP) says Mayawati considers OBCs as their own. So we are supporting the Bill. He accuses the government of double standards. Most jobs are contractual or private. Where will you implement this reservation, he asks.
He terms the Bill is intended to win Uttar Pradesh elections. Treasury Benches object to it. Mr. Pandey accuses the government of indulging in caste politics. When a member raises Mr. Pandey's caste, he says yes, I am a Brahmin, I am an Indian and I stand with the Dalits and underprivileged.
He fires more salvo at BJP. He accuses the party of flaring up communal tensions and removing opportunities of under priivileged.
MPs climb the table
The Rajya Sabha was forced to adjourn because AAP MP Sanjay Singh climbed onto Secretary General's table. He was soon followed by the other MPs.
Mr. Singh was pulled down from the table, but he manages to climb again.
Rajya Sabha discusses agrarian crisis
The House is currently having a short duration discussion on the agricultural problems and solutions. Opposition MPs are raising slogans.
Prasanna Acharya, BJD, Odisha is speaking. His comments on the same are inaudible because of the protests. Mr. Acharya notes that though agricultural production in the country has increased the income of the farmers has not.
NSSO survey hasn't conducted any survey on income per agricultural household since 2013. He adds that Kisan Nidhi Scheme covers 80-90 million farmers against a target of 140 million farmers. Mentions that the government should implement the Swaminathan report.
House is adjourned for 15 minutes.
Supriya Sule's four questions to the Centre
NCP MP Supriya Sule thanks the government for sharing the empirical data on 2011 caste census. She wants to reconfirm this. She also requests the government to consider removing ceiling of quota.
Creamy layer limit is reviewed every three years. Ms. Sule asks if this was revised and implemented. How many times have you reviewed in seven years?
On EWS reservation, she asks if any social audit was taken after implementing the same.
What about Dhangar reservation? The then Maharashtra CM promised Dhangar reservation, but a woman legislator from their party opposed it. What is the status now?
She uses her time to request the government to reduce fuel prices and provide covid vaccines to children too.
Rajya Sabha is in session.
Congress member Jairam Ramesh points out that his calling attention motion which was on repealling of farm laws is converted to a short duration discussion on a general topic of agricultural problems and situation without a sense of the house. Mr. Ramesh raises concern over the same.
The House is currently having a short duration discussion on the agricultural problems and solutions. Opposition MPs are raising slogans.
Ramesh Chandra Majhi (BJD) also supports the Bill. He uses the time to narrate the initiatives of Odisha government for the under previleged.
B.B. Patil, a TRS MP also supports the Bill. He reminds the government that it is yet to approve Telangana's amended list of backward classes.
LJP member Prince Raj says reservation was first taken in Poona Pact. He recalls the contribution of the late Ram Vilas Paswan in implementing Mandal Commission. He hopes the reservation issues in Haryana, Karnataka, Maharashtra and Gujarat will end with this Bill.
Bhupendra Yadav defends govt earlier amendment
Minister Bhupendra Yadav reminds the Congress didn't implement the Kaka Kalelkar Commission. The Congress didn't bring reservation for the OBCs. It was Atal Bihari Vajpayee government which increased the creamy layer limit.
As he targets Congress, the opposition members object to it.
Mr. Yadav continues. When the 102nd amendment was brought in 2018, the government's intent was that both at the central and State level, the OBC lists would be maintained. The Central government did not want to take away the State government's power to maintain its own list of OBCs. The same arguments were made in the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court's judgment, taking away the States power, is not consensus based. Mr. Yadav quotes the observations of two of the judges, which stated that the government intent of the 102nd amendment was not to take away the State power.
Member N.K. Premachandran intervenes, says the Opposition had cautioned the government that the 102nd amendment took away the powers of the States.
Labour Minister Bhupendra Yadav says he has quoted to judges to establish that the government's intention was not to take away the States' power through 102nd amendment. All parties have now come together to restore it.
Rajiv Ranjan Singh (Lalan) (JD-U) also supports the Bill He however differs with the view of other speakers on the earlier Amendment. He says the 102nd Constitution Amendment Act gave constitutional status to National Commission of Backward Classes.
The issue with Maratha reservation
A number of MPs raised the issue of removing 50% ceiling on reservation and quoted the Indra Sawhney verdict. What is it about?
The Indra Sawhney case, better known as Mandal verdict had declared that reservation cannot exceed 50% in total.
Any judgment on the Maratha reservation issue would inevitably have to deal with three issues — the 50% ceiling on total reservation, the power of States to determine who its backward classes are and confer benefits on them, and the legislative competence of State legislatures regarding backward classes after the introduction of the 102nd Amendment.
The present Bill is likely to cater the last two points.
Raut speaks in favour of Maratha reservation
Vinayak Raut (Shiv Sena) speaks in Marathi. He says he wants to speak in Marathi on the Maratha reservation limbo. He says the government brought this bill after Supreme Court hit out the Centre on the policy.
He slams the Central government for not supporting the State in Supreme Court, which he claims stalled the Maratha reservation.
He appreciates Mr. Chowdhury's speech.
The Marathas and Gurjars deserve reservation. The Centre should help them, he says. About 15 States want to do away 50% limit. Only Tamil Nadu assured it by adding it to the Ninth Schedule, he says.
Conduct caste-based census: YSR Congress MP
B. Chandrashekar (YSR Congress) supports the Bill. He recalls how there was no reservation for OBCs in All India Quota for medical education. After four years, the government has decided to bring this quota back. He thanks the government for this.
He also asks the government to add caste-based census while conducting the exercise.
States shouldn't be gagged: TMC
Sudip Bandhopadhyay (TMC) supports the Bill. Had government agreed to debate Pegasus, the Parliament would have functioned smoothly like now, he says. 30 Bills have been bulldozed within 10 minutes. Only 11% Bills were scrutinised by committees, he says.
Please talk about the Bill, says the Chair.
The Bill says it is being with a view to maintain the federal structure of the country. But today, its voice is being gagged, he says.
Just like the people voted for you, they voted for us. You have to respect that, he says.
Treasury Benches object to his speech. The Chair remarks, just like you (Opposition) they (government) are protesting now.
Mr. Bandhopadhyay says the State OBC commission were made meaningless because of an earlier amendment. It is being negated now.
Trinamool is supporting a BJP Bill. Why don't you applaud it, he asks pointing to the Treasury benches. Members chuckle.
Baalu recalls DMK's role in reservation
T.R. Baalu (DMK) also raises the issue of removing the ceiling. He says he profusely thanks the government for bringing the Bill.
He recalls the contribution of Tamil Nadu leaders leaders Natasen, Pitti Thyagarajan, Periyar, Anna, and others. He also recalls the towering contribution of Karunanidhi who spearheaded cooperative federalism.
Delving deep into the history of reservation he recalls the contribution of Kamaraj and Nehru. V.P. Singh implemented Mandal Commission and that is how the 27% reservation for OBCs came into effect.
On 17.9.1988, Karunanidhi had talked about provision for reservation in education and jobs. this amendment is a good beginning and at the same time, the ceiling should be removed for reservation to the OBC. The government should bring caste census, so far they have not undertaken, for proper data on OBC.
'Cabinet has highest number of OBC ministers'
Sanghamitra Maurya (BJP) accuses the Congress of bringing NEET in a bid to cancel the reservation. The NEET is based on NCERT syllabus and the poor don't read this syllabus, she says.
She reminds the Congress that the people have rejected them and hence they are losing elections.
She claims "her people" are remembered only during elections. After this Act, the representation of OBCs will increase. She lauds the Cabinet for having highest representation of OBCs.
On Maratha reservation
Now, Mr. Chowdhury elaborates on Maratha reservation. They are not upper castes but belong to agrarian community. The Democratic Front came up with a reservation for the Marathas and Muslims. After a legal battle, the quota was struck down.
A fresh Bill was passed and even this is in limbo, he says. He narrates how poor the community is.
Again citing Indira Sawhney case, he says the court said that 50% can be the rule, but exception can be made in certain extraordinary situations.
You brought 10% reservation for EWS in a hurry. In the same manner, bring another Bill to remove the ceiling, he says in his concluding remarks.
In Rajya Sabha, Question Hour continues despite sloganeering.
Bharati Pravin Pawar, MoS Health and Family Welfare says the government is building medical facilities and is committed to help fasten cancer detection across the country.
Mahesh Poddar, BJP, Jharkhand asks if there is a centralised examination in place for recruitment for AIIMS. He mentions that this was one of the reccomendations by the Standing Committee.
CM Ramesh, BJP, Andhra Pradesh inquires about the impact of COVID-19 on public sector enterprises (textiles, consumer goods, fertilisers and chemicals, engineering goods and pharmaceuticals). Inquires about the effect of employment in these enterprises.
Bhagwat Kishanrao Karad, MoS Finance says profit has reduced and so has labour power.
Syed Zafar Islam, BJP, Uttar Pradesh asks whether ministry has undertaken any research to understand why the market capitalisation of public sector undertakings is at rock bottom compared to private sector since it is the best source of growth capital in the country.
MoS Finance says the evaluation is done regularly and suggestions and steps are given to the 84 loss making CPSUs.
House adjourned till 2 pm
Remove ceiling for quota: Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury
Congress floor leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury says many States want to increase the ceiling of reservation. He cites the example of Tamil Nadu, its social movement that led to reservation.
Castiesm is responsible for reservation in the country. These sections have been historically supressed and reservation is an affirmative action to uplift them, he says.
Mr. Chowdhury also cities the example of Jyotirao Phule.
Mr. Chowdhury now speaks on Maratha reservation. He requests the Union government to consider Maharashtra's demands.
But, you have brute majority, so you thought that you could do whatever you wanted to..however, when the States started raising their voice, you realised your actions were incorrect. Now, in the light of UP, Uttarakhand polls, you have decided to do all this...still, we support the amendment, but also demand that owing to cases like Indra Sawhney case, a ceiling of 50% has been given. This ceiling should be removed, which has been demanded by States like Maharashtra, he says.
Bill corrects earlier wrong: Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury
Congress floor leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury says they are participating in the debate only because this is an important Bill and the voting of 3/4th members are needed. The government repeatedly blames us for stalling the parliament. We are here to narrate the plight of people, that is why we are demonstrating. "Parliament "
Mr. Chowdhury recalls the contribution of Congress in reservation. He lauds the contribution of Rajiv Gandhi in implementing the Panchayati Raj Act.
The transaction of the House is the onus of the government, he says and raises the Pegasus issues. Treasury Benches object to it. You stick to the Bill, says the Chair.
Mr. Chowdhury says in 2018 the National Commission of OBCs. In addition to that, the rights of the State was taken away by the Centre. You are bringing this Act to correct your error. Had you listened to us, you could have saved time, he says. He claims the timing of the Bill is to coincide with the Uttar Pradesh elections.
Raj Kumar Singh, Minister of Power says Hydropower is absolutely essential to reduce dependence on non renewable energy. Minister says that various hydropower projects that were earlier stalled will soon be resumed.
CM Ramesh, BJP MP from Andhra Pradesh asks why the Subansiri project was stalled and the cost estimation of the project and status of other Hydropower projects
Minister says project delayed due to environmental clearances. Work stopped because NGOs protested from 2010-2019. Resumed once SC dismissed all petitions by NGOs. Estimated costs 19,000 crores. Initially the estimated cost was 6,285 crores.
Vasan TMC (M), Tamil Nadu asks the government to find and make vaccines for uterus cancer accessible to women across the country.
Speaker asks the protesting members if they don't want any discussion on the Constitution (One Hundred and Twenty-Seventh Amendment) Bill 2021, urges them to go back to their seats.
Sloganeering stops and members get back to their seats.
Minister Virendra Kumar introduces the Bill that seeks to give powers to the State to decide on OBC list. He lists the steps taken by the Union government on the welfare of OBCs.
In medical colleges, about 4,000 more seats would now be available for OBC students. This amendment will restore power of the State governments with respect to State list of OBCs, he says explaining the amendments being made in the existing Act.
Rajya Sabha takes up Question Hour. Power Minister is answering questions on hydro-electric projects. Why not promote other renewable energy since hydo power often leads to deforestation. Raj Kumar Singh says hydro power is environment friendly. We are planting more trees to compensate deforestation.
Sloganeering continues in the House. Members chant slogans in various languages.
Lok Sabha resumes. Chair has disallowed the notices of adjournment motions on various issues. Papers being laid on the table of the House.
Opposition members have started shouting slogans.
Lok Sabha adjourned till 12 p.m.
Mr. Goyal continues, "Slowly, they (e-commerce companies) were destroying competition and when the small businesses would be destroyed, consumers would be left with no option but to pay more."
The Enforcement Directorate is conducting a probe into certain allegations, the Minister says.
"The e-commerce businesses tried to stall a probe by the Competition Commission. However, on Monday (August 9), the Supreme Court decided that Competition Commission would be allowed to conduct its investigation. In the long run, to ensure that consumers get good services, the government is taking steps."
"We are fixing liability on e-commerce platforms to address the consumer grievances."
Amid continuing protest and sloganeering by the Opposition, Speaker Om Birla expresses displeasure stating that he will provide opportunity for debate on any issue.
He adjourns the House till noon.
E-commerce companies deatroying small businesses: Piyush Goyal
Sushil Kumar Singh asks what steps the government is taking to secure the interest of consumers and small businesses vis-a-vis big e-commerce players.
Minister Ashwini K. Choubey says "local for vocal" schemes have been launched. The Consumer Protection (E-Commerce) Rules, 2020, has been implemented, he adds.
Minister Piyush Goyal says the big e-commernce companies are gradually destroying small businesses. "In the United States also, most community shops have closed down. In India, small businesses employ about 13 crore people. After e-commerce companies were allowed to operate in India, they have taken recourse to legal complexities to further their interest. It is a matter of grave concern the world over," he says.
Rajya Sabha adjourned till 12 p.m.
Rajya Sabha proceedings for the day begin.
Papers and reports being laid in the House.
As the Opposition begins to raise slogans, Chairman Venkaiah Naidu warns them that sloganeering is not allowed in the House.
Mr. Naidu says he is not allowing the notices for suspension of the business given by some Opposition members since the Pegasus issue was already discussed. He tells the members, "today, a discussion on the farmers' issue has been listed. So, the members should let the discussion happen to send out a proper message to the farmers."
Opposition continues to protest.
House is adjourned till 12 p.m.
Lok Sabha resumes
Lok Sabha proceedings for the day begins.
Opposition members gather in the Well of the House, raising slogans.
Question Hour begins.
Jairam Ramesh says govt.'s move 'too clever-by-half'
Member Vinayak Bhaurao Raut will raise a discussion on the situation arising out of COVID-19 pandemic in the country and various aspects related to it in the Lok Sabha under Rule 193.
Member Jairam Ramesh will raise a discussion on the agricultural problems and solutions in the Rajya Sabha, according to the list of business for the day.
It is to be noted, however, that Mr. Ramesh has accused the government of putting his name in the discussion on 'agriculture problems and solutions' in the Rajya Sabha which is not related to his calling attention notice on farmers' agitation, according to a PTI report.
"Tomorrow, in a too clever-by-half move the Modi Government has scheduled a discussion on 'the agricultural problems and solutions' and added my name to it. The discussion has nothing to do with my notice given on July 23 on the ongoing farmers' agitation," he tweeted on August 9.
Rajya Sabha
Bill for consideration and passing
The General Insurance Business (Nationalisation) Amendment Bill, 2021
Bills for consideration and return
The Appropriation (No.4) Bill, 2021
The Appropriation (No.3) Bill, 2021
Lok Sabha
Bills for consideration and passing
The Constitution (One Hundred and Twenty-Seventh Amendment) Bill, 2021
The National Commission for Homoeopathy (Amendment) Bill, 2021
The National Commission for Indian System of Medicine (Amendment) Bill, 2021
Published - August 10, 2021 11:02 am IST
