Live Updates: Mines Bill Passed in Rajya Sabha

Mines & Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Bill 2015 has been passed in Rajya Sabha, with 117 'Ayes', 69 'Noes' and two abstentions.

The Upper House had rejected a motion from Opposition parties to send the bill again to Select Committee.

Union Home Minister speaks in Lok Sabha on the death of IAS officer DK Ravi:

• I have spoken with the Chief Minister (of Karnataka, Siddaramaiah) about this.
• He has said that a few more reports eill come out in the next two days. After that, a decision can be taken.
• If the (Karnataka) state government asks for a CBI inquiry, the Centre is prepared to call for one.

Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley speaks in Rajya Sabha on crop losses triggered by unseasonal rains:

• This is a natural calamity.
• Farmers have suffered a lot
• The central government is going to support the farmers
• Assessment of losses for each of the states hasn't been finished yet.
• The Agriculture Department has constituted a different team for each of the states.
• Farmers from the affected regions will be helped as soon as possible, we are trying our best.

The decision is in tune with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's agenda to do away with archaic laws which are hindering efficient governance.

The other three principal acts which have been repealed are Foreign Jurisdiction Act, Sugar Undertaking (Taking Over of Management) Act and Indian Fisheries Act.

Out of the 36 acts proposed to be repealed, four were principal acts and others were amendments to the various acts.

The Acts which are sought to be repealed include amendments to the Representation of the People Act, Marriage Act, Election Laws, Divorce Laws and Anand Marriage Act and the Evidence Act.

Seeking to weed out archaic and dead laws, the Lok Sabha today approved a bill to repeal as many as 35 legislations.

Rajya Sabha adjourned for 10 minutes after ruckus over Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2015

Reports of Select Committes on Mines and Coal Bills to be submitted in Rajya Sabha today

1. The Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Bill and the Coal Mines (Special Provisions) Bill were sent to separate select committees by a united opposition on March 12 as they wanted a thread-bare examination of the legislations.
2. Select committee on mines bill adopted the report with two amendments. It accepted crucial amendment for tribal welfare.The bill seeks to create create district monetary fund.
3. The bill will be sent back to the Lok Sabha for ratification if the Rajya Sabha amends it.
4. The select committee on coal adopted its report with no amendment.
5. Congress and Left parties have dissented to both reports.
   
6. Sources say the government has managed to secure the support of the Mamata Banerjee's Trinamool Congress and Naveen Pattnaik's  Biju Janata Dal for these key legislations.

Yeh Ladai Aar Paar Hogi (We will fight to the finish): Sharad Yadav

The Modi government has 31% of the popular vote, all of us represent 69% of the people. But we were divided. Today we have come together: Sharad Yadav

We have asked the President to intervene and ask the Modi government not to go ahead with land bill in Rajya Sabha: Sonia Gandhi

14 different parties have come together to oppose the Modi-government's amendments to the land bill: Sonia Gandhi

We have got together to meet the President to present a memorandum. Request him to intervene to protect interests of farmers: Sonia Gandhi

Sonia Gandhi leads opposition leaders in a protest march against the land bill. The march starts from the Parliament and ends at Rashtrapati Bhavan, passing through Vijay Chowk and Raisina Hill.