Parliament Winter Session Updates: Today is the first day of the 25-day session. (File)
12 opposition MPs have been suspended for the whole of Parliament's Winter Session for violent behaviour during the Monsoon session. The list includes Shiv Sena's Priyanka Chaturvedi and Anil Desai, Trinamool Congress's Dola Sen and Shanta Chhetri CPM's Elamaram Kareem and six Congress leaders.
A note read that they willingly obstructed the business of the house through "unprecedented acts of misconduct, contemptuous, violent and unruly behaviour and intentional attacks on the security personnel" on the last day of the Monsoon session.
The Winter Session of Parliament began today amid protests and sloganeering by the opposition, who wanted discussion around the Farm Laws Repeal Bill, in an attempt to guarantee farmers some demands that go beyond just the repeal of the three farm laws.
With 36 bills expected to be passed in the 25-day session, the Lok Sabha passed the Farm Laws Repeal Bill very soon after the Winter Session convened without discussion with the opposition.
Taking place over 19 sittings, other bills to be passed in this session include the crucial Cryptocurrency and Regulation of Official Digital Currency Bill, the Insolvency and Bankruptcy (Second Amendment) Bill, and the Electricity (Amendment) Bill. The session is also expected to introduce one finance bill in addition to the 36 legislative bills.
The opposition is likely to corner the government on issues including the Pegasus row and rise in prices during the 25-day session.
Here are the Highlights on Parliament Winter Session 2021:
Bring Law To Guarantee MSP To Farmers: Congress Leader To CentreHours after Parliament passed a bill to repeal the three agri laws, Congress in-charge for Gujarat Raghu Sharma on Monday demanded that the government bring a law to guarantee farmers a minimum support price (MSP) for their produce.
In a statement, he said the purchase of crops below the declared MSP should be legally prohibited.
The Farm Laws Repeal Bill, 2021, which sought to rescind the three laws passed last year to ease rules around the sale, pricing and storage of farm crops, was taken up by Lok Sabha that passed it within minutes and, thereafter, it was introduced in Rajya Sabha and approved by voice vote. The whole exercise was completed within two hours.
"Passed Without Discussion, Repealed Without Discussion": Omar Abdullah's Jibe Over Farm LawsNational Conference vice president Omar Abdullah on Monday targeted the government after Parliament passed without any discussion the bill to repeal the three controversial farm laws which had triggered protests by farmers.
On the first day of the Winter Session on Monday, Parliament passed The Farm Laws Repeal Bill, 2021, to cancel the three agri laws, with Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha approving it without any debate within minutes of taking it up amid protests by opposition members who were demanding a discussion.
"Passed without discussion; repealed without discussion. A new model of democracy for a new India," Mr Abdullah wrote on Twitter.
The bill now awaits the assent of President Ram Nath Kovind for the formal withdrawal of the three contentious laws against which farmers have been protesting for the past year at Delhi borders.
JustIn | 12 opposition MPs suspended for parliament's Winter session for violent behaviour in Monsoon session
"We demand new law to give legal guarantee to MSP": AAP leaderAam Aadmi Party MP and leader Sanjay Singh to NDTV:
We were demanding a discussion on the Farm Laws Repeal Bill. We wanted to place the farmers' movement, their demands and challenges in the Rajya Sabha... but the government did not allow a debate.
It's gone wrong. We demand that the government should bring a new law in this session to give legal guarantee to MSP.
Lok Sabha adjourned till 11 am tomorrowAmid the ongoing uproar by the Opposition, Lok Sabha was adjourned till 11 am on Tuesday.
The Lower House has been adjourned for the third time today. Soon after the Parliament's winter session commenced today, it was adjourned till 12 noon following sloganeering by the Opposition members, and again till 2 pm after the Farm Law Repeal Bill was passed without discussion.
Farm Law Repeal Bill expected to be made into an Act tonight itself
The Farm Laws Repeal Bill is expected to be sent to President Ram Nath Kovind and be made into an Act tonight itself.
Rajya Sabha to table Farm Laws Repeal Bill at 2 pmThe Farm Laws Repeal Bill, 2021 will be tabled in Rajya Sabha at 2 pm today, said Union Minister Pralhad Joshi today.
Notably, the Bill was already circulated among Rajya Sabha members on Friday.
Meanwhile, the Farm Laws Repeal Bill was already passed by the Lok Sabha today on the first day of the Winter Session of Parliament.
Rajya Sabha Chairman laments failure to introspect on last sessions unruly behaviorRajya Sabha Chairman Shri M.Venkaiah Naidu today urged all sections of the House to ensure 'democratic and parliamentary space' to enable a productive winter session and lamented the failure on the part of all concerned to introspect over the unruly incidents during the last monsoon session and commit to do the needful to prevent their recurrence.
Shri Naidu said so during his observations in the House on the first day of the Winter Session today.
Just In | Bill to repeal three farm laws will be introduced in Rajya Sabha today itself, said Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi.
Parliament Winter Session: RBI wants digital currency included under definition of 'bank note', proposes amendment to lawThe government has received a proposal from Reserve Bank of India (RBI) in October, 2021 for amendment to the Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934 to enhance the scope of the definition of 'bank note' to include currency in digital form, or Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC).
The RBI has been examining use cases and working out a phased implementation strategy for introduction of CBDC with little or no disruption.
Introduction of CBDC has the potential to provide significant benefits, such as reduced dependency on cash, higher seigniorage due to lower transaction costs, reduced settlement risk.
Introduction of CBDC would also possibly lead to a more robust, efficient, trusted, regulated and legal tender-based payments option. There are also associated risks which need to be carefully evaluated against the potential benefits.
"The government did not give us a chance": Congress MP on government's passing of Repeal BillCongress MP from Amritsar Gurjit Singh Aujla to NDTV:
The government has broken the tradition of Parliament by passing the Farm Laws Repeal Bill without discussion. Only some MPs supporting the government created a ruckus, and in the midst of this uproar, the bill was passed without discussion.
We had made preparations to make many such demands in Parliament, from giving compensation to farmers, but the government did not give us a chance.
"Government just wants to prove they are in favour of farmers": Leader of Opposition in Rajya SabhaLeader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge demanded discussion over the Farm Laws Repeal Bill, expressing disappointment that it was passed without debate.
Mr Kharge said, "We want that there should be a discussion on the Farm Laws Repeal Bill, 2021. But with the passing of this Bill in Lok Sabha in a haste, the government just wants to prove that they are in the favour of farmers."
The Leader of Opposition further said that they demanded a discussion on several items that were a part of the farmers' protests including the Lakhimpur Kheri violence and the Electricity Bill.
"We welcome the withdrawal of the three farm laws. We demanded a discussion on several incidents that took place during agitation including the Lakhimpur Kheri incident and the Electricity Bill. Farmers are still present at the protest site," added Mr Kharge.
Parliament Winter Session: Opposition takes issue with lack of discussion around Repeal BillCongress MP Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury: There has to be discussion on the Bill. There were discussions on earlier Repeal Bills.
Lok Sabha Speaker: Maintain order. We will allow discussion. Go and sit in your seats.
Congress MP Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury: We demanded a discussion on the Repeal Bill to speak about Lakhimpur Kheri incident and orders. Without discussion the Bill has been passed. There have been six Repeal Bills in the past and there were discussion in all the earlier occasions. The government doesn't want the Opposition to speak.
Trinamool's Derek O'Brien slams PM Modi for Pegasus and Farm Laws
Just In | Lok Sabha has been adjourned till noon as Opposition MPs protest, while Rajya Sabha has been adjourned till 12:20 pm.
Several members of the Opposition move notices to discuss farmers' issuesCongress MP Manish Tewari on Monday has moved an adjournment motion notice in Lok Sabha to discuss "to direct the government to create a record of farmers who lost their lives during farm laws protest and give compensation to their families".
Leader of Congress Party in Lok Sabha Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury also moved a notice for suspension of Question Hour to take up a discussion requesting the government to declare Minimum Support Price (MSP) for all crops backed by a legal guarantee."
Similarly, in Rajya Sabha, CPI MP Binoy Viswam gave a Suspension of Business Notice demanding a discussion on ensuring a legal guarantee for Minimum Support Price, while TRS MP Dr K Keshava Rao gave an adjournment motion notice over 'discriminatory crop procurement policy of Central government non-procurement of crops from Telengana'.
Aam Aadmi Party MP Sanjay Singh also gave a suspension of business notice under Rule 267 to demand 'discussion on the legal guarantee of Minimum Support Price for farmers'.
Visuals from Congress MPs protest ahead of Winter SessionProtesting Congress MPs, including Rahul Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi, demand legal backing for Minimum Support Prices for farmers and financial assistance to the families of farmers who died in the protest.
Home Minister Amit Shah arrives at Parliament for Winter Session
Union Home Minister Amit Shah arrived at the Parliament as the winter session of Parliament begins today.
"Biggest Issue Is Withdrawing The Agricultural Bill": BJP All-India Co-PresidentBJP's all-India co-president Dilip Ghosh left for Delhi to attend the winter session.
When asked why he is going to Delhi, Mr Ghosh said, "Parliament is starting its session. The biggest issue is withdrawing the agriculture bill. There are some very important financial bills. They will be passed. We will have all the MPs. So we are going."
Congress MPs, including Rahul Gandhi, to protest over farm laws at 10:30 am
Ahead of the government's Winter Session in Parliament, Rahul Gandhi and other Congress MPs plan to protest near the Gandhi statue at 10:30 am today over the farm laws.
"Hope There Will Be Active Cooperation Of All Parties": Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla"The #WinterSession of the Lok Sabha is starting from today. It is hoped that during the session there will be active cooperation of all the parties, the House will run smoothly and systematically," tweeted Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla in Hindi.
"Honorable members will play their part in the proceedings with discipline and decency. With our collective efforts, we will enhance the dignity of the House," added the tweet.
He further said that efforts will be made to give every member a chance to express the hopes and expectations of the people.
"There are many such subjects before the country on which there is a need for serious discussion and dialogue in the House. The people of the country also expect the same from us. During the winter session, every effort will be made that every member gets enough time and opportunities to express the hopes and expectations of the public through the House," Mr Birla said.
Opposition Leaders Meeting Starts Ahead Of Parliament Winter SessionThe opposition leaders meeting has started in Parliament premises. Ahead of the commencement of Parliament's winter session, Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge called a meeting of all the Opposition parties to create consensus over the issues to be raised in the Parliament.
A total of 11 opposition parties are in attendance.
Government Wants To Push Through Bill Without Debate, Says Congress
Ahead of the winter session of Parliament, Congress today said that the government wants to push through the Farm Laws Repeal bill without debate. The party MPs are demanding a debate before the farm laws are repealed so as to secure a discussing and bring up various other aspects of the farmers' protests.
Key Bills on Agenda for 2021 Winter Session of ParliamentAmongst the 36 legislative bills on the agenda, these are some of the key bills to be discussed in the winter session:
1. The Farm Laws Repeal Bill, 2021
2. The Cryptocurrency and Regulation of Official Digital Currency Bill, 2021
3. The Banking Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2021
4. The Delhi Special Police Establishment (Amendment) Bill, 2021 (To replace an ordinance)
5. The Central Vigilance Commission (Amendment) Bill, 2021 (To replace an ordinance)
6. The Electricity (Amendment) Bill, 2021
Parliament Winter Session to Begin TodayThe winter session of the Parliament is set to begin today, with the BJP-led government having a heavy agenda for the winter session, its legislative business including 36 bills.
The government has indicated that the bill to repeal the three farm laws will also be taken up on priority.
The bill was cleared by the Union Cabinet last week. Information and Broadcasting Minister Anurag Thakur had told reporters that it will be the government's priority to get the three farm laws repealed in the winter session of Parliament.