Monsoon Session Highlights: Rajya Sabha Discusses Price Rise

There Is No Collapse Of Indian Rupee, Asserts Finance Minister

Lok Sabha MP Wants Task Force To Curb Illegal Mining
Lok Sabha member Brijendra Singh has demanded the setting up of a taskforce on the lines of the National Investigation Agency to curb illegal mining across the country. Raising the issue during Zero Hour, Mr Singh cited the recent killing of a deputy superintendent of police in Haryana by the mining mafia. The Lok Sabha member from Hisar said the issue of illegal mining transcends state boundaries and hence the taskforce on the lines of the National Investigation Agency was the need of the hour.

Opposition Asks Government To Acknowledge Problem Of Price Rise To Fix It
Opposition parties in Rajya Sabha today appealed to the government to acknowledge the problem of rising inflation affecting the poor in India in order to fix it, but the ruling BJP asserted that it is a problem arisen due to global development beyond the control of any country. Participating in a short-duration discussion on rising prices of essential items, BJP leader Prakash Javadekar said price rise hurts everyone and the Narendra Modi-led central government is constantly working to check it.

Government's Official Language Policy Is Of Persuasion, Incentive, Goodwill: Minister
The central government's official language policy is of persuasion, incentive and goodwill, Union Minister Ajay Kumar Mishra informed Lok Sabha on Tuesday in response to a question on the promotion of Hindi. Congress MP from Tamil Nadu A Chellakumar asked whether the government has "evaluated the impact of promoting Hindi at the expense of English" in southern states and if so, the details thereof, and if not, the reasons thereof. "No Sir. The Official Language Policy of the government is of persuasion, incentive and goodwill," Union Minister of State for Home Mishra said in the written reply.

In First Lok Sabha Speech, Bhojpuri Star Nirahua Makes This Demand
BJP MP Dinesh Lal Yadav 'Nirahua' Tuesday made a strong pitch in the Lok Sabha for the inclusion of Bhojpuri in the list of official languages mentioned in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution. In his maiden speech in the Lok Sabha, Mr Yadav said Bhojpuri was spoken in 16 countries and the 'Geet Gawai' tradition has been recognised by the UNESCO as Intangible Cultural Heritage at the request of Mauritius.

4,800 Arrested For Promoting Enmity Between Groups On Grounds Of Religion, Race In 2018-20
Nearly 4,800 people were arrested across the country for the offence of promoting enmity between groups on grounds of religion, race, place of birth between 2018 and 2020, Lok Sabha was informed on Tuesday. Union Minister of State for Home Nityanand Rai said that 17 cases were registered by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) on charges of hurting religious sentiments and promoting enmity in the last six years.

Health Minister Advises Not To Panic Over Monkeypox

In the wake of the rising cases of Monkeypox in the country, Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya on Tuesday assured citizens not to panic and said that an awareness campaign is being run in collaboration with the state governments to prevent the spread of the infection.

Speaking in Rajya Sabha today during the ongoing Monsoon session of the Parliament, the Union Minister said, "There is no need to be afraid of monkeypox, an awareness campaign is being run in collaboration with the state governments: Public awareness is very necessary in the context of monkeypox. We have also formed a task force under the chairmanship of a member of NITI Aayog on behalf of the Government of India."

"On the basis of the observations of the task force, we will assess and study the further action to be taken. If the state government of Kerala needs any kind of help from the Central government, it will be given. Also, an expert team of the Central government is guiding the state government from time to time," he said.

Rajya Sabha Adjourned Till 12 Noon

The Sena MPs also sought a discussion on the arrest of Raut by the Enforcement Directorate in a money laundering case.

Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu said he has rejected notices given under Rule 267 seeking setting aside of the business of the day to discuss the issue.

BJP Parliamentary Party Meeting Underway

A Bharatiya Janata Party Parliamentary party meeting began on Tuesday morning in the Parliament Library Building in the presence of BJP National President Jagat Prakash Nadda.

Union Ministers Rajnath Singh, Ashwini Vaishnaw, S Jaishankar, Anurag Thakur and Pralhad Joshi were among those who were seen arriving for the meeting at the Parliament Library building. Rajnath Singh is chairing the meeting in which several BJP MPs are also present.

Notably, the ongoing Monsoon Session is witnessing a number of adjournments in both Houses of Parliament on various issues ranging from price rise issues to the arrest of Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut by the Enforcement Directorate in a money laundering case.