The Rajya Sabha on Monday passed a bill to ban financing any prohibited activity related to weapons of mass destruction and their delivery systems as well as empowering the Centre to freeze, seize or attach economic resources of persons involved in such activities.
The Weapons of Mass Destruction and their Delivery System (Prohibition of Unlawful Activities), Amendment Bill, 2022 was passed amid the din a few minutes after External Affairs Minister S Jaishakar spoke on the need for the legislation.
The Bill seeks amendment to the Weapons of Mass Destruction and their Delivery Systems (Prohibition of Unlawful Activities) Act, 2005.
Here are the Highlights on the Monsoon Session:
"There's no question of India getting into recession or stagflation": Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman (@nsitharaman) speaks in Lok Sabha on rising prices pic.twitter.com/nnPQZQq5m4
- NDTV (@ndtv) August 1, 2022
Despite pandemic, India recovered admirably. This house will have to feel proud for this country and its people.
Finance Minsiter Nirmala Sitharaman will speak on price rise at 7 pm today.
Why A Trinamool MP Bit Into Brinjal In ParliamentA Trinamool MP stood up in Lok Sabha, flashed a raw brinjal and then took a bite out of it during a discussion on the issue of price rise.
Parliament Monday passed a bill which seeks to extend the application of domestic laws to research stations set up by India in the Antarctic region.
The Indian Antarctic Bill, 2022, piloted in the Upper House by Earth Sciences Minister Jitendra Singh, was passed with a voice vote after a brief discussion amid a protest by Opposition on various issues, including the arrest of Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut.
The suspension of four Congress MPs from Lok Sabha was revoked on Monday following a motion that was passed in the Lower House of Parliament.
The Congress members of Parliament - Manickam Tagore, Ramya Haridas, TN Prathapan and S Jothi Mani -- were suspended for the rest of the Monsoon Session of Parliament after Speaker Om Birla took a stern view of the continuous disruptions by Opposition MPs since the beginning of the Monsoon Session.
After witnessing two repeated adjournments in both Houses of Parliament over ruckus created by Opposition leaders on various issues, Union ministers Piyush Goyal and Pralhad Joshi expressed their concerns over Parliament not being allowed to function normally.
Addressing the media persons today at the Parliament premises, Piyush Goyal said, "The Central Government was ready from the first day to discuss about inflation. However, the Opposition wasn't allowing the House (Lok Sabha) to function normally. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman had COVID-19. Knowing that she has just recovered, we are appealing to them for the House to function normally."
Country has double-digit inflation for last 14 months, it's highest in 30 yrs. Consumer food price index is skyrocketting. GST increased on daily use things like rice, curd, paneer & on pencils and sharpeners, govt is not sparing even children: Congress leader Manish Tewari pic.twitter.com/zEOlTms18N
- ANI (@ANI) August 1, 2022
Parliament on Monday passed a bill which seeks to ban funding of weapons of mass destruction and also empower the Centre to freeze, seize or attach financial assets and economic resources of people engaged in such activities.
The Weapons of Mass Destruction and their Delivery Systems (Prohibition of Unlawful Activities) Amendment Bill, 2022, piloted by External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, was passed with a voice vote even as opposition parties continued their protest on various issues, including against arrest of Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut.
The bill was approved by the Lok Sabha in April.
The government has agreed for a discussion in the Rajya Sabha on rising prices of essential commodities on Tuesday, as the Opposition Congress and other parties disrupted proceedings over the arrest of Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut and other issues.
When the House re-assembled at noon for Question Hour, the Opposition parties continued with their protests as several MPs reached the well of House and raised slogans against the central dispensation.
However, Bhubaneswar Kalita, who was in the Chair, went ahead with the Question Hour.
As sloganeering continued, Leader of the House and Union minister Piyush Goyal appealed to the protesting members to allow legislative business and Question Hour to function smoothly as the debate on price rise is listed in both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha.
"They have been demanding a discussion on price rise and it is listed today in the Lok Sabha and in Rajya Sabha tomorrow at 2 pm.
"The Opposition had collectively assured us once the date is finalised and listed, we will allow the House to run properly. Many members have important issues and I appeal to members from the Opposition to allow the House to function smoothly," he said.
Price Rise Debate Begins In #LokSabha
- NDTV (@ndtv) August 1, 2022
Watch Live: https://t.co/hMlRpgaRS6 pic.twitter.com/uTiTGHjuBa
#MonsoonSession | "No placards in parliament": Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla pic.twitter.com/8fhNt8W3LG
- NDTV (@ndtv) August 1, 2022
#NewsAlert | "Either Opposition MPs should express regret or their leader should ensure that they won't bring placards which are against the rules. Then, the government is ready to move a motion to revoke the suspension of MPs": Union Minister @PiyushGoyal | reported by ANI pic.twitter.com/TjdcQRPoHf
- NDTV (@ndtv) August 1, 2022
"We have many Bills to pass. Unfortunately, the House is getting adjourned. If the Leader of Congress Parliamentary Party assures the house that MPs will not come with placards, we are ready to withdraw suspension": Union Minister Pralhad Joshi (@JoshiPralhad) | reported by ANI pic.twitter.com/Y1rsrDDG4n
- NDTV (@ndtv) August 1, 2022
Rajya Sabha adjourned till 2 pm amid sloganeering by Opposition MPs in the House. pic.twitter.com/aEhMHjkzIj
- ANI (@ANI) August 1, 2022
#NewsAlert | "India has won three gold medals, two silver medals and a bronze medal in the ongoing #CWG2022. I am confident that the performance of Indian players will inspire the youth of the country": Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla | reported by news agency ANI pic.twitter.com/Kcpm4b6uWK
- NDTV (@ndtv) August 1, 2022
The Lok Sabha was on Monday adjourned till 12 noon after a few minutes of business following protests by opposition leaders demanding withdrawal of suspension of four Congress MPs.
As the House met at 11 am after the weekend break, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla congratulated Indian sportspersons who have brought laurels to the country in the ongoing Commonwealth Games.
Amid the ongoing Monsoon Session of Parliament, West Bengal BJP MPs on Monday protested against West Bengal Chief Minister and TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee over the alleged involvement of former state minister Partha Chatterjee in the SSC recruitment scam.
They raised "thieves" slogans against Mamata Banerjee and TMC.
The ED arrested Partha Chatterjee, who was also the Trinamool Congress secretary-general, on July 23 for an investigation into the teacher recruitment scam.
Even as officials papers were being laid, Shiv Sena MPs were up on their feet protesting against the arrest of Mr Raut.
Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu said the matter has nothing to do with the House and asked them to go back to their seats.
Other opposition MPs also joined in raising issues such as price rise.
The Shiv Sena as well as TMC MPs then moved into the well of the House.
#MonsoonSession | Rajya Sabha adjourned till noon
- NDTV (@ndtv) August 1, 2022
The Opposition is likely to demand a discussion on the Agnipath defence recruitment scheme in Parliament this week after the debate on price rise is taken up in both the Houses, according to sources.
A discussion on price rise has been listed in the Lok Sabha for Monday and in the Rajya Sabha the next day.
Opposition leaders said while there is a consensus among them about the need for a discussion on Agnipath, which had sparked widespread violence across the country, they have varied stands on the subject.
With barely 10 working days remaining before the Monsoon Session gets over on August 12, it is unlikely that the parties would be abe to extract a debate on the new armed forces recruitment scheme in either House.
"We will definitely raise the issue in Parliament, however there is very little time to force a discussion on it as the session is ending on August 12 and in between there is a weekend, the vice presidential election as well as the farewell for (outgoing vice president) Venkaiah Naidu," said an opposition leader.
TMC Lok Sabha members Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar and Dola Sen and Rajya Sabha MP Mausam Noor had submitted notices for a discussion on the "need for prevention of crimes against women" in light of "latest reported incidents".
The sources said the TMC MPs moved the notices after Gujarat Rural Development Minister and BJP MLA Arjunsinh Chauhan was accused of raping and illegally confining a woman.
TMC MP Mahua Moitra targeted the prime minister over the issue and tweeted, "Lady raped & confined by BJP Guj Minister Arjunsinh for 5 yrs. Expecting Hon'ble @ombirlakota to hand mic to Oppn as SOON as he enters LS on Monday so we can ask PMji to Maafi Maango. Equality before law, Sir! Ominous silence from Drama Bahu brigade."
Shiv Sena MP Priyanka Chaturvedi has given a suspension of business notice in the Rajya Sabha seeking to discuss the issue of "misuse of premier investigative agencies by the Central government for political agendas".
"I hereby give notice under Rule 267 of rules of procedure and conduct of business in the Council of States of my intention to move the following motion for the suspension of business/rules on August 1, 2022," wrote Chaturvedi to Rajya Sabha Speaker M Venkaiah Naidu.
"They (BJP) want an 'Opposition-mukt' Parliament. We'll raise the issues of inflation and Gujarat hooch tragedy in the Parliament. BJP's 'Operation Keechad' in Jharkhand will also be raised": Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge | reported by news agency ANI pic.twitter.com/eh2ZuFbLqZ
- NDTV (@ndtv) August 1, 2022
#MonsoonSession | AAP MP @Raghav_Chadha gives suspension notice under rule 267 in Rajya Sabha to discuss MSP, withdrawal of cases registered against farmers and punishment in the Lakhimpur Kheri case. | reported by news agency ANI pic.twitter.com/zQyD350NAW
- NDTV (@ndtv) August 1, 2022
