Parliament Winter Session Highlights: Chaos Again Over Border Clashes, Opposition Walks Out

Winter Session Live: 1,472 Posts Of IAS, 864 For IPS Officers Vacant: Centre
There is a vacancy of 1,472 Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officers, 864 Indian Police Service (IPS) officers, and 1,057 Indian Forest Service (IFS) officers, the Lok Sabha was informed today. The sanctioned strength of IAS officers was 6,789, 4,984 of IPS officers and 3,191 for IFS officers as on January 1, 2022, Union Minister of State for Personnel Jitendra Singh said in a written reply. Of these, 5,317 IAS officers, 4,120 IPS officers and 2,134 IFS officers, respectively, were in position, he said.

Winter Session Live: Congress Cites Nehru Example To Demand Border Clash Discussion
Congress Lok Sabha MPs, led by party leader Sonia Gandhi, and Trinamool Congress lawmakers today walked out of the House, accusing the government of not allowing a discussion on the sensitive India-China border issue. As soon as the Question Hour ended, Congress' Leader of the House Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury demanded that a discussion on the "Indo-China border situation be held", saying late Prime Minister Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru had allowed a discussion in Lok Sabha on the India-China war in 1962. "We have been demanding a discussion on India-China border situation. In 1962, when India-China war took place, Jawaharlal Nehru, in this House, had given 165 MPs chance to speak, and a decision was taken on what to do only after that," Mr Chowdhury said. Responding to the Congress leader's demand, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla said a decision will be taken on it in the meeting of the Business Advisory Committee.

Winter Session: What Led To Rajya Sabha Walkout In Parliament Today
Leader of Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge said the opposition parties wanted a debate to get full information on the Chinese aggression and encroachment on Indian territory, and that they stand by the Army and the country. But Deputy Chairman Harivansh said there was no notice before the Chair and a debate cannot be allowed on the issue. This led to Opposition MPs shouting slogans for some time before staging a walkout. Those who walked out included MPs of Congress, Left, Trinamool, NCP, RJD, SP, JMM, and Shiv Sena.

Opposition's Rare Unity In Parliament, Yet Government Stays Cagey On China Clash
Arvind Kejriwal's AAP, Telangana Chief Minister KCR's party attend meet called by Congress's M Kharge; Trinamool joins Opposition walkout later. Read here.

Winter Session Live: Rajya Sabha Mourns Death Of Former MPs
The Rajya Sabha today mourned the death of its former members Yoginder K Alagh and R C Singh with MPs standing in silence in their places as a mark of respect. When the House met for the day, Deputy Chairman Harivansh informed that Mr Alagh died on December 6 at the age of 83 years. "In the passing away of Alagh the country has lost an eminent economist and an able Parliamentarian," he said. "In the passing away of Singh, the country has lost a veteran trade unionist and an able parliamentarian," he added. MPs stood in their places in silence as a mark of respect to the memory of the departed.

Winter Session Live: BJP MP Raises Issue Of Children Falling Into Borewells
BJP MP from Madhya Pradesh, Kavita Patidar, raised the issue of increase in incidents of children falling into borewells. She said that the government should take new initiatives in this regard.

Parliament Live: Opposition Walks Out Over Discussion On Border Clashes Denied
Opposition parties walked out from both the Houses of the Parliament after their demand for discussion on the India-China border clashes was rejected.

Winter Session Live: Rajya Sabha Session Resumes Amid Opposition Protests
Rajya Sabha's Winter Session resumed this morning amid protests by Opposition members who are insisting on a discussion over the India-China border clashes last week in Arunachal's Tawang sector.

Winter Session Live: Congress MP's Lok Sabha Notice Over China Border Situation
Congress MP Manish Tewari has given an adjournment motion notice in Lok Sabha to discuss the situation at the border with China in Tawang sector of Arunachal Pradesh. The Opposition parties staged protests in the Parliament yesterday, insisting on a discussion over the December 9 clash at the LAC. In a statement in the Parliament yesterday, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said no Indian soldiers were killed or seriously injured in the clash.

Winter Session Live: Opposition Meeting At 10 Am To Discuss Joint Strategy
Opposition parties' leaders are set to meet at Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge's office in the Parliament at 10 AM to discuss the joint opposition strategy for the day as the Winter Session resumes at 11 am.