Winter Session Updates: 12 Opposition MPs were suspended last week for "unruly conduct.
The Rajya Sabha has been adjourned till 11 am on Thursday. Earlier, the Upper House of the Parliament was adjourned three times in a day following a ruckus created by the Opposition over the suspension of 12 MPs.
The winter session of Parliament began on November 29 and will continue till December 23.
Twelve Opposition MPs -- six from the Congress, two each from the Trinamool Congress and Shiv Sena, and one each from the CPI and CPI(M) - are holding an indefinite protest since they were suspended last week for the entire Winter Session of Parliament for their "unruly" conduct in the previous session in August.
The suspension of the MPs has led to disruption of proceedings in the Upper House, which did not carry any significant business for the second consecutive day on Tuesday.
Here are the highlights on Parliament winter session 2021:
Cabinet approves continuation of Gramin PMAY-G beyond March 2021 till March 2024
Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led union cabinet on Wednesday has approved the proposal of the Department of Rural Development for the continuation of Pradhan Mantri Awaas Yojana-Gramin (PMAY-G) beyond March 2021.
As per an official release, financial assistance is to be provided for the construction of the remaining 155.75 lakh houses, as on 31 March 2021 under the scheme within the total target of 2.95 crore houses.
As per an official release, "Continuation of PMAY-G beyond March 2021 till March 2024 as per the existing norms to complete remaining houses within a cumulative target of 2.95 crore houses."
The total financial implication for construction of the remaining 155.75 lakh houses is Rs. 2,17,257 crore (Central Share Rs.1,25,106 crore and State Share Rs.73,475 crores) for achieving cumulative targets of 2.95 crore houses in rural areas under the PMAY-G and an additional requirement of Rs.18,676 crore towards the interest repayment to NABARD.The phasing out of EBR and provision of entire scheme funding through Gross Budgetary Support (GBS) shall be decided in consultation with the Ministry of Finance.
Parliament gives nod to Dam Safety Bill
Parliament on Wednesday passed a bill that seeks to set up an institutional mechanism for the safety of specified dams in the country.
Rajya Sabha had passed The Dam Safety Bill on December 2 with minor amendments, including changing the year in the title of the Bill from 2019 to 2021.
Jal Shakti Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat moved amendments to the Bill in Lok Sabha, which approved it with a voice vote.
The Bill provides for surveillance, inspection, operation and maintenance of the specified dams for the prevention of dam failure-related disasters. It provides for an institutional mechanism to ensure a safe functioning of the dams.
A clause has been added to the bill to impose punishment on the states or people if the norms are not adhered to.
Suspension of 12 MPs against Article 85 of Constitution, says Mallikarjun Kharge
Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge on Wednesday said that the suspension of 12 MPs from the Upper House was against Article 85 of the Constitution.
"Suspension is against Article 85 of Constitution. Still, they are not adamant. We do not want the House to function like this, but they are forcing us so that the House does not function and no issues are raised, be it of farmers, Pegasus, inflation, fuel prices, Nagaland," the Leader of Opposition (LoP) said.
Mr Kharge further said that all Opposition has boycotted the House today and they will further decide about boycotting the House tomorrow.
"Today we raised the issue once again that this is not right and suspension should be revoked. I appeal once again that we are ready to let House function. All Opposition has boycotted the House today and we will sit with suspended MPs for the entire day. We will decide about tomorrow," he said.
Oppostion leaders' meeting to be held tomorrow at LoP Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge's office in Parliament to decide the strategy for the Floor of the House.
Cabinet approves Ken-Betwa Interlinking of Rivers Project
The Ken-Betwa Interlinking of Rivers Project shall cost of Rs.44,605 crore, shall be completed in 8 years and generate 103 MW Hydro Power plus 27 MW Solar Power
Lok Sabha takes up amendment bill on salaries, conditions of service of judges
The Lok Sabha on Tuesday took up a bill that seeks to bring clarity concerning the date of eligibility of additional quantum of pension to a retired judge while the Rajya Sabha continued to face adjournments over the suspension of 12 members last week.
Members in Lok Sabha raised issues of their concern. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi tabled "a list of names of farmers who died during the protest against the three farm laws" that have been repealed.
He said the Centre had stated that it had no data on farmers who had died during the protest and he was giving the names. He said Punjab Government had provided compensation for the death of farmers from the state during the agitation.
Participating in a debate on High Court and Supreme Court Judges (Salaries and Conditions of Service) Amendment Bill, 2021, Lok Sabha members expressed concern over the pendency of cases in courts with many of them making suggestions to increase the retirement age of judges.
Kerala, Tamil Nadu members raise slogans in LS over Mullaperiyar Dam issueMembers from Kerala and Tamil Nadu raised slogans in the Lok Sabha on Wednesday as CPI (M) member A M Ariff made a demand to build a new dam replacing the 126-year-old Mullaperiyar Dam.
Raising the issue during the Zero Hour, Ariff, a member from Alappuzha, claimed that Tamil Nadu had released water from the dam without any warning which had led to flooding in villages downstream.
"People are living in constant fear as their homes get flooded. They have to leave their homes in haste. Children cannot go to school," he said.
Ariff said the dam was in danger and there was a need to build a new one in its place.
Scrap MP quota in Kendriya Vidyalayas: BJP leader demands in Rajya SabhaSenior BJP leader Sushil Kumar Modi on Wednesday demanded in the Rajya Sabha that the 7,880 MP quota seats in Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan (KVS) be scrapped as they go against "the spirit of democracy".
Raising the matter during the Zero Hour, Modi said the MP quota in KVS was also a major reason why parliamentarians were losing elections as each of the Members of Parliament (MPs) was able to recommend only 10 students and disappoint thousands of others who approached him seeking admission of their children.
There are 788 MPs and each MP has the discretionary power to recommend 10 children for admission in a KVS.
He said each MP gets requests from thousands of people seeking admission of their wards in KVS under the MP quota. However, he could recommend only 10 children.
PARLIAMENT SCHEDULELOK SABHA
Bills for consideration and passing
-The High Court and Supreme Court Judges (Salaries and
Conditions of Service) Amendment Bill, 2021
-The Delhi Special Police Establishment (Amendment)
Bill, 2021
RAJYA SABHA
Bills for consideration and passing
-The Assisted Reproductive Technology (Regulation) Bill, 2021
-The Surrogacy (Regulation) Bill, 2020
Akhilesh Yadav Makes Statement In Laal Topi After PM's AttackThe colour red symbolises emotions, revolution and change, Akhilesh Yadav said today in response to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's "Lal Topi" attack on the Samajwadi Party (SP), escalating a war of words as campaigning for the Uttar Pradesh polls.
Rajya Sabha proceedings adjourned till 12 noon amid Opposition protestRajya Sabha proceedings were adjourned till 12 noon on Wednesday as Opposition members continued to protest demanding the revocation of suspension of 12 MPs.
Soon after the papers were laid and the Zero Hour began, Opposition members were up on their feet, demanding the revocation of the suspension of their fellow MPs.
Leader of Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge said, "We have repeatedly requested that 12 suspended MPs should be recalled. The suspension should be revoked."
Centre insensitive towards farmers, common people: Sonia Gandhi
Congress interim President Sonia Gandhi on Wednesday slammed the Central government for rising inflation and termed it insensitive towards farmers and common people, reported news agency ANI.
Addressing the Congress Parliamentary Party meet today, she said, "Let us honour the 700 farmers who sacrificed their lives during the farmers stir. The Central government is insensitive towards farmers and common people. The rise in prices of essential commodities is burning the monthly budget of every family."
"The Centre believes in selling off the assets of India. Several Public sector undertakings are being dismantled by the government," she said at the meet.
She also expressed solidarity with the suspended 12 members of Parliament and said that the move by the Rajya Sabha Chairman is "unprecedented and unacceptable".
The meeting by Congress comes amid protest by the opposition parties over the suspension of 12 MPs from the Rajya Sabha for "unruly conduct'' on the last day of the monsoon session of parliament. The MPs were suspended last week.
All Rajya Sabha MPs of opposition parties to join the dharna at Gandhi Statue protesting suspension of the 12 MPs today.
Parliament Winter Session: Opposition parties have said that their protest will continue till the time the suspension of the MPs is revoked.
At least 120 Opposition MPs of the Rajya Sabha will join a sit-in protest in the Parliament Complex today over the suspension of 12 members of the Upper House.
Twelve Opposition MPs -- six from the Congress, two each from the Trinamool Congress and Shiv Sena, and one each from the CPI and CPI(M) - are holding an indefinite protest since they were suspended last week for the entire Winter Session of Parliament for their "unruly" conduct in the previous session in August.
To know yesterday's developments in the Parliament, click
here