Changes to the electoral laws to allow linking of the Aadhaar card to the voter I-card were passed in the Lok Sabha today amid massive opposition protests against the "Election Laws (Amendment) Bill". Opposition parties said the move to allow the seeding of the Aadhaar card with one's voter ID or electoral card could lead to more non-citizens voting in the country.
Parliament sessions continued to be disrupted amid Opposition protests demanding the dismissal of Union Minister Ajay Mishra and the reinstatement of 12 suspended MPs.
In light of the ongoing chaos, Rajya Sabha Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu called a meeting to find a solution and "maintain peace and smooth functioning during House proceedings".
However, the government's efforts to initiate back-channel talks to resolve the ongoing impasse in Parliament hit a wall, as Opposition parties decided not to attend.
The Opposition protests center both the 12 members of parliament who were penalized for "unruly behaviour" in the Monsoon Session, as well as Ajay Mishra, whose son, Ashish Mishra, is the primary accused in the Lakhimpur Kheri violence that saw death of eight people, including four protesting farmers.
Here are the Highlights on the Parliament Winter Session:
Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (Amendment) Bill, 2021 passed in Rajya Sabha with a voice vote to rectify a drafting "anomaly" created by a 2014 amendment to the parent legislation.
- ANI (@ANI) December 20, 2021
Rajya Sabha adjourned till tomorrow
Rajya Sabha adjourned till 5 pm today as Opposition ruckus got fierce after a verbal spat between Samajwadi Party (SP) MP Jaya Bachchan and treasury benches pic.twitter.com/4dJCpysRqn
- ANI (@ANI) December 20, 2021
It's currently not mandatory to link Aadhaar to an electoral roll, but with this bill, we'll make it mandatory to sieve out fake voters. The Parliamentary Standing Committee has recommended this & asked us to expedite the process of making this into an act: Union Min Kiren Rijiju pic.twitter.com/r5XyRPIqof
- ANI (@ANI) December 20, 2021
Four changes in the electoral law, the key one allowing linking of Aadhaar to the voter identity card, was passed in lok Sabha amid uproar today. The opposition demanded a review of the bill, arguing against the Aadhaar-voter I-card link.
Today all states/UTs have adequate quantity of vaccines, 17 cr doses available with them. Our manufacturing capacity increased. Today India has capacity to manufacture 31 cr doses of vaccine/month. In next 2 months, it'll further rise to 45 cr doses/month: Union Health Min in RS pic.twitter.com/isO2z7nP8N
- ANI (@ANI) December 20, 2021
If the Opposition didn't protest against the suspension of 12 MPs then the BJP will think that country will run in this way only. They should know that Opposition is not weak and to make them realize, we'll continue our protests, boycotts: TMC MP Sushmita Dev pic.twitter.com/0d6WHumMuZ
- ANI (@ANI) December 20, 2021
Troops deployed on forward posts enjoy complete freedom of action in responding to Pakistan Cease Fire Violations (CFVs).Substantial damage was inflicted on Pak posts and personnel during retaliation by the Indian Army: MoS Defence Ajay Bhatt in a written reply in Rajya Sabha
- ANI (@ANI) December 20, 2021
Winter Session Updates: Centre vs Opposition Over Election Reforms Law In ParliamentRajya Sabha adjourned till 3 pm amid Opposition MPs' protest over the suspension of 12 MPs from the House as well as the Lakhimpur Kheri incident. pic.twitter.com/qCw8NX0wkJ
- ANI (@ANI) December 20, 2021
The 12 suspended Rajya Sabha MPs should realise their mistake and talk to the Chair. The Opposition leaders did not come for the meeting called by the Government today: Union minister and BJP leader Piyush Goyal pic.twitter.com/5afY2j13IK
- ANI (@ANI) December 20, 2021
Delhi | Opposition MPs will conduct a march from Gandhi statue in Parliament to Vijay Chowk at 1230 pm today, demanding the resignation of MoS Home Ajay Kumar Misra, in connection with the Lakhimpur Kheri case pic.twitter.com/zSBIM9tVHU
- ANI (@ANI) December 20, 2021
We will not attend the meeting called by the Government. We will demand the resignation of MoS Home Ajay Kumar Misra and revocation of suspension of 12 Opposition MPs in Rajya Sabha. We will not let both Houses of Parliament function: Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut pic.twitter.com/HHxnG38TIG
- ANI (@ANI) December 20, 2021
"Stunt": Opposition Rebuffs Closed-Group Talks On Parliament ImpasseThe government's efforts to initiate back-channel talks to resolve the ongoing impasse in parliament may hit a wall, messages from leaders of the Congress and Trinamool Congress have suggested.
The Govt has called for a meeting of 4 Opposition parties on the suspension of 12 Rajya Sabha MPs. This is a conspiracy to divide the Opposition. All Opposition parties are united on this issue. We've written to the Govt to call an all-party meeting: LoP Rajya Sabha, M. Kharge pic.twitter.com/S4EVD7J1He
- ANI (@ANI) December 20, 2021
