Review of this week's Parliament proceedings

The Winter Session of Parliament was adjourned sine die yesterday, six days ahead of its scheduled time, amid opposition demands to discuss the issue of border tensions with China. In this session, 97 per cent functioning of Lok Sabha and 102 per cent functioning of Rajya Sabha took place. During this session, Dimple Yadav of Samajwadi Party took oath as a member of the Lok Sabha.” ””As a Chairman, Jagdeep Dhankhar conducted the proceedings of the Rajya Sabha for the first time. During this, both the Houses paid homage to the martyrs who laid down their lives while defending the Parliament in the terrorist attack on the Parliament on 13th December, 2001. During this session, the members raised various issues of public importance, while in the question hour, the ministers concerned answered supplementary questions related to their ministries.” ””Parliament approved the Supplementary Demands for Grants for 2022-23, The Wild Life (Protection) Amendment Bill, The Energy Conservation (Amendment) Bill, The New Delhi International Arbitration (Amendment) Bill, The Anti-Maritime Piracy Bill and several other bills relating to the inclusion of certain castes of various states in the category of Scheduled Tribes were also taken up.” ””Defense Minister Rajnath Singh made statements in both the Houses on the issue of Tawang incident and Health and Family Welfare Minister Mansukh Mandaviya in connection with the Covid epidemic. On the issue of tension on the China border, several opposition members, including the Congress, created ruckus demanding discussion in both the Houses and walked out several times.” ””The Winter Session began on 7th December and was to continue till 29th December but it was adjourned yesterday sine die six days ahead.” ”On Monday, Lok Sabha approved ‘The Anti-Maritime Piracy Bill, 2019. The bill seeks to make special provisions for the repression of piracy on high seas with the government adding life imprisonment along with the provision of death penalty for those convicted of the crime. Various amendments moved by opposition members were negated and the bill was passed by a voice vote.” ”The Anti-Maritime Piracy Bill was brought in 2019. After undergoing scrutiny of a parliamentary panel, the government moved amendments in the Monsoon session of Parliament.” ””External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said,  keeping in mind the observations of the Supreme Court that death penalty should be in rarest of the rare cases and the fact that many nations do not extradite accused in view of the provision of capital punishment, the government is including the option of life in prison. He said, it will strengthen India’s maritime security, give it an effective legal instrument to combat the menace. He said it will make the country fulfil its international obligations and improve India’s standing at global forums.” ””The Lok Sabha also passed the 'Constitution (Scheduled Tribes) Order (Fourth Amendment) Bill, 2022' after discussion on Monday. The bill has provision to include Kadu Kuruba and Betta Kuruba communities of Karnataka in the list of Scheduled Tribes.” ””Responding to the discussion, Tribal Minister Arjun Munda said that the Congress party has ignored the tribals for a long time and there is a huge difference between their words and actions. He said, during the previous Congress government in the year 2013-14, the budget related to tribals was 19 thousand crore rupees, which has now been increased to 87 thousand crore rupees.” ””In the Rajya Sabha, the discussion on the Appropriation Bills started on Monday. During the discussion, the opposition Congress accused the government of favouring the corporate sector and sought answers from the government on the India-China border issue.”The member of the ruling party informed about the measures taken by the government to boost the economy and for the welfare of the people. India has become the fastest growing economy and the government is working to make it a five trillion dollar economy.”       ”On Tuesday, the Lok Sabha took up discussion on the problem of drug abuse and the steps taken by the government to curb this menace.” ””Harsimrat Kaur Badal of Shiromani Akali Dal initiated the discussion on the problem of drug abuse. Launching a scathing attack on the ruling Aam Aadmi Party and the Congress, the Akali Dal member urged the Centre to take the matter seriously and said that narco-terrorism threatens to spread across the country.” ””Home Minister Amit Shah replied to the discussion on Wednesday. He said that India has zero-tolerance policy towards the issue of drugs. He said countries promoting terrorism in India are using the profits from drugs for this and the presence of this dirty money also gradually hollows the economy.” ””Mr Shah said this while replying to a short duration discussion in Lok Sabha on drug abuse and steps taken by the government. He further stated that the profits being made from the drugs are utilised for terrorism as well.” ””On Tuesday, Home Minister Amit Shah moved a motion to refer the Multi-State Cooperative Societies (Amendment) Act to a Joint Committee of Parliament. It seeks to bring transparency and accountability in the sector. However, Opposition members had demanded that the Bill be referred to a Standing Committee for its review.” ””On Tuesday, The Rajya Sabha resumed discussion on the Appropriation (No 5) Bill, 2022 and The Appropriation (No.4) Bill, 2022 for consideration and return.” ””Amee Yajnik of the Congress, K Keshava Rao of TRS, Dola Sen of Trinamool Congress, Manoj Kumar Jha of RJD among others who participated in the debate.” ””The ruling and opposition members in the Rajya Sabha sparred over remarks made by Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge in Rajasthan's Alwar, with treasury bench members seeking an apology from him.” ””However, Kharge insisted that the remarks were made outside Parliament and should not be discussed in the House.” ””The government informed the Rajya Sabha today that a GST compensation of 17,176 crore rupees is pending with the states as on June 2022. Replying to members' queries during question Hour, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said as of now, the government has cleared all the dues up to June, and an about 17,000 crores rupee pending is to be paid.”         ”On Wednesday, the Lok Sabha approved the 'Constitution (Scheduled Tribes) Order (Fifth Amendment) Bill, 2022' in which there is a provision to include 12 communities belonging to the state of Chhattisgarh in the tribal list. The Bill will amend the Constitution (Scheduled Tribes) Order, 1950, for inclusion of the thirteen communities, in the list of Scheduled Tribes in relation to the State of Chhattisgarh.” ””Replying to the discussion, Tribal Affairs Minister Arjun Munda said, the government has identified 75 particularly vulnerable tribal groups across the country. He said, out of these only nine were listed and the Government is working on the remaining communities. He said, Narendra Modi government has changed the approach towards the tribals and is working with conviction.” ””Replying to the debate on The Appropriation (No.5) Bill, 2022 and Appropriation (No.4) Bill, 2022 in Rajya Sabha, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said, the government is keeping an eye on inflation which is purely extraneous nowadays because of fuel and fertiliser prices. The Minister said, the wholesale inflation has fallen to a 21-month low.” ””Retail inflation based on the consumer price index which remained above the Reserve Bank's tolerance level of 6 per cent since January this year has declined to 5.88 per cent in November.” ””The Finance Minister also said, private investment Capex is taking place in India because of favourable policies like Production Linked Incentive and cited a few examples. She also stressed that the Supplementary Demand for Grants is essential for food security, fertiliser requirements and providing support to the Indian economy.” ””The Finance Minister said the buoyancy in tax collection will help the government in meeting the additional expenditure being sought through the Supplementary Demands for Grants. She informed the House that the Gross NPAs of banks have declined to a 6-year low of 5.9 per cent in March 2022. She said, the government's targeted approach to deal with Covid impact has helped India in reviving growth without going into recession.”         ”On Wednesday, The Rajya Sabha passed The Maritime Anti Piracy Bill, 2022 after discussion and reply by the Minister.” ”Opposition Parties walked out of the Lok Sabha seeking a discussion on the border issue with China. As soon as the House assembled for the Zero Hour, members belonging to Congress and DMK staged the walkout followed by members belonging to Trinamool Congress and JD-U. Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury of Congress pleaded with the Speaker Om Birla to allow a discussion on the India-China border issue saying that it is the right of the Opposition in Parliament.” ””The Home Minister took serious exception to the allegation made by the Congress member Gaurav Gogoi that the government snoops on politicians with Israeli spyware Pegasus and asked him to give proof of the claim saying that the House was not meant for reckless politics. Gogoi while participating in the discussion on drug menace sought to know from the government about the kind of surveillance as well as international airports to check the entry of contraband into the country. Gogoi also wanted to know from the Home Minister to what kind of surveillance mechanisms are in place to check the arms smuggling, human trafficking and smuggling of animal parts at the India-Myanmar border.  Objecting to the Congress member’s remarks, Home Minister asked Gogoi to submit in the House the proof of his accusations.” ”He has levelled very serious allegations that Pegasus has been installed in his mobile. He must submit the basis of his accusation in the House itself. Either his words are removed or he must submit the basis of his remarks, the Home Minister said. Intervening, the Speaker told the members that it will enhance the dignity of the House if they make their points with facts and proof. This is my request, he said.”         ”On Thursday, The Rajya Sabha passed the Constitution (Scheduled Tribes) Order (Second Amendment) Bill, 2022 by voice vote. It was already passed by the Lok Sabha earlier. The Bill follows the suggestion of the Tamil Nadu government that Narikoravan and Kurivikkaran communities to include in the list of Scheduled Tribes in the State.” ””Replying to the debate Tribal Affairs Minister Arjun Munda said the government is working on the tribal-related issues, removing discrepancies and has ensured to give justice to them.” ””Participating in the debate members from different parties sought reservations for tribal communities from their areas.”M Thambidurai of AIADMK, Mamta Mohanta of Biju Janata Dal, G K Vasan of TMC (M), Mahua Majhi of JMM asnd H D Devegowda of JDS participated in the debate.” ””Rajya Sabha passed the Constitution (Scheduled Tribes) Order (Fourth Amendment) Bill, 2022 by a voice vote. The Lok Sabha has already passed the bill earlier. The bill aims at including the "Betta-Kuruba" along with "Kadu Kuruba" in the list of Scheduled Tribes in Karnataka.” ””Replying to the discussion, Tribal Affairs Minister Arjun Munda said, the bill seeks to provide justice to the Betta-Kuruba community of Karnataka, which has only about 5,000 members living in the southern parts of the state.” ””The government today informed the Rajya Sabha that India has started 2 per cent random sampling of international travellers coming to India in the wake of the surge in COVID-19 cases in many countries. The minister said that in the coming days the percentage could be increased and if necessary we will make it mandatory for everyone coming to India. Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya responded to queries of some Opposition members after his suo moto statement in the Rajya Sabha on the latest COVID-19 situation and India's preparedness. He said the government is constantly monitoring the situation.” ”” Mandaviya said he has spoken to many countries and WHO about what all precautions are needed to be taken and also understand in which direction the pandemic is moving.” ””Responding to a query by Raghav Chadha of Aam Aadmi Party on whether the government would ban direct flights from China, the minister said there are no direct flights between China and India but people come via other routes” ””Mandaviya also said the focus of the government is to ensure that no unknown variant of the virus enters India and at the same time there is now impediment on travelling. The minister assured the members that all the oxygen plants were running and a review has also been done about the availability of medicines. Mandaviya also informed that an expert committee has given approval to nasal vaccine to combat the virus, doing away with the requirements of jabs.” ””Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar also  termed as inappropriate the remarks made by UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi that the government is seeking to "deligitimise the judiciary" and urged political leaders not to subject high constitutional offices to partisan stances.” ””Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar has asked members to wear masks and keep social distancing in view of the surging COVID-19 cases in the world, saying the House needs to lead the nation by example.” ””Earlier, Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya made a statement on the COVID-19 situation in the country and the steps being taken by the government.” ””On Friday, both the Houses were adjourned sine die after statement given by Speaker Om Birla in the Lok Sabha and Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar in the Rajya Sabha about the functioning of the Houses during the session.” ”

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Review of this week's Parliament proceedings