Opposition protests in both Houses of Parliament disrupted yet another day of proceedings, with the Opposition stepping up attack on the Centre over the alleged use of central investigating agencies to target political rivals.
On the 14th day of the Monsoon Session, the Lok Sabha proceedings were first adjourned until 2 p.m. and then adjourned for the rest of the day as protesting members of the Opposition continued to raise slogans against the “use of ED” by the government. Rajya Sabha, first adjourned till noon due to protests on the same issue, held the Question Hour amidst loud sloganeering before being adjourned again till 2 p.m. Protests and sloganeering continued as it took up the Family Courts (Amendment) Bill, 2022 for consideration and passing. The Bill was passed amid chaos just before the House was adjourned for the day.
Both Houses will resume proceedings at 11 am on Friday, August 5.
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Updates:
Rajya Sabha passes Family Courts (Amendment) Bill, House adjourned
Rajya Sabha has passed the Family Courts (Amendment) Bill, 2022 by voice vote amid massive protests by the Opposition in the House. Soon after the Bill was passed in the Upper House, Deputy Chairman adjourned Rajya Sabha for the day. The House will meet at 11 am on Friday (August 5).
Voting on Family Courts (Amendment) Bill, 2022 underway
Opposition raises slogans against Centre, discussion continues
Several members of the Opposition have entered the well of the House, ignoring Deputy Chairman’s requests to return to their seats. Slogans such as “ Halla bol”, “ Tanashaahi nahi chalegi” being raised by the Opposition members in the Upper House. Amid sloganeering, Union Minister Kiren Rijiju is replying to the discussion on the Bill to amend the Family Courts Act.
TMC’s Sushmita Dev threatens to walk out
As the Chair named MP Sushmita Dev to participate in the debate on the Family Courts (Amendment) Bill, the TMC leader said the way the Opposition and its leaders are being treated, it would be “blasphemous for democracy” for her to participate in the discussion. Deputy Chairman Harivansh Narayan Singh says only speech related to the Bill will go on record, and moves to the next speaker.
Discussion begins on the Family Courts (Amendment) Bill amid Opposition uproar
The Upper House has taken discussion on the Family Courts (Amendment) Bill after the Chair refused point of order. Last month, Lok Sabha passed the bill to grant statutory cover to already established family courts in Himachal Pradesh and Nagaland and retrospectively validate actions taken by them. The Family Courts Act was enacted in 1984 for the establishment of family courts by States to deal with disputes related to family and marriage.
Chaos in Rajya Sabha as Opposition urges the Chair to admit point of order
Opposition stages protest, raises slogans after the Deputy Chairman refuses to allow Congress MPs to raise a point of order even as TMC’s Derek O’ Brien asserts his freedom of expression in Parliament.
Lok Sabha resumes proceedings and then adjourned for rest of the day
The Lower House of the Parliament had resumed proceedings at 2 p.m., but as the sloganeering by Opposition MPs intensified, Kirit Premjibhai Solanki, who was in the chair, adjourned the house for the rest of the day, within minutes.
Proceedings resume, Kiren Rijiju moves the Family Courts (Amendment) Bill
The post-lunch session has commenced with Deputy Chairman Harivansh Narayan Singh in the Chair. Union Minister Kiren Rijiju has moved the Family Courts (Amendment) Bill, 2022 for consideration and passing. Earlier in the day, Rajya Sabha witnessed disruptions following the Opposition charge on the alleged misuse of investigation agencies.
Rajya Sabha adjourned till 2 p.m. amid intense Opposition protests
Chair V. Vijaysai Reddy adjourns the Rajya Sabha until 2.00 p.m. as the Opposition members kept raising loud slogans in protests against Enforcement Directorate raids against and summons to various Opposition leaders. The Chair managed to conduct the Question Hour despite loud shouting and disturbance in the House. Questions ranging from subjects like training facilities to sportspersons, number of pending cases in courts, and nuclear energy were asked.
Question Hour continues with intense protests
Chair V. Vijaysai Reddy tells protesting Opposition MPs that their sloganeering is against the House rules, urging them to return to their seats. Addressing senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh, he says, “Ramesh ji you are a senior leaders, what is this happening?”
Opposition has no interest in achievements of Indian athletes: Nisith Pramanik
Minister of State for Sports and Youth Affairs Nisith Pramanik, while replying to a question, says the Opposition has hurt the productivity of the Parliament and has no interest in the matters related to sports. He says our players are winning medals at the Commonwealth Games 2022 at Birmingham but the Opposition is disrupting the House when we are discussion sports matters.
He requests them to let the House function during the discussion even as the Opposition members raise slogans like “ED government down, down”.
Opposition MPs says they can’t ask questions while ED keeps raiding them
Opposition MPs, when called upon to ask the supplementaries during the Question Hour, say they cannot ask questions when “central agencies put pressure on them by raids”.
I’ve received ED summon today when Rajya Sabha is functioning: Mallikarjun Kharge
Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha and Congress MP Mallikarjun Kharge says as the House is in session, he has received a summon from ED to appear before the agency at 12.30 pm. The house of Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi has been gheraoed by officials. They are doing this to scare us, we won’t be cowed down by threats.He says he will respect the law and appear before the law enforcement agency.
Leader of the Rajya Sabha Piyush Goyal says the present government does not control the agency. “They might have done it during their government, our government doesn’t do it,” Mr. Goyal says.
Opposition members enter the well of the House and continue raising slogans like “Taanashahi (dictatorship) nahi chalegi, nahi chalegi”. They also demand that Prime Minister Narendra Modi came to the House and respond to their allegations. - The Hindu Bureau
Modi govt intimidating us: Rahul Gandhi
Former Congress chief Rahul Gandhi, while speaking to reporters outside the Parliament, says the Narendra Modi government is trying to intimidate them with their action on the National Herald case but he isn’t scared. - Sandeep Phukan
Rajya Sabha resumes amid protests
After an hour-long adjournment, Rajya Sabha resumes proceedings amid protests from the Opposition parties over their allegations of the misuse of central agencies like ED and CBI.
Chair V. Vijaysai Reddy requests protesting MPs to let the Question Hour take place. The Opposition continues its loud sloganeering seeking a response from Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Lok Sabha adjourned till 2 p.m.
As Oppostion members continue sloganeering against the “use of ED” by the government, Speaker Om Birla declares the House to be adjourned till 2 p.m.
Questions on ‘improvements under Atal Bhujal Yojana’ being asked in Lok Sabha; Opposition sloganeering continues
Even as the Lower House takes questions on “improvemnets under Atal Bhujal Yojana”, Opposition members continue sloganeering against “the use of agencies like the CBI, ED and the Income Tax department”. The members are protesting against the arrets of Shiv Sena Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Raut in an alleged money-laundering case.
Rajya Sabha adjourned till 12 p.m.
Rajya Sabha Chairperson M. Venkaiah Naidu adjourns the House proceedings after protests begin from both sides on the Oppositions’ allegations of the misuse of autonomous bodies and investigative agencies.
Leader of the Opposition M. Mallikarjun Kharge rises to speak up on the subject after the Chairperson’s permission and alleges that the agencies were being used to suppress the Opposition parties across the country.
The BJP members object to his comments and protest amid shouting from their benches, leading Mr. Naidu to adjourn the House until 12 p.m.
10,000 electric buses soon in country, says Transport Minister Gadkari
Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari, amidst continued Opposition sloganeering against the “use of ED, CBI and IT departement”, informs the Lower House that 10,000 electric buses will soon be introduced in the country. “People will travel in air-conditioned buses and at the same time it will also contribute to a green environment”, Mr. Gadkari said.
Chairman Venkaiah Naidu advises members to ‘maintain decorum’
Rajya Sabha Chairperson M. Venkaiah Naidu asks members to maintain decorum in the House. He says if a member comes late, they should take the vacant seat for the time being, wait for the person speaking to finish their address and then return to their allotted seat.
Proceedings begin in Lok Sabha amidst Opposition protests
Proceedings begin in the Lower House. Opposition MPs are in the Well of the House. Speaker Om Birla requests Opposition MPs to return to their benches “only then your requests will be considered”. Opposition sloganeering continues even as Question Hour begins in the House.
Proceeding in Rajya Sabha begin; Papers being laid
Proceedings in the Upper House begin on the 14th day of the Monsoon Session of the Parliament. Papers are being laid on the table.
Bill for Consideration and Passing:
Family Courts (Amendment) Bill, 2022
Bill for Consideration and Passing:
Energy Conservation (Amendment) Bill, 2022
Discussion Under Rule 193:
Need to promote sports in India and steps taken by the Govt.
Monsoon Session Day 13: Centre withdraws the Personal Data Protection Bill, and more | Parliament Watch podcast
In this episode we give you an overview of the thirteenth day of the Monsoon session of Parliament, that took place on August 3, with a gist of key events that took place during the session. We discuss the passing of the Central Universities (Amendment) Bill, in addition to the withdrawal of the Personal Data Protection Bill, 2019. We also cover the passing of the National Anti-Doping Bill in the Rajya Sabha, along with the maiden speech of P.T. Usha as a nominated member of the house. In addition to this we also discuss important written replies from both the houses of the parliament. In addition, we also discuss the other important events of the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha.
Guest: Nistula Hebbar, Associate and Political Editor, The Hindu
Hosts: Saptaparno Ghosh, Priyali Prakash
Production: Sharmada Venkatasubramanian
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