After weeks of protest by the Opposition MPs, the Lok Sabha held a discussion on price rise on Monday. Earlier in the day, Speaker Om Birla revoked the suspension of four Congress MPs.
Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman presented a detailed response in the Lower House after the members laid down their questions and suggestions on inflation. Amid a huge uproar during the Finance Minister’s reply, Congress MPs walked out of the House.
The Upper House, meanwhile, passed the Weapons of Mass Destruction and their Delivery Systems (Prohibition of Unlawful Activities) Amendment Bill and the Indian Antarctic Bill on Monday amid protests and sloganeering by the Opposition. After the Bills were passed, the House was adjourned for the day.
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Live updates:
Nirmala Sitharaman concludes her statement, Lok Sabha adjourned for the day
The Lower House will resume proceedings on Tuesday, August 2, at 11.00 a.m.
Pre-GST taxes on food items like curd and paneer were much higher: Nirmala Sitharaman
“Punjab levied a 1.5% VAT on dal, purchase tax of 5.5% on wheat and rice, 6.25% on refined flour (maida), 5.5% on chickpea flour (besan), and 6.25% on paneer. In Tamil Nadu, different kinds of flour and paneer were taxed at 5%. West Bengal also used to tax paneer at 5%. Inflation is going down because these were the pre-GST rates,” Ms. Sitharaman says.
“There is no GST on emergency services like ICU in hospital. The 5% GST only applies to hospital room rent when the daily tariff is over ₹5,000,” Ms. Sitharaman informs the Lower House.
No difference of opinion among State representatives in the GST council: Nirmala Sitharaman
“It is unfair for members of parties in Opposition in the Parliament to agree to these decisions in the GST council and then blame the central government,” Ms. Sitharaman says.
Clarifying the issue of taxation of crematorium services, the Finance Minister there is no GST on funeral, cremation, burial, or mortuary services. “They are fully exempt from GST. The raw material needed for construction of a new crematorium and the equipment needed there is taxed, otherwise, people manufacturing the raw material will suffer losses.”
Nirmala Sitharaman comments on the recent changes in the GST regime
There is no GST on pencils, Ms. Sitharaman says. “A girl from UP wrote a letter to Prime Minister Modi about GST on pencils because she believes that he will listen to her complaints and respond accordingly. We should keep that in mind too,” Ms. Sitharaman says.
The Finance Minister switches to Tamil to respond to MP Kanimozhi Karunanidhi in Tamil because of the “passionate speech” she gave in the House earlier in the day.
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman clarifies on the issue of rise in prices of edible oils
“Central government has reduced customs duty on crude palm oil from 35.75% to first 8.25% and now to 5.5% only, thus drastically cutting duties so that common people face lower edible oil prices,” Ms. Sitharaman says.
The government has tried to source sunflower oil from other countries due to the Russia-Ukraine crisis and has reduced import duty, she adds.
“The prices of edible oil have corrected sharply in June, compared to May, with maximum decline of 18.1% coming in palm oil. Other oils have also seen correction in the range of 1% to 7% in the last month.”
Huge uproar in the Lower House during Finance Minister’s reply on price rise, Congress MPs walk out
“Congress MPs have been demanding a discussion on price rise for over a week and now they cannot listen to the government’s response,” Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman says.
The Modi government is keeping the inflation under 7%, says Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman
This is why the Modi government was voted to power by the people, she says.
There is no question of India going into recession or stagflation: Nirmala Sitharaman
“I have no difficulty conceding to the point that inflation existed even before the pandemic, but the question is, at what level,” says Ms. Sitharaman.
“It is not just me. A Bloomberg survey of economists has said there is zero probability of India slipping into recession, even though there are several major economies that are in substantial risky positions of getting into recession.”
She adds that even though MPs like Supriya Sule have said that the BJP government has had enough time in power and should not be blaming the past governments now, people will have to be reminded of the facts.
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman begins her reply after discussion on price rise
“We have never seen a calamity of this kind, and coming out of the pandemic, even as all of us were trying to make sure that people are given that extra help, I fully credit the people of India. Even against adversity, we are able to stand up and be recognised as the fastest growing economy. This is not my assessment but a repeated one made by agencies like World Bank and IMF for the last two years. Each time they have reviewed and downgraded global growth, India has also been reduced in terms of expected growth, but even after that, we remain the fastest growing. If it was at 8.2%, it may now be at 7.4%. But we remain at the highest,” Ms. Sitharaman says.
“It is important for us to, first of all, as Indians, appreciate that our people have gone through this pandemic and have been hit by various global phenomena, but despite it, we are much better than most other countries.”
“I find it was more a discussion on the political angles of price rise rather than actually data-driven concerns. That is why my answer will also be slightly political...It is not to hurt any member, at the same time, if anyone feels I am giving a political speech, that political speech will have to be heard.”
Is it true that the country is heading towards stagflation, asks Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury
Medical inflation in the country has been on the rise, says Mr. Chowdhury. He quotes government figures to respond to Jayant Sinha’s claims about the improvement of healthcare in the country. “Anaemia in children and women has increased significantly between 2015-16 and 2019-21. Over 67% of children in the country are anaemic,” Mr. Chowdhury says.
The Congress MP has also said that income from agriculture has decreased as opposed to the government’s promise of doubling farmers’ income by 2022.
The 5% GST on foodgrains has adversely affected the common people and the marginalised sections of society: N.K. Premachandran
“I don’t understand, what is the necessity and urgency of imposing 5% GST on foodgrains? It was taken up by the GST council without any proper preparation and homework,” Mr. Premachandran says. He has also raised the anomaly that will arise from the taxation of packaged rice compared to loose rice. “Do you mean to prove these transactions based on the CCTV footage from shops? How will you assess this?”
Opposition MPs are trying to find inflation but have been unsuccessful because there is none: BJP MP Jayant Sinha
Mr. Sinha also praises Prime Minister Narendra Modi for providing food to the poor during the pandemic.
“The control that the BJP government has on food items like eggs, milk, and grains is impeccable and it could never happen under previous government,” Mr. Sinha says.
“We have provided the poor with bank accounts, access to toilets, electricity, and drinking water. They are living in pucca houses. We are also providing them with health insurance worth ₹5 lakh under the Ayushman Bharat scheme. Where is the inflation when we have given them this boon worth ₹5 lakh?”
Why is the BJP government dishonouring the ‘gau mata’ by levying GST on products like milk, curd: CPI(M) MP A.M. Ariff
You cannot escape by calling this a “global phenomenon”, Mr. Ariff says.
“This government came to power by making false promises like they will reduce the price of petroleum products by half.”
Inflation is nothing but taxation without legislation: Jayadav Galla of TDP
“Unabated increase in the rice of petrol and diesel prices” the main reason behind inflation, Mr. Galla says. Small restaurants and businesses are in a paradox due to increase in prices of food items, he adds.
The MP also requests the Consumer Affairs minister to weigh in on the discussion alongside Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman.
Mr. Galla suggests to bring petrol and diesel under the purview of GST to control the increase in fuel prices.
The central government is incapable of arresting this price rise: Kalyan Banerjee, Trinamool Congress MP
The government used to blame Covid-19 for inflation, and now the Russia-Ukraine war is a new alibi for the government to blame price rise on, Mr. Banerjee says. “All limits of price rise have been crossed,” he adds.
Maharashtra’s Maha Vikas Aghadi alliance had objected to the current increase in GST: NCP member Supriya Sule
Contradicting the government’s stand that decisions on GST are taken after discussions with state representatives, Ms. Sule points out that the BJP has a majority at state-level governments across the country.
She also asked the finance minister about how much money is in circulation. “It is common economic knowledge that when you print extra notes, it leads to inflation,” Ms. Sule said.
BJD MP Pinaki Misra raises black money, ‘lazy taxation’
Raising demonetisation, BJD MP Pinaki Misra points out that Rs 30 lakh crore cash was in circulation today - doubled from pre-2016. Countering BJP’s oil bonds’ argument, Mr. Misra says that the revenue collected from oil bonds is only 3.4% today. Urging the Finance Minister to rethink rise in fuel prices, he terms it ‘lazy taxation’ for generating revenue for the Centre.
Citing the rise in people giving up Indian citizenship, he adds, “These are wealth creators who have given up on India. We must look into why they are fleeing India and whether the Finance Ministry’s Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) has taken the wrong steps”.
TRS rises farmers’ plight in Telangana
TRS MP Nama Nageswara Rao slams Centre for not purchasing paddy from Telangana while listing the irrigation steps taken by the state govt. Citing price rise in everyday items, he condemns the sale of public sector companies by Centre.
Other Opposition MPs raise price rise, BJP counters
Listing the hike in prices of essential commodities such as edible oil, medicines, pencils, hospital beds, wheat, TMC MP Kakoli Ghosh laments the burden on citizens. Comparing the LPG prices in UPA government and NDA government, Ms. Ghosh cites the 7 per cent inflation which is higher than RBI’s comfort level of 6 per cent.
She asks, “Common man is suffering under inflation and you tax hospital beds, cemetries too. Will you tax dead bodies next?”.
BJP defends the price rise, listing achievements of the Modi government in the last eight years - increase in airports, roads, rural electrification and curb of black money.
BSP MP Sangeeta Azad condemns the high inflation and taxing of everyday items like medicines, makana, murmura, medical procedures. Citing the job loss, Ms. Azad seeks revocation of recent GST hike.
The Indian Antarctic Bill passed in Rajya Sabha, House adjourned
Amid protests and slogannering by the Opposition, the Rajya Sabha on Monday passed the Indian Antarctic Bill, 2022. The Bill seeks to extend the application of domestic laws to research stations set up by India in the Antarctic region. The Bill was passed despite MP John Brittas demanding a division of vote on motions rejecting amendments sought by him.
After the Bill was passed, the House was adjourned for the day.
DMK MP Kanimozhi targets Centre over unemployment, corporate tax cuts
Reminding the promise that there would be no black money post-demonetisation, DMK MP Kanimozhi questions why such black money was still being seized. Pointing out that 5 million jobs have been lost during COVID-19, she pities the state of the country’s youth staring at a jobless future. Citing rise in communalism, rise in petrol/gas prices, GST hike, she condemns the Centre of dividing citizens and favouring only the wealthy few.
Seeking the GST dues from Centre for the Opposition-ruled states, Kanimozhi she says release of such funds itself will improve the states’ economies.
Voting on the Indian Antarctic Bill amid uproar by Opposition
The Indian Antarctic Bill, 2022 that aims to lay down rules to regulate activities in Antarctica where India has set up research stations is being considered in the Rajya Sabha. The Bill was introduced by Union Science Minister Jitendra Singh in the Lok Sabha.
MP John Brittas sought a division of votes on a motion to an amendment sought in the Bill. However, as protest continued, the Chair refused a division of vote.
Chair admits point of order, protests continue
Chair allows MP Santanu Sen to raise a point of under Rule 258, but insists the Opposition to return to their seats. As sloganeering continues, the Chair takes up amendments to The Indian Antarctic Bill, 2022.
Under the rule, a member may at any time submit a point of order for the decision of the Chairman, but in doing so, shall confine himself to stating the point. The Chairman shall decide all points of order which may arise, and his decision shall be final.
BJP MP Nishikant Dubey defends GST & price rise
Listing the mis-steps by previous governments of oil bonds, freebies, loan waiver, burdening banks with NPAs, BJP MP Nishikant Dubey compares India’s rising GDP to other top economies of US, China. Reiterating the bad state of Sri Lanka and Pakistan’s economies, he adds that black money was the scourge which BJP was now cleaning up from the Indian economy.
He adds that the reason for high inflation and high gas price were the previous governments’ freebies, irresponsible currency printing and excessive subsidies. Slamming lack of ideology in Opposition, he condemns the formation of the Congress-NCP-Shiv Sena government, reminding that Sena had taken responsibility of Babri Masjid demolition
House resumes discussion on Indian Antarctic Bill
Amid protests and sloganeering, the House is discussing The Indian Antarctic Bill, 2022. The Bill was earlier moved for consideration and passing by Dr Jitender Singh. The Lok Sabha passed the Indian Antarctica Bill in the ongoing Monsoon Session.
The Bill, introduced in the Lok Sabha in April, has been introduced to regulate visits and activities to Antarctica as well set ground rules for potential disputes that may arise among those present on the continent. Under the provisions of the Bill, private tours and expeditions to Antarctica would be prohibited without a permit or the written authorisation by a Member country.
Price rise discussion begins
Kicking off the discussion on price rise under Rule 193, Congress MP Manish Tewari slams demonetisation and implementation of Goods and Service Tax (GST), holding these steps responsible for the bad shape for the economy. Listing the high rate of unemployment, bad debts of MSME sector, he says that only 40 crore people have jobs today. Accusing the Centre of leaving people bereft of support during COVID-19 lockdown, he adds that the rise in number of MNREGS beneficiaries shows the lack of jobs.
Listing the GST hike on goods like edible oil, wheat, pensions and others, Mr. Tewari claims that while the Centre may have corrected its own debts, it has emptied the common man’s pocket while filling top industrialists only.
Ruckus in Rajya Sabha
Uproar in the Upper House after Leader of Opposition alleges that the Bill was passed when the House was not in order. In reply, Union Minister Piyush Goyal says the Opposition made baseless allegations against the Chair. He adds that a discussion on price rise will be held tomorrow. The Chair, meanwhile, refuses to take up any point of order until the “House is in disorder”.
Centre seeks revocation of suspension of MPs
Union Minister Pralhad Joshi reminds the Opposition of the ruckus created over various issues. Seeking an assurance from Opposition on no placards in the House, Centre seeks revocation of suspended Opposition MPs. Chair accepts the submission - all 4 MPs’ suspension is revoked.
Read about the suspension of four Lok Sabha members here
Rajya Sabha passes bill to amend the law on weapons of mass destruction
The Weapons of Mass Destruction and their Delivery Systems (Prohibition of Unlawful Activities) Amendment Bill, 2022 has been passed in Rajya Sabha. The Bill was passed in Lok Sabha during the Budget Session. Opposition lodges protest with the Speaker, saying that the Bill was passed when the House was not in order. The House had taken up the Indian Antarctic Bill, 2022 soon after the Upper House passed the Weapons of Mass Destruction Bill.
Opposition & Centre argue against disruptions
Leader of Opposition Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury lauds LS chair Om Birla for his determination to keep the Lower House productive. He requests the Chair to revoke suspension of Opposition Lok Sabha members and suggests an all-party meeting to decide rules of protest in the House. Mr. Birla reiterates that no member must get placards into the House, warning strict action on such members,
Rajya Sabha takes up Weapons of Mass Destruction Bill
The Rajya Sabha takes up The Weapons of Mass Destruction and their Delivery Systems (Prohibition of Unlawful Activities) Amendment Bill, 2022. The bill seeks to ban funding of weapons of mass destruction so that opposition members can participate in the discussion on the draft law.
Explainer | Amending the Weapons of Mass Destruction Act
Lok Sabha resumes
Speaker Om Birla says, “Incidents which occurred in the past days have pained us and the country”. Urging members to uphold the democratic principles and engage in lively debate, he asks the House to function smoothly.
Rajya Sabha resumes proceedings
Proceedings have resumed in Rajya Sabha. As per listed business of the day, papers have been laid on the table of the House
RS adjourned till 2 p.m.
As Opposition members assemble at the Well of the House protesting the arrest of Sanjay Raut and demanding a discussion on price, the Upper House is adjourned till 2 p.m. Even as the Question Hour was in progress, the Opposition members continued their protests in the House leading to the second adjornement of the day.
Raghav Chadha highlights ‘lack of water in Punjab’
Underground water has gone below 500-600 feets in Punjab, AAP MP Raghav Chadha says highlighting the lack of water in the State. Responding to the AAP MP, Jal Shakti Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat says the problem of underground water going below the level is persistent throughout the country and that the Centre is taking measures to control the problem.
He says States too need to take responsibility and requests the AAP MP to talk to his party’s government in Punjab to implemet measures for crop diversification in the State.
LoP demands discussion on price rise
Leader of the Opposition in Rajya Sabha, Mallikarjuna Kharge, demands a discussion on price rise. Leader of the House Piyush Goyal says discussion on price rise and inflation is scheduled for Tuesday, August 2. The Opposition members, however, continue sloganeering raising their demand for a discussion even as Question Hour continues in the House.
Minister Hardeep Singh Puri informs the House about the contribution of the street vendors in country’s GDP amidst continued Opposition sloganeering.
Lok Sabha adjourned till 2 p.m.
Chair Rajendra Agrawal had to adjourn the Lok Sabha proceedings until 2.00 p.m. as the Opposition members raised loud slogans during the laying of papers on the table. Some members also entered the well of the House and tried to block the camera.
Opposition protests continue as proceedings resume in Rajya Sabha
Rajya Sabha resumes after being adjourned till 12 noon. Opposition protests and sloganeering continue even as the Chair announces the commencement of Question Hour in the House.
Lok Sabha resmues; Opposition continues protest
Papers are now being laid on the table as the House resumes after an-hour long adjournment. Opposition MPs continue their protest.
Lok Sabha adjourned
Opposition members began protesting and raising slogans with the commencement of the House proceedings even as Speaker Om Birla requested them to let the House function.
Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Arjun Ram Meghwal said a debate on the issue of price rise had been listed in the House business for the day on the Opposition’s demand and alleged that the protesting MPs did not want the discussion but disrupt the proceedings.
Rajya Sabha adjourned till 12 noon
Opposition protests over arrest of Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut and other issues led to the House’s first adjournment of the day.
Even as officials papers were being laid, Shiv Sena MPs were up on their feet protesting against the arrest of Mr. Raut. Chairman M. Venkaiah Naidu said the matter has nothing to do with the House and asked them to go back to their seats. Other opposition MPs also joined in raising issues such as price rise.
The Shiv Sena as well as TMC MPs then moved into the well of the House.
Chairman M. Venkaiah Naidu told Shiv Sena’s Anil Desai, who was protesting, “you cannot use the House to settle scores outside“.
Lok Sabha begins
Lok Sabha speaker begins House proceedings by praising athletes who have won medals at the 2022 Commonwealth Games, Birmingham.
Rajya Sabha begins
Members assemble, proceedings begin in RS amidst Opposition protests.
Only 21% productivity in Rajya Sabha
Rajya Sabha has recorded only 21% productivity since the monsoon session commenced on July 18, an official said on Sunday.
The productivity fell down to 16% in the second week, compared to 26% in the first week.
Rajya Sabha Chairman M. Venkaiah Naidu, who inaugurated a two-day orientation programme for newly elected members on July 30 said, that members rushing into the Well of the House and showing placards is not graceful to parliamentary democracy.
Mr. Naidu said there were two opinions on showing the same to the people through live telecast on Sansad TV, said an official. “One being that such scenes may not be telecast while the other being that the people may see for themselves the reality in the legislatures to make their own assessment. Mr. Naidu said he was in view of not showing unruly scenes,” the official said.
Opposition to push for discussion on Agnipath
The Opposition is likely to demand a discussion on the Agnipath defence recruitment scheme in Parliament next week after the debate on price rise is taken up in both the Houses, sources said on July 31, 2022.
A discussion on price rise has been listed in the Lok Sabha for Monday and in the Rajya Sabha the next day.
Opposition leaders said while there is a consensus among them about the need for a discussion on Agnipath, which had sparked widespread violence across the country, they have varied stands on the subject.
With barely 10 working days remaining before the Monsoon Session gets over on August 12, it is unlikely the parties would be abe to extract a debate on the new armed forces recruitment scheme in either House.
Business of the day in Rajya Sabha
In the Rajya Sabha too two Bills will come up for consideration and passing on Monday -- the Weapons of Mass Destruction and their Delivery Systems (Prohibition of Unlawful Activities) Act, 2005; and a Bill to provide for the national measures for protecting the Antarctic environment and dependent and associated ecosystems and to give effect to the Antarctic Treaty, the Convention on the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources and to the Protocol on Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty .Both these Bills have been passed by the Lok Sabha.
Business of the day in Lok Sabha
The government has also listed two bills — The Central Universities(Amendment) Bill, 2022 to be introduced and the The Wild Life (Protection) Amendment Bill, 2021 to be passed in the Lok Sabha.
