Rajya Sabha began post adjournment at 2 P.M. with member Bhubaneswar Kalita in the chair.
The initial hours had Petroleum Minister Hardeep Singh Puri answering questions pertaining to procurement of petrol and diesel in light of the geopolitical tensions between Russia and Ukraine.
After the resumption of the session post lunch, MPs discussed the work of the Union Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (DONER).
The Centre has spent ₹418.70 crore on the redevelopment of the Central Vista Project so far, the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs told the House in a written reply during today’s session.
The ongoing session is the second of the two-part Budget Session where Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman would be presenting the budget for Jammu and Kashmir in both the houses. She would also table Supplementary Demands for grants.
The first session had begun on January 29 with the Union Budget presented on February 1.
Here are the latest updates from Rajya Sabha:
House adjourned for the day
Deputy Chairman of the Rajya Sabha Harivansh Narayan Singh adjourned the house till 11 am on March 15, 2022.
GST Rate on MRO services reduced to 5%
Minister of State for Civil Aviation General (Retd) V K Singh told the House today that the government has reduced the Goods and Services Tax (GST) rate on domestic maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) services from 18% to 5% with the view of supporting the aviation sector.
In a written reply to a question in the Rajya Sabha, Mr. Singh said the Centre has taken various steps to meet the increasing demand in the aviation sector in the future.
"The number of daily air passengers may cross pre-COVID levels in a few months," he said.
In the written reply, the Union Minister stated that the average number of passengers carried in the pre-COVID financial year (2019-20) was around 4 lakh per day. He informed that on March 6 this year, domestic airlines in India carried around 3.7 lakh passengers.
Mr. Singh also mentioned that the Central Government has taken up the issue of reducing Value Added Tax (VAT) on Aviation Turbine Fuel (ATF) with the states and the union territories.- ANI
Govt has spent ₹418.70 crore on Central Vista project so far
The Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs informed the Rajya Sabha today that s 418.70 crore has been spent on the redevelopment of Central Vista Avenue along Rajpath so far, adding that the first phase of the project is targeted to be completed by May this year.
Minister of State for Housing and Urban Affairs Kaushal Kishore informed this in today’s session ina written reply to a question.
In response to another question citing reports that there had been a 25 per cent jump in the estimated cost of a new parliament building and mega Central Vista redevelopment project, the minister replied, "No".
In December last year, the MoHUA had informed the Lok Sabha that the redevelopment work for the project was expected to be completed by December 2021 and the estimated cost was Rs 608 crore.- PTI
Not mandatory for airlines, airports to play Indian music, says VK Singh
Minister of State for Civil Aviation, V K Singh, told the Rajya Sabha today that the Centre is not planning to make it mandatory for airlines and airports to play Indian music in flights and terminal premises.
On Dec 27, the Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) had asked all airlines and airports to consider playing Indian music in their flights and terminals.
Mr. Singh's comment came after Congress Rajya Sabha MP Ambika Soni asked in today’s session "whether the government proposes to make it mandatory for Indian airlines and airports to play Indian classical or light vocal and instrumental music?"- PTI
People sitting in Delhi will not know about the culture of the people of North East, says MP Ajit Bhuyan
Independent Rajya Sabha MP for Assam, Ajit Singh Bhuyan says people sitting in Delhi will not understand the culture and aspirations of the North Eastern people, regardless of the parties that come to power in the region.
Talking about the budget of the North Eastern Council (NEC), Mr. Bhuyan says the budget allocated to the body for eight NE states is Rs. 1,500 crore, while the budget for the state of Assam is Rs. 60,000 crore.
“How will the NEC budget be distributed between eight states?” he asks, calling for increasing the budget allocated to the Council.
Elections in Manipur happened peacefully- BJP MP
BJP MP from Assam Khamakhya Prasad Tasa says Assembly Election in Manipur- which would face high levels of insurgency, took place “very peacefully”, as a result of the work of the DONER Ministry.
Rajya Sabha will not sit on March 17
The Rajya Sabha proceedings will not be held on March 17 in view of the Holika Dahan festival. - ANI
DMK MP Tiruchi Siva talks about DONER Ministry
Being the first MP from a Southern state to talk about the works of the North East Development Ministry in today’s session, DMK leader and MP from Tamil Nadu, Tiruchi Siva says the issue of concerns of people in the North East should not just be taken up by them but those from other regions of the country as well.
Mr. Siva questions the historical imposition of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) in Nagaland, while mentioning the deaths of 15 civilians and a soldier in Nagaland in December 2021, in a botched ambush and retaliatory violence in Mon district.
MP Sushmita Dev says NE states lack basic facilities
After Assam Congress MP Ripun Bora and BJP MP from Assam Bhubaneshwar Kalita’s address on the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (DONER); Trinamool Congress MP form Assam Sushmita Dev addresses the parliament on the situation in North East vis-a-vis the work of the DONER Ministry.
Ms. Dev says despite being strategically the most important part of country by sharing its borders with other countries, being rich in biodiversity, having the highest literacy rates, the North Eastern states lack basic health and education facilities.
DONER Ministry operates on 10% of the entire budget of 54 ministries of the country, says Ms. Dev, adding in 2015-16 the budget for this ministry was Rs. 2363 crore and as of 2022-23, it is Rs. 2800 crores and calls for more budget allocation to the North Eastern States.
All money allocated to NE states is dependent on their administrative strength and in the state of Assam, “the whole administration has been doing the work on the National Register of Citizens (NRC) for the last two years...how will they work on the tasks of the DONER Ministry?” asks Ms. Dev.
Deputy Chairman of Rajya Sabha Harivansh Narayan Singh in the chair
Rajya Sabha Member L. Hanumanthaiah is at the chair
House resumes post adjournment. Rajya Sabha member Bhubaneswar Kalita in the chair.
End of question hour, House adjourned till 2 P.M.
Petroleum Minister on procurement from Venezuela
Mr. Puri informed that Venezuela is a country which was subjected to sanctions by another country. He added there was hope and expectation that oil from other sanctioned countries would became available, OPEC+ countries would increase their oil production and there would be persuasion to the international community in this regard.
He informed that house neither the Govt of India nor the oil companies are going to float oil bonds.
"All legitimate steps would be taken to maintain prices of oil," he informed the house.
Petrol prices and procurement discussed
Congress MP K.C. Venugopal stated petrol prices have increased 63 times and diesel 61 times. He added, “Since November, we are relieved that the govt has not increased the price. We want to know whether the prices will remain static.”
The Petroleum flagged to the house that on March 5, a senior opposition leader’s social media post claiming uptick in fuel prices March 10 onwards, and further suggesting stock-piling, led to a 20% increase in consumption. “Why should leaders make statements that lead to hoarding?,” he asked.
Petroleum Minister Hardeep Puri answers questions pertaining to oil purchase and prices
Petroleum Minister Hardeep Puri informs the house that the government is looking for alternate market for fuel purchase in context of the current Russia-Ukraine hostilities. He added the Govt is exploring all options as currency to facilitate purchase, supply of oil in markets, insurance and freight.
On being asked by MP Shakti Singh Gohil if the Govt would reduce diesel rates, Mr. Puri stated, “...the prices of diesel were deregulated. Whenever we felt that the common man needs more relief, we went ahead and reduced the price by Rs 10 in November 2021
MP Chayya Verma asked if the ministry would inform much money has the oil marketing companies given to the government for the vaccines? She said this was in reference to the additional cess levied during the Coronavirus pandemic to help the Govt in procuring vaccines.
“Fuel prices are not connected in any way with the states. Let us be clear, India goes through election through out the day. The government does not interfere in this,” Mr Puri stated.
Jyotiraditya Scindia says aviation industry returning to pre-pandemic days
Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia answering question on impact of the pandemic on the Aviation industry, said “in terms of traffic per day, we are close to pre-pandemic days. And in days to come employment opportunities in the sector will also bounce back.”
MP Dr. Narendra Jadhav seeks Govt intervention in prison management and law enforcement
Dr. Jadhav quoting from Prison Statistics (2018), of the 4.66 lakh convictions and under-trials, 33.5% were OBCs, 20.7% SCs, 18.8% Muslims and 11.6% STs. He informed that over the last twenty years, 1,888 custodial deaths have been reported. 63% of the same were yet to undergo trial.
“This presents a grim picture of Indian prisons,” he told the house. Dr. Jadhav requested the Govt to intervene and fix liability of the police officers, bring them to justice and put in place a financial mechanism for those not having financial tenability for seeking judicial remedies.
Concerns raised about the future of Indian medical students from Ukraine
During the Zero Hour TDP MP K Ravindra Kumar and Congress MP K C Venugopal urges the government to clarify on the measures that itnis taking to accommodate medical students who were forced to return from Ukraine leaving their degree midway.
BJD MP Dr. Amar Patnaik suggested 2-5% in all private and government colleges be reserved for the students who returned from Ukraine. He added that the fifth year of their education, which bears the clinical component, to be taken care of in an ‘ingenious method’.
External Affairs Minister to make a statement on the Russia-Ukraine conflict
RS Chairman Venkaiah Naidu informs the house that External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar will give a statement on Russia-Ukraine conflict.
Earlier, the Chairman lauded efforts by the Govt of India and State Govts in rising to the occasion in evacuating the Indian students.
Rajya Session begins
Chairman Venkaiah Naidu pays tribute to all the former Rajya Sabha members who died recently including industrialist Rahul Bajaj who was a Rajya Sabha member between 2006 to 2010.
He also read out obituary references on the passing away of former members Nabin Chandra Buragohain, Prof. D. P. Chattopadhyaya, and Shri Yadlapati Venkat Rao.
List of Business
1. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman to lay on the table:
- Supplementary Demands for Grants for 2021-22
- Supplementary Demands for Grants in respect of Union territory of Jammu and Kashmir (with Legislature) for 2021-22.
2. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman to present the Budget for the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir
3. Discussion on the working of the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region
4. Arjun Munda to move the The Constitution (Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes) Orders (Amendment) Bill, 2022.
5. Papers and Reports to be laid on the Table
6. Question Hour
