Updates from the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha on Day 16 of the Monsoon Session of the Parliament
Updates from the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha on Day 16 of the Monsoon Session of the Parliament
The Rajya Sabha is bidding farewell to outgoing Upper House Chairman M. Venkaiah Naidu on the 16th day of the Monsoon Session of Parliament on Monday. The Lok Sabha, on the other hand, has adopted a motion to introduce the Electricity (Amendment Bill), 2022, in the Lower House amidst Opposition protests and demands for division of votes.
On Friday, the 15th day of the Monsoon Session, the day was once again hit by continued protests in both Houses with Opposition MPs raising slogans over various issues, including price rise, GST, and alleged misuse of central agencies like Enforcement Directorate and CBI.
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Today, the Lok Sabha, apart from introducing the Electricity (Amendment) Bill, 2022 and will take up two more Bills — the Energy Conservation (Amendment) Bill, 2022 and the New Delhi International Arbitration Centre (Amendment) Bill, 2022 — for discussion, considering and passing. The Rajya Sabha is scheduled to discuss the Central Universities (Amendment) Bill, 2022 for considering and passing.
Live updates:
Rajya Sabha | 12.31 p.m.
Proud to see a Telugu person in the Chair: YSRCP’s V. Vijaysai Reddy
YSRCP MP V. Vijaysai Reddy says Vice-President M. Venkaiah Naidu and I hail from the same district and it has been a proud moment to see a Telugu person as the Chairperson of the Rajya Sabha. He also thanks Mr. Naidu for giving him the opportunity to run the House.
Lok Sabha | 12.29 p.m.
Zero Hour underway in Lok Sabha
Even as Opposition members continue to demand division of votes on adopting the resolution to introduce the Electricity (Amendment Bill), 2022, in the Lower House, the Chair declares the commencement of the Zero Hour in the Lok Sabha.
Rajya Sabha | 12.11 p.m.
I got the most amount of love from you: AAP’s Sanjay Singh to Venkaiah Naidu
Aam Aadmi Party MP Sanjay Singh says he might be the member who was scolded the most by Chairperson M. Venkaiah Naidu inside the House but he is also the member who received the most amount of love and guidance from him.
He says nothing about the disagreements was personal. “I hope you keep inviting us for food. On behalf of the Aam Aadmi Party, I thank you for your service and wish you a healthy life ahead. Please, keep coming to Delhi,” the AAP MP says.
Lok Sabha | 12.08 p.m.
Discussion on introduction of the Electricity (Amendment Bill), 2022, in Lower House underway
Congress, CPI(M) leaders including Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury oppose the Bill introduced in the House. “The Bill clearly gives more power to the Central government and the State governments will be weakened,” the Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha says. As Rajendra Agrawal, who is in the Chair, does not allow Mr. Chowdhury to complete, Opposition members start to proest. Responding to Mr. Chowdhury, Power Minister Raj Kumar Singh says the Opposition members are “creating ruckus for no reason”. Om Birla returns to the Chair. “There is a provision for the Bill to go to a Standing Commitee, so there is no need for the Opposition members to protest,” the Power Minister says.
LoP Chowdhury says the Samyukta Kisan Morcha, who the government had made promises to, has rejected the Bill. Chhattisgarh and Punjab governments have already rejected the Bill, he says, asking, “then what is the need to introduce this Bill at all”?
The Bill is pro-people, pro-farmers, the Power Minister asserts amidst Opposition protests. As Om Birla allows the Power Minister to introduce the Bill after a voice vote, sloganeerings begin in the Lower House. “We want division,” the Opposition members relentlessly demand.
Rajya Sabha | 12.02 p.m.
DMK MP Tiruchi Siva thanks VP for allowing discussions in regional languages
DMK MP Tiruchi Siva thanks him for making arrangements for speakers to be able to speak in the regional languages. He says you have always advocated for the regional languages. He says Mr. Naidu upheld the dignity of the members as he always listened to even the smallest of their concerns. “I will not forget your contribution to this House.”
“I also request you to write your auto-biography,” he says, adding, “at last, I will only say one word that we will miss you, sir”.
Rajya Sabha | 11.52 a.m.
Chairperson in tears as Derek O Brien mentions his mother’s loss
Vice-President M. Venkaiah Naidu bursts into tears as Trinamool Congress member Derek O Brien begins his speech by mentioning Mr. Naidu’s mother who passed away when he was one year old.
Lok Sabha | 11.48 a.m.
Will there be a cultural mapping of the country, asks BJP MP Manoj Tiwari
BJP MP asks if like the geographical mapping, there will be a cultural mapping of the country to provide better and direct benefits to the artists. “Is something being done about it,” he asks, saying that even though the government is providing benefits to artists, is there a definition of artists, he asks. MoS Culture responds saying this will be taken as a suggestion the Cultural Ministry will work on it.
Rajya Sabha | 11.43 a.m.
LoP Kharge congratulates the outgoing Chairman
After Prime Minister Modi, Leader of the Opposition (LoP) Mallikarjun Kharge congratulates outgoing Chairman M. Venkaiah Naidu. Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge praises Mr. Naidu for his long and vast political career from Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka to the Centre.
He thanks Mr. Naidu for allowing and helping to pass the amendment to the Article 371(J) to make special provisions for the Hyderabad-Karnataka Region. He says he might have a few complaints with him due to differing ideologies “but this is not the time to complain because you have performed your responsibility under various difficulties and pressure”. “I thank you for that,” the LoP says.
Mr. Kharge uses a shayari to describe and thank Mr. Naidu. “ Talaash karu to koi mil jaega; Lekin aapke jaisa kaun hume milega?; Aapke saath se yeh manzar raunak jaisa hai; aapke baad mausam bahut sataega,” the LoP says. “Former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Bajpayee had said about you that it was a pleasure to be a member of the Parliament that you were as part of, and he was absolutely correct,” Mr. Kharge adds
He says, “we hope that neither will you retire from public life nor will you get tired and continue to work for the nation.”
Rajya Sabha | 11.16 a.m.
PM Modi thanks Venkaiah Naidu as House bids farewell to the outgoing Chairman
After adopting the motion for election of the Committee of Public Accounts adopted, the Rajya Sabha gives farewell to Chairman Venkaiah Naidu. Prime Minister Narendra Modi says the country will continue to benefit from the experience of Mr. Naidu in public life. PM Modi says this is an emotional moment for the House as the Rajya Sabha has seen many historic events in your presence. “You often say ‘I have retired from politics but not from public life’ which is why the country will keep benefitting from your vast experience,” he says. He says you are one such Vice-President of the country who has always worked for the youth. “Even in the Rajya Sabha you have encouraged young MPs,” the PM says.
PM Narendra Modi speaks in Rajya Sabha while bidding adieu to outgoing House Chairman M. Venkaiah Naidu. Screengrab: Sansad TV
“As an individual, it has been my pleasure to have seen you in various roles of public life.” The Prime Minister says he has gotten the opportunity to work with Mr. Naidu and learn from him at various stages ranging from an MLA, a Minister to the BJP president and finally as the Vice-President and the Chairperson of the Rajya Sbaha. PM Modi mentions the books by Mr. Naidu such as ‘Listening, Learning, Leading’, ‘Connecting, Communicating, Changing’ and ‘Reflecting, Recollecting, Reconnecting’ and says the titles of the books reflect your word mastery for which you are known.
“Your one-liners are recliners and also win-liners because nothing else is left to say after them. You each word is heard, preferred, and revered and never countered.” Mr. Naidu smiles sitting in the Chair as the PM goes on to praise him.
“Venkaiah ji, you started your career with student politics at a time when people used to say your party has no chance in the southern States in the near future.” But you reached the highest levels of public life with your dedication and hard work, he says.
PM Modi praises Mr. Naidu for promoting all languages in the House and making arrangements for members to speak in all 22 scheduled Indian languages. The Prime Minister says because of your discipline and way of conducting the House, the productivity of the Rajya Sabha increased by 70% during your tenure and the attendance of the members also saw a significant improvement. “To increase the efficiency of the Secretariat, you took a number of measures, including use of information technology and e-office system to promote paperless work,” Mr. Modi says.
Earlier it used to be a norm that in case of an uproar, the House should be adjourned but you ran the House with the motto of ‘Samvaad, sampark, and samanvay’ and increased the productivity of the House. Mr. Naidu would often say “Let the government propose, let the Opposition oppose and let the House dispose”, the PM says.
PM Modi says despite all our agreements and disagreements, all the members are present in the House today to bid you farewell. The Rajya Sabha will follow the precedents set by you. “I thank you for all you have done for this House, the Parliament and the country.”
Lok Sabha | 11.14 a.m.
Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury asks on steps taken for scholorship for children of bidi workers
Labour & Employment Minister Bhupender Yadav, responding to Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury who had asked about the steps taken for scholorship of children of bidi workers and about the number of new hospitals for them, says enough steps are being taken and scholorship for their children is already in place.
Rajya Sabha | 11.00 a.m.
Proceedings begin in Rajya Sabha
Rajya Sabha proceedings begin on day 16 of the Monsoon Session of the Parliament. Papers are now being laid on the table.
Lok Sabha | 11.00 a.m.
Lok Sabha begins with remembering freedom fighters, congratulating CWG medalists
As the House assembles on Monday, Speaker Om Birla, saying that since the country is celebrating ‘Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav’, it is an approopriate time for the House to remember those who gave their lives for the freedom of the country. After observing silence in their memory, the Speaker congratulates all the medal winners at the ongoing Commonwealth Games in Birmingham and wishes luck for the upcoming matches. Now, Question Hour is underway in the Lower House.
Parliament Watch
Monsoon Session Day 15: the 14th Vice President election, and more | Parliament Watch podcast
In this episode, we give you an overview of the fifteenth day of the Monsoon Session of Parliament, that took place on August 5, with a gist of key events that took place during the session. We discuss the Energy Conservation (Amendment) Bill, 2022, which was moved for consideration. In addition, we also cover the private members’ bills, including the compulsory voting bill, 2019 and a bill to provide compulsory sensitivity training to students and teachers with regard to subjects involving inclusion.
We also discuss the Right to Health Bill, introduced in the Rajya Sabha, in addition to discussing important written replies. We also discuss the election of Jagdeep Dhankhar as the 14th vice president of the country, which took place on Saturday, August 6. In addition to this, we also discuss the other important events of the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha.
Monsoon Session Day 15: the 14th Vice President election, and more | Parliament Watch podcast
Rajya Sabha | Monday
Jairam Ramesh contests Venkaiah Naidu’s ‘no immunity from arrests for MPs when House is in progress’ remarks
“Issuing of summons by ED or any law-enforcing agencies to any MP, much less the LoP (Mallikarjun Kharge), when the Parliament is in session, is an outright affront to the sacred institution of Parliament and Parliamentarians,” Congress chief whip in Rajya Sabha Jairam Ramesh said.
