Parliament highlights: SPG Bill, UT merger, FM's views on economy, and more

Parliament Winter Session 2019: In the Rajya Sabha, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said that growth in India may have come down, but the country is not facing recession

6:19 PM

No concrete evidence emerged with respect to IAF AN-32 that went missing in 2016: Minister of State for Defence Shripad Naik in Lok Sabha

6:19 PM

32 steps taken to revive growth in economy bearing fruits: FM Sitharaman

6:19 PM

Lok Sabha passes The Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu (Merger of Union Territories) Bill, 2019

6:03 PM

Lagged effect of twin balance sheet crisis faced by banks resulted in GDP falling in last two financial years: FM

6:03 PM

Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code yielding results; Rs 70,000 cr capital infusion in banks seeing results in rise in liquidity: FM Sitharaman

6:02 PM

Rs 2.5 trillion distribution in loan outreach programme, says FM Nirmala Sitharaman, dismissing notion of liquidity being a problem in economy

5:42 PM

India successfully thwarted Pak's attempts to paint alarmist situation after J-K move: Jaishankar in Parliament

India has successfully thwarted Pakistan's attempts to present an alarmist situation in the region in the wake of reorganisation of Jammu and Kashmir, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said on Wednesday.

 

He said Pakistan repeatedly resorted to "false and malicious" propaganda against India on the issue of Jammu and Kashmir at international fora such as the United Nations, the UN Human Rights Council and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation. Read more

5:33 PM

Economic growth may have come down but there is no recession; there will be no recession: FM Sitharaman in Rajya Sabha

5:19 PM

Security of Gandhi family not withdrawn but only changed, says Amit Shah

Union Home Minister Amit Shah said security of Congress president Sonia Gandhi and her children Rahul and Priyanka has not been withdrawn but changed to 'Z-plus' with ambulance.

 

Replying to the debate on the SPG (Amendment) Bill, he asserted that the BJP does carry out any action with a vindictive approach and it was the Congress which took many such decisions in the past. 

5:17 PM

Lok Sabha passes bill to amend SPG Act

3:08 PM

MoS for Home Affairs, Nityanand Rai in written reply in Rajya Sabha on whether citizenship will be granted to Hindu or any other individual of minority group from Pakistan, Bangladesh&Afghanistan: They can seek Indian citizenship under relevant provisions of Citizenship Act 1955.

3:07 PM

Arun Singh to be the BJP's candidate from Uttar Pradesh for Rajya Sabha, KC Ramamurthy to be the party's candidate from Karnataka. 

2:49 PM

Anand Sharma, Congress in Rajya Sabha: BJP said in its manifesto that it will invest 25 lakh crores in agriculture in 5 years that means 5 lakh crores each year. But only 53,000 crores was allocated in budget.The question is of credibility. Farmers must trust what government says

 

2:49 PM

Union Home Minister Amit Shah, in Lok Sabha: SPG cover will also be given to a former Prime Minister and his family, living at a residence allotted by the government, for a period of 5 years.

2:48 PM

Union Home Minister Amit Shah, in Lok Sabha: I have come here with an amendment in Special Protection Group (SPG) Act. After the amendment, under this Act, SPG cover will be given only to the PM and members of his family who live officially with him at the PM's residence. 

2:23 PM

Prohibition of Electronic Cigarettes Bill, 2019 passed by Lok Sabha

The Prohibition of Electronic Cigarettes (Production, Manufacture, Import, Export, Transport, Sale, Distribution, Storage and Advertisement) Bill, 2019 has been passed by Lok Sabha.

1:54 PM

Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MOSPI) tells Lok Sabha that a total of 1608 projects are being monitored by MOSPI as of July 1

1:52 PM

Attempts are being made by Pakistan based terrorists to reactivate their camp in Balakot: MoS Home GK Reddy

MoS Home GK Reddy in Rajya Sabha: Inputs indicate that attempts are being made by Pakistan based terrorists to reactivate their camp in Balakot and restart their religious and Jihadi indoctrination courses against India. Indian govt committed to take steps to protect borders.

1:39 PM

Union Minister for Housing & Urban Affairs Hardeep Singh Puri in Rajya Sabha: So far as slums are concerned, figures that are being made available are those for which we don't bear any responsibility because land is state subject and each state government will have those figures.

1:39 PM

Aim to build 6 million individual household toilets in urban areas: Hardeep Singh Puri

Union Minister for Housing & Urban Affairs Hardeep Singh Puri in Rajya Sabha: We had a target to build 6 million individual household toilets in urban areas. As against the target we have already built more than 6.7 million toilets.

1:37 PM

Union Civil Aviation Minister HS Puri: If we don't privatise Air India, where will we get the money from to operate it? Right now, Air India is a first class asset & we will get bidders if we sell it. And if we take ideological positions then it will be difficult to run it.

1:37 PM

1:09 PM

Aviation Minister speaks on Air India in the Parliament

Aviation Minister in Parliament: Alternative mechanism on Air India has taken some decisions. Issue of inviting bids to arise only after process completion

1:01 PM

Terrorist incidents are close to nil in Kashmir after abrogation of Article 370, says Rajnath Singh

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh answering to Congress MP S Kodikunnil on J&K: Security forces and police are working in coordination and taking appropriate action. Terrorist incidents are close to nil in Kashmir after abrogation of Article 370. Normalcy is fast returning to J&K

12:49 PM

Govt is aware of the shortcomings: Rao Inderjit Singh responds to Tharoor on GDP data

Rao Inderjit Singh, MoS(Ind), Statistics and Programme Implementation in Lok Sabha replying to Congress MP Shashi Tharoor: Govt is aware of the shortcomings. It is a continuous process and we are trying to upgrade it. We will be happy to have any inputs.

12:47 PM

Congress raises issue of delayed GST compensation payment to states

The Congress on Wednesday raised in Rajya Sabha the issue of the Centre delaying payment of compensation to states for revenue shortfall in the Goods and Services Tax (GST) since August, saying this may lead to stoppage of development work and payments to employees.

 

Raising the issue through a Zero Hour mention, Pratap Singh Bajwa (Cong) said states gave up the right to levy taxes in the interest of 'one-nation-one-tax' regime of GST.

 

When the GST subsumed 17 different central and state levies in July 2017, states were assured that they will be compensated for any loss of revenue vis a vis pre-GST position, for the first five years of the introduction of GST.

 

Bajwa said initially the compensation was to be paid on a monthly basis and later once in two months.

 

But the compensation for August, September and October has been pending and it is end November with no sight of when it will be paid, he said.

 

Punjab, he said, is to receive Rs 2,100 crore in GST compensation and together with Rs 2,000 crore arrears its total dues are Rs 4,100 crore.

 

Delays in payment is "grossly unfair" for small states as it may "stall development work and payment of pensions," he said.

12:29 PM

There are terrorist attacks in many parts of Kashmir. Where is normalcy is J&K?: Congress MP in Lok Sabha

Congress MP S Kodikunnil in Lok Sabha: There are terrorist attacks in many parts of Jammu & Kashmir. Where is normalcy is J&K? Government is misleading the House. 

Government should make a statement.

 

12:28 PM

Govt must bring white paper on status of Indian economy: Sitaram Yechury

CPI(M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury on Wednesday demanded that the government bring out a white paper on the status of the economy referring to India Ratings and Research data which has lowered GDP growth forecast for current fiscal to 4.7 per cent.'

 

"This is the third quarter since the growth rate has fallen in the country. If this is not recession, then what is it? The government must bring a white paper on the status of Indian economy," tweeted Yechury.

 

Indian economy may have slowed for the sixth consecutive quarter in July-September to 4.7 per cent, Fitch group firm India Ratings and Research said on Tuesday, as it lowered GDP growth forecast for current fiscal for the fourth time.

12:18 PM

The fact is that we're facing a crisis in terms of statistical credibility worldwide, says Tharoor

Congress MP Shashi Tharoor during Question Hour in Lok Sabha: The fact is that we're facing a crisis in terms of statistical credibility worldwide. The constant revision of numbers by govt. For eg, - govt's own Chief Economic Advisor questioning revision of GDP growth from 6.7% to 8.2%

12:08 PM

Our economic success depends on credible numbers: Tharoor in Lok Sabha

Congress MP Shashi Tharoor in Lok Sabha: Would the Govt agree to having a review by a committee of independent experts to look into the processes being followed & sources used in gathering data in our country? Our economic success depends on credible numbers.