Page 123 - Lok Sabha

Lok Sabha adjourned till 2 pm after protests by Oppn over Manipur issue

The Lok Sabha was adjourned till 2 pm following protests by the opposition which has been demanding a statement from Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Parliament on the Manipur issue. When the House met at 11 am, Speaker Om Birla announced that a Parliamentary delegation from Malawi is visiting India and they were watching the proceedings of the House. He welcomed the foreign delegation and wished their pleasant stay in the country. As he completed his speech, the opposition members were on their feet demanding a statement from the prime minister on Manipur. Soon they came to the well of the House showing placards and shouting slogans against the government. The speaker initially ignored their protests and continued the Question Hour, which was the scheduled business. Two questions related to the Ministries of Education and Finance were taken up for discussion amidst sloganeering and protests. As the protests continued, the speaker appealed to the opposition members to go back to the

Govt insulting parl by not discussing no-trust motion in LS: Congress

The Congress on Monday accused the government of insulting Parliament by not holding a discussion on the no-confidence motion moved by the opposition and instead bringing bills in the House. Congress leader in the Lok Sabha Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury said the government should first hold a discussion on the no-trust motion. He also urged the ruling party MPs to visit violence-hit Manipur and understand for themselves the situation there. Amid the impasse in Parliament over the violence in Manipur and the opposition's demand that Prime Minister Narendra Modi make a statement in the House, Home Minister Amit Shah has asserted that he was ready to respond to a discussion in Parliament on the matter. The opposition turned down the offer following which they moved the no-confidence motion as a last bid to make the prime minister speak on the Manipur violence issue in Parliament. "We have brought a no-confidence motion against the government and a discussion on it should be started in Lok ..

Bills passed post no-trust motion constitutionally suspect: Cong's Tewari

Congress MP Manish Tewari on Sunday claimed that all bills passed after the no-confidence motion was admitted in the Lok Sabha are "constitutionally suspect" and asserted that any substantive legislative business must succeed the outcome of the motion, not precede it. The former Union minister also said the 10-day period for scheduling a discussion on the no-confidence motion tabled in the Lok Sabha cannot be used to "steamroll" bills. The Lok Sabha MP's assertion comes as the bill to replace the Delhi services ordinance is set to come up in the House this week. In an interview with PTI, Tewari said once the no-confidence motion has been tabled in the Lok Sabha, any legislation or material business brought before the House is "completely in violation of morality, propriety and parliamentary conventions". He claimed the very legality of all the legislations which have been passed in the Lok Sabha or the Rajya Sabha after the no-confidence motion was admitted would have to be examine

Shah has come as LS polls are near, not to launch govt schemes: CM Stalin

Stalin said at a DMK event here that Amit Shah has come to the state to flag off a Pava (sin) Yathra

Dilip Ghosh may be used to bolster BJP's WB unit before LS polls: Majumdar

BJP's West Bengal state secretary Sukanta Majumdar on Saturday said senior party leader Dilip Ghosh, whose name did not feature in a rejigged list of the party's central office bearers, is likely to be used for strengthening the state unit to fight the TMC ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. There are, however, speculations within a section of the party that Ghosh may be inducted in the Union ministry. "A veteran and loyal leader like Dilipda is likely to be used for strengthening the state unit to take on the Trinamool Congress ahead of the Lok Sabha elections," Majumdar told PTI. He said it was a decision taken at the highest level of the party in the interest of the organisation. To a question about possibility of Ghosh's induction in the Union ministry, he said, "We don't have any such information, the party national leadership does not discuss such issues with the state committee." BJP president JP Nadda rejigged the list of the party's central office bearers on Saturday,

LS polls: CPI(M) alleges Cong-BJP-ML tie-up against Left party in Kerala

Launching a scathing attack on the key anti-Left parties in Kerala, State Finance Minister K N Balagopal has alleged that the Congress, BJP and Muslim League have joined hands to defeat the CPI(M)-led alliance in the upcoming Lok Sabha polls. Referring to the alleged infamous political experiment of the Congress-Muslim League-BJP (Co-Le-B) tie-up in the Vadakara Lok Sabha seat in Kozhikode during the 1991 general elections, Balagopal, also a senior CPI(M) leader, alleged that its new version was being experimented at the gram panchayat levels ahead of the parliament elections next year. Balagopal charged that the recent victory of the Congress at the Ummannoor Grama Panchayat, falling under his Kottarakkara Assembly constituency, with the support of the BJP was a clear indication of taking their "unholy ties" to another level. Putting an end to the Left rule in the panchayat, where the CPI(M)-led alliance has nine members in the 20-member council, the Congress and the BJP allegedly

Run up to 2024: The BJP and INDIA seem to have skipped the semi-finals

Three factors make it a challenging election for Modi and BJP: Opposition alliance with a well-defined core, consolidation of the anti-BJP vote and a changed geopolitical situation

Weekend Bites: Confidence motion, corporation action, and a cage fight

In which we munch over the week's platter of news and views

Lok Sabha adjourned for the day amid opposition protest over Manipur issue

Lok Sabha was adjourned for the day on Friday amid a protest by opposition members over the Manipur issue. As the House reconvened at 12 noon after the first adjournment, Rajendra Agrawal, who was in the Chair, took up the Mines and Mineral Amendment Bill for consideration. The bill was passed amid the din. The National Nursing and Midwifery Commission Bill, 2023 and the National Dental Commission Bill, 2023 were also passed by Lok Sabha. As opposition members continued their protest, Agrawal adjourned the House for the day. Soon after the House met at 11 am, the opposition members were on their feet demanding an immediate discussion on the no-confidence motion moved by the Congress against the Modi government. Speaker Om Birla asked the opposition MPs to take part in the proceedings. "Don't you want to allow the House to function? Question Hour, where government replies to the questions of the members, is very important," he said. Congress leader in the House Adhir Ranjan Chowd

Lok Sabha passes mines and minerals amendment to up private sector role

The Lok Sabha on Friday passed the mines and mineral amendment bill which seeks to open up mining of deep-seated and critical minerals for the private sector. The Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2023, also empowers the central government to exclusively auction mining lease and composite licence for certain critical minerals. Deep-seated minerals include gold, silver, copper, zinc, lead, nickel, cobalt, platinum group of minerals, diamonds, etc, which are difficult and expensive to explore and mine as compared to surfacial or bulk minerals. "Thus share of deep-seated minerals in total mineral production is meagre at present. The country is mostly dependent on imports of these minerals. The proposed exploration licence would facilitate, encourage and incentivize private sector participation in all spheres of mineral exploration for critical and deep-seated minerals," according to the statement of objects and reasons of the Bill. Union Minister for Coal

20 national waterways being developed for cargo, passenger movement: Centre

The government is developing 20 of the 26 national waterways found viable for cargo and passenger movement, the Lok Sabha was informed on Friday. Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal said that 26 of the existing 111 waterways in the country have been found viable for cargo and passenger movement. For the development of inland water transport in the country, 111 waterways -- including five existing and 106 new ones -- spread over 24 states have been declared national waterways under the National Waterways Act, 2016, Sonowal said. "On the basis of outcome of techno-economic feasibility study and detailed project report of these national waterways, an action plan has been formulated for 26 of them, which were found viable for cargo and passenger movement. At present, development initiatives have been taken up for 20 of these," Sonowal said in a written reply.

1,774 health facilities in 32 states/UTs adopted 'Scan and Share': Govt

As many as 1,774 health facilities across 32 states and Union Territories have adopted the 'Scan and Share' service which enables for quick and seamless OPD registration for patients using smartphones, the Lok Sabha was told on Friday. A total of 52 lakh tokens have been generated using the service under the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM) which aims to create a digital platform enabling interoperability of health data within the health ecosystem to create longitudinal electronic health record of every citizen, Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya said in response to a question. According to the data shared by the minister, 552 healthcare facilities in Uttar Pradesh (the highest), followed by 336 in Andhra Pradesh, 277 in Bihar, Karnataka 224 and 137 in Maharashtra have adopted the service. Under the Mission, the Scan and Share feature has been enabled for quick and seamless OPD (out patient department) registration for patients at hospitals using their smartphone, he ...

Over 1,550 street children rescued so far this year: Govt in Lok Sabha

Over 1,550 street children were rescued from across the country so far this year, the government said on Friday. Responding to a question in the Lok Sabha, Women and Child Development Minister Smriti Irani said the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) rescued 1,551 street children during spot field drives. After rescuing the street children, the NCPCR produced them before the Child Welfare Committee (CWC) of their respective areas and ensured they were rehabilitated, Irani said. The NCPCR is in the process of identifying the rescued children, the WCD minister said, adding that so far 24 states have shared information on the hotspots where homeless children were found in higher numbers.

LS passes National Dental Commission Bill for better quality education

The Lok Sabha on Friday passed the National Nursing and Midwifery Commission Bill, 2023 and the National Dental Commission Bill, 2023, which seek to usher in better quality of nursing and dental education. The National Dental Commission Bill seeks to repeal the Dentists Act, 1948 and proposes to set up National Dental Commission (NMC) to regulate dental education and the profession in the country. It also aims to make dental education affordable and make quality oral healthcare accessible. The National Nursing and Midwifery Commission Bill, 2023 aims at setting up National Nursing and Midwifery Commission (NNMC) and to repeal the Indian Nursing Council Act, 1947. The Bill provides for regulation and maintenance of standards of education and services by nursing and midwifery professionals, assessment of institutions, maintenance of a national register as well as state registers. Moving the bills for consideration and passing, Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya said these would help

Biological Diversity Bill: What is it, and what are the changes made to it?

The new bill will amend the Biological Diversity Act, 2002, which provides for the conservation of biological diversity in India

LS passes Mines and Minerals Amendment Bill after Pralhad Joshi moves it

The Lok Sabha on Friday passed a bill which seeks to grant exploration licence to private sector players for critical minerals. The Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2023, also empowers the central government to exclusively auction mining lease and composite licence for certain critical minerals. Union Minister for Coal and Mines Pralhad Joshi moved the bill for consideration and passing in the Lok Sabha. The opposition members were protesting in the house over the Manipur issue. The amendments in the bill will be a game changer. We are going to produce 1 billion tonne of coal and make India self sufficient in the energy sector, Joshi said. "We have decided to stop coal import by 2025-26," he added. The bill was later passed by voice vote amid slogan shouting by opposition members.

IIM (Amendment) Bill introduced in LS amid disruptions over Manipur issue

A bill to amend the Indian Institutes of Management Act, 2017 was introduced in the Lok Sabha on Friday amid disruptions by opposition members over violence in Manipur. Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan introduced the bill after the House met following an earlier adjournment over the Manipur issue. When the chair asked whether Manish Tewari wanted to say something on The Indian Institutes of Management (Amendment) Bill, 2023 at the introduction stage, the Congress member raised the Manipur issue. Cutting short Tewari's remarks, the chair moved ahead and the bill was introduced by a voice vote amid din. The bill will come up for consideration and passage next week, Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Arjun Ram Meghwal informed the House on Friday while listing out government business for next week.

Govt passing bills even as no-confidence motion accepted in LS: Oppn MPs

Congress MP Manish Tewari cited former Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Satyendra Narayan Sinha as saying that "whenever there is a no-confidence motion

Lok Sabha passes Jan Vishwas Bill to promote ease of doing business

Spearheaded by the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), the Bill proposes to revise 183 provisions across 42 laws under 19 government ministries

Bill to amend offshore areas minerals law introduced in Lok Sabha

A bill to amend the offshore areas mineral law was introduced in Lok Sabha on Thursday amid opposition protests over the Manipur issue The bill was introduced by Union Minister of Parliamentary Affairs, Coal and Mines Pralhad Joshi when the House assembled at 2.00 pm after an adjournment over the Manipur situation. When Congress leader in Lok Sabha Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury was asked by the Chair to speak on the introduction of the bill, he raised the issue of opposition-backed no-confidence motion moved by his party's member Gaurav Gogoi. Kirit Solanki, who was presiding over the proceedings, asked him to restrict his speech to the bill. Saugat Roy of the TMC too said the issue of Manipur should be discussed when his turn to came to speak on the bill. Joshi said the government had legislative competence to amend the law and he should be allowed to introduce the measure. The Offshore Areas Mineral (Development and Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2023 was then introduced following a voic