External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar will move the Anti-Maritime Piracy Bill, 2022 in the Rajya Sabha today. Other Bills on the legislative agenda in the Upper House today are the two Appropriation Bills and the Constitution (Scheduled Tribes) Order (Second Amendment) Bill to modify the list of Scheduled Tribes in Tamil Nadu. In the Lok Sabha, discussion on drug menace will continue. Union Minister Kiren Rijiju will, meanwhile, move the Repealing and Amending Bill for consideration and passing.
Both Houses were in uproar and witnessed multiple disruptions on Tuesday over Congress leaders’ statements. Chaos ensued as the Opposition persisted with their demand for a discussion on various issues including the situation between India and China along the border. In the Rajya Sabha, MPs concluded the debate on the Appropriation Bills. The Finance Minister’s reply is expected today. Meanwhile, the Winter Session is likely to conclude on December 23, a week ahead of schedule. The session began on December 7.
Explained | What’s on agenda for the 2022 Winter Session of Parliament?
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Discussion on drug abuse continues
A short-duration discussion on the drug-abuse problem in India and steps taken by the government to control it is underway in the Lok Sabha.
India-China border clash once again echoes in Lower House; Opposition walks out
Minutes after the Lok Sabha resumed proceedings with a short-duration discussion on drug abuse, the Opposition staged a walk out as the Speaker rejected the demand to hold a discussion on the situation along with border with China.
Congress’ Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury addressed the Speaker: “The Opposition has been demanding a discussion on the India-China issue since the start of the Winter Session. Surprisingly, Parliament is not discussing the issue when everyone outside is. This is our right. Allow us to hold a discussion.”
Why did West Bengal not get any MNREGA funds: AITC MP Jawhar Sircar
MP Jawhar Sircar asks why West Bengal did not get any money under the MNREGA scheme. Why is it being reduced from Rs. 1,17,000 crores, he asks. The Minister of State for Rural Development Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti says that money has been given and that this can be verified.
Members object to her remarks, with Mr. Sircar calling them “one-sided and political.”
TDP MP K Ravindra Kumar asks whether MNREGA complaints related to Andhra Pradesh have been addressed. The Minister answers that if there are any delays, information will be provided to the State.
Proceedings resume in Lok Sabha
Question Hour commences in the Upper House
Chennai airport should be at same level as Delhi, Mumbai: DMK MP P Wilson
DMK MP P Wilson says that Tamil Nadu’s airports need to be improved for the benefit of trade and development. Saying that airports are drivers of economic growth, he expresses his belief that Chennai’s airport should be at the same level as Mumbai and Delhi. Madurai, Tiruchirappalli and Coimbatore airports also need to be improved, he says, highlighting that conditions at Madurai airport were hampering export and import from the airport.
Further, of 5 airports under the UDAAN scheme, only Salem airport has started operations, Mr. Wilson says. He urges the civil aviation minister to take steps in this regard and that funds be disbursed for the improvement of these airports.
27 per cent of differentially abled students never attend school: DMK MP Tiruchi Siva
DMK MP Tiruchi Siva raises the issue of quality of education for differently abled students. The Right to Education sets aside 25% of seats for EWS and differentially abled students, but more needs to be done, he says.
The Member points out that the country has 78,64,000 disabled children, of which 27% have never attended an educational institution. Teachers are required to hold B.Ed Special Education and receive a licence from the Rehabilitation Council of India to teach differentially-abled children, but there is no vigilance, he says.
Mr. Siva urges the minister to improve education policies to employ more specially trained teachers to teach differently abled students, with interest on both the students and the teachers. He also asks that the payscale of contract teachers in this field be revised to be in line with mainstream teachers.
Motion moved to nominate members to Committee on Welfare of OBCs
On behalf of MP V Muraleedharan, the Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Arjun Ram Meghawal moves that the house concurs with the Lok Sabha’s recommendation to nominate ex-Rajya Sabha member Shri Vishambhar Prasad Nishad to associate with the Committee on Welfare of Other Backward Classes (OBCs) and also appoint another member to the committee.
The motion is passed with no dissent.
Uproar as proceedings resume, Lok Sabha adjourned till noon
Chaos ensued in the Lower House as proceedings resume on Wednesday morning. Amid uproar by the Opposition, the Speaker adjourned the Lok Sabha. The House will meet at 12 p.m.
Rajya Sabha commences proceedings for the day
The Upper House commences its day’s work with Vice President Jagdeep Dhankar presiding. Members proceed with the laying of papers on the table of the House.
Sonia Gandhi, Opposition leaders protest in Parliament
Congress MP Sonia Gandhi and other Opposition leaders protest in front of the Gandhi statue inside the Parliament premises, demanding a discussion on the India-China faceoff at Tawang. The Congress also held a parliamentary party meeting earlier today.
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge reportedly invited like-minded opposition leaders to join the protest in front of the Gandhi statue. Joint Opposition has been demanding a discussion on the India-China border situation and the latest Chinese transgressions since the Winter Session began.
What’s on the agenda in Rajya Sabha?
The Rajya Sabha shall commence with the usual laying of papers and reports on the table of the House, as also statements about the status of the implementation of recommendations from Parliamentary Standing Committees.
MP V Muraleedharan is expected to move that the house concurs with the Lok Sabha’s recommendation to nominate ex-Rajya Sabha member Shri Vishambhar Prasad Nishad to associate with the Committee on Welfare of Other Backward Classes (OBCs) and appoint another member to the committee as well.
Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman is expected to move resolutions to approve a notification amending the eighth schedule to the Finance Act 2002, revising excise duty on aviation turbine fuel and another amending the second schedule of the Customs Tariff Act, levying export duty on some types of rice.
Post Question Hour, Ms. Sitharaman is expected to reply to yesterday’s discussion on Appropriation Bills 4 and 5.
External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar is expected to move that the Maritime Anti-Piracy Bill, 2022 be considered and passes, while Union Tribal Affairs Minister Arjun Munda will move that the Constitution (Scheduled Tribes) Order (Second Amendment) Bill, 2022 be taken up.
Chaos likely over India-China border clash
Congress MPs Manish Tewari and Manickam Tagore have given adjournment motion notices in the Lok Sabha to discuss the border situation with China.
Legislative business in the Lok Sabha
Proceedings will begin with Question Hour, following which MPs will lay papers on the table of the House.
A short-duration discussion on the problem of drug abuse in the country will continue in the Lok Sabha. Union Minister Kiren Rijiju will move the Repealing and Amending Bill, 2022 for consideration and passing. Union Minister Arjun Munda will move amendments made by Rajya Sabha in the Constitution (Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes) Orders (Second Amendment) Bill, 2022.