Monsoon session highlights: Lok Sabha, Rajya Sabha adjourned for the day amid protests

Monsoon session LIVE updates: Follow all the latest updates from the Parliament here as they unfold.

Lok Sabha (PTI)

With a few Bills being passed in both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, the monsoon session has largely seen a logjam so far amid the Opposition's demand for a discussion on the Manipur issue followed by an elaborate statement by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the matter. The no-confidence motion moved by the INDIA bloc is also seen as a strategic step to compel the PM Modi-led government for a discussion....Read More

Follow all the updates here:

• 28 Jul 2023, 09:38:29 PM IST

  ‘We are trying to do what you should have done’: RJD MP Manoj Jha ahead of INDIA's Manipur visit

  Ahead of the INDIA delegation's two-day visit to Manipur, Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) MP Manoj Jha said, "We want to tell the PM that we are making an effort to do what he and his team should have done. We are going there with a small desire - to understand the collective pain of the people of Manipur and perhaps present that pain sensitively when the PM comes to the Parliament. That is our aim." (ANI)

• 28 Jul 2023, 09:12:01 PM IST

  Any issue can be resolved through dialogue: Piyush Goyal

  Leader of House in Rajya Sabha Piyush Goyal on Friday appealed to the opposition parties to discuss the Manipur and other issues in Parliament in a proper manner saying that any issue can be resolved through dialogue.

  "...We once again appeal to our opposition to discuss in a proper manner in Parliament Manipur and other issues. Any issue can resolve through dialogue," Goyal said.

• 28 Jul 2023, 07:54:42 PM IST

  Disrupted in Parliament, Jaishankar posts foreign policy statement on Twitter

  Lashing out at opposition protests during his statement on foreign policy in Parliament, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Friday posted a video on social media listing out details of visits of President Droupadi Murmu, Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar and Prime Minister Narendra Modi abroad.

  "Sadly, the Opposition repeatedly disrupted my statement in both Houses of Parliament. Obviously, for them, partisan politics was more important than national progress," Jaishankar said in a video statement on Twitter.

• 28 Jul 2023, 07:17:17 PM IST

  ‘Aimed at creating political unrest...,’ Opposition tears into Centre on extension to ED Director

  The Opposition has lashed out over the Central government’s extension of tenure to Enforcement Directorate (ED) Director Sanjay Kumar Mishra stating that it was done with the aim of targeting leaders of the INDIA bloc and thus weaken the newly formed alliance.

  “This extension has been given to create political unrest in some states. The agency is getting misused by the Centre," Rashtriya Janta Dal MP Manoj Jha said.

• 28 Jul 2023, 06:28:49 PM IST

  319 pregnant women received crucial antenatal care in Manipur since onset of crisis: Govt to LS

  As many as 319 pregnant women, including 19 in the high-risk category, have received crucial antenatal care in strife-torn Manipur, while 139 pregnant women have given birth to babies since the onset of the current crisis in the state till July 24, the government informed Parliament on Friday.

  In a written reply to a question in the Lok Sabha, Minister of State for Health Bharati Pravin Pawar said medical teams have been formed in each of the affected districts in the northeastern state to provide overall healthcare services to the victims at the designated relief camps.

• 28 Jul 2023, 06:00:48 PM IST

  Eyes on Harivansh as JD(U) issues whip to its Rajya Sabha members

  The Janata Dal (United) has issued a whip to all its Rajya Sabha members, including Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairperson Harivansh, asking them to ensure their presence in the House till August 11 and vote against the contentious Delhi ordinance bill.

  The whip, party leaders said, has been issued as voting is expected on the National Capital Territory of Delhi (Amendment) Bill, 2023, which seeks to replace an ordinance negating a Supreme Court order giving power of transfer and posting to the Delhi government. The ordinance has restored the supremacy of the Centre in the matter.

• 28 Jul 2023, 05:35:46 PM IST

  Will assess ground situation to make recommendations to govt, Parliament: Oppn leaders ahead of INDIA bloc's Manipur visit

  A delegation of 20 INDIA bloc MPs will visit Manipur over the weekend to assess the ground situation first-hand and then make recommendations to the government and Parliament for a solution to the problems in the violence-hit state.

  Ahead of the visit, Congress' deputy leader in Lok Sabha Gaurav Gogoi called for an inquiry under a retired Supreme Court judge into the violence in Manipur.

• 28 Jul 2023, 05:11:28 PM IST

  LS passes bill to allow private sector to mine lithium, 5 other atomic minerals

  A bill to allow the private sector to mine six atomic minerals, including lithium, and deep-seated minerals like gold and silver was approved by the Lok Sabha on Friday.

  The Mines and Mineral (Development and Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2023 was passed by the Lok Sabha through a voice vote, amid continuous sloganeering by Opposition members over the Manipur issue.

  The bill seeks to allow the private sector to mine six out of 12 atomic minerals. Under the existing act, all 12 atomic minerals are reserved for mining and exploration by state-owned entities.

• 28 Jul 2023, 04:36:41 PM IST

  Sex ratio at birth improves by 15 points from 918 in 2014-15 to 933 in 2022-23: Govt

  The sex ratio at birth has improved by 15 points from 918 in 2014-15 to 933 in 2022-23 in the country, Union minister Smriti Irani told the Lok Sabha on Friday.

  Responding to a question in the Lower House of Parliament, the women and child development minister said the 'Beti Bachao Beti Padhao' scheme has stirred up collective consciousness towards changing the mindset of the public to acknowledge the rights of the girl child.

  "The scheme has raised concerns around the issue of declining CSR (child sex ratio) in India. This is reflected in the improvement of the sex ratio at birth (SRB) by 15 points at the national level, that is, from 918 in 2014-15 to 933 in 2022-23," she said in a written response.

• 28 Jul 2023, 04:14:32 PM IST

  Over 71,000 cases pending in high courts for more than 30 years: Govt

  Over 71,000 cases are pending in various high courts for more than 30 years, Lok Sabha was informed on Friday.

  The House was also told that over 1.01 lakh cases which are more than 30 years old are pending in lower courts.

  In a written reply to a question, Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal said that as on July 24 this year, 71,204 cases were pending in high courts for more than 30 years. Similarly, 1,01,837 cases were pending for over 30 years in district and subordinate courts.

• 28 Jul 2023, 03:26:30 PM IST

  110% increase recorded in MBBS seats: Mandaviya

  There has been an 82-per cent increase in the number of medical colleges in the country, from 387 before 2014 to 704 now, and a 110-per cent increase in the number of MBBS seats, from 51,348 to 1,07,948, in the same period, Parliament was informed on Friday.

  In a written response to a question in the Lok Sabha, Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya said there has also been an increase of 117 per cent in the number of post-graduate (PG) medical seats in the country -- from 31,185 before 2014 to 67,802 as of now.

  Mandaviya said 101 medical colleges have been approved in the last five years under a centrally-sponsored scheme (CSS) for the "establishment of new medical colleges attached with existing district/referral hospitals", including one in Assam.

  "The government has increased the number of medical colleges and subsequently, increased the MBBS seats," he said.

  "There is an increase of 82 per cent in medical colleges, from 387 before 2014 to 704 as of now. Further, there is an increase of 110 per cent in MBBS seats, from 51,348 before 2014 to 1,07,948 as of now. There is also an increase of 117 per cent in PG seats from 31,185 before 2014 to 67,802 as of now," Mandaviya said.

• 28 Jul 2023, 02:40:33 PM IST

  Prahlad Joshi dares Opposition to defeat Bill on the floor

  Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi on Friday dared the opposition to defeat the government bills on the floor of the house if they believe they had the numbers in the Lok Sabha.

  Joshi's sharp riposte came after the opposition objected to the government taking up legislative business at a time when the no-confidence motion was pending before the Lok Sabha.

  "They have suddenly brought the no-confidence motion, does that mean no government business should take place," the minister told reporters outside Parliament.

  "If they have the numbers, they should defeat the bills on the floor of the House," the minister said.

• 28 Jul 2023, 02:10:30 PM IST

  India House Amends Mining Rules to Open Lithium to Private Firms

  Lok Sabha approved changes to the country’s mining rules to boost exploration, including allowing private miners to search for some critical minerals like lithium.

  The main changes to the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957, last amended in 2021, would include introduction of exploration licenses for deep-seated and critical minerals and the removal of lithium-bearing minerals and five other atomic minerals from a restricted list, opening up the segment to private miners.

  The bill has to be approved by parliament’s upper house and India’s president before it becomes a law. 

• 28 Jul 2023, 01:45:02 PM IST

  ‘This is drama’: BJP leader on INDIA bloc's scheduled Manipur visit

  "This is just a drama. They (opposition) are running away from discussing the issue in the Parliament and just trying to take (political) mileage of the (Manipur) situation," says BJP leader Ram Kripal Yadav on INDIA alliance leaders' scheduled visit to Manipur on July 29, 30.

• 28 Jul 2023, 01:43:19 PM IST

  ‘We want enquiry’: Congress' Gaurav Gogoi on administrative failure in Manipur

  "We want an enquiry to be done by a retired Supreme Court judge to look into the administrative failures in Manipur," says Congress leader Gaurav Gogoi.

• 28 Jul 2023, 01:38:42 PM IST

  “Can’t reveal internal discussions”: BJD MP says party will reveal stand on Bill replacing Delhi Ordinance at “appropriate time”

  Opening up on his party not clarifying or articulating its position on a Bill to replace the Centre's Ordinance on control of services in the national capital, Amar Patnaik, a member of the Rajya Sabha from the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) on Friday said "internal discussions" within the party cannot be revealed and the party will take a decision at an appropriate time.

  The Bill is scheduled to be taken up in both Houses next week.

  "The party will clear its stand at an appropriate time. Let the Bill be introduced first. The party will take a decision and the honourable Chief Minister of Odisha and our party president (Naveen Patnaik) will take a decision at an appropriate time," Patnaik said.

  The Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (Amendment) Bill, 2023, seeks to replace the Ordinance brought by the Centre in May, excluding some services from the 'legislative competence' of the Delhi legislative assembly.

  (ANI)

• 28 Jul 2023, 01:31:14 PM IST

  ‘If a single round of discussion would've happened…’: LJP national president Chirag Paswan on Manipur crisis

  "It's been 7-8 days since Parliament proceedings began, if a single round of discussion would have taken place so far, we would've reached to some conclusion. If then (after discussions) you don't find the government's response satisfactory, you could have said that we need an answer from the PM and created a ruckus as much as you want," says LJP national president Chirag Paswan.

  (ANI)

• 28 Jul 2023, 01:15:26 PM IST

  Delhi Ordinance to be discussed in Parliament on Monday

  Union Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal speaks on the list of business on the government's agenda in both Houses during the week, commencing Monday (31st July) will consist of "...Discussion on statutory resolutions seeking disapproval of the government of National Capital of Delhi, Amendment Ordinance 2023..."

  (ANI)

• 28 Jul 2023, 12:59:22 PM IST

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

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

  (ANI)

• 28 Jul 2023, 12:18:03 PM IST

  Defeat bills on floor of House: Pralhad Joshi

  Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi on Friday dared the opposition to defeat the government bills on the floor of the house if they believe they had the numbers in the Lok Sabha.

  Joshi's sharp riposte came after the opposition objected to the government taking up legislative business at a time when the no-confidence motion was pending before the Lok Sabha.

  "They have suddenly brought the no-confidence motion, does that mean no government business should take place," the minister told reporters outside Parliament.

  "If they have the numbers, they should defeat the bills on the floor of the House," the minister said.

  Joshi had posed the same challenge to the opposition inside the House earlier in the day.

  (PTI)

• 28 Jul 2023, 12:17:10 PM IST

  Opposition seeks immediate discussion on no-confidence motion in LS, Rajya Sabha adjourned for the day

  Lok Sabha was adjourned till 12 noon and Rajya Sabha for the day on Friday over the demands of opposition members related to the Manipur situation.

  Opposition members in Lok Sabha demanded immediate discussion on the no-confidence motion which has been accepted by Speaker Om Birla.

  The Speaker took up the Question Hour after the House met for the day but opposition members raised slogans in support of their demand.

  Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury cited an example of 1978 and said that the House took up debate on the no-confidence motion on the day it was admitted.

  Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi said that the government is ready for debate on the day and time decided by the Speaker and that rules provide a 10-day window.

  (ANI)

• 28 Jul 2023, 12:04:46 PM IST

  Lok Sabha proceedings resume amid sloganeering

  Lok Sabha proceedings resume. Opposition MPs continue to raise slogans against the central government over Manipur issue.

• 28 Jul 2023, 11:48:28 AM IST

  ‘Can go wherever they want’: BJP MP on INDIA bloc's scheduled visit to Manipur

  On a delegation of INDIA bloc visiting Manipur, BJP MP Ravi Kishan says, "They (Opposition) can go wherever they want, they should go to Pakistan, Sri Lanka and China"

• 28 Jul 2023, 11:27:50 AM IST

  Rajya Sabha adjourned for the day

  Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar was addressing the house while explaining the significance of Question Hours as the ‘heart of parliamentary proceedings’. Following Dhankhar's statement, TMC MP Derek O'Brien raised to voice his objection, to which, the RS Chairman said that ‘it has become your (O'Brien) habit to engage it theatrics’. 

  Dhankhar stood up and adjourned the House till Monday, saying ‘we can’t suffer this'.

• 28 Jul 2023, 11:27:28 AM IST

  ‘Rise above partisan interests’: Dhankhar says after receiving notices over Manipur issue

  Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar said the House received a total of 47 notices, specifically demanding discussion over Manipur violence. He urged all members to ‘rise above partisan interests’.

• 28 Jul 2023, 11:24:17 AM IST

  ‘Next time I’ll rehears': RS Chairman says after he struggles to call out MP Amee Yajnik's name

  After Rajya Sabha Chairman struggled to call out the name of Congress MP Amee Yajnik, he said,"next time I will rehears'. 

• 28 Jul 2023, 11:15:58 AM IST

  Centre to take up Delhi Services Bill next week; Treasury, Opposition exchange barbs

  Barbs exchanged between treasury and opposition bench after MoS Parliamentary affairs Muraleedharan announces that government would take up Delhi (Amendment) Ordinance, 2023, Mediation Bill 2021 next week

• 28 Jul 2023, 11:09:23 AM IST

  Parliamentary affairs minister slams Oppostion for not holding discussions peacefully

  “They (Opposition) do not participate in the discussion in a peaceful manner and do not cooperate in passing any bill in the Parliament. We are ready to take constructive suggestions from them, but suddenly they came up with a no-confidence motion. Whenever there is a need, we will discuss the no-confidence motion and since we have the numbers, we have no problem. If they want the truth to come out (regarding Manipur), there is no better forum than this (Parliament),” Union minister Prahlad Joshi said.

• 28 Jul 2023, 11:05:59 AM IST

  In less than 5 mins after it resumed business for the day, Lok Sabha adjourned till noon

  Following the disruption of the Question Hour by the Opposition, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla adjourned the House till noon.

• 28 Jul 2023, 11:02:41 AM IST

  Lok Sabha Om Birla begins House proceedings with question hour

  Lok Sabha Om Birla begins House proceedings with question hour. The Opposition continues disruption over demands for discussion on Manipur issue.

• 28 Jul 2023, 10:53:56 AM IST

  Lok Sabha Speaker attends World Hepatitis Day programme

  Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla attended World Hepatitis Day programme at Parliament House Annexe.

• 28 Jul 2023, 10:52:25 AM IST

  Rajya Sabha to convene with birthday greeting to BJP MP

  The Rajya Sabha will convene today with the members extending birthday greetings to BJP MP Dineshchandra Jemalbhai Anavadiya.

• 28 Jul 2023, 10:50:30 AM IST

  INDIA bloc MPs stage protest over Manipur issue

  MPs of the INDIA bloc protest outside Parliament demanding PM Modi's statement on the Manipur in House.

• 28 Jul 2023, 10:44:42 AM IST

  Opposition floor leaders meet to discuss strategy

  Meeting of like-minded Opposition floor leaders underway at the Rajya Sabha LoP chamber in Parliament to discuss the strategy for the floor of the House.

• 28 Jul 2023, 10:42:13 AM IST

  NCP chief Sharad Pawar seen at Parliament complex

• 28 Jul 2023, 10:32:55 AM IST

  Notices moved by Opposition MPs to discuss Manipur issue

  Congress MP Manickam Tagore moved Adjournment Motion Notice in Lok Sabha demanding a discussion on the Manipur situation.

  RJP MP Manoj Kumar Jha moved Suspension of Business Notices in Rajya Sabha under Rule 267, requesting the Chairman to suspend all other business listed for the day, including the Zero Hour as well as Question Hour, for a discussion on the state of affairs in the violence-hit state.

• 28 Jul 2023, 10:00:07 AM IST

  Rajya Sabha MP gives adjournment of business notice to discuss Manipur issue

  Rajya Sabha MP lmran Pratapgarhi gave an adjournment motion under Rule 267 of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in the Council of States (Rajya Sabha) to discuss the situation in Manipur.

• 28 Jul 2023, 09:59:02 AM IST

  Raghav Chadha points out legislative business being carried out despite no-trust motion against govt

  “No bill is introduced in Parliament after a no-confidence motion is accepted by the Lok Sabha Speaker, but we are seeing that several bills are introduced and passed in Parliament. I appeal to the Speaker that no legislative business should take place in Lok Sabha now,” AAP MP said.

• 28 Jul 2023, 09:56:50 AM IST

  Jyotiraditya Scindia hits out at INDIA parties ‘who used to hate each other’

  Hitting out at the opposition's I.N.D.I.A. alliance, Union Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia said that parties "who used to hate each other" are now coming together "like a family."

  "Under the leadership of PM Modi, the country is touching new heights of development. The ideology of the Bharatiya Janata Party is based on Jan Seva (service of people), Jan Kalyan (upliftment of people), and Gareeb Kalyan (upliftment of the poor). Opposition is upset and that's why those parties who used to hate each other and couldn't face each other, are now coming together like a family," he said while speaking to reporters here on Thursday.

• 28 Jul 2023, 09:31:33 AM IST

  Ramdas Athawale's address with a filmy flair leaves Rajya Sabha in splits

  Amid uproar over the Manipur crisis during the ongoing monsoon session of the Parliament, the Rajya Sabha witnessed a light moment Thursday when Union minister Ramdas Athawale addressed the House in his unique style, with a touch of classic Bollywood. Read more

• 28 Jul 2023, 09:07:16 AM IST

  Opposition mustering strength to challenge Delhi ordinance

  Jharkhand’s first chief minister and Jharkhand Mukti Morcha MP in Rajya Sabha, Shibu Soren, who has not been keeping well these days, has arrived in Delhi with his caregivers. 

  At the INDIA allies’ meeting on Thursday, the Congress party informed allies that it is trying to bring to the House former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, 90, who is not regular in his attendance in the Upper House. Read more

• 28 Jul 2023, 08:56:08 AM IST

  It's beyond Harbhajan Singh's grip to understand logjam in Parliament. What the Rajya Sabha MP says

  As a newcomer, it is beyond my understanding and a matter of wonder that the Parliament has failed to hold deliberations over several issues so far amid constant unrest in both the Houses, cricketer-turned-politician Harbhajan Singh said amid the high-tension drama that ensued inside the Union legislature by both the ruling and Opposition parties on Thursday. Read more

• 28 Jul 2023, 08:51:36 AM IST

  ‘Discussion first, PM Modi statement after that’: BJP MP on Opposition's demand over Manipur issue

  “Congress does not want discussions in the Parliament. They only want to question PM Modi. They should have discussions first, only then PM will answer to their questions,” BJP MP Jagannath Sarkar said.

• 28 Jul 2023, 08:04:47 AM IST

  What was the extent of unrest in Rajya Sabha yesterday? It was ‘Modi, Modi' vs 'INDIA, INDIA'

  Rajya Sabha witnessed a ‘slogan war’ on Thursday, as opposition MPs shouted slogans against prime minister Narendra Modi seeking his statement on the Manipur issue, while members from the ruling party responded with chants in favour of the PM.

  The commotion took place even as external affairs minister S Jaishankar was addressing the House on issues related to foreign affairs. While opposition chanted ‘INDIA, INDIA’ and a range of slogans criticising the prime minister, the ruling side responded with ‘Modi, Modi.’ Read more

• 28 Jul 2023, 07:53:56 AM IST

  AAP MPs to stop overnight protests on Kharge's advice

  AAP MP Sanjay Singh and other party MPs, staging a round-the-clock protest in the Parliament House Complex against his suspension, will now hold the agitation only when parliamentary proceedings are on and not during the night.

  The decision was taken after Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Thursday urged the suspended Rajya Sabha MP not to sit in protest overnight and end it every day when Parliament's proceedings conclude.

  He told Singh that the sit-in should be started when the day's proceedings begin and end when both Houses are adjourned for the day.

  Singh readily agreed to Kharge's suggestion and said he would follow what the leader of the opposition bloc said.