Parliament highlights: Rajya Sabha passes bill to restore SC/ST Act

Both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha adjourned for the day

Rajya Sabha was adjourned for the day after uproar by Congress members in the Well of the House, while Congress members created uproarious scenes in the Lok Sabha demanding a probe into the Rafala fighter aircraft deal by a Joint Parliamentary Committee, forcing an adjournment of the proceedings.

Rajya Sabha passes bill to restore SC/ST Act

The Rajya Sabha on Thursday unanimously passed the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Amendment Bill, 2018, which seeks to overturn a Supreme Court order that struck down the provision for immediate arrest of the accused booked under the Act.

RS passes National Sports University bill & Homoeopathy Central Council (Amendment) Bill

Rajya Sabha passes National Sports University bill & Homoeopathy Central Council (Amendment) Bill, amid uproar by Congress members.

Bill to set up DNA banks to store profiles introduced in Lok Sabha

A bill that seeks to set up DNA data banks across India to store profiles and proposes jail term for those who leak the information stored in such facilities was introduced in the Lok Sabha today.

It also states that all DNA data, including DNA profiles, DNA samples and records, will only be used for identification of the person and not for any other purpose.

The bill, based on the one prepared by the Law Commission recently, says that national and regional DNA data banks will be set up for maintaining a national database for identification of suspects in cases, undertrials, victims, missing persons and unidentified human remains.

Cabinet approves amendment in Triple Talaq Bill

Cabinet approves amendment in Triple Talaq Bill. Although the offence continues to remain non-bailable but magistrate can give bail.

Cabinet meeting underway

Union Cabinet meeting underway at Parliament Annexe building.

Lok Sabha adjourned till 2 pm

Lok Sabha adjourned till 2 pm amid protests by Congress members seeking probe into Rafale aircraft deal.

Rajya Sabha adjourned till 2pm

Harivansh Narayan Singh assumes his role as deputy Chairperson at 12.59pm. As his first order of business, Harivansh adjourns house till 2pm.

Sometimes we win, sometimes we lose: Sonia

Sometimes we win and sometimes we lose: Sonia Gandhi on Rajya Sabha deputy chairman election

All you need to know about the new Rajya Sabha deputy chairmain

JD(U)’s Harivansh has worn many hats — editor, author, bank official, public servant.

Born to a modest family in socialist icon Jai Prakash Narayan’s Sitabdiyara village in Uttar Pradesh’s Ballia, Harivansh earned the reputation of an author-journalist who espoused the cause of social justice. Read his profile

Arun Jaitley congratulates Harivansh Narayan Singh

Leader of the Upper House Arun Jaitley congratulates Harivansh Narayan Singh on his election and says he is confident Singh will uphold the integrity of the post.

Harivansh is well read, has served society for years: Modi

“Working closely with Chandra Shekhar Ji, Harivansh Ji knew in advance that Chandra Shekhar Ji would resign. However, he did not let his own paper have access to this news. This shows his commitment to ethics and public service.

Harivansh Ji is well read and has written a lot. He has served society for years,” PM Modi says.

“I also want to congratulate BK Hariprasad Ji for being a part of the election,” he says.

Harivansh hails from the land of freedom fighters: Modi

PM Modi says, “Today we mark the anniversary of the Quit India Movement. Harivansh Ji hails from Ballia, a land linked with freedom fighters. He has been inspired by Loknayak JP. He also spent time in Varanasi. Here is a leader who worked with a statesman like Chandra Shekhar Ji.”

PM Modi congratulates Harivansh Narayan Singh

PM Modi congratulates Harivansh Narayan Singh on being elected the deputy chairperson of the Rajya Sabha. He also expresses happiness over the Arun Jaitley’s presence in the House.

RS members felicitate newly elected deputy chair Harivansh

Ghulam Nabi Azad congratulates Harivansh Narayan Singh on his election win. “I hope his experience journalism benefits the house,” he says.

Harivansh Narayan Singh elected deputy chairman

On the first motion to elect Harivansh Narayan Singh, 125 member vote yes while 105 vote no. The motion is carried. Venkaiah Naidu announces Harivansh Narayan Singh elected as deputy chairman.

Motion for NDA nominee Harivansh is put to vote

Rajya Sabha votes on motion for NDA nominee Harivansh for deputy chairperson. Lobbies being cleared in Rajya Sabha, division of votes for Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman elections to begin shortly.

Lok Sabha adjourned amid uproar by TRS

Lok Sabha adjourned for five minutes amid uproar by TRS members seeking defence land for Telangana.

Congress biggest obstacle in Opposition unity: AAP

Looking at Congress’s attitude we have decided to abstain from voting for Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman, Congress is the biggest obstacle in Opposition’s unity: AAP MP Sanjay Singh

Motions for election of RS deputy chair moved

Motions for election of the Rajya Sabha deputy chairman put forward by members of the House. The NDA nominee is Harivansh Narayan Singh while the Opposition candidate is BK Hariprasad. There are four motions for Harivansh and five for Hariprasad.

Arun Jaitley, other BJP MPs in Rajya Sabha ahead of voting

Arun Jaitley and other BJP MPs in Rajya Sabha ahead of voting for Deputy Chairman elections pic.twitter.com/Em7ljg55Py

— ANI (@ANI) August 9, 2018

BJD says it will support JD(U) in the RS poll

Biju Janta Dal supporting JDU since JDU and BJD have similar ideological origins-emerging from Jay Prakash Narayan movement. Congress candidate was AICC in charge of Odisha till recently and was vitriolic in his statements against BJD and State: BJD statement on Rajya Sabha deputy chairman polls.

Rajya Sabha session begins

Rajya Sabha chairperson Venkaiah Naidu read out tribute to those who participated in the Quit India Movement. The house observes a moment of silence.

TDP MP dresses up as Hitler

TDP MP Naramalli Sivaprasad is dressed up as Adolf Hitler during protest in Parliament demanding special status for Andhra Pradesh. He had earlier also dressed up as a school boy, Narad muni and others.

Confident of win, says NDA nominee Harivansh

“We are confident of our win and election result is a foregone conclusion,” says Harivansh Narayan Singh, NDA’s candidate for the post of Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman.

YSR Congress to abstain from voting

“We have decided to abstain from voting for Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman elections. Both Congress and BJP have not fulfilled the promises made to Andhra Pradesh,” says V Vijayasai Reddy,YSR Congress MP.

BJP issues whip to its Rajya Sabha MPs

BJP has issued a three line whip to its Rajya Sabha MPs to be present in the house today.

Confident of our numbers, says Opposition nominee Hariprasad

“We are very confident that we have the required numbers, opposition is united,” says BK Hariprasad,Opposition Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman candidate.

NDA’s Harivansh a journalist who took up social cause

Janata Dal (United) leader Harivansh made his debut as Rajya Sabha MP in April 2014. But he wasn’t new to Delhi’s corridors of power.

A former editor of Hindi daily Prabhat Khabar, Harivansh served as the additional information advisor to socialist veteran Chandra Shekhar, who was India’s Prime Minister between November 1990 and June 1991. Read more

Opposition nominee Hariprasad an old Congress warhorse

BK Hariprasad is a former Congress general secretary. The 64-year-old from Bengaluru has risen through the ranks to become a senior leader of the party which he joined in 1972.

Belonging to the backward Idiga community, Hariprasad was general secretary of the Congress for 12 years from 2006 and was removed from the post by Congress president Rahul Gandhi in March.

A three-time Rajya Sabha MP, Hariprasad represents Karnataka, and was first elected to the Rajya Sabha in 1990, then in 2004 and again in 2014. Read more

AAP to ‘boycott’ election as Rahul didn’t ask for support

AAP has decided to “boycott” the election to the post of Rajya Sabha deputy chairman on Thursday as Congress president Rahul Gandhi did not ‘seek’ support for the Opposition’s candidate, according to party lawmaker Sanjay Singh.

Singh said Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal rejected Nitish Kumar’s request to support the NDA nominee, Harivansh Narayan Singh, in the election as he has the backing of the BJP.

He said that since Congress president Rahul Gandhi has not sought AAP’s support for the opposition’s candidate, the Kejriwal-led party “has no option but to boycott the poll”.

BJD likely support NDA candidate

The BJD is likely support to NDA candidate Harivansh, the third sign in recent weeks of a new warmth in the otherwise frosty, even hostile, relationship between Odisha chief minister Naveen Patnaik’s party and the BJP. PM Modi spoke to Patnaik over phone to seek his support for the deputy chairman’s election, according to people familiar with the matter. Read full story here

BJP confident, Congress in hectic parleys

NDA, despite lacking the numbers in the Upper House, seems pretty confident of pulling off a surprise.

The Congress on the other hand seems to be having a tough time getting other Opposition parties to rally behind its candidate and is involved in hectic last-minute parleys with regional parties in securing an ‘anti-BJP front’ inside the House. Read full story here