Parliament highlights: Opposition MPs write to RS chairman on ‘passage of bills without scrutiny’

The Monsoon session of the Parliament has been extended by two weeks so that pending government legislations can be passed. The session will now go on till August 7.The Lok Sabha had on Thursday passed the bill to criminalize instant triple talaq while the Rajya Sabha passed Right to Information (Amendment) Bill, 2019. Now, the Rajya Sabha needs to clear the triple talaq bill for it to become a law. :

3:06pm IST

‘Passage of bills in hurry fundamental departure from established practice’

“Passage of bills in hurry is fundamental departure from established practice, healthy traditions of law-making”, write MPs of Congress, TMC, BSP and other opposition parties.

2:44pm IST

Oppn leaders write to RS chairman on ‘passage of bills without scrutiny’

Leaders belonging to 17 opposition parties have written to Rajya Sabha chairman expressing serious concerns over passage of bills in Parliament without any scrutiny.

2:38pm IST

No proposal to hike rail fare: Piyush Goyal

There is no proposal to hike rail fare even as price of diesel has gone up as a result of increase in excise duty and cess, Railway Minister Piyush Goyal said in the Rajya Sabha on Friday.

“At present, there is no proposal to change fares because of diesel price increase,” IANS reported quoting the minister.

1:02pm IST

‘Wil call meeting of MPs’: LS Speaker

After hearing MPs, Speaker Om Birla said he will call a meeting of lawmakers to discuss the issue. He, then, adjourned the House till 2pm for lunch.

1:00pm IST

MPs urge speaker to take action against Azam Khan

MPs, cutting across party lines, urge the Lok Speaker Om Birla to take action against Samajwadi Party member Azam Khan for his remark on BJP lawmaker Rama Devi.

12:49pm IST

Look towards you to take exemplary action: Finance min to LS Speaker

Finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman says, “The remark (Azam Khan’s) is utterly condemnable. I thank every member who supported a woman. (But) To politicise an issue related to women is outrageous, we have to stand together. Let us stand together and speak in one voice which is what I thought was happening here. But why the hesitation, why the dilemma?”

As opposition members protested, the minister said, “There should not be any conditions attached, no riders. We are looking towards you to an exemplary action from you (LS Speaker), so that never ever would a woman be treated in such a way.”

12:41pm IST

Sonia ji was called ‘Italy ki kathputli’ in Parliament: Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury

Leader of Congress in Lok Sabha, Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury on Azam Khan’s remarks about BJP MP Rama Devi: “Congress party is against disrespect of women. There have been incidents when Sonia Gandhi Ji was called ‘Italy ki katputli’ etc. in the Parliament.”

12:39pm IST

Azam Khan should apologise or be suspended: Ravi Shankar Prasad

Speaking on the issue, Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad in Lok Sabha, said: “Azam Khan should apologize or else he should be suspended from Lok Sabha, this is our demand.”

12:38pm IST

MPs in Lok Sabha condemn Azam Khan’s remark

MPs in Lok Sabha demanded apology from Azam Khan for his objectionable remarks against Bihar MP Rama Devi.

Several Members of Parliament, including women MPs- DMK’s Kanimozi, Congress’ Renuka Chowdhury and Anupriya Patel of Apna Dal - also condemned Azam Khan’s remarks.

TMC MP, Mimi Chakraborty said, “Nobody can stand in the Parliament and tell a woman “look into my eyes and talk.” Speaker sir, all women here are expecting something big from you on this.”

12:28pm IST

‘Blot on all legislators including men: Smriti Irani on Azam Khan’s remark

Speaking on the issue of Samajwadi Party MP Azam Khan’s remark BJP lawmaker Rama Devi, Union minister and BJP MP Smriti Irani in Lok Sabha said, “Let us not reduce this to a problem of just women. This is a blot on all legislators including men. This is not a House where men come in and ‘Kisi aurat ki aankhon mein jhanka jaye’.

She added: “The entire nation watched yesterday what happened. This House passed the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace Bill. I appeal to all to speak in one voice- You cannot misbehave with a woman and get away with it by just dramatising it. We cannot remain silent spectators. We have to speak in one voice that this is unacceptable,”

12:19pm IST

PMK’s Ramadoss takes oath as RS member

PMK leader Anbumani Ramadoss took oath as a member of Rajya Sabha on Friday. Ramadoss, MDMK founder Vaiko and two candidates each from the AIADMK and the DMK were elected unopposed to the Upper House from Tamil Nadu earlier this month.

Ramadoss took oath in Tamil and was greeted by RS members by thumping of desks.

12:15pm IST

Numbers in assembly not a problem: BJP MP on Karnataka issue

BJP MP from Karnataka, Shobha Karandlaje, speaking outside Parliament House, said: “Today BS Yeddyurappa ji has staked claim to form government, party high command has supported him. Numbers in assembly are not a problem, also the rebel MLAs are firm on their stand and if they want to join BJP, we will welcome them.”

12:08pm IST

BSNL, MTNL reeling under Wi-Fi burden of MPs: Ravi Shankar Prasad

State-owned telecom companies -MTNL and BSNL - are incurring losses in providing high-speed Wi-Fi connections to members of Parliament, Union Minister for Communications and Electronics and Information Technology Ravi Shankar Prasad said in the parliament on Friday, reports IANS.

As per data available with the telecom ministry till May 2019, Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Limited (MTNL) and Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) have provided an aggregate of 757 Internet connections to members of Parliament.

All connections are high-speed Wi-Fi Fibre to the Home (FTTH) connections. The MTNL alone has provided 728 of these connections.

According to the MTNL, on each Wi-Fi connection (ranging from three to six numbers) provided to MPs during 2015-16, it incurred an average cost of Rs 1.7 lakh, including annual maintenance charges for four years after three years warranty. But the charges levied upon individual MPs for each Wi-Fi connection was Rs 1,500 per month, excluding GST.

The BSNL said each FTTH connection to MPs cost the company Rs 25,000, but it could charge them only Rs 2,200 per month, exclusive of GST for the services.

12:02pm IST

LS to take up Companies Amendment Bill for consideration and passing

The bills in Lok Sabha for consideration and passing are: The Companies (Amendment) Bill, 2019, The National Medical Commission Bill, 2019 , The DNA Technology (Use and Application) Regulation Bill, 2019 and Private Members’ Bills.

11:00 am IST

PM Modi plants sapling in Parliament

Prime Minister Narendra Modi planted a sapling in Parliament as part of a tree plantation campaign by Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla.

10:48 am IST

Cong MPs give adjournment notice in LS over ‘threats to Adoor Gopalakrisnan

Congress MPs Benny Behanan and Anto Antony have given an adjournment motion notice in Lok Sabha over ‘threats and intimidation of Padma award winning film director Adoor Gopalakrishnan by a Kerala BJP office bearer’, reports ANI.

10:22 am IST

Jaya Bachchan gives notice over plight of entertainment industry

Samajwadi Party MP, Jaya Bachchan has given Zero Hour notice in Rajya Sabha over ‘plight of the entertainment industry in India.’ (file pic)

10:21am IST

SP MP gives Zero Hour notice

Samajwadi Party MP, Ravi Prakash Verma has given Zero Hour notice in Rajya Sabha over ‘need for legislation to prevent mob violence’