Parliament Highlights: Country, not govt loses most due to House disruptions, says Modi

Democracy our biggest strength: Najma Heptulla

Our democracy is our biggest strength. It has been 70 years since independence, and we have showed the world that there is unity in diversity: Manipur governor Najma Heptulla, after being conferred Outstanding Parliamentarians Award for the year 2013, at Central Hall, Parliament House.

Govt has the least to lose due to Parliament disruptions: Modi

The government has the least to lose due to disruptions in Parliament and it is the country which loses the most: Prime Minister Narendra Modi, while addressing an event at the central hall of Parliament to confer the best parliamentarian awards for the years 2014 to 2017.

Outstanding Parliamentarians Award to Ghulam Nabi Azad

President Ram Nath Kovind presents Outstanding Parliamentarians Award for the year 2015 to Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad, at Central Hall, Parliament House.

Delhi: President Ram Nath Kovind presents Outstanding Parliamentarians Award for the year 2015 to Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad, at Central Hall, Parliament House. pic.twitter.com/kIBUcw1bGo

— ANI (@ANI) August 1, 2018

Kovind presents Outstanding Parliamentarians Award

President Ram Nath Kovind presents Outstanding Parliamentarians Award for the year 2013 to Najma Heptulla, at Central Hall, Parliament House.

Delhi: President Ram Nath Kovind presents Outstanding Parliamentarians Award for the year 2013 to Dr Najma Heptulla, at Central Hall, Parliament House. pic.twitter.com/feS46sKOMc

— ANI (@ANI) August 1, 2018

Never spoke about civil war: Mamata

I am not BJP’s servant to reply to any of their statements. I didn’t say this (civil war remark), my concern is regarding the 40 lakh people whose names are not in the list (NRC). BJP is politically tensed because they know they won’t come to power in 2019: Mamata Banerjee

Discussed about united opposition with Sonia: Mamata

We discussed current politics and the possibility of all of us contesting elections together in future. We also discussed the NRC issue: Mamata Banerjee after meeting Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi

Rahul present at Mamata-Sonia meet

UPA Chairperson Smt. Sonia Gandhi and Congress President @RahulGandhi met CM of West Bengal, @MamataOfficial. pic.twitter.com/wShHXX4rvQ

— Congress (@INCIndia) August 1, 2018

Mamata at Sonia Gandhi’s residence

Mamata Banerjee arrives at Sonia Gandhi’s residence, reports ANI.

Delhi: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee arrives at Sonia Gandhi's residence. pic.twitter.com/8w907q1pPx

— ANI (@ANI) August 1, 2018

Modi to inaugurate 650 IPPB branches

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will soon inaugurate India Post Payments Bank (IPPB) operations with 650 branches across the country, communications minister Manoj Sinha said. IPPB will have 1.55 lakh access points, of which 1.30 lakh will be in rural areas, and will work like a bank, he said in the Lok Sabha.

Amit Shah, Rajnath Singh not allowed to speak: Javadekar

Today Amit Shah and Rajnath Singh were not allowed to speak in Rajya Sabha. This was a planned strategy by the opposition. Congress and TMC don’t want to let the House run: Union minister Prakash Javadekar.

Changing norms for private participation in railways: Goyal

The government is changing the norms for private sector participation in the modernisation of railway stations, railways minister Piyush Goyal says in Lok Sabha.

Mamata meets Deve Gowda

Mamata Banerjee meets former Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda at Karnataka Bhawan in New Delhi, reports ANI.

Delhi: West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee meets former Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda at Karnataka Bhawan pic.twitter.com/d9gUEnz0Zr

— ANI (@ANI) August 1, 2018

No border dispute with Myanmar: Rijiju

The government said there is no border dispute between India and Myanmar and the demarcation of nine pillars is being worked out in a complete understanding with the neighbouring country. Rejecting reports about border dispute and destroying of pillars in the Manipur region as false, minister of state for Home Kiren Rijiju said in Rajya Sabha that a high-level central team has already visited the spot and reported that there is no dispute on the issue.

NRC restricted only to Assam: Ram Madhav

BJP national general secretary Ram Madhav says NRC is restricted only to Assam.

Mamata dismisses talks of her being PM candidate

West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee seeks to dismiss talk of her being a Prime Ministerial candidate, saying her priority was the ousting of the BJP government at the Centre for which the opposition should come together.

“I am nobody. I am a very simple worker. Let me just continue as a commoner. I want that this government must go, this BJP government. They are doing maximum political vendetta and atrocities with the people. So we want that everybody should be united. Let us work together, don’t think of Prime Ministerial candidate. Think of the country,” she told the media in Parliament House.

Military faces shortage of over 9,000 officers: Minister

The three armed forces face a shortage of over 9,096 officers, with the Army topping the list, the Lok Sabha was informed today. In a written response to a question in the Lower House, minister of state for defence Subhash Bhamre said as on January 1, 2018, the authorised strength of officers in Army was 49,933, but it has 42,635 officers, which is 7,298 short of the sanctioned strength.

Only pro-Dalit party can form govt in 2019: BJP MP

BJP MP and Dalit leader Savitri Bai Phule demanded a debate in Parliament to strengthen the SC/ST Act which, she said, has been made “ineffectual” by the Supreme Court judgement and asserted that only a pro-Dalit party will form the next government at the Centre.

NRC will destroy Indo-Bangla friendship: Mamata

Mamata Banerjee accuses BJP of playing vote-bank politics, warns NRC issue will “destroy” India’s relationship with Bangladesh.

24,000 second appeals pending with CIC: Govt

Nearly 24,000 second appeals and complaints are pending with transparency watchdog Central Information Commission (CIC), the government said today. “The CIC has informed that 23,978 second appeals/complaints are pending as on July 26, 2018,” minister of state for personnel Jitendra Singh said in a written reply to the Lok Sabha.

Bill in Lok Sabha to bring down commercial dispute value

The Lok Sabha on Wednesday took up for discussion a Bill that seeks to bring down the specified value of commercial disputes from the existing Rs 1 crore each to Rs 3 lakh for improving India’s standing in the ease of doing business.

Mamata Banerjee meets Jaya Bachchan, Shiv Sena’s Sanjay Raut

West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee meets Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut and Samajwadi Party MP Jaya Bachchan in Parliament.

Delhi: West Bengal Chief Minister and TMC Chief Mamata Banerjee met Samajwadi Party MP Jaya Bachchan inside Parliament. pic.twitter.com/eO4yMVxGEC

— ANI (@ANI) August 1, 2018

Rajya Sabha adjourned following uproar by TMC members

Rajya Sabha is adjourned for the day as Trinamool Congress and other opposition members raise slogans in the Well of the House. Home minister Rajnath Singh attempts to reply to the debate but he cannot be heard as some MPs protest loudly.

Seems like conspiracy in not letting House function: Naidu

It seems a conspiracy... not letting the House function by creating controversy... You are doing something which is not acceptable in parliamentary system: Venkaiah Naidu.

TMC protests in the Well, demands PM Modi to speak

Trinamool Congress members protest in the Well of the House and demand PM Modi to speak on the Assam NRC draft list. Members are not allowing Amit Shah to speak. Chairman says the move is “unbecoming of Parliament members”.

Rajya Sabha resumes

Rajya Sabha proceedings resume.

Lok Sabha adjourned till 2:05 pm

Lok Sabha is adjourned, to meet at 2:05 pm.

RS adjourned to meet at 2 pm

Rajya Sabha chairman Venkaiah Naidu says statement on the Assam NRC draft will be heard after the House reassembles at 2 pm. Naidu informs a total of 12 questions were taken up during Question Hour.

Cong MP alleges Bengalis beaten up along Assam-Meghlaya border

Congress MP from Assam’s Silchar, Sushmita Dev, enters the Well and alleges that some Bengalis were beaten up along the Assam- Meghalaya border after the draft National Register of Citizens (NRC) was published and sought their safety.

“Bengalis are being beaten up along the Assam-Meghlaya border. We want security to 40 lakh people who were excluded from the NRC. What is the government doing? People are scared. Who will give them security,” she asks.

Is Mamata aware there are illegal immigrants in WB, asks Roopa Ganguly

Is she aware that there are a lot of illegal immigrants in West Bengal? As it is what is happening in West Bengal today, is it any less than bloodbath or civil war? Doesn't she know that every other day BJP karyakartas are being killed: Rupa Ganguly, BJP on WB CM #NRCAssam pic.twitter.com/adF4PAHwio

— ANI (@ANI) August 1, 2018

Mamata meets LK Advani, Congress leaders in Parliament

West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee meets veteran BJP leader L K Advani.

Suspended BJP MP Kirti Azad also came to meet her at the TMC office in Parliament, followed by Congress leaders Ghulam Nabi Azad and Ahmed Patel, and Samajwadi Party leader Ram Gopal Yadav.

#WATCH: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee meets senior BJP leader Lal Krishna Advani in Parliament. #Delhi pic.twitter.com/5YbkKDUXj3

— ANI (@ANI) August 1, 2018

Mamata Banerjee outside Parliament building

HT Photo/Vipin Kumar

The Centre and the industry favour inclusion of petroleum products in the Goods and Services Tax (GST) but the GST Council will take a final call on it, oil minister Dharmendra Pradhan says in Rajya Sabha.

Question Hour starts in Rajya Sabha

Rajya Sabha reassembles after uproar in the House over the Assam NRC draft. Opposition calls for Home minister Rajnath Singh to address the House, chairman proceeds with Question Hour.

Companies cannot use data to influence elections: Ravi Shankar Prasad

IT minister Ravi Shankar Prasad, replying to question on action taken against companies for data breach, says companies cannot use data to influence elections in India. He says govt supports freedom of social media, but tough action will be taken against elements that are related to terrorism. The minister says all social media platforms should comply with Indian laws and no fake news can be circulated in India.

Sushma Swaraj says no specific issues discussed in Wuhan

In Lok Sabha, TMC member Sugata Bose asks if Doklam issue was raised during PM Modi’s informal summit in China.

External affairs minister Sushma Swaraj says the Wuhan summit was to increase mutual trust and cooperation and no specific topic was discussed. “Doklam issue has been resolved through diplomatic maturity,” she adds.

PM Modi present in Lok Sabha

Prime Minister Narendra Modi present in Lok Sabha today.

Rajya Sabha adjourned

Rajya Sabha adjourned till 12 pm as uproar breaks out after RS chairman Venkaiah Naidu asks Amit Shah to conclude his statement from yesterday. Shah says Congress can raise more Point of Orders after he finishes speaking before House is adjourned.

Rajya Sabha chairman appeals for smooth functioning of House

Rajya Sabha chairman Venkaiah Naidu appeals for smooth functioning of House citing instance of yesterday’s adjournment.

I was very upset yesterday when some members ran menacingly towards the well of the house, I hope it will not be repeated. I don't want to name anybody, house should function smoothly: Rajya Sabha Chairman Venkaiah Naidu #NRCAssam pic.twitter.com/DCV8bBgSmq

— ANI (@ANI) August 1, 2018

Congress wants Amit Shah’s Tuesday’s speech on NRC expunged

Without naming anyone, Congress member Anand Sharma raises a point of order and insists on removal of certain comments made by Amit Shah yesterday in the Upper House.

Sharma says Shah, during his speech on the NRC debate, had termed all prime ministers in office after late Rajiv Gandhi as “buzdil’ (cowards).

Parliament proceedings begin

Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha proceedings begin

TDP MPs continue protest demanding special status for AP

TDP MPs continue their protest in Parliament demanding special status for Andhra Pradesh. #MonsoonSession pic.twitter.com/WICTaeNw1Q

— ANI (@ANI) August 1, 2018

Congress MP gives zero hour notice in LS over NRC draft

Congress MP Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury has given zero hour notice in Lok Sabha over NRC Assam draft, reports ANI.