Winter Session 2023 Highlights: Both houses adjourned for the day

Rajasthan MP Kirodi Lal Meena resigned from the Rajya Sabha. He submitted his letter to the RS Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar.

"Amit Shah has rightly said, we lost PoK because of Jawaharlal Nehru. He called (the forces) back and took the Kashmir issue to the UN," Union minister Giriraj Singh said in support of Union Home Minister Amit Shah's 'two blunders by PM Nehru' remark in the Lok Sabha.

At least 4,127 Border Security Force (BSF) personnel followed by 2,572 Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel have opted for voluntary retirement from service in the year 2023 to date, the Parliament was told on Wednesday.

Union Minister of State (Home Affairs) Nityanand Rai informed the Rajya Sabha that the number of voluntary retirement cases in Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) and Assam Rifle (AR) varies from year to year and no trend in this regard has been observed.

The Central Universities (Amendment) Bill, 2023 taken up in Lok Sabha for consideration and passing in Lok Sabha.

The Jammu and Kashmir Reservation (Amendment) Bill, 2023 and the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation (Amendment) Bill, 2023, passed in Lok Sabha.

Union home minister Amit Shah on Wednesday said the two bills linked to Jammu and Kashmir that were tabled by the Union government in the parliament are aimed at providing justice to those deprived of their rights. Responding to the debate on the Jammu and Kashmir Reservation (Amendment) Bill and the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation (Amendment) Bill, Shah attacked the Congress without naming the party saying the exodus of Kashmiri Pandits could have been averted had terrorism been tackled without consideration for vote-bank politics. Read more

“Those who say what happened after the removal of Article 370?... On August 5-6, 2019, their (Kashmiri) voices, which were not heard for years, were heard by PM Modi and today they are getting their rights,” Union home minister Amit Shah said.

Responding to Opposition's questions on the prevailing cases of terrorism in Kashmir, Union minister Amit Shah said there has been at least a 70% reduction in the deaths of civilians and a 62% reduction in deaths of security force personnel under Modi government. While the Opposition leaders argued that BJP claimed terrorism would end in the region after the revocation of Article 370, Shah said, “No one said revoking Article 370 would end terrorism.” “I said it would end secessionism.”

“One of 2 bills on Jammu and Kashmir seeks to nominate two Kashmiri Migrant community members, including a woman, to assembly. One seat in Jammu and Kashmir assembly will be reserved for people displaced from Pakistan-occupied Kashmir…Congress has done greatest harm to Other Backward Classes,” Union minister Amit Shah said on the J&K Reservation (Amendment), 2023.

"When they (Kashkimi Pandits) were displaced, they were forced lived as refugees in their country. Around 46,631 families were displaced in their own country. This Bill is to get them rights, this Bill is to give them representation," Amit Shah said.

"There was an era of terrorism (in Jammu and Kashmir) after the 1980s and it was a horrifying scene. Those who lived on the land considering it their country, were thrown out and no one cared about them, neither did they try to stop it. In fact, those were responsible for stopping it, they were enjoying vacations in England," says Union home minister Amit Shah while speaking on the Jammu and Kashmir Reservation (Amendment) Bill, 2023 and the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation (Amendment) Bill, 2023, in the Lok Sabha.

Union home minister Amit Shah said he is glad that no one opposed the the Jammu and Kashmir Reservation (Amendment) Bill, 2023 and the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation (Amendment) Bill, 2023, while deliberating upon them. He defended the Bills and responded to questions raised by the Opposition.

“The Bill that I have brought here pertains to bringing justice to and providing rights to those against whom injustice was done, who were insulted and those who were ignored. In any society, those who are deprived should be brought forward. That is the basic sense of the Constitution of India. But they have to be brought forward in a way that doesn't reduce their respect. There is a huge difference between giving rights and giving rights respectfully. So, instead of weak and deprived category renaming it to Other Backward Class is important,” he said.

Following attacks on former PM Jawaharlal Nehru and the Congress over the delay in declaring statehood to Jammu and Kashmir, LoP in Lok Sabha Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury demanded a day-long demand to conduct a debate on the contribution of Nehru on matters ranging from Article 370 and country's development. Union home minister Amit Shah sitting across Chowdhury raised and accepted the demand.

A total of 13 police stations in National Capital running in rented premises, MoS Home Nityanand Rai told Rajya Sabha.

“Delhi Police carries out the responsibility of maintaining the Law and Order in the National Capital. In order to enable Delhi Police to carry out its responsibility effectively, the Government provides adequate funds every year as per the requirements projected. Delhi Police has informed that out of the total 225 Police Stations, only 13 Police Stations are running in rented premises. Setting up of a Police Station as per requirement and infrastructure development thereof is a continuous and ongoing process,” he said.

Both the ruling BJP and Opposition are placing their arguments as the discussion on the Jammu and Kashmir Reservation (Amendment) Bill, 2023 and the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation (Amendment) Bill, 2023, is currently being conducted in the Lok Sabha. Union home minister Amit Shah is likely to respond on the matter related to both the Bills today.

Remarks made by Senthilkumar not correct; Stalin has warned him: DMK's TR Baalu in Lok Sabha on comments against Hindi heartland states

DMK MP DNV Senthilkumar S on Wednesday expressed regret over the controversial remark made in Parliament yesterday while targetting the Bharatiya Janata Party and said he was withdrawing his statement.

"The statement made by me yesterday inadvertently, if it had hurt the sentiments of the Members and sections of the people, I would like to withdraw it. I request the words to be expunged...I regret it," he said in the Lok Sabha. Read more

DMK MP TR Baalu in Lok Sabha calls upon the Centre to send to team to Tamil Nadu to assess flood damage due to the cyclone and consider declaring it a national calamity

Telangana CM-designate Revanth Reddy arrives at the Parliament. The Congress MP from Malkajgiri is expected to tender his resignation as a Member of the Parliament, ahead of his swearing-in ceremony in Hyderabad tomorrow.

As the Deputy Speaker announced the beginning of Zero Hour in the Lok Sabha, parliamentarians from both sides of the benches started protesting leading to a ruckus in the House.

Lok Sabha adjourned till 12 amid ruckus

Union minister Piyush Goyal was interrupted by LoP in Lok Sabha Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury while he was speaking on the success of government schemes. To this, Goyal rebutted saying “Adhir ji, when you speak we don't understand the subject and also what you say.”

From the pendency of cases in consumer courts to issues of under-trial accused, MPs are raising matters of national importance during the ongoing Question Hour in both Houses.

"We will organise a floor meeting (of opposition) leader here (at Parliament) today. We will discuss about the INDIA alliance during that meeting," Congress MP Mallikarjun Kharge said.

Lok Sabha proceedings begin amid BJP MPs demand apology over DMK MP's remark