Parliament highlights: Database has to be used, India cannot function like it is the 18th century, says Amit Shah

As the final week of the Budget Session gets under way, the Criminal Procedure (Identification) Bill, 2022, was discussed in the Lower House. Home Minister Amit Shah responded to Opposition's critiques, saying that the bill only aimed to strengthen India's internal security and not with any other intention. Rajya Sabha was adjourned for the day after continued opposition ruckus over not being heard.

Lok Sabha adjourned for the day.

The Opposition is talking about UAPA. UAPA Amendment was brought in by Mr Chidambaram, we supported it. How has UAPA been misused? POTA was a law, it was abrogated for appeasement, I stand by this statement: Amit Shah in LS

The whole world is making use of database. Why are you scared of it? How long will we live in the British era? We have to use it to solve problems of today: Amit Shah

For all those who are worried about privacy and human rights, there has been no leakage so far. There has been no complaint of misuse of this law in any of India's courts. Why are we doubting everything?: Amit Shah in LS

This government is ready for discussion as long as it is based on reality and facts, not to please a particular votebank: Amit Shah

Now the opposition will say that the Bill is being brought to trouble one minority. The word 'minority' has not even been mentioned in this bill. I would implore the Opposition to read my Bill before citicising it: Amit Shah in LS

Crime and criminals now use technology and have been on the rise. Now, not giving police a way to fight that is like tying up someone's hands and legs and putting them in a swimming pool to get a gold medal: Amit Shah

The Opposition asked what the need for this Bill is. NCRB data from 2020 shows that only 44 per cent murder cases were brought to justice. Dacoity only 29 per cent, attempt to murder was also low. If you study worldwide data, England is 83.6 per cent, Canada is 68 per cent, SA is 82 per cent. All these countries are champions of human rights, and they have much tougher laws in place: Amit Shah in LS defending the Criminal Procedure (Identification) Bill, 2022

The Opposition is saying that there shouldn't be hurry in passing the Bill. I am of the opinion that it is 102 years late. The bill has been brought to drive up convictions. The bill wants to send a tough message to law breakers: Amit Shah

The government wants to ensure that the Bill is not being brought for misuse. There is no possibility of misuse of data. It has been brought in line with the change in times. The Opposition is worried about human rights of thieves, rapists: Amit Shah in Lok Sabha defending the Criminal Procedure (Identification) Bill, 2022

This Bill is fraught with the dangers of serious infringements on civil liberties. We can't have chalk and cheese. I want to advise to the government that there have been cases against all of us, including PM Modi, Amit Shah and myself. Before telling others to provide their biometric, let us give ours first. This is just citizenry profiling, nothing else: Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury in LS

The CAA, the UAPA and removing Article 370 show PM Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah's commitment to India's development: Nishikant Dubey in Lok Sabha

Syed Imtiaz Jaleel of the AIMIM opposed the Criminal Procedure (Identification) Bill, saying that the government has refused to put any safeguards to ensure the Bill is not used misused. He also stressed the empowerment of the NCRB to take personal information under the Bill, pointing out that it is not even a statutory body. He also said the Bill violates citizens' right to privacy.

This bill will brutalise and silence any opposition. The Home Ministry says trust us and we would like to trust you but look at UAPA and its misuse. The number of arrests has risen sharply under the UAPA: Mahua Moitra

This Bill will make the 'thaanedar' even more dangerous. This bill is allowing police to collect measurements of persons regardless of refusal. Indians like us in the opposition can be arrested even before the commission of any act of criminality. You may think we will do something and you will arrest me. I will be grouped with those who have committed serious offences: Mahua Moitra on LS

The average life expectancy of Indians is about 69.6years, you are permitting the retention of records for 75 years. This violates the best practices of data protection: Mahua Moitra in Lok Sabha

When I opposed the UAPA Bill, saying that it may be misused against our own people. Now the same thing has come back in the form of this law. This law is being proposed in the absence of an overreaching data protection law that India desperately needs today: Mahua Moitra in Lok Sabha

This government claims to be more nationalistic than all of its predecessors but it is bringing in a law that is more intrusive, takes more data than the original law and has fewer checks and balances: Mahua Moitra in Lok Sabha

TMC MP Mahua Moitra is addressing the Criminal Procedure (Identification) Bill, 2022.

New legal structure needed to counter cyber criminals: Vaishnaw

Union Minister of Information and Technology Ashwini Vaishnaw on Monday called for a new "dynamic" legal structure which balances the right to privacy and freedom of expression and demands for regulations and control to meet challenges from unscrupulous elements in the cyber space.

Addressing the second national conference on cyber crime investigations and digital forensics organised by the CBI, the minister said over the years technology has given a lot of productivity, efficiency and convenience but simultaneously it has brought intrusions in the lives of people which can be benign but most of the time it is malignant and aimed to commit a fraudulent act.

What is the amendment in the new Criminal Precedure (Identification) Bill?

The Bill, which has attracted widespread criticism, has widened the scope of police in collecting measurements from convicts and arrested persons.

While earlier only fingerprints, foot-print impressions and photographs were only allowed, the new Bill allows police to take palm`1-print impressions, iris and retina scan, physical, biological samples and their analysis, behavioural attributes including signatures, handwriting among others. It also allows police to collect such data from a wider category of people.

Manish Tewari says the amendment bill on criminal procedure is against human rights and goes against the "innocent until proven guilty" right of the Constitution

He says the Bill as it stands is nebulous and leaves many questions unanswered.

A funny exchange between Sougata Roy and Amit Shah in the Lower House

Amit Shah talks about the Criminal Procedure (Identification) Bill.
Sougata Roy (Interrupts): But we have not seen the contents of the Bill
Amit Shah: You won't because you're not part of the government.

Laughter erupts

Shah continues: No, Dada, the government is still working on it, you will see when ready.
Sougata Roy says he is being scolded by the government
Shah: It's my manufacturing defect, i am not scolding. I don't get angry, Dada.

House breaks into laughter.

Shah: My voice is loud so I sound like that. I only get agry if people speak about Kashmir

Amit Shah brings the Criminal Procedure (Identification) Bill 2022 for discussion and passing.

Shah tries to assure the House that all their considerations and worries will be looked into.

Modi hai toh mehengai hai: Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury slams government on fuel price rise

Rajya Sabha adjourned for the day: Derek gets flak from labour minister for not allowing Deve Gowda to speak

Deve Gowda stands up to speak but voice is drowned amid Opposition sloganeering.

Lok Sabha resumes proceedings: Matters under 377 being heard

Rajya Sabha: Chair asks Minister of Labour and Employment to reply; Opposition creates ruckus. Derek O'Brien raises Rule 138 to table motion on Bill of Women's Reservation

A stormy rest of the session expected as opposition demands to be heard on fuel hikes

Assam BJP & its ally party UPPL candidates Pabitra Gogoi Margherita & Rwngwra Narzary took oath as members of the Rajya Sabha today

Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla during an photograpy exhibition on India's freedom struggle from 1757 to 1947, organised by Ministry of Education at Parliament Library building Credit: PTI Photo

BJP leader S Phangnon Konyak takes oath as Rajya Sabha MP during the second part of Budget Session of Parliament, in New Delhi

Credit: PTI Photo/ Sansad TV screengrab

Lok Sabha adjourned till 2 pm

BJP MP CP Joshi raises the communal violence in Karauli, Salasar, says Rajasthan govt has failed to keep women, farmers safe. He says across the world temples are being built but the Cong govt in Rajasthan is bent on having them grazed

He requests the Centre to take over administration in Rajasthan and remove the current government so that 'Ram Rajya' can revail there

BJP sarkaar is making India khokhla: INC Kasargod MP Unnithan says price in essential medicines like a double assault in context of fuel price hike and Kerala is highly victimised as a result

Papers laid on the table in Lok Sabha

Darjeeling BJP MP Raju Bista says fuel in West Bengal Rs 10 higher, asks TMC MPs to respond

Rajya Sabha adjourned till 2 pm amid Opposition ruckus over price hike of fuel, essential commodities

Ministers lay papers on the table in Lok Sabha; Opposition continues with sloganeering

Question on wages and an increment on minimum wages being asked in LS; Minister says the government looks into revision of minimum wages every 5 years

Shashi Tharoor raises the issue of FPIs withdrawing from Indian markets, asks minister to explain the trend and fix the issue since it is ongoing for six months

MoS Finance lists the schemes under the Modi govt, he says these have promoted investments.
FM Sitharaman says investments will have to be gauged by not just looking at FIIs and FPIs since they are tempted by by foreign rates but by looking at FDI inflows.

Sitharaman gets irritaated by Sougata Roy's comments, asks him to listen instead of interrupting when she is giving an answer.

She says House must appreciate that Indian retailers have boosted the market and acted like shock absorbers. Sitharaman aslso lauds the high foreign direct investment, which she says India has been the highest receiver of since before the pandemic.

Lok Sabha discusses air quality management: Varun Gandhi asks how many monitors are in use

BSP MP from Amroha, Kunwar Danish Ali raises the issue of paper leaks especially in Uttar Pradesh

Lok Sabha: Discussion on students' suicide in pvt universities under way,

Rajya Sabha adjouned till 12 pm amid Opposition sloganeering, ruckus

Chair disallows notices By Tiruchi Siva, Binoy Biswam, Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury submitted citing Rule 267 to discuss fuel price rise; Opposition creates ruckus after Naidu dies not allow discussion

MoS, MSME, presents his statement on the table in Rajya Sabha

Question Hour under way in the Lok Sabha: Issues on GST in health sector and MICE strategies being discussed

Proceedings commence, Oppn raise slogans in Lok Sabha

Congress MP KC Venugopal gives Suspension of Business notice in Rajya Sabha to discuss fuel price hike

Congress MPs to meet at party office in Parliament to plan floor strategy for the last week of Budget Session

CPI Rajya Sabha MP from Kerala, Binoy Viswam gives Suspension of Business notice in Rajya Sabha under rule 267 over "the increase in prices of petrol, diesel, LPG and kerosene..."

Congress MP Manickam Tagore gives Adjournment Motion Notice in Lok Sabha to discuss the political and economic situation in Sri Lanka and to "direct Govt to take appropriate diplomatic steps and support Sri Lanka in the hour of crisis economically."

Extending greetings on Rajya Sabha Day on Sunday, Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu said the upper house has played a crucial role in strengthening parliamentary democracy

Naidu, who is also Chairman of the Rajya Sabha, appealed to its members to engage in informed and constructive debates by keeping the welfare of the people in mind.

"Greetings on Rajya Sabha Day! Ever since its inception, Rajya Sabha has played a crucial role in strengthening parliamentary democracy," the Vice President Secretariat tweeted, quoting Naidu.

"I would like to appeal to the members of Rajya Sabha to engage in informed & constructive debates by keeping the welfare of the people in mind," he said.

According to the Rajya Sabha website, the Constituent Assembly, which first met on December 9, 1946, also acted as the Central Legislature till 1950, when it was converted as 'Provisional Parliament'.

A parliamentary panel has called CAG officials to brief it on the "unreasonable" delay in tabling annual reports and audited accounts of various autonomous bodies in Lok Sabha

The Parliamentary Committee on Papers Laid on the Table of Lok Sabha, chaired by BSP Ritesh Pandey, is convening a briefing session with the representatives of the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) on Monday, according to a notice issued by the Lok Sabha Secretariat.

This is perhaps the first time that a House panel other than the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) will have a formal discussion with CAG officials, sources in the panel said.

Parliamentary panel calls CAG officials over delay in tabling audited accounts of departments in Lok Sabha

A parliamentary panel has called CAG officials to brief it on the "unreasonable" delay in tabling annual reports and audited accounts of various autonomous bodies in Lok Sabha, sources said on Sunday.