Parliament Monsoon Session highlights: Lok Sabha passes The Epidemic Diseases (Amendment) Bill, 2020

Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2020 and Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (Second Amendment) Bill, 2020 were passed in the Lok Sabha on Monday. Rajya Sabha was adjourned after pandemonium broke out over the suspension of eight members -- Derek O'Brien, Sanjay Singh, Rajeev Satav, K K Ragesh, Syed Nasir Hussain, Ripun Bora, Dola Sen, Elamaram Kareem. The members have been suspended for the remaining part of the Monsoon Session following Sunday's incidents during the passage of two Farm Bills.

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Lok Sabha passes The Epidemic Diseases (Amendment) Bill, 2020

Aarogya Setu app has more than 15.7 crore registered users: Sanjay Dhotre

Aarogya Setu, the biggest Covid-19 contact tracing app in the world, has more than 15.7 crore registered users, Parliament was informed on Monday.

Minister of State for Electronics and IT, Sanjay Dhotre, in a written reply in the Lok Sabha, said the app has maintained "utmost transparency" in all aspects.

Read more here.

Disruptions in Parliament: A case of dissent or rebellion?

While temporary suspensions of members have been occurring now and then, the frequency has risen in the last 10 years—all the more in the last three years due to the polarised nature of politics between the BJP and the rest of the Opposition.

Read more here.

Suspended Rajya Sabha MPs start indefinite protest in Parliament, say won't leave Parliament House

In an unprecedented sit-in protest in Parliament, eight suspended Rajya Sabha MPs have decided to spend the night in the premises against the way the government got two contentious farm sector Bills passed.

Earlier in the day, the Rajya Sabha adopted a motion suspending Trinamool Congress floor leader Derek O'Brien, his AAP counterpart Sanjay Singh, CPI(M) leader Elamaram Kareem, Trinamool's Dola Sen, CPI(M)'s K K Ragesh and Congress' Rajeev Satav, Syed Nasir Hussain and Ripun Bora in connection with the incidents on Sunday during the passage of the Bills.

The MPs had refused to leave the House after the adoption of the motion leading to multiple adjournments. The House was eventually adjourned for the day at 12:07 pm.

(Photo by special arrangement)

Epidemic Diseases (Amendment) Bill taken up for consideration and passing in the Lok Sabha. Discussion underway.

This is the third Bill being discussed in the Lower House today.

Two Bills -Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2020 and Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (Second Amendment) Bill, 2020 -- have already been passed today.

Lok Sabha passes Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (Second Amendment) Bill, 2020

Till July 2020, IBC rescued about 258 companies through resolution plans. Of the companies rescued, one third were either totally sick or defunct. The process under the code has yielded liquidation of 965 companies: FM Nirmala Sitharaman in Lok Sabha

Govt hikes wheat MSP by Rs 50 to Rs 1,975 per quintal

The government on Monday hiked the minimum support price of wheat by Rs 50 per quintal to Rs 1,975 per quintal to encourage farmers to increase cultivation of the crop.

The decision was taken at a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and was announced by Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar inLokSabha.

The announcement comes in the backdrop of widespread protests by Opposition parties as also by farmer groups in Punjab, Haryana and some other states after Parliament passed two key farm bills on Sunday, which the government says will give farmers' marketing freedom and better price for their produce.

PTI

India's imports from China dip 27.63% during Apr-Aug: Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal

India's imports from China declined by 27.63 per cent during April-August this fiscal to $21.58 billion over the same period previous year, Parliament was informed on Monday.

Value of imports from China stood at $4.98 billion in August and USD 5.58 in July, according to the data provided by Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal in his written reply to theLokSabha.

PTI

Even before Covid-19 hit us, our GDP had been in a free fall for 7 quarters. Fundamentals of economy - savings, investment, consumption & employment have been under a stress for a while now: Congress MP Manish Tewari on IBC (Second Amendment) Bill, 2020

National Recruitment Agency (NRA) is expected to conduct Common Eligibility Test (CET) from September 2021 onwards: Union Minister Jitendra Singh

NRA will conduct CET to screen/shortlist candidates for jobs in the Government sector for which recruitment is presently carried out through the Staff Selection Commission (SSC), Railway Recruitment Boards (RRBs) and Institute of Banking Personnel Selection (IBPS).NRA will conduct only preliminary screening of candidates.

The final recruitment will be done through domain-specific examinations/tests to be conducted by respective agencies viz. SSC, RRBs and IBPS. Based on the score obtained in CET conducted by NRA, candidates may appear in domain-specific exams/tests to be conducted by respective recruitment agencies.

Read the Minister's written reply in the Lok Sabhahere.

Today's conduct of the suspended members of not refusing the House (Rajya Sabha) in spite of a declaration of suspension by the Chairperson is illegal, says Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad

It further aggravates their conduct as far as violating norms of the House is concerned, he added.

There is enough visual evidence available that if the Marshals would have not protected the Deputy Chairperson of (Rajya Sabha) Harivansh Ji, he would have been nearly physically assaulted, saidPrasad.

The government had a clear majority yesterday, 110 present members were supporting the Agriculture Bills and only 72 were opposing. We had a decisive majority...their agenda was to stop the House (Rajya Sabha) from passing the Bills, he said.

8 MPs suspended in Rajya Sabha; Naidu rejects motion of no-confidence against deputy chairman Harivansh

Eight oppositionMPsin Rajya Sabha, including TMC leader Derek O'Brien and Sanjay Singh of AAP, were on Monday suspended for the remainder of the Monsoon session of Parliament for "unruly behaviour" during the passage of two farm bills, leading to protests and washing out of proceedings.

The suspended members refused to leave the House which witnessed multiple adjournments.

A motion for the suspension of the eight including Rajeev Satav, Syed Nasir Hussain and Ripun Bora (all Cong), Dola Sen (TMC), KK Ragesh and Elamaram Kareen (all CPM) was moved by the government and approved by a voice vote in the House.

This came after Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu rejected a notice for a no-confidence motion against deputy chairman Harivansh as it was not in proper format and did not give a 14-day notice period.

PTI

I took a serious exception to the way one after another Ordinances are being promulgated on the pretext of Covid-19: Congress MP Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury in Lok Sabha

What I would suggest the govt, is that the promulgation of ordinances shouldn't be taken as a rule. It should be considered as an exception, he said.

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman moves the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (Second Amendment) Bill, 2020 in the Lok Sabha. Discussion underway.

The Bill was passed by the Rajya Sabha on September 19.

Lok Sabha passes The Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2020.

* The Bill prohibits the transfer of foreign contribution to any other person.

* Any person seeking registration must provide the Aadhaar number of all its office bearers

As a retired Police from Maharashtra, what example did he (BJP MP Satya Pal Singh) give? That one NGO did not do good work. If he was the Police Commissioner what action did he take?: Supriya Sule, NCP MP

Like there may be one NGO doing bad work, there are thousands of NGOs doing very good work. He has defended a case in Odisha about a family that was burnt alive. Whatever they did, no law anywhere in the world allows you to burn people & their children, said Sule.

We know what happened in northeast, how things changed there in last 50 yrs & a particular religion rose. There's govt & intelligence report that how insurgency increased there with money under FCRA: SP Singh, BJP on FCRA Amendment Bill

An unprecedented achievement made with the cooperation of Hon'ble Members as Lok Sabha recorded productivity of 219% yesterday and 4 bills of national importance were passed, says Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla

I look forward to more such productive sittings in the interest of the people and the country, he added.

Members of Parliament attending the briefing session on 'The Assisted Reproductive Technology (Regulation) Bill, 2020' held at Parliament Library Building today

As on 16th September, 2020, 13.57 crore LPG refills have been delivered to PMUY beneficiaries under Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Package: Govt in Rajya Sabha

The Scheme has now been extended till September 30, 2020 for those beneficiaries who have been credited with the advance for buying refills, but not able to buy the refills till 30^thJune 2020. As on 16.09.2020, 13.57 crore refills have been delivered to PMUY beneficiaries under this Scheme.

ReadUnion Minister of Petroleum & Natural Gas Shri Dharmendra Pradhan's written reply here.

The six bills on the Lok Sabha's agenda today:

* Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Amendment Bill

* IBC (Second Amendment) Bill

* Epidemic Diseases (Amendment) Bill

* Homoeopathy Central Council (Amendment) Bill

* Indian Medicine Central Council (Amendment) Bill

* Factoring Regulation (Amendment) Bill

Watch the live session of Lok Sabha here

12 parties have sought time to meet the President, in connection with the Farm Bills passed by Rajya Sabha without voting yesterday. The parties have requested the President to not give ascent to the Bills: Congress MP Shaktisinh Gohil

'Farm Bills not against agricultural mandis'

Read more

TMC's Derek O'Brien & Dola Sen, AAP's Sanjay Singh, INC's Rajeev Satav, Ripun Bora & Syed Nasir Hussain, CPI(M)'s KK Ragesh & Elamaram Karim suspended for one week for unruly behaviour with the Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman yesterday, protest in Parliament.

I condemn this kind of expulsion of the members of Rajya Sabha in such a brazen and undemocratic manner. We will protest to restore the status quo ante of our members in Rajya Sabha: Congress MP Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury

Muting of democratic India continues: Rahul Gandhi on Rajya Sabha MPs' suspension

The Congress on Monday reacted sharply to the suspension of eight Opposition Rajya Sabha MPs, including three of its own, with Rahul Gandhi saying the "muting of democratic India continues" by initially silencing and later suspending the parliamentarians.

Read more

These Bills will empower the farmers to freely trade their produce anywhere. I want to make it clear that these Bills is not against the agriculture mandis: Prime Minister Narendra Modi

PM Modi congratulates farmers on Farm Bills that were passed in Rajya Sabha yesterday.

Yesterday, two farm bills were passed in the Parliament. I congratulate my farmers. This change in the farming sector is the need of the present hour and our government has brought this reform for the farmers: Prime Minister Narendra Modi

It is highly condemnable, there is a way to put forward your views. Also, the farm bills that have been passed in Parliament are in favour of farming sector: Bihar CM Nitish Kumar on ruckus created by MPs of opposition parties in RS yesterdayduring the discussion on the agriculture bills.

Farm laws will benefit farmers, boost their income: Bihar CM Nitish Kumar

"People of Bihar will give a suitable answer to the Opposition," says Bihar Dy CM Sushil Modi

Rajya Sabha Dy Chairman Harivansh Ji is respected in Bihar & all over the country. The uncalled for incident which occurred with him in Parliament yesterday has hurt the people of Bihar. The people of Bihar will give a suitable answer to the Opposition," saidBihar Dy CM Sushil Modi.

A delegation of Shiromani Akali Dal led by S Sukhbir Singh Badal will meet President Ram Nath Kovind today at 4.30 pm, over the passage of Farm Bills in the Parliament.

Rajya Sabha adjourned for the day amid uproar over suspension of eight members.

Congress workers hold protest against the Centre's agriculture Bills.

Rajya Sabha passed the Farmers' & Produce Trade & Commerce (Promotion & Facilitation) Bill, 2020 and Farmers (Empowerment & Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Bill, 2020 yesterday.

Suspension of 8 MPs unfortunate, says Mamata

Rajya Sabha adjourned for the fourth time, to resume proceedings at noon.

'All issues to be resolved when suspended MPs leave House'

Rajya Sabha proceedings resume after being adjourned thrice. Amid chaos, Bhubaneswar Kalita asks Leader of Opposition Ghulam Nabi Azad to give a statement and suspended members to leave the house.

Suspended CPIM Rajya Sabha leader Elamaram Kareem responds

Before adjourning the House, Deputy Chairman Harivansh said he would allow Leader of Opposition Ghulam Nabi Azad to speak but suspended MPs will have to leave the House.

Govt has adopted multi-pronged approach to strengthen border protection, which includes strengthening of border infrastructure, multi-tiered deployment of border guarding forces along International Border/LoC: Mos MHA Nityanand Rai in a written reply to a question in Rajya Sabha.

Rajya Sabha proceedings resume. Suspended MPs remain in House. Deputy Chairman Harivansh adjourns House for another 30 minutes.

Congress Lok Sabha MP Suresh Kodikunnil gives adjournment motion of the business of the house 'for the purpose of discussing the suppression of rights of farmers of the country.'

Murder Of Democracy in India: Jairam Ramesh

"7 MPs unilaterally suspended from the Rajya Sabha without hearing them; without a vote on the suspension resolution and without giving the Leader of the Opposition a chance to speak. The Murder Of Democracy in India rolls on," tweeted Jairam Ramesh, Member of Parliament (Rajya Sabha) from Karnataka.

Amendments of several members for referring the matter to Select Committee were not taken up for disposal before passing of the Farm Bill by so-called “voice vote.” The role of Chair in this context was ex facie ‘partisan’, unprecedented & unlawful: TMC MP Sukhendu Sekhar Ray.

"If Constitutional Authorities, in this case RS Dy Chairman , act as per their whims & fancies in blatant violation of Rules & in detriment to laid down procedures of parliamentary democratic system, country is destined to fall prey to majoritarianism, if not fascism," he added.

Rajya Sabha adjourned for 30 minutes after being resumed. Naidu asked suspended MPs not to participate in the session.

Rajya Sabha adjourned till 10 am as Opposition protests suspension of MPs.

Derek O'Brien, Sanjay Singh, Rajeev Satav, KK Ragesh, Syed Nasir Hussain, Ripun Bora, Dola Sen, Elamaram Kareem suspended for one week.

M Venkaiah Naidu rejects no confidence notice of Opposition against Dy Chairman.

Rajya Sabha Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu rejects no-confidence motion against Dy Chairman on grounds that it was not in proper format.

Bad day for democracy: Venkaiah Naidu on chaos in RS over Farm Bills yesterday

"Bad day for Rajya Sabha. All social distancing norms were violated. Came to the well, hurled papers and abused dy chairman. You have no right to upset the Chairman. Some of the members accepted that they did it, that they were dancing in the House.

"Tarnished the image of parliament. If Marshalls were not called on time what would have happened to the Dy chairman? Deputy Chairman was physically threatened," said Venkaiah Naidu, Chairman of the Rajya Sabha.

BJP Rajya Sabha MPs file complaint against Opposition members who created ruckus in the House

BJP Rajya Sabha MPs file complaint against Opposition members who created ruckus in the House yesterday in presence of Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman Harivansh during the discussion over farm bills.

RS Chairman to take a decision on the action to be taken against the concerned members.

Watch the live session of Rajya Sabha here

Congress Rajya Sabha MP KC Venugopal has given Zero-Hour Notice in Rajya Sabha over 'refusal of banks to give loans'

TDP MP K Ravindra Kumar has given Zero-Hour Notice in Rajya Sabha over the "need for stringent punishment for atrocities against Dalits".

BJD MP Prasanna Acharya has given Zero-Hour Notice in Rajya Sabha and has demanded to rename Paradip Port after former Odisha Chief Minister Biju Patnaik.

Farm Bills: Today will be remembered as a black day for democracy, says Congress

The Congress on Sunday accused the BJP leadership of hatching a conspiracy in the passage of the contentious farm bills inRajyaSabhaamid a din and said the day would be remembered as a "black day" for parliamentary democracy.

BJP jumps into campaign mode to defend Farm Bills, condemns Opposition for ruckus

Having burnt its fingers twice over farmers' issues in the past, the BJP has entered anaggressive campaign mode to counter the Opposition's campaign against new farm laws. Meanwhile, a number of farmer organisations are up in the arms and the Opposition is ratcheting it up calling the measure a “death warrant” and “obituary of farmers”.

Read more

It is a landmark day: Rajnath Singh on passage of Farm Bills in Rajya Sabha

He said the bills will not only strengthen India's food security but will also prove to be a major effective step towards doubling the income of farmers.

Read more

Bills for consideration and passing in the Rajya Sabha today:

- The Indian Institutes of Information Technology Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2020.

- The Companies (Amendment) Bill, 2020

- The Essential Commodities (Amendment) Bill, 2020

- The Banking Regulation (Amendment) Bill, 2020.

- The Taxation and Other Laws (Relaxation and Amendment of Certain Provisions) Bill, 2020.

- The Appropriation (No.3) Bill, 2020.

- The Appropriation (No.4) Bill, 2020.

Bills for consideration and passing in the Lok Sabha today:

- The Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2020.

- The Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (Second Amendment) Bill, 2020

- The Epidemic Diseases (Amendment) Bill, 2020.

- The Homoeopathy Central Council (Amendment) Bill, 2020

- The Indian Medicine Central Council (Amendment) Bill, 2020

- The Factoring Regulation (Amendment) Bill, 2020.