Parliament Highlights: Parliament passes Maritime Anti-Piracy Bill, 2022

Track the latest developments from the Winter Session of Parliament proceedings with DH.

Lok Sabha has been adjourned till 11 am on December 22, 2022

Rajya Sabha has been adjourned till 11 am on December 22, 2022

Parliament passes Maritime Anti-Piracy Bill, 2022

Detention of fishermen from Tamil Nadu, Puducherry & other states often by Sri Lanka and the detention of those from Gujarat by Pakistan remains a big concern for us: EAM S Jaishankar in RS while replying to debate on Maritime Anti-Piracy Bill, 2022

Rajya Sabha takes up Maritime Anti-Piracy Bill for consideration

Centre has asked state govts to release prisoners who have completed their terms but are behind bars due to non-payment of fine: Ajay Kumar tells Rajya Sabha

First batch of supplementary demands for grants, authorising govt to spend additional Rs 3.25 lakh cr in FY23 approved

Education, health, many subsidies given to farmers are fully justified, says FM Nirmala Sitharaman in Rajya Sabha

It is important to recognise that when you are transparent in your methods, there is no debate over it (freebies). All we want is transparency and compliance with statutory fiscal rules, says FM Nirmala Sitharaman in Rajya Sabha

We are keeping an eye on inflation that is purely extraneous nowadays because of fuel, fertiliser prices, says FM Nirmala Sitharaman in Rajya Sabha

Our government works for the development of all and appeasement of none, says Nirmala Sitharaman in Rajya Sabha.

Government seized narcotics worth Rs 97,000 crore, says Shah

Shah says that the government has seized narcoticsworth Rs 97,000 crore. The government has also registered 13,000 cases against drug dealers and traders.

Shah says that he has held talks with governments and stakeholders to ban some of the habit-forming drugs. These durgs are often abused by youth and they could get addicted to it.

We'll not let a single penny come into India if FCRA (Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act) rules are not followed, says Shah.

House not meant for reckless politics: Shah slams Congress member over Pegasus snooping charge

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Wednesday took exception to Congress member Gaurav Gogoi’s allegation that government snoops on politicians with Israeli spyware Pegasus and asked him to give proof of the claim, saying the house was not meant for “reckless politics.”

Gogoi, while participating in a discussion in Lok Sabha on drug menace, sought to know from the government about the kind of surveillance mechanism it has in place on the country’s land and sea borders, as well as international airports, to check the entry of contraband into the country.

The Congress member also sought to know from the Home Minister as to what kind of surveillance and intelligence mechanisms are in place to check the arms smuggling, human trafficking, and smuggling of animal parts at the India-Myanmar border.

Objecting to the Congress member's remarks, Shah asked Gogoi to submit in the house the proof of his accusation.

“He has levelled a very serious allegation that Pegasus has been installed in his mobile. He must submit here the basis (of his accusation) in the House. Either his words are removed or he must submit the basis,” Shah said.

“The House is for serious discussion, not for reckless politics,” he added.

We have trained Indian-breed dogs to detect narcotics, says Shah

He adds that the government has set up guidelines for seizure of narcotics. The NCB can conduct probes across the country. The NCB is ready to help each andevery state if there's a need to do an inter-state probe. Even the NIA can help the states if the probe needs to be conducted outside the country, he says.

Drugs are coming from the Gulf nations, says Shah.

Shah says the Centre has hired many professionals to detect and nab financial fraudsters.

Shah requests all CMs and L-Gs to set up encode committees at the Zila Parishad level to fight drug menace.

'Dirty money' through drug trade spoiling economy, says Shah

Those who consume drugs are victims but those who are involved in illicit drug trade should be punished, says Shah. He adds that the "dirty money" through drug trade spoiling the economy.

Centre, States have to fight war against drugs together, says Shah

Shah says that all Central and State agencies have to work together to put an end to the drug menace. Only if we work together, India will become drug-free. Centre and the states have to fight this war against drugs together, says Shah.

Shah reiterates the Centre's zero-tolerance stand on drug menace and terrorism.

Watch Union Home Minister Amit Shah's address to the Lower House

UPSC, SSC and RRB selected 3,77,802 candidates in last 5 years

Only over 3.77 lakh candidates have been selected by the UPSC, SSC and RRB, for appointment in the Central government ministries and departments during the last five years.

"Number of candidates selected by Union Public Service Commission (UPSC), Staff Selection Commission (SSC) and Railway Recruitment Boards (RRB) for appointment in the Central government during the last five years is 3,77,802," said Minister of State, Personnel, Jitendra Singh in a written reply in the Lok Sabha on Wednesday.(IANS)

Rajya Sabha has been adjourned till 2 pm.

Oppn not asking for military secrets, just wants to know level of preparedness, says P Chidambaram

Congress MP P Chidambaram on Wednesday said that the Opposition just wantsa discussion on China. "We aren't asking for military secrets. What gives China the courage to make incursions into India while our response is purely reactive? Why incursions aren't being prevented? We just want to know what is the level of preparedness, what 16 rounds of talks with Chinese troops PLA have achieved andwhat PM Modi said to Chinese President Xi Jinping in Bali, if he at all did so."

Meanwhile, the proceedings in the Lok Sabha have resumed.

Opposition leaders create a ruckus as MoS Rural Development Sadhvi replies to AICT MP Jawhar Sircar.

Why are you killing MGNREGA? Sircar questions.

West Bengal has not been given a single paisa under MGNREGA this year, says TMC MP.

Common man's thali now costlier, says Sanjay Singh, targets Centre over 'Goonda Service Tax'

AAP MP Sanjay Singh says the Centre has made the common man's thali costlier by levying multiple tax on products. He further adds that small traders have been facing issues due to high taxes and complicated GST filing processes. "I urge the Centre to not make GST asGoonda Service Tax," Singh says.

Family gets more importance in party than its president, Anurag Thakur's dig at the Gandhis

Congress MP Rajeev Shukla raises the issue of the use of drones for transporting drugs across borders.

RJD MP Manoj Kumar Jha raises the issue of drug abuse among children in India.

He urges the Centre to pay attention to the mental health issues of children in small towns and cities.

Sonia Gandhi questions Centre's intention behind refusing debate on India-China clashes

Congress leaderSonia Gandhi on Wednesday questionedthe Centre's intention behindrefusing a debate on India-China clashes in Parliament. "The government isstubbornly refusing LAC discussion in Parliament, such a debate strengthens national response," she said.

"While PM hands over few appointment letters, crores are facing uncertain future.Economic situation continues to be distressing despite the government insisting that all is well.Silence on matters of serious concern defining the feature of this government tenure."

She added, "The government's attempt to delegitimisejudiciary is a troubling new development."

Opposition united in standing up for security of country, says Shashi Tharoor

Oppositionparties have been asking for a discussion on India-China border issue. While we're all united in standing up for the nation andsecurity of our country, we want the government to take us andpeople of India into confidence about what exactly they're seeing on border, saysCongress MP Shashi Tharoor.

In Rajya Sabha, MPs are reading out the details of papers to be laid on the table.

Lok Sabha proceedings adjourned till 12 noon amid commotion by Opposition MPs.

Proceedings begin in both the Houses.

Congress MP Karti Chidambaram on Centre's advisory to Rahul over Bharat Jodo Yatra

I haven't seen the letter but what are the Covid protocols today? We don't seem to be having any enforceable Covid protocols in any other public gatherings. Why is this sudden attention given to Bharat Jodo Yatra?asks Congress MP Karti Chidambaram.

TMC MP Dola Sen lashed out at the Centre over advisory to Rahul Gandhi on following Covid-10 protocol during Bharat Jodo Yatra. "They could've issued an advisory. We're at Parliament but no circular came for wearing masks or taking preventive measures. Not the sole duty of Centre to boss over state governments. Their responsibility is towards public in which they fail, we don't expect much from them."

Opposition protests at Gandhi Statue demanding discussion on India-China military clashes

Congress parliamentary party meeting begins at Central Hall in Parliament.

Congress MP Manickam Tagore gives Adjournment Motion notice in Lok Sabha to discuss the border situation with China.

Congress MP Manish Tewari on Wednesday gave a notice to move an adjournment motion in the Lok Sabha to discuss the Chinese transgression at the Arunachal Pradesh border. This is Tewari's sixth notice on the issue. The earlier notices were not allowed by the chair.
The notice stated, "That this House do suspend Zero Hour and other businesses of the day to have a detailed discussion on the grave situation at the border with China in the Tawang sector in Arunachal Pradesh. This is the first physical clash between the two armies since August 2020 which took place at Rinchen La in eastern Ladakh. We have had the Hon'ble Defence Minister give a statement.

Congress Parliamentary Party to meet shortly

Joint Opposition to protest at Gandhi Statue demanding debate on India-China clashes

Oppn to protest at Gandhi statue demanding debate on China

Opposition parties will on Wednesday stage a protest at the Gandhi statue in Parliament premises to demand a discussion on the latest Chinese transgressions in Arunachal Pradesh. The Opposition has alleged that the Centre is not allowing a debate as it is "hiding something".

Meanwhile, 12 Opposition parties will join Wednesday's protest, according to a Congress leader.

On Tuesday, Congress General Secretary Jairam Ramesh had sought to know the Centre's stance on the transgressions and asked why wasn't the Chinese Ambassador issued a demarche. (IANS)

Parliament Winter Session likely to end on December 23

The Winter Session of Parliament is likely to be curtailed by a week and may end this Friday, sources said on Tuesday.

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Opposition accuses NHRC of selectively visiting states

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) on Tuesday came under attack from the Opposition inside and outside Parliament for its "partisan" approach in sending a team to Bihar to probe hooch tragedy while ignoring similar incidents in BJP-ruled states.

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Contentious Bill referred to joint Parliament panel

The contentious Multi-State Co-operative Societies (Amendment) Bill, 2022 was on Tuesday sent to a Joint Committee of Parliament for further scrutiny, with the government acceding to the demands of the Opposition.

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