Monsoon Session Archives - Lokmarg

BJP Confident Of Defeating No Trust Motion: Minister

By LokMarg 28th July 2023

Amid the clamour from the Opposition for a debate on the vote of no confidence filed against the Centre in the Lok Sabha over the Manipur situation, Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi on Friday said the government was confident it had numbers to sail through a no-confidence vote, should it happen.

Speaking to reporters ahead of the seventh day of the ongoing Monsoon Session of Parliament on Friday, the Union Minister said, “They (Opposition) do not take part in discussions and neither cooperate in ensuring passage of Bills in Parliament. We were ready to take constructive suggestions from them, but they brought a no-confidence motion all of a sudden. We will have discussions on the no-confidence motion as and when required. We are not too worried as we have the numbers (to survive the vote of no confidence).”
Joshi also said there is no better floor than Parliament to discuss the prevailing situation in Manipur.

“If they want the truth (regarding Manipur) to come out, there is no better floor than this (Parliament) for a discussion and debate,” he added.

Members of the grand Opposition alliance, I.N.D.I.A, have been adamant on the demand that all listed businesses in both Houses be aside for a discussion on the Manipur situation.

They have also been insisting on a statement from Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the prevailing state of affairs in the Northeast state.

The Opposition members are also pushing for the demand that the Lok Sabha Speaker set a date for voting on the no-confidence motion against the Centre filed earlier.

The motion, on behalf of the Opposition alliance, was tabled earlier by Congress Lok Sabha MP Gaurav Gogoi.

Further, Opposition parties on Friday alleged that the government was “subverting” parliamentary traditions by passing Bills even after the motion of no confidence was accepted by the Speaker at the Lok Sabha.

Borrowing the words of former Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister, Satyendra Narayan Sinha, Congress MP Manish Tiwari said, “On July 26, 1966, Satyendra Narayan Sinha, the then Minister of Parliamentary Affairs, made a significant statement in the Lok Sabha regarding No-Confidence Motion. He said, ‘I do concede that whenever there is a no-confidence motion, no substantive motion should he brought just to forestall the whole thing’.”

“These are the Parliamentary traditions that are being subverted by passing bill after bill at a time when a no-confidence motion has been submitted and allowed,” he added.

Meanwhile, the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, also demanded an immediate discussion on the no-confidence motion.

“We have moved a no-confidence motion under Rule 198. As per this rule, a discussion on the motion should happen immediately,” he said.

Aam Aadmi Party Rajya Sabha MP Raghav Chadha also objected to the tabling and passing of the Bills in both Houses, saying, “no Bill is introduced in Parliament after a no-confidence motion is accepted by the Lok Sabha Speaker”.

“But we are seeing that several Bills are being introduced and passed in Parliament,” he told ANI.

AAP’s Raghav Chadha urged the Speaker to ensure that no legislative business takes place in the Lower House till the no-confidence motion is debated.

The Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Bill, 2023, as reported by Joint Committee, was passed in Lok Sabha on Thursday after the House resumed at 3 pm amid sloganeering by the Opposition members over Manipur. (ANI)

Monsoon Session: Parliament Adjourned Till Monday

By LokMarg 28th July 2023

The Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha were adjourned for the day on Friday, amid continued slogan-shouting from the Opposition benches over the demand for a discussion on the Manipur situation.

Earlier, on Friday, the Lower House was adjourned till 12 noon after convening at 11 am, as Opposition members continued to disrupt proceedings demanding that all listed businesses be set aside for a discussion on the Manipur situation.
Amid persistent uproar over Manipur and the motion of no-confidence against the Centre, both Houses were adjourned till 11 am on Monday.

Upon the resumption of the Parliament Monsoon Session on Friday, Opposition members in the Lok Sabha demanded an immediate discussion on the no-confidence motion, which was filed by Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi and accepted by Speaker Om Birla.

The Speaker called for Question Hour as the Lower House reconvened but the Opposition members kept disrupting proceedings demanding a discussion on Manipur and the motion of no confidence.

Citing a precedent from 1978, Congress Lok Sabha MP Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury said the Lower House, then, had allowed a debate on the no-confidence motion on the day it was tabled and admitted.

Meanwhile, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi on Friday reiterated that the government was ready to debate all issues raised by the Opposition but at a date and time decided by the Speaker, adding that the rules provide for a 10-day window.

The Speaker adjourned the House till 12 noon amid chaos.

Earlier, on Wednesday, speaker Om Birla had accepted the no-confidence motion that was filed by the Congress MP on behalf of the Opposition.

The Rajya Sabha, meanwhile, was also adjourned for the day after the Opposition members raised a ruckus over Manipur.

While in session, the Upper House recalled the contribution of Vinay Dinu Tendulkar, who retired on Friday. (ANI)

Some Oppn Parties Not Serious About Manipur Situation: Rajnath

By LokMarg 21st July 2023

Amid the din from the Opposition benches on the demand for discussion on the Manipur violence, Defence minister Rajnath Singh on Friday assured all members in the Lok Sabha that the Centre was ready and willing to discuss all issues with regard to law and order in the Northeast state.

Singh rose to address the Lower House after being asked by Speaker Om Birla to do so.
“Manipur incident is most definitely a very serious matter and sensing the gravity of the situation, the PM, himself, has said that what happened in the state (viral video on Wednesday purportedly showing two women being paraded in the nude) has put the entire nation to shame,” he said.

Accusing the Opposition members of not being as serious on the Manipur situation as they should be, the Defence Minister said, “A few political parties are tying to create a needless ruckus in Parliament to ensure that a discussion over Manipur can’t take place.”

The opening day of the ongoing Monsoon Session, on Thursday, was disrupted over the demand for a discussion on Manipur in both Houses of the Parliament.

“PM has said strictest action will be taken over the incident. We do want a discussion in Parliament over Manipur. I had said this in the all-party meeting and I would like to reiterate on the floor of this august House that we want a discussion on Manipur,” Singh said.

Speaking to media persons before the Parliament went into session on Thursday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said his heart was filled with sorrow and anger over the incident in Manipur.

“What has happened to the daughters of Manipur can never be forgiven,” he said.

“This incident is a shameful act for any civilized society. The perpetrators of this sin, the wrongdoers, whoever they are, the entire nation is feeling ashamed. 140 crore citizens are feeling embarrassed. I appeal to all Chief Ministers to strengthen law and order in their states, especially taking stringent steps to ensure the safety and protection of our mothers and sisters,” PM Modi added.

“Whether the incident happens in Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, or Manipur, in any corner of India, in any state government, rising above political disputes and maintaining the significance of the rule of law and the respect for women is crucial. I want to assure the citizens of this country that no wrongdoer will be spared. Every step will be taken to ensure law forcefully with all its might,” he added.

Meanwhile, amid slogan-shouting by some Opposition members over Manipur, on Friday, the Lower House was adjourned till 12 noon. (ANI)

RS Session From July 20 To August 11

By LokMarg 2nd July 2023

The Rajya Sabha will meet from July 20 to August 11 for the upcoming monsoon session of Parliament, the Upper House secretariat said.

“The President has summoned the Rajya Sabha to meet on Thursday, 20th July 2023 and to conclude on Friday, 11th August 2023,” it said.
Earlier on Saturday, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi announced that the monsoon session of Parliament will begin on July 20.

The session is slated to continue till August 11, he said.

“Monsoon Session, 2023 of Parliament will commence from 20th July and continue till 11th August. Urge all parties to contribute towards productive discussions on Legislative Business and other items during the Monsoon Session,” Joshi tweeted yesterday.

He said that there will be a total of 17 sittings in this session lasting 23 days.

“I appeal to all parties to contribute constructively to the legislative and other business of Parliament during the session,” the union minister said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the new Parliament building on May 28.

The government is expected to have significant legislative agenda for the session.

Opposition parties are also gearing up to take on the government on a host of issues. (ANI)

New Data Protection Bill To Be Introduced In Monsoon Session

By LokMarg 11th April 2023

The Centre on Tuesday informed the Supreme Court that the government will table the Digital Personal Data Protection Bill in the upcoming Monsoon Session of Parliament in July.

A five-judge Constitution bench of Justices KM Joseph, Ajay Rastogi, Aniruddha Bose, Hrishikesh Roy and CT Ravikumar fixed the matter for hearing in August.
Attorney General R Venkatramani, appearing for the Centre, told the bench that the new Bill on personal data protection is ready and will be introduced in the Monsoon Session of Parliament.

“The Bill is ready, it just has to be introduced in parliament in the monsoon session at the end of June, July,” the Attorney General said.

To this, the bench replied, “So, it will be under consideration if we list in July…August will be most practical.”

“We take note of the submission of the AG that a Bill which would cover many aspects of the… addresses all concerns will be tabled in the Monsoon Session in July 2023. Considering the circumstances, the matter is to be placed before the Chief Justice of India for a bench to be constituted preferably in the first week of August,” the bench stated in its order.

Counsels appearing for the petitioners requested that the top court list the case earlier as Bill has not been introduced in the Parliament for so long.

“Consultation is a long process… We want a good law to come,” the Attorney General replied.

The bench was hearing pleas filed by two students challenging WhatsApp’s 2021 Privacy Policy to share users’ data with parent company Facebook and others as a violation of their privacy and free speech.

Last year, the apex court had asked the government either place before the Parliament, the Bill, which addresses the privacy concerns of users and standards to be followed by WhatsApp or it will begin the final hearing in the case.

Earlier, the Centre had said Indian users cannot be discriminated against by other users of WhatsApp and informed the apex court that the government has already withdrawn the old Data Protection Bill and a new Bill will be introduced in the Parliament.

Senior advocate Shyam Divan, appearing for the petitioners, had told the bench that Indian users are deprived of their fundamental rights and the same platform operating in other countries, especially in the European Union, has higher standards of privacy and those standards are not prevalent in India.

Senior advocate Kapil Sibal, appearing for WhatsApp, had told the bench that European countries have their own set of laws which are applied there and in India, the company follows the present law.

The Constitution bench was hearing the plea filed by two students — Karmanya Singh Sareen and Shreya Sethi — challenging the contract entered into between the two companies to provide access to calls, photographs, texts, videos and documents shared by users is a violation of their privacy and free speech. (ANI)