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Budget Session Ends, Parliament Adourned Sine Die

By LokMarg 10th February 2024

Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha were adjourned sine die on Saturday after the conclusion of the budget session.

This was the last day of the ongoing budget session of the 17th Lok Sabha before the general polls. The budget session, which began on January 31, was to conclude on

February 9 but was extended by a day.

Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, in his valedictory remarks, said that the House had passed several significant legislations including Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita bill, triple talaq bill and women’s reservation bill.

Speaker Om Birla on Saturday said that the overall productivity of the 17th Lok Sabha has been around 97 per cent, the highest among the tenures of the last five Houses . The lower House of Parliament also lost a total of 387 hours to disruptions

In his remarks, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that the past five years of BJP-led government were about “reform, perform and transform” in the country. PM Modi greeted the members and lauded the role of Speaker Om Birla in running the House.

“These five years were about reform, perform and transform in the country. It is very rare that both reform and perform take place and we can see transformation right in front of our eyes…The country is experiencing this through the 17th Lok Sabha and I firmly believe that the country will continue to bless the 17th Lok Sabha,” he said.

Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar, in his valedictory remarks, highlighted that the country is making phenomenal progress in all walks of life.

“As highlighted by the Hon’ble President in her address, Bharat is making phenomenal progress in all walks of life. We are in Amrit Kaal of our republic. As members of the Upper House, we have to ensure exemplary standards of conduct. We need to be a source of inspiration as Bharat steadfastly surges towards a Viksit Rashtra and a global leader. We are in an era of immense possibilities. Let us vigorously contribute to the continual, incremental rise of Bharat. I have no doubt that this sentiment is shared by every member of this House and the people at large,” Dhankhar said.

Dhankhar also mentioned the bills that received a nod from the House.

“It is noteworthy that during this session Hon’ble Members spoke in 15 regional languages with simultaneous interpretation in Hindi and English. In addition to the discussion on the Motion of Thanks to President’s Address and interim Union Budget, this House also passed 7 Bills including Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Bill, Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Amendment Bill, Jammu and Kashmir Local Bodies Laws (Amendment) Bill and Constitution Amendment Bills related to inclusion of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes. I would also like to mention that 22 Private Members’ Bills have been introduced in this Session,” he said.

He said the House also bade farewell to 68 Members.

“Out of this, three members retired in the month of January and the remaining 65 would be retiring between February and July this year. Let me express our profound appreciation for the distinguished service rendered by each one of our esteemed retiring colleagues,” Dhankhar said.

He expressed gratitude to Deputy Chairperson Harivansh and members on the panel of Vice-Chairpersons for assisting him in conducting the proceedings of the House.

“I also thank the Leader of the House, the Leader of the Opposition, the Minister of Parliamentary Affairs, the Leaders of various Parties and the Hon’ble Members for their cooperation.”

The Rajya Sabha chairman also extended greetings to the members ahead of the coming Lok Sabha polls.

“I acknowledge the untiring efforts of the Secretary-General and his team of dedicated officers and staff in ensuring that the session runs smoothly. Before I conclude, I would like to extend my good wishes to all of you for the forthcoming festivals and for the general election,” he said.

Lok Sabha elections are slated to be held in April-May. (ANI)

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Om Birla Meets RS Chairman, Expresses Anguish Over Mimicry Incident

By LokMarg 20th December 2023

Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla met Vice President and Chairman, of Rajya Sabha Jagdeep Dhankhar on Wednesday and conveyed his deep concerns and anguish about serious misdemeanour by MPs in Parliament complex demeaning and denigrating the constitutional office of Vice President.

“Conveyed my deep concerns and anguish @VPIndia and Hon’ble Chairman, Rajyasabha about serious misdemeanor by Hon’ble MPs in Parliament complex demeaning and denigrating the constitutional office of Vice President. It is shocking that one MP chose to amplify this ignoble act by video graphing. This is a new low and no one believing in democracy will ever appreciate it” the Lok Sabha speaker said in his post on X.

Banerjee had mimicked Vice President Dhankhar during the opposition’s protest on the stairs of Parliament on Tuesday against the suspension of MPs, drawing strong condemnation from the ruling BJP.

Leaders of the Jat Community also held a protest in support of Vice President Dhankhar in the national capital.

A leader belonging to the Jat community, Chaudhary Surendar Solanki told ANI, “We have called a meeting for our leaders. We’ll decide that either the suspended TMC MP Kalyan Banerjee should apologize to the Vice President as soon as possible or else we’ll call upon a village council to protest against him”.

Meanwhile, expressing concern over the mimicry incident of Jagdeep Dhankhar, President Droupadi Murmu on Wednesday said that she was “dismayed to see the manner in which the respected Vice President was humiliated”.

Taking to her official handle on social media handle X, the President said that the people of India are proud of the country’s Parliamentary tradition and expect them to uphold it.

“I was dismayed to see the manner in which our respected Vice President was humiliated in the Parliament complex. Elected representatives must be free to express themselves, but their expression should be within the norms of dignity and courtesy. That has been the Parliamentary tradition we are proud of, and the people of India expect them to uphold it,” the President posted on X.

Meanwhile, members of Parliament of INDIA bloc parties, including those suspended, are staging a protest in front of the Gandhi statue in the Parliament premises on Wednesday morning over the suspension of 141 Opposition MPs and the ‘security breach’ incident.

Congress Parliamentary Party Chairperson Sonia Gandhi, party President Mallikarjun Kharge and Congress MP Rahul Gandhi joined the protest against the suspension of 141 Opposition MPs.

Speaking to ANI, Kharge said that the party will continue their protest until the suspension of MPs is revoked.

“They want to suspend everyone and run a dictatorship by removing everyone from the house, this won’t work in a democracy, this is why we will go to the people. We will continue to protest till they don’t revoke the suspension and make a statement in the house and initiate a discussion in the house. I am awaiting a response to my letter from the Vice President,” he said.

Hitting out at the ruling BJP, Congress MP Karti Chidambaram said, “This is going to be the trend. It’s my way or the highway. If you don’t fall in line, we will throw you out because we have the majority. We control both the Houses. They want to turn the Parliament into a stamping House.”

The Opposition MPs raised the slogans of “save democracy” while protesting against the suspension of 141 MPs for the winter session of Parliament.

The protesters carried placards, reading, “Save Democracy” and “Do not kill Democracy”.

An unprecedented number of MPs, a total of 141, were suspended from Parliament on Tuesday. (ANI)

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LS Speaker Accepts No-Confidence Motion Against Govt Moved By Oppo

By LokMarg 26th July 2023

Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on Wednesday accepted the no-confidence motion against the government moved by Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi on behalf of opposition parties of I.N.D.I.A alliance.

After Gogoi moved the motion, the Speaker asked about the number of members supporting the motion. He admitted the motion and said the time of the debate will be decided later.
The House resumed its normal functioning after the Speaker accepted the demand for no-confidence motion. Opposition members expressed their opinion on the bills being introduced by the government.

The two Houses have seen repeated adjournments since the commencement of monsoon session of Parliament on July 20.

Gogoi represents Kaliabor constituency in Assam and is an MP from the northeast region.

Bharat Rashtra Samithi, which has nine members in Lok Sabha, also gave no-confidence motion notice against the government.

Union Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal said the government is “ready” for every situation.

“Let the No Confidence Motion come, Government is ready for every situation. We do want a discussion on Manipur…Before the commencement of the session, they wanted a discussion. When we agreed, they brought up the issue of Rules. When we reached an agreement on Rules, they brought in the new issue that the PM come and initiate discussion. I think these are all excuses…” Meghwal told ANI.

Gaurav Gogoi had earlier in the day submitted a notice for no-confidence motion against the government in the Lok Sabha.

The decision to bring a no-confidence motion was taken at a meeting of opposition I.N.D.I.A alliance parties held on Tuesday. As many as 26 Opposition had earlier come together naming their alliance as I.N.D.I.A.

Opposition MPs said that they know the numbers are in favour of the government in Lok Sabha but no-confidence motion is a way to seek reply from Prime Minister Narendra Modi on various issues including the violence in Manipur.

“This No Confidence Motion is a political move with a political purpose – a political move which will bring results…The No Confidence Motion will compel him (Prime Minister) to come to the Parliament. We need a discussion on the issues of the country, especially on Manipur, inside the Parliament. Forget the numbers, they know the numbers and we know the numbers..,” CPI MP Binoy Viswam said.

Manickam Tagore, Congress Whip in Lok Sabha said INDIA alliance is together and it had proposed the idea of no-confidence motion. “Yesterday it was decided. Today, Congress party’s leader is moving it. We wanted to break the arrogance of Mr Modi. He is behaving as an arrogant person – not to come to the Parliament and make a statement on Manipur…We feel that it is our duty to use this last weapon,” he said.

AAP MP Raghav Chadha said that some parliamentary procedures are used to have a long-duration discussion and to compel the government to give a reply.

“Many a time in India’s Parliamentary history, critical instruments of debate, dialogue and discussion within Parliament are exercised. Regardless of the outcome of those instruments and motions, they are exercised with the sole objective of a long-duration discussion on an important issue subsequent to which the PM of India is compelled to come to Parliament and respond to the issues raised by the people and the Members of the Lok Sabha,” he said.

“I think these parliamentary instruments actually strengthen India’s democracy and must be exercised time again and again to pressurise the government to come before the Lok Sabha and answer the questions,” he added. (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)