Lok Sabha Adjourned; No Plans to Privatise Railways, says Ashwini Vaishnaw
Catch all the live updates of the Budget Session of the Parliament here.
Indian Parliament. Representational Image.
(Photo: Altered by The Quint)
The Parliament adjourned on Thursday amidst protests from Kerala Congress MPs, over the SilverLine semi-speed rail corridor project, who were later being stopped by the Delhi police from marching to Parliament.
Some leaders have claimed that they were manhandled by the police. Further, Ernakulam MP Hibie Eden is said to have allegedly suffered blows to his face. The MPs were taking a march to Parliament as the second leg of the Budget Session is underway.
Meanwhile, Lok Sabha passed The Appropriation Bill, 2022.
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar told Rajya Sabha that the government is examining various trade-related aspects, including those related to payments in the wake of Russia-Ukraine war.
Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said in Rajya Sabha on Thursday that there are no plans to privatize the Railways.
Opposition members on Wednesday, sloganeered against the Narendra Modi government, demanding a rollback of the hike in prices of LPG, petrol, and diesel
TMC MP Sudip Bandyopadhyay said in Lok Sabha on Thursday that 21 people have been arrested in the case of Birbhum violence in Bengal
The second leg of the session is scheduled from 14 March to 8 April. Standing committees evaluated budgetary allocations in the recess after the first leg ended on 11 February
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BJP Issues Whip to All Its MPs To Be Present in the House
The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has issued a whip to all its Lok Sabha MPs to be present in the House on Thursday.
Adjournment Motion Notice Over Employment Situation in India
Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) MP Nama Nageswar Rao has moved an adjournment motion notice in Lok Sabha over the employment situation in India.
Suspension of Business Notice Over Fuel Price Hike
Communist Party of India (CPI) MP Binoy Viswam has given Suspension of business notice in Rajya Sabha under rule 267 for discussion over fuel price hike.
Zero Hour Notice Over The Postponement of MCD Elections
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Zero Hour Notice Over Revision of Minimum Wage
Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) MP Manoj Jha has moved a zero hour notice in Rajya Sabha over revision of minimum wage.
What's on Lok Sabha's Agenda for Today?
The agenda of the Lok Sabha for the day is as follows:
Question Hour
Matters Under Rule 377
Discussion & Voting: Min of Commerce & Industry for 2022-23, Min of Ports, Shipping & Waterways for 2022-23, & Min of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying for 2022-23
Bill Listed: The Appropriation Bill, 2022
What's on Rajya Sabha's Agenda for Today?
The agenda of the Rajya Sabha for the day is as follows:
Question Hour
Discussion on the working of the Ministry of Railways and the Ministry of Labour & Employment
Bill Listed: The Constitution (SC & ST) Orders (Amendment) Bill, 2022
Kerala Congress MPs ‘Manhandled’ by Police During March to Parliament
The political controversy in Kerala over the SilverLine semi-speed rail corridor project made its way to Delhi on Thursday with Congress MPs from Kerala addressing a press conference at Vijay Chowk, and later being stopped by the police from marching to Parliament.
Some leaders have claimed that they were manhandled by the police. Further, Ernakulam MP Hibie Eden is said to have allegedly suffered blows to his face.
The incident came on the same day Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan met Prime Minister Narendra Modi to discuss the K-Rail project.
Later, Delhi Police said that no manhandling took place and that the staff at the barricades only tried to stop the MPs, who were moving towards the Parliament without revealing their identities.
‘Our PM Does Not Think About Short-term Gains’: Piyush Goyal
Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal said in the Lok Sabha on Thursday, "Our Prime Minister does not think about short-term gains, he believes it will lead to long-term pain. We have seen some instances in the past when wrong decisions were taken for short term benefits."
Goyal claimed that in 2008, when there was a global economic crisis, the decisions taken during that time took India's economy five to six years behind.
"There is an increase in the volume and value of majority of products in the country. This includes a volume increase of 50 percent in motor vehicles, 40 percent in rice, 20 percent in handmade carpets, 12-15 percent in processed fruits and juices, 25 percent in pulses," the minister said.
Petroleum Minister Hardeep Singh Puri Defends Price Hike in Fuel
Petroleum Minister Hardeep Singh Puri on Thursday defended the government over the hike in fuel prices in the country, saying it is due to the increase in prices in the international market.
‘What Is the Authority of Delhi Police To Stop Us?’: Congress Kerala MP
Speaking on the scuffle that broke out between the Delhi Police and Congress MPs from Kerala, marching towards the Paliament against the K-rail project, Congress MP K Suresh said in the Lok Sabha, “Delhi police, without any provocation, came forward and blocked us. They did not allow us to enter the parliament house."
"We told the police officers that we are MPs and we are going to parliament. But they said no, you are not shouting slogans here…they then pushed us, manhandled us and attacked our member.”
N K Premachandran added, “They (Delhi Police) are very much aware that we are MPs, but they still didn’t let us enter and attacked us. This is a question of privilege. What is the authority of the Delhi police to forcibly prevent us from entering the parliament?”
21 People Arrested in Birbhum Violence: TMC MP
Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP Sudip Bandyopadhyay said in Lok Sabha that 21 people have been arrested in the case of Birbhum violence in Bengal. He said, "The issue of Birbhum violence was discussed, PM Modi also commented on it. We've had conversation regarding it with Home Minister Amit Shah as well. He talked about stringent punishment being given to perpetrators. 21 people have been arrested so far."
Bengal Police Stopped Adhir Ranjan From Visiting Victims of Birbhum Violence: Gaurav Gogoi
Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi alleged in Lok Sabha that LoP and Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury was stopped by Bengal police when he was en route the site of Birbhum violence in Rampurhat to meet the victims. He said that the police have confined him 90 km away in Bolpur.
Capital Investment of Rs 2 Lakh Crore for Railways: Ashwini
Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw told Rajya Sabha that capital investment of Rs 2 lakh crore has been made for Railways this year.
He said, "Capital investment in Railways was Rs 45,980 crore between 2009-14, which was not enough for the sector. We doubled it to Rs 99,511 crore between 2014-19. Capital investment of Rs 2 lakh crore has been made this year."
Regarding bullets trains, the Minister said, "Questions have raised as to, what is the need for a bullet train? I want to put forth a question before the House - what are the aspirations of our next generation? Aren't they aspiring to be modern?"
No Question Linking Ukraine Crisis to Trade: EAM
External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar said in Rajya Sabha that the government is examining various trade-related aspects, including those related to payments in the wake of Russia-Ukraine war.
"We are clear on our principles. International order must respect territorial integrity and sovereignty of States," said Jaishankar.
He said that Indian foreign policy decisions are made in national interest, "guided by our thinking and our views." He said, "No question of linking the Ukraine situation to trade."
He asserted that oil imports from Russia is an insignificant amount.
Regarding Operation Ganga, he said, "Entire foreign policy apparatus swung into action to bring back Indians from Ukraine...The evacuation process from Afghanistan was stressful though manageable...Vande Bharat mission where we brought back Indians from abroad in Covid crisis was daunting."
'Huge Delay in Implementing National Wage Policy'
RJD leader Manoj Kumar Jha told Rajya Sabha, "There has been a huge delay in implementing the National Wage Policy. In 2018, there was a report of the Satpathy Committee, which decided to fix Rs 375 per day/ Rs 9,750 per month. But this report was not discussed, nor was it implemented."
No Privatisation of Railways: Ashwini
Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw says in Rajya Sabha, "No privatisation of Railways."
Mumbai-Ahmedabad Bullet Train a ‘Vanity Project’: O’Brien
Speaking at a discussion on the working of the Ministry of Railways, TMC leader Derek O'Brien told Rajya Sabha that the Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train line is a "vanity project" of the Centre.
He accused the government of not addressing the real transportation needs of the common people.
O'Brien said, "Your outlook on the railways is different from the Trinamool Congress and many other parties... For us, the railways constitutes the infrastructure for the fundamental right of every Indian citizen to travel from point A to point B. It is a fundamental right as far as transport goes. You may look at differently, we do not."
Lok Sabha Passes The Appropriation Bill, 2022
Lok Sabha passes The Appropriation Bill, 2022 on Thursday.
Rajya Sabha Adjourns for the Day
Rajya Sabha adjourned for the day to meet on 25 March at 11 am.
Lok Sabha Adjourns for the Day
Lok Sabha adjourned for the day to meet on 25 March at 11 am.