Parliament: No GST Progress, Rajnath Blames Pak For Kashmir Crisis
Catch the live updates from the first day of the monsoon session in the Parliament.
- BSP Chief Mayawati blamed the BJP for the assault on the four Dalit men who were paraded half-naked in the region.
- No consensus has been reached over GST bill yet.
- Congress criticised the BJP over the use of pellets by the army in Kashmir.
- Rajya Sabha MP nominated by BJP, Navjot Singh Sidhu resigned from his position.
- Rajnath Singh told the Rajya Sabha that the Centre has asked the forces to avoid using lethal weapons.
On the first day of the monsoon session, the Opposition scheduled the issue of violence and loss of life in Jammu and Kashmir as the business of the day.
‘We Urge State Machinery to Use Minimum Force’
Replying to the Opposition, Home Minister Rajnath Singh said in the Rajya Sabha that the Centre has asked the forces to avoid using lethal weapons. He also criticised Pakistan for declaring 19 July as a Black Day to mourn Hizbul chief, Burhan Wani’s death.
He informed the Rajya Sabha, that he has been constantly in touch with Jammu and Kashmir CM, Mehbooba Mufti, to bring about stability in the state.
‘Stop Using Pellets in Kashmir’
Introduced by Ghulam Nabi Azad, leaders from both sides spoke about the issue of violence in Kashmir. Azad pointed out the use of excessive forces in the state. And demanded that
Blaming Everything on Foreign Hand is Unrealistic: Dr Karan Singh
INC’s Dr Karan Singh called the situation a “national crisis” and said blaming everything on Pakistan or the “foreign hand” is “unrealistic”.
He also added that the issue of disproportionate force should be condoned.
The Hyphenation of “Indo-Pak” Should be Ended: Sitaram Yechury
Sitaram Yechury, CPI (M) Bengal began with a lamentation of the situation in Kashmir. He said:
Commenting on the recent violence in the Valley, Yechury also added:
Announcement of Sidhu’s Resignation Amidst the Session
Rajya Sabha MP nominated by BJP Navjot Singh Sidhu resigned from his position. The House accepted his resignation.
Reports claim that Sidhu is likely to join the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) as the Chief Ministerial candidate for the upcoming Punjab Assembly election.
Jaitley’s Answer to Azad
Leader of the House and Finance Minister Arun Jaitley responded to Azad’s questions. He started by stating that the fight is between this country and the separatists. Not within the parties, thus, the national parties have to join forces to maintain peace in the Valley, Jaitley said.
At one point, said Jaitley, the world woke up to the fact that “terrorism will never be a fruit for you”.
Freedom of Press
Congress member Ghulam Nabi Azad spoke in support of freedom of speech but criticised the media reports that spreads hatred.
Azad also raised the issue of inquiry against Zakir Naik, saying that the probe against him should be executed strictly.
Defending the newspapers, Azad criticised the prime time television news shows for helping people like Naik to spew hatred.
Ghulam Nabi Azad on Kashmir in RS
Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha and Congress member Ghulam Nabi Azad introduces the issue of turmoil in Kashmir that has claimed 42 lives.
Azad said that militants have been killed during various occasions over the past years, throughout various regimes – Congress, Omar Abdullah, and late CM Mufti Mohammad Sayeed’s time as well. But, he added, that the use of pellet guns and violence in Kashmir is unbearable.
Close to 18,000 boys, women, men are injured and most of them are victims of pellet guns, Azad said, questioning the use of pellet-guns.
The BJP, Azad added, will require many more years to retain itself in the Valley. He questioned the use of disproportionate use of force on the gentle people of Kashmir.
The people are ready to stay under curfew, without food and ration, in rebellion.
The Parliament’s Business Advisory Committee (BAC) has allocated 5 hours for the discussion over Goods and Services Tax (GST) bill.
However, no consensus has been reached yet.
Rajya Sabha adjourned till 2pm.
The Rajya Sabha was adjourned for 10 minutes as members of the House entered the well raising anti-BJP slogans after Mayawati raised the incident in Una, Gujarat.
Four men were thrashed in Somnath in Gujarat on Monday for allegedly smuggling cow leather. Cow protection vigilantes tied up the men to the rear end of a car, stripped and beat up the suspected smugglers.
Mayawati Causes Ruckus in Rajya Sabha
Bahujan Samajwadi Party (BSP) supremo Mayawati launched a BJP-offensive on the first day of monsoon session in the Rajya Sabha amid sharp opposition from Information and Broadcast Minister M Venkaiah Naidu.
She raised the issue of alleged targeting of the members of the Dalit community in Una, Gujarat. She blamed the BJP regime for the assault on the four Dalit men who were paraded half-naked in the region.
Watch the video of the incident in question:
Prime Minister Narendra Modi introduces the newly inducted cabinet ministers in the Rajya Sabha.
Rajya Sabha members observe two minutes of silence for the lives lost in the incidents of cloudbursts in the country and terror attacks in Turkey and France.
The new members elected to the Rajya Sabha introduced themselves to the House on the first day of the monsoon session.
Lok Sabha Adjourned
The Lok Sabha was adjourned after the Prime Minister Narendra Modi introduces the new ministers inducted in the cabinet as a part of the cabinet reshuffle.
Speaker of Lok Sabha, Sumitra Mahajan paid tribute to the deceased members of the Lok Sabha on day one of the monsoon session.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived at the Parliament to attend the first day of the monsoon session at the Parliament and expressed hope to make important decisions.
“I spoke to all the parties over the past days, and everyone is in the mood to move forward and support speedy development,” says Prime Minister Narendra Modi outside the Parliament.
PM Modi will be introducing the new ministers inducted to the cabinet as a part of the cabinet reshuffle.
What to Expect?
The Parliament will hold the first session of the monsoon session on Monday. The 20-session season will conclude on 18 August.
The issues that are bound to dominate both the Houses are as follows:
- Goods and Services Tax (GST) Bill
- India’s failed Nuclear Suppliers Group membership bid
- Death and turmoil in Jammu and Kashmir
- Uniform Civil Code
At the all party meeting held on Sunday, the Congress’ Leader of Oppostion, Ghulam Nabi Azad has hinted at support from his party in the matter of the GST Bill.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) parliamentary party executive meeting will take place at 6 pm and the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) floor leaders will meet at 7 pm.
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