Congress MP Adhir Ranjan Chaudhary, on Thursday, 9 December, attacked the government over the civilian killings in Nagaland, where 13 civilians were gunned down by the armed forces in a case of “mistaken identity”.
On the ninth day of the winter session of the Parliament, Chaudhary said that the claim made by Union Home Minister Amit Shah that the vehicle carrying coal miners in Nagaland’s Mon district was asked to stop by the armed forces was false.
Earlier, Defence minister Rajnath Singh briefed both the houses of Parliament regarding the crash of an Indian Air Force (IAF) chopper in which Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Bipin Rawat, his wife, and 11 others lost their lives. Singh addressed the Lok Sabha at 11 am, followed by a statement in the Rajya Sabha (RS). Proceedings in both the houses had begun at 11 am.
The winter session has so far been stormy and has witnessed protests by the Opposition over issues such as the farmers' agitation, the recent civilian killings in Nagaland by the armed forces, and the suspension of 12 Rajya Sabha MPs for their protests during the monsoon session.
Both the houses observed two-minute silence on the demise of CDS General Bipin Rawat, his wife, and 11 other military personnel.
The Opposition did not protest today and attended the defence minister's address.
LS Adjourned Till 10 December
Lok Sabha has been adjourned till Friday, 10 December.
RS Passes National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (Amendment) Bill, 2021
Rajya Sabha passes 'The National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (Amendment) Bill 2021', which aims to give special status to six more institutes of pharmaceutical education and research and set up a council for these institutes.
Earlier, Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya, said:
"Before speaking on this Bill, I thank 10 lakh pharmacists and workers,CEOs,MDs,Chairmen who ensured medicine supply in India during fight against COVID and supplied medicines to 150 nations."
National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (Amendment) Bill, 2021
Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya moved the National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (Amendment) Bill, 2021, for discussion.
Lok Sabha had passed the bill on pharmaceutical education institutes on 7 December.
The bill seeks to accord special status to six more institutes of pharmaceutical education and research as well as to set up a council for these institutes.
The council will coordinate the activites among the institutes under the Bill to ensure the development of pharmaceutical education and research and maintenance of standards.
Not Allowed To Pay Tribute: LoP Kharge
Leader of the Opposition in Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge said that "after Defence Minister's statement in Rajya Sabha, Opposition demanded 1-2 minutes for each MP to pay tribute to CDS General Bipin Rawat and others who died in the chopper crash. But we were not allowed. It is unfortunate and we condemn this attitude."