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Home Minister Amit Shah, while addressing the Lok Sabha after the lunch break on Friday, 28 June said that the Congress had imposed President’s rule in J&K more than any other party and has no right to talk about democracy.
Earlier in the day, Shah tabled a Bill to extend the President’s Rule in the state of Jammu and Kashmir.
Union Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad on 27 June informed Rajya Sabha that there are no discrepancies regarding the voter turnout and votes counted on Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) in 2019 Lok Sabha polls.
The Law Minister was replying to a specific question from Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut who said there have been complaints about operations of EVMs and differences in counting between EVMs and VVPATs in the just-concluded elections.
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The Congress on Tuesday panned Prime Minister Narendra Modi's reply to the Motion of Thanks to the President's address, alleging that he resorted to "old evading tactics" to hoodwink the common people as if he was still in election mode and failed to address the real issues.
Congress leader in the Lok Sabha Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury claimed that his party scored a "great victory" as the Prime Minister, who was previously "reluctant" to quote any Congress leader, was "compelled" to repeat Jawaharlal Nehru's words at the fag end of his speech.
"Prime Minister in his own reply has disappointed the people of our country by not taking up issues concerning the people, right from agriculture to industry to unemployment and last but not the least Bihar's encephalitis situation where hundreds of children have lost their lives," Chowdhury told reporters.
"He resorted to old evading tactics to hoodwink the common people, as if he was still in election mode. We expected that he would rise above partisan issues and would be conciliatory in taking all along," he said.
Accusing the Congress of not recognising its leaders' contribution, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday launched a stinging counter-attack, saying the party cannot see beyond the Gandhi family and it has been "flying so high" that it has got disconnected from the country's roots.
In his first speech in Parliament after his reelection, Modi said Congress members did not even mention former prime minister Manmohan Singh's work in their speeches in Lok Sabha during the two-day debate on the Motion of Thanks to the President's address.
He, however, was unsparing in his criticism of the Congress, and targeted it for not recognising the contributions of leaders outside the Gandhi-Nehru family, missing opportunities to empower Muslim women and "crushing India's soul" by imposing Emergency, whose anniversary fell on Tuesday.
DMK leader TR Baalu has given Adjournment Motion Notice in Lok Sabha over water crisis in Tamil Nadu.
RSP MP NK Premchandran has given Adjournment Motion Notice in Lok Sabha over incidents of mob lynching.
Minorities have never been more safe in the country than under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, BJP leader KJ Alphons said in the Rajya Sabha on Wednesday amid Opposition references to lynching cases.
Speaking on the Motion of Thanks on the President's Address, he said Modi is "more democratic" than anyone before him.
Five years back it was said that Christians will be beaten up and churches will be burnt once the BJP comes to power, he said.
"Have you seen any Christian being beaten up or any church being burnt (since the BJP came to power)," he asked.
"Never has it been safer for minorities than under Modi," he said as some in the Opposition jeered, making references to lynching of Muslims in some parts of the country.
Rajya Sabha adjourned for lunch and will resume at 2 pm.
Responding to supplementaries during Question Hour, Telecom Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said during natural calamities such as floods and cyclones, only state-run telecom companies BSNL and MTNL extend free services to subscribers.
BJP’s Rajiv Pratap Rudy claimed that other private operators too extend free services. At this Prasad asserted that while private companies provide free services only for a couple of days, BSNL and MTNL provide free services till the calamity is over.
Rajya Sabha resumed at 2 pm after it was adjourned for lunch.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed Rajya Sabha after the House resumed at 2 pm.
Taking a dig at the Congress, he asked if the party is equivalent to India. He said “calling BJP's election victory defeat of democracy and country is insult to democracy.”
He added “this election was special, a full majority government after decades reflects emphasis on stability in minds of voters.”
Hitting out at the Opposition for questioning the 'fair functioning' of EVMs in the Lok Sabha elections, PM Modi said that the machines had been used in so many elections and questioned why the issue was being raised at this time.
“Many elections were held using EVMs and (many) parties present in the Rajya Sabha had gotten the opportunity to govern in different states after these elections. Then, why are EVMs being questioned today?” he said.
He also said that the BJP had worked its way up from just two seats rather than making “excuses” or blaming polling booths.
He also said that Congress has been unable to accept its defeat and it is not a healthy sign in a democracy.
After a man was forced to chant 'Jai Shri Ram' and lynched in Jharkhand, PM Modi said he was “pained” by the incident and strict action should be taken against the accused.
However, he also added that the entire state of Jharkhand cannot be blamed for the incident and the people involved in such crimes should be isolated from the state and punished.
PM Modi asked the Congress party if they will not “take credit” for NRC.
“You take credit for everything, will you not take credit for NRC? Rajiv Gandhi had accepted NRC in the Assam accord. Then Supreme Court had to intervene. Also, SC directed us so we have implemented it. So why are you not taking credit for this?”
PM Modi termed the deaths caused in Bihar due to Acute Encephalitis Syndrome as “unfortunate” and a “matter of shame”.
“The deaths in Bihar due to Acute Encephalitis Syndrome are unfortunate and a matter of shame for us. We have to take this seriously. I am in constant touch with the state government and I am sure we will collectively come out of this crisis soon.”
He further added “the need of the hour is to strengthen Ayushman Bharat. We want our poor to get the best quality and affordable medical treatment.”
Lok Sabha members on 26 June appreciated Speaker Om Birla for chairing proceedings of the House for three hours at a stretch and delaying lunch time to accommodate members to flag issues during Zero Hour.
As Birla called out the name of TMC member Saugata Roy to speak during Zero Hour, the senior leader of the House said the Speaker has "forgotten his hunger pangs" and is running the House at a stretch.
"This is an example of posterity and how a Speaker should work," Roy said.
Members of the TMC and BJP on 26 June exchanged heated words in the Lok Sabha after Locket Chatterjee of the saffron party raised the issue of political violence in West Bengal.
Speaking during the Zero Hour, Chatterjee launched an attack on the West Bengal government over the law and order situation in the state.
She claimed over 100 BJP workers have been killed in political violence after civic body polls and 15 after the Lok Sabha polls.
Chatterjee also blamed West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee for the political violence which prompted TMC members to launch a counter attack.
TMC member Saugata Roy said the incident of lynching of a youth in Jharkhand is an example of religious intolerance and instead of attacking the West Bengal government, the BJP should look into the affairs of the state ruled by it.
“It is a blot on humanity,” the Trinamool Congress MP said.
Leader of the Congress in the Lok Sabha Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury on 26 June,accused the government of using "suppressive" tactics against the media.
He alleged during the Zero Hour that the government was "undemocratic" and suffered from "megalomania", claiming that it used its advertisement measures to pressure the media.
Minister of State in the Ministry of Home Affairs, G Kishan Reddy on 26 June said there was no intelligence failure in the Pulwama, attack during in the Parliament.
On being asked whether the reasons of Pulwama terror attack was a failure of intelligence, Reddy in Lok Sabha replied, "Jammu and Kashmir are affected by terrorism sponsored and supported from across the border for the last three decades. However, owing to the policy of zero tolerance towards terrorism and sustained action against the terrorists by the security forces, a large number of terrorists have been neutralized during the past few years."
He added saying, "all agencies are working in a coordinated manner and the intelligence inputs are shared among various agencies on a real-time basis."
A motion of thanks to President for his address to the joint sitting of Parliament was passed by voice-vote in Rajya Sabha.
After the Prime Minister's reply to the debate that lasted 13 hours and saw participation of 50 speakers from different parties, the House passed the motion expressing gratitude to the President.
Meanwhile, the Congress withdrew over 200 amendments and the ones moved by the CPI and the CPM negated by voice vote.
The Indian Air Force lost 27 aircraft, including 15 fighter jets and helicopters, in crashes since 2016, Minister of State for Defence Shripad Naik said on 26 June.
The quantum of provisional loss in 11 cases of crashes was approximately Rs 524.64 crore, he said in a written reply in Lok Sabha.
In the 2016-17 fiscal, six IAF fighter jets, two helicopters, one transport aircraft and one trainer crashed. In 2017-18, the air force lost two fighter jets and one trainer aircraft in crashes.
The number rose sharply in 2018-19 with the IAF losing seven fighter jets, two helicopters and two trainers.
The BJP on Wednesday issued a three-line whip to all its members in the Lok Sabha asking them to be present in the House on 28 June and 1 July.
Party sources told PTI that the whip was issued as some important legislations are likely to be taken up for passage.
The Aadhar Amendment Bill 2019 along with The Homeopathy Central Council (Amendment) Bill 2019 and The Special Economic Zones (Amendment) Bill 2019 will be tabled in the Parliament on Thursday.
The Central Educational Institutions (Reservation in Teachers' Cadre) Bill, 2019 , The Indian Medical Council (Amendment) Bill, 2019 and The Dentists (Amendment) Bill, 2019 will be introduced.
While responding to BJP MP Hema Malini’s inquiry on the success rate of Ude Desh ka Aam Naagrik (UDAN) scheme, Hardeep Singh, Minister of State, Civil Aviation said that the scheme has done well.
He added that 174 routes have been operationalised under the UDAN scheme.
Minister of State for HRD Sanjay Dhotre introduced The fresh Central Education Institutions (Reservation in Teachers'Cadre) Bill, 2019 on Thursday.
The bill seeks to allow filling up of more than 7,000 existing vacancies by direct recruitment in accordance with a new quota system in institutions of higher education.
A similar bill was introduced in Parliament during the tenure of the previous Lok Sabha and it had lapsed.
The government had then brought an ordinance.
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said she is looking into demands of MPs from southern states such as Karnataka for conducting bank recruitment exams in local language as well.
Congress’ G C Chandrasekhar raised the issue through a Zero Hour mention.
He said the Indian Banking Service examination and other recruitment tests should be held in Kannada language alongside English and Hindi for the convenience of local aspirants.
Sitharaman said "the matter is of serious concern," she said. "I am seized of the matter. I will look into it and come back to the House."
Rajya Sabha was adjourned till 2 pm.
Mohanbhai Sanjibhai Delkar demanded establishment of a legislature in the union territory.
"I would urge the central government to act on that report. The proposal is pending," he said, adding in terms of population and revenue, the union territory should get a legislature.
SP MP Javed Ali Khan said the government had in March promulgated an ordinance restoring the old system of reserving teaching posts in public institutions of higher education.
Despite this, the Central University of Punjab, Karnataka University, Tamil Nadu University and Indira Gandhi National Tribal University in Amarkantak, Madhya Pradesh have advertised for recruitment of assistant professors, associate professors and professors which is not in conformity with the reservation policy, he said.
Naidu asked the government to look into the issue and find a solution. "We want a solution," he said.
Lok Sabha has been adjourned till 3 pm.
BJP leader Vijay Goel demanded a ban on lottery in the country, saying it is a social evil and hurts the poor the most.
In Rajya Sabha, he said single digit lottery has been banned and now even multi-digit number lotteries too should be banned.
BJP state chief Manoj Tiwari on 27 June raised the issue of pollution in River Yamuna in the Lok Sabha and demanded that steps be taken to stop it.
"Yamuna is in danger. It is more in danger around Okhla where 3,000 houses are being built along Yamuna banks. There should be an inquiry into this and steps should be taken to check pollution of Yamuna," Tiwari said in the Lok Sabha.
Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Puri on 27 June in Lok Sabha said the revival of Jet Airways was only possible under Insolvency Bankruptcy Code.
Responding to a question on the closure of Jet Airways, Puri added, "mobilising financial resources and ensuring efficient operations as per business plan are the responsibility of the airline."
Puri also said that the Centre has not received any proposal from the AAP government on providing free rides to women in the Delhi Metro.
Reacting to this, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said the DMRC has submitted a proposal regarding the scheme to his government and that he was committed to provide free metro rides to women.
Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad on 27 June informed Rajya Sabha that there are no discrepancies regarding the voter turnout and votes counted on Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) in 2019 Lok Sabha polls.
The Law Minister was replying to a specific question from Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut who said there have been complaints about operations of EVMs and differences in counting between EVMs and VVPATs in the just-concluded elections.
"This is a question about manufacturing of EVMs and not its operations. The EC has said there is no manufacturing defect in EVMs. If there is any specific complaint, I will get the information from the EC," Prasad told the upper house.
A bill seeking to extend the period for reconstitution of the Central Council for Homeopathy (CCH) from the existing period of one year to two years was passed by the Lok Sabha on Thursday.
The Homoeopathy Central Council (Amendment) Bill, 2019 will enable the government to extend the tenure of the Board of Governors for a further period of one year with effect from 17 May 2019.
Both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha have been adjourned. The lower and the upper houses will resume at 11 am on Friday, 28 June.
The Jammu and Kashmir Reservation (Amendment) Bill 2019 and the Aaadhar and other laws (Amendment) Bill 2019 Private Members' business will be tabled in the Rajya Sabha today.
Home Minister Amit Shah tables a Bill to extend the President’s Rule in the state of Jammu and Kashmir.
“In the view of Ramzan and Amarnath Yatra in J&K, preparations are underway to hold Assembly elections by the end of this year,” he said.
He also asserted that the law and order situation in the state is under control.
“We are monitoring the situation in Jammu and Kashmir. Construction of bunkers in border areas will be done within time limit set by the previous home minister Rajnath Singh Ji. Life of every individual is important to us,” he said.
Shah also moved the J&K Reservation Bill in Lok Sabha. “This bill is not to please anyone but for those living near the International Border,” he said.
Congress leader Manoj Tiwari blamed the failure of the BJP-PDP alliance of 2015 for the President’s rule in J&K.
“Today situation is such that we have to extend President's rule in Jammu & Kashmir every 6 months, its roots are in the alliance of PDP and BJP in 2015,” he said.
“If you have a tough policy against terrorism, we don't oppose it, but there is a need to keep in mind that the fight against terrorism can only be won if people are with you,” he added.
Home Minister Amit Shah, while addressing the Lok sabha after the lunch break said that the Congress had imposed President’s rule in J&K more than any other party and has no right to talk about democracy.
“They are saying we are trampling democracy in J&K. Till now 132 times, Article 356 (President's rule) has been imposed , out of which 93 times Congress has done it. Now these people will teach us democracy?” he said.
“Narendra Modi government has adopted a zero tolerance policy towards terror and I am sure we will be successful in achieving it with the help of our citizens,” he added..
Speaking in the Lok Sabha on Friday, Home Minister Amit Shah said, “Why wasn't Jamaat-e-Islami banned till date? Who did you want to please? It was BJP govt that banned Jamaat-e-Islami. Who put the ban on JKLF? It was BJP who did it.”
Speaking in the Lok Sabha on the Kashmir problem, Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday said, “Who called for ceasefire back then? It was Jawaharlal Nehru who did it and gave that portion(PoK) to Pakistan. You say we don't take ppl into confidence, but Nehru ji did it without taking the then HM into confidence. So Manish(Tewari) ji don't teach us history”.
In his speech in the Lok Sabha, Amit Shah said, “In 1931 Muslim Conference was established led by Sheikh Abdullah, for long Congress did not start its unit there and supported Muslim Conference.Congress put all its eggs in Abdullah's bucket but Abdullah ran away with bucket, as a result Sheikh Abdullah became PM there”.
Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday said in the Lok Sabha that the government is looking to bring forth development in Jammu and Kashmir.
“Some say there is an atmosphere of fear there. Those who are against India should have fear in their hearts. We are not part of tukde-tukde gang. We are not against common ppl of J&K, we have started process of providing them jobs and all govt schemes,” he said.