On Day 6, Parliament Discusses Solutions for Natural Calamities
Parliament Winter Session, Day 6: Both houses demand a discussion on the flood situation in Chennai.
advertisement
Rajya Sabha adjourned for the day.
Lok Sabha continues with matters of public importance.
In Lok Sabha, MPs discuss issues of urgent public importance. TMC’s Saugata Roy takes up the issue of rising prices of pulses in the country.
Meanwhile in Rajya Sabha, Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut points out that there have been calamities like the Tamil Nadu floods in other parts of the country too. Raut says, “It’s not just about Chennai. What were our systems doing till it reached the point where entire cities are underwater? Why could they not predict it?”
Rajya Sabha continues discussing the flood situation. Congress leader Renuka Chaudhary says the situation is ironic as Tamil Nadu was looking forward to water for years and now there is a deluge.
“Giving them sustainable, safe drinking water must become a national priority. We must ensure that this is made available to them”.
CPI leader D Raja demands that the Centre extend help to all states affected by natural calamities in the recent past.
D Raja also says the Centre should declare the current situation a disaster and ask all MPs to officially contribute from MPLADS funds.
‘No Follow up After Hudhud, Don’t Repeat it’
TDP leader C Ramesh claims that promises of relief were made to Andha Pradesh too after cyclone Hudhud but were never fulfilled.
He also says that compensation is not a permanent solution and the Centre must try to put systems that offer long-term relief in place.
Lok Sabha Moves on
Mallikarjun Kharge, Congress leader in Lok Sabha says the prime minister and home minister could easily do an aerial survey and come back to Delhi.
BJP replies saying they don’t believe in hawai netagiri.
But the leaders settle down and move on to the Carriage by Air (Amendment) Bill, 2015.
Please Write Some More Cheques: TMC
TMC leader Derek O’Brien has some suggestions for the government.
He says several teams have been pressed-in, which is great but the recent CAG report says the NDRF is not equipped to deal with a calamity of such scale.
He cites a similar situation in West Bengal about 100 days back and says that in spite of letters written to the prime minister himself, the state did not get adequate help.
In the context of the disaster in Chennai, JDU’s KC Tyagi says the biggest problem in near future is the rise in global temperature.
He says it is not about the right or wrong of a particular government.
Shiv Sena leader Arvind Sawant agrees with extending support to Tamil Nadu but also says it is worrying that the Met department is unable to give warnings ahead of calamities that occur at such scale.
Leaders across party lines from Kashmir (BJP MP) to Kerala (CPIM MP) request the Centre to continue sending all possible help to Tamil Nadu in the face of such a disaster.
Meanwhile in Lok Sabha, AIADMK leader Maragatham highlights the action taken by Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa to minimise damage to the people.
Kanimozhi narrates stories covered by the media, stories of entire families being washed away in the floods. The DMK leader emphasises that this is not the time to question the state government or what it might be doing wrong but to come together and help the people.
Kanimozhi says once the waters begin to recede, medical help must be given to the people. She also requests the Centre to send in teams to take stock of the situation.
Venkaiah Naidu responds saying teams have already been sent and that they are at work.
DMK leader Kanimozhi describes the situation in multiple districts in Tamil Nadu due to floods.
She says, “This is not the first time Tamil Nadu is facing such a calamity. Students haven’t gone back to school for a fortnight now. The death toll is far more than the government estimates. Lakhs of people have been displaced and the economic impact on SMEs and traders is huge”.
Kanimozhi appreciates the government for the work being done by the army, NDRF and other rescue teams.
Deputy chairman PJ Kurien says everyone will contribute from MPLADS fund, the amount will be decided later.
MPs Agree to Extend Help to Tamil Nadu
In Rajya Sabha, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Venkaiah Naidu requests members of Parliament to focus on helping Chennai.
He says the Centre is trying its best to coordinate with Tamil Nadu government.
Rajya Sabha has once again been adjourned till 3:30 PM.
Rajya Sabha Stands Adjourned
Rajya Sabha has been adjourned till 3:15 PM. Discussion on resolution of row over Congress member Selja Kumari’s temple entry remarks and ruling side reaction caused the disturbance, the solution of which is getting discussed during this break.
Rajya Sabha Might Resume After 3 pm
Peace could not be restored in Rajya Sabha. The House remains adjourned till 3 PM. Since morning no topic could not be discussed in a proper way due to multiple adjournments.
Venkaiah Naidu Delivers a Self-Composed Couplet in Defence
Union Parliamentary Minister Venkaiah Naidu composed a couplet in jest to reply to a minister who was accusing the Central government in passing for not doing enough for the flood-hit areas of the country.
Chennai Floods: Home Minister to Make Statement in Parliament
Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh might make a statement on the Chennai floods, according to a tweet posted by a senior journalist. Right now discussions are going on full swing in Lok Sabha on this topic.
Rajya Sabha Disturbed, Adjourned for 15 Minutes
Ruckus continued to dominate the Rajya Sabha, forcing Deputy Chairman PJ Kurien to adjourn the House for fifteen minutes. Trinamool Congress leader Derek O’Brien demanded for an apology from Jaitley which caused more furore.
RS: Deputy Chairman Asks All to Allow Him to Run the House
Lok Sabha Suddenly Adjourned
Lok Sabha suddenly was adjourned till 2:10 PM. The channel flashed it cutting in middle the debate put up by a BJP leader from Cuttack about the reccurent flood situation in Odisha.
Lok Sabha speaker Sumitra Mahajan informed right in the beginning that adjournment of the House was disallowed during the Question Hour. Following this the House fuctioned relatively peacefully, so the reason behind this adjourment remains a suspense.
Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury’s Gaffe Lightens Mood in LS
Indian National Congress member Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury’s gaffe helped change the serious situation in Lok Sabha for a while. While discussing about the flood and drought situation in West Bengal and other states, he mistook the name of cyclone Phailin which ravaged Odisha and Andhra Pradesh in October 2013.
He repeatedly said ‘Pailan’ while referring to Phailin. Just to clarify, Pailan is the name of a group of companies operating from West Bengal.
Chennai Flood: AIADMK Leader Asks Centre to Release Fund
AIADMK leader TG Venkatesh Babu asked the Centre to release funds for Chennai.
Rajya Sabha Adjourned Till 2 PM
Rajya Sabha will remain adjourned till 2 PM following uproar by Congress members over Gujarat temple issue. Union Minister Arun Jaitley asked for a clarification from Congress leader Selji Kumari who complained of facing caste discrimination in a Dwarka temple.
Sumitra Mahajan Refuses to Take Mallikarjun Kharge’s Question
Lok Sabha speaker Sumitra Mahajan refused to give leader of opposition in Lok Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge a chance to ask for clarification on Union Minister of State for External Affairs General (retd.) V. K. Singh’s Dalit remark. She was heard saying repeatedly that it was discussed earlier and there was no need to talk about it again. Venkaiah Naidu too echoed that Singh never said anything inflammatory and asked the Opposition not to read in too much.
Immigration Laws Will Be Revised: Sushma Swaraj
MEA minister Sushma Swaraj informed the Lok Sabha that the Centre is contemplating revising the immigration laws.
Swaraj said it was a common complaint that many employers in Gulf countries seize the passports of their Indian employees to ensure that they do not return home easily.
To help such distressed Indian workers, she said, Indian missions often hold public grievance meetings to help them and try to retrieve such passports from their employers.
If these efforts do not bear fruit, such distressed Indians are given emergency exit permit for their return.
The Minister said the government has already decided that all Indians going abroad as domestic help must go through government-registered recruitment agencies so that no exploitation takes place.
Swaraj said those who go abroad through unregistered recruitment agents in an unscrupulous manner can be termed as human trafficking. “We are trying to bring such activities under the ambit of Anti-Human Trafficking Act,” she said.
The Minister said as per the information made available to the Ministry, there is no general pattern to indicate an increase in cases of exploitation or torture of Indian workers.
(With PTI inputs)
PM Has Sought Justice From Saudi Arabia for TN Woman: Sushma
External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj said in Lok Sabha today that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has sought justice for a woman from Tamil Nadu whose arm was chopped off recently by her employer in Saudi Arabia.
Modi had met Saudi King Salman Al Saud in Turkey on the margins of the G20 Summit on November 16.
The 56-year-old maid hails from Mungileri village near Katpadi in Tamil Nadu. She has since returned home after the brutal attack in Riyadh in October.
Swaraj said when the incident of Munirathnam came to light, the Indian Embassy immediately contacted the Saudi Arabian authorities and insisted on registering an attempt to murder case.
The Minister said the government was working with several Gulf countries to stop exploitation of Indian labourers in those countries.
(With PTI inputs)
No Discrimination Faced by Indians in Middle-East: Sushma Swaraj in LS
In a reply to a question in Lok Sabha, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj asks politicians not to spread talks about Indians facing discrimination in the Middle-East. She continued to say that India and all the Middle-east countries share friendly relationship.
Rajya Sabha Again Adjourned
Ruckus continued forcing Kurien to adjourn Rajya Sabha again. Session to resume at 12 pm.
Rajya Sabha Adjourned till 11:36 am.
Ruckus in Rajya Sabha following Jaitley-Selja discussion forced deputy chairman P. J. Kurien to adjourn the House till 11:36 am.
Arun Jaitley Rubbishes Selja Kumari’s Caste Remark
Minister for Finance, Corporate Affairs, Information, and Broadcasting Arun Jaitley refutes the claim that INC leader Selja Kumari, a former minister of culture faced caste discrimination in a Dwarka temple, in Rajya Sabha.
INC leader Selja Kumari urges the leaders of the House not to spread these rumours and mislead the House.
LS Speaker Declares Adjournment During Question Hour Disallowed
As soon as the House met for the day, Speaker Sumitra Mahajan, without specifying the subjects, said she has disallowed all notices of adjournment of Question Hour.
At this, Congress members rushed to the Well shouting slogans even as Parliamentary Affairs Minister M Venkaiah Naidu suggested that a discussion on rain and floods in Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh should be taken up first as an exception.
He said while the state government was doing its best, Parliament should show its support to the people of the state.
“Chennai is in neck deep water...navy has been deployed ... the situation is precarious. Let us discuss it on priority,” he said.
But the unrelenting Congress members continued to raise slogans against Singh demanding an apology.
Congress leader in the Lok Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge wanted to know the action the Prime Minister plans against Singh for his remarks. The PM was present in the House.
(With PTI inputs)
Both Houses Demand Discussion on Chennai Floods
Union Minister of Urban Development, Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation and Parliamentary Affairs minister Venkaiah Naidu demands discussion on Chennai floods in the Lok Sabha. Rajya Sabha Chairman Mohammad Hamid Ansari asked the house to observe a minute of silence for victims of Chennai floods and the terrorist attacks occurring in different parts of the world.
(At The Quint, we question everything. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member today.)