Jaitley Trashes Congress Version Over “Intolerance” and Ishrat
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What About Tolerance, National Security?
Jaitley attacks the Opposition over the “intolerance” debate. He says, “There were instances of violence at holy places before Delhi elections. Most of the cases were solved by the state police. But this was already labelled intolerance.”
The Finance Minister also attacked the Congress over the “Ishrat Jahan affidavit” issue. He said, “The case wasn’t just about changing an affidavit. For 90 days the charge sheet wasn’t filed against people who were involved”.
He added,
- Finance Minister Arun Jaitley rolled back EPF tax proposed in the 2016 Budget.
- The proposal will be reviewed by the Finance Ministry, Jaitley said.
- Women Parliamentarians speak on the floor of the House on International Women’s Day.
- Congress party president Sonia Gandhi demands speedy passage of Women’s Reservation Bill.
- Congress party vice-president Rahul Gandhi claims credit for EPF rollback.
Jaitley addresses questions on black money. He tells the House that the government has no hesitation in releasing the names of those accused of possessing black money. But adds that names can be provided once criminal cases are registered. Jaitley added that if the names are revealed before filing cases, that will only work in the favour of the accused.
He also hit out at the Opposition telling Rajya Sabha that the earlier plans introduced by the UPA government had failed to bring back black money stashed abroad.
Jaitley also tells the House, these are times of a global crisis which is why all parties need to work together.
He also says, “I don’t think the situation with private banks is a crisis, it is a challenge”.
Jaitley attacked the Opposition over inflation, slams the Congress saying, “You left inflation in double digits when you left office.”
Not Against Kanhaiya: Jaitley
Finance Minister Arun Jaitley speaks in the Rajya Sabha, tells the House that there was no bias against any arrested student.
He was speaking about Kanhaiya Kumar, the Jawaharlal Nehru University Students’ Union President.
D Raja Causes Uproar in RS
Communist Party of India (CPI) member D Raja dares government to show political will to strike off the Sedition law.
The RSS and Hindu Mahasabha never participated in the freedom struggle which is the source of nationalism, said Raja, while explaining the idea of “anti-nationalism” propagated against the students of JNU.
Motion of Thanks for the President’s Address
Communist Party of India (Marxist) member Sitaram Yechury expresses solidarity with suppressed women.
Yechury questioned why the Women’s Reservation Bill has not been passed in the Lok Sabha even though it has already gone through in the Rajya Sabha.
He also expressed “deep regret” that the President has not mentioned any of the issues faced by the higher education institutions – Hyderabad University, JNU, FTII, IIT-Chennai (Madras), and now Allahabad University – in his motion of thanks.
“They’re trying to make this a Hindu rashtra,” says Yechury after mentioning the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS)‘s effect on the government.
Lok Sabha adjourned till 3:00 pm.
Rahul Gandhi Takes Credit For EPF Rollback
Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi took credit for the rollback of the EPF tax proposal by Finance Minister Arun Jaitley.
Rajya Sabha adjourned till 2:00 pm as Lok Sabha continues to let all the women Parliamentarians speak on the floor of the House.
The Opposition raised questions related to punishment for defence personnel caught spying.
Union Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar told the House that the district courts are addressing various cases on this front. In one case, he said, the court has imprisoned a person for seven years even after suspension.
Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan wished members of the Lower House of Parliament on the occasion of International Women’s Day.
Sonia Gandhi Addresses Lok Sabha
Congress president Sonia Gandhi lauded women like Indira Gandhi, Pratibha Patil, Meera Kumar, Sarojini Naidu, Amrit Kaur, and more.
Gandhi sought efforts from the government to ensure representation of women in the local level elections in India and early passage of the Women’s Reservation Bill.
Sonia Gandhi attacked the government on its promise of “minimum government, maximum governance”.
Jaitley Rolls Back EPF Tax Proposal
Finance Minister Arun Jaitley rolls back the EPF tax proposed in the Union Budget . The move will be reviewed by the Finance Ministry. The announcement was made in the Lok Sabha as he clarified the government’s stance.
However, the tax proposal for National Pension system (NPS) scheme has been retained, Jaitley said.
Allahabad University Issue Discussed
Richa Singh, President of Allahabad University Students Union wrote to all the members of Parliament telling them about the plight of women in the state of Uttar Pradesh. KC Tyagi of the JD(U) party said that this may spiral into a pressing issue.
Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi, MoS, Parliamentary Affairs promised investigation in the claims made by Singh, amid demands of ouster of the Vice Chancellor of Allahabad University by Congress members.
Threat to Kanhaiya Kumar Discussed
Comments by Kuldeep Varshney and posters inciting the murder of JNUSU president Kanhaiya Kumar was introduced by Ghulam Nabi Azad.
Azad has sought government protection for Kanhaiya Kumar in the light of such threats.
The issue of fake videos of the events of 9 February being circulated and aired on television news channels was also raised. The videos will be investigated, the Deputy Chairman of Rajya Sabha, PJ Kurien said.
Congressman Anand Sharma Resigns From RS
Congress Leader Anand Sharma resigns from Rajya Sabha. He will file nomination from Himachal Pradesh and is likely to be re-elected on 21 March.
Women’s Day in Parliament
Congress MP Ranjeet Ranjan rides a bike to the Parliament to mark the International Women’s Day.
Even as Parliamentarians like Najma Heptulla, Sasikala Pushpa, and Ambika Soni speak about topics related to women empowerment, Congress member Ranjeet Rajan made a women’s day special entry in the Parliament.
Vice President Hamid Ansari pays tribute to late former Speaker of Lok Sabha, PA Sangma, who died on 4 March 2016 at the age of 68 years, in the Rajya Sabha.
Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan pays tribute to the late members of Parliament. The lower house of Parliament observes momentary silence to condole the death of late members of the Parliament.
Today marks two weeks since the start of the Budget session of Parliament. Finance Minister Arun Jaitley is expected to clarify the government’s stance on the tax on EPF of the Employees’ Provident Fund (EPF). The Railway Budget will also come up for review.
PM Modi had earlier proposed that only women Parliamentarians should speak in Parliament on 8 March to mark International Women’s Day.
The Communist Party of India (Marxist) has given adjournment motion in Lok Sabha on situation due to threat to JNUSU president Kanhaiya Kumar.
The session has seen the presentation of Railway Budget, General Budget, heated debate and frequent adjournments on the issue of sedition charges against Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) students, the death of Hyderabad University scholar Rohith Vemula, and the Aircel-Maxis case.
Finance Minister Arun Jaitley will make a statement about the tax on the withdrawn amount from the (EPF) in the Parliament at 12 noon. With reports of Prime Minister Narendra Modi intervening on the issue of tax levy on withdrawals from EPF, expectations are high Jaitley will announce a rollback.
But it remains to be seen if the government will go in for a complete withdrawal of the tax or retain the tax only on the interest component and exempt the principal amount or defer its implementation.
Both the houses will also discuss the Railway Budget.
Discussion on Whistle Blower Protection (Amendment) Bill, 2015 is also scheduled in the Rajya Sabha today. Minister of Science and Technology Jitendra Singh had introduced the bill on 7 December 2015.
The Opposition had sought involvement of the select committee in the matter.
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Published: 08 Mar 2016,10:58 AM IST