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.

The Indian parliament building in New Delhi. (Photo: Reuters)

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• 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.
  

Updated at:18th Jul, 2016 at 6:10 PM

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.

Updated at:18th Jul, 2016 at 5:36 PM

‘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.

We will be dealing with militant with a tough hand, and to the citizens we offer our sympathies. Kashmir’s conflict is entirely sponsored by Pakistan. Even though it’s called Pakistan (the land of the pure), their actions are all impure. A terrorist has died in our country and it’s an internal matter, but Pakistan is interfering. The whole country declared a black day to mourn 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.

I am constantly in touch with J&K CM and whatever needs to be done to stabilise the state we will do it. I will talk to J&K CM about providing ration to all those people who arent able to leave their houses due to curfew.

Updated at:18th Jul, 2016 at 6:10 PM

‘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

Naresh Agarwal referred to Pakistan occupied Kashmir as Azad Kashmir in the Rajya Sabha. (Photo Courtesy: RSTV)

Derek O’Brien in the Rajya Sabha on Monday, 18 July 2016. (Photo Courtesy: RSTV)

Updated at:18th Jul, 2016 at 6:10 PM

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”.

Pakistan would only fan the flame. But simply to blame everything on foreign hand is being unrealistic. We have to accept that we are facing a serious problem of trust and credibility in the Valley. We have to look within, introspection is very important.

Dr Karan Singh, INC, New Delhi

Dr Karan Singh, INC, New Delhi. (Photo Courtesy: RSTV)

He also added that the issue of disproportionate force should be condoned.

Disproportionate force cannot be condoned, it has to be looked into. The youth and intelligentsia in the Valley are alienated...In a democracy the only way to get through the biggest problem is through dialogue.

Dr Karan Singh, INC, New Delhi

Updated at:18th Jul, 2016 at 4:33 PM

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:

I refuse to believe it is simply Pakistan’s fault....We need to end this thinking of a hyphenated existence with Pakistan, end Indo-Pak, India is an entity in its own.

Sitaram Yechury, CPI (M), West Bengal. (Photo Courtesy: RSTV)

Commenting on the recent violence in the Valley, Yechury also added:

This excessive use of force and those responsible for it should be investigated...Start a proper political process immediately in Kashmir. Kashmir is an unbreakable part of India and the pain it experiences should be treated and healed by the whole country- this is the message that needs to be sent to Kashmir.

Updated at:18th Jul, 2016 at 4:22 PM

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.

Updated at:18th Jul, 2016 at 4:23 PM

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.

Leader of the House Arun Jaitley in the Rajya Sabha. (Photo Courtesy: RSTV)

Pakistan never accepted Kashmir to be a part of India and they planned their polity around this belief. When the conventional form of war did not work out for them, they resorted to terrorism. With the help of terrorism, soldiers, innocents and terrorists, all were killed.

Arun Jaitley in Rajya Sabha

At one point, said Jaitley, the world woke up to the fact that “terrorism will never be a fruit for you”.

Updated at:18th Jul, 2016 at 6:10 PM

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.

Updated at:18th Jul, 2016 at 2:42 PM

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.

Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad in the Rajya Sabha. (Photo Courtesy: RSTV)

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.

Should locals be treated same way we treat militants? Should same bullets that are used on militants be used on innocents people of Jammu and Kashmir?

Ghulam Nabi Azad, Congress member in Rajya Sabha

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.

When we were kids, and poor, we saw people use patches to cover-up torn clothes. Some less thoughtful ones used a patch of a contrast color, making them visible from a distance. It is the same case with the Centre in Kashmir. The cloth is white and the government has patched it with black or red cloth.

Ghulam Nabi Azad, Congress member in Rajya Sabha

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.

Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad in the Rajya Sabha. (Photo Courtesy: RSTV)

The Centre gives statements. But they are hardly implemented. There should be action against MPs who make such statements and do not go through with it. Governments run on trust. There is wide mistrust among people in the central government.

Ghulam Nabi Azad, Congress member in Rajya Sabha

The people are ready to stay under curfew, without food and ration, in rebellion.

Updated at:18th Jul, 2016 at 6:10 PM

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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.

Updated at:18th Jul, 2016 at 2:03 PM

Rajya Sabha adjourned till 2pm.

Updated at:18th Jul, 2016 at 1:07 PM

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.

Updated at:18th Jul, 2016 at 12:06 PM

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.

BSP supremo Mayawati raises incident in Una, Gujarat in Rajya Sabha. (Photo Courtesy: RSTV)

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:

Updated at:18th Jul, 2016 at 4:33 PM

Prime Minister Narendra Modi introduces the newly inducted cabinet ministers in the Rajya Sabha.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi introducing the new cabinet minister in the Rajya Sabha. (Photo Courtesy: RSTV)

Updated at:18th Jul, 2016 at 4:33 PM

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.

(Photo Courtesy: RSTV)

Updated at:18th Jul, 2016 at 11:51 AM

The new members elected to the Rajya Sabha introduced themselves to the House on the first day of the monsoon session.

Nirmala Sitharaman introducing herself as a member of the Rajya Sabha. (Photo Courtesy: RSTV)

Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi introducing himself as a member of the Rajya Sabha. (Photo Courtesy: RSTV)

Piyush Goyal introducing himself as a member of the Rajya Sabha. (Photo Courtesy: RSTV)

Updated at:18th Jul, 2016 at 4:33 PM

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.

PM Narendra Modi introducing the new cabinet ministers in the Lok Sabha. (Photo Courtesy: LSTV)

Speaker of Lok Sabha, Sumitra Mahajan paid tribute to the deceased members of the Lok Sabha on day one of the monsoon session.

Speaker of Lok Sabha, Sumitra Mahajan in the House on Monday. (Photo Courtesy: LSTV)

Updated at:18th Jul, 2016 at 4:33 PM

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.

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Updated at:18th Jul, 2016 at 11:00 AM

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.

We have not taken any decision that we have to stop a bill. We will support on merit. We will support any bill which is in support of people, progress and growth. 

<b>Ghulam Nabi Azad, Leader of Opposition</b>

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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Updated at:18th Jul, 2016 at 6:10 PM