Parliament Winter Session LIVE Updates: The Rajya Sabha on Thursday, 21 December, passed three criminal law bills to replace the Indian Penal Code, Code of Criminal Procedure, and Evidence Act.
The Upper House also passed the Telecommunications Bill, 2023 earlier in the day.
Both sets of legislation were passed by the Lok Sabha on Wednesday, 21 December, in the absence of over two-thirds of the Opposition.
A total of 146 Opposition MPs have been suspended from both Houses of the Parliament over the course of the Winter Session. As a result, nearly 67 percent of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha was absent from the discussion on the three criminal law bills and the Telecom Bill.
Notably, a little less than 100 Opposition MPs sitting in the Upper House. Further, a political storm continued over the mimicry of Rajya Sabha chairperson Jagdeep Dhankhar by TMC MP Kalyan Banerjee, with both President and the Prime Minister condemning it.
Key political developments inside and outside the Parliament today:
The Rajya Sabhan passed the Telecommunications Bill, 2023 and three criminal law bills – The Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita and the Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam.
The Lok Sabha cleared the CEC Appointment Bill 2023 on Thursday.
Floor leaders of the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) bloc along with other MPs held a protest march from Parliament House to Vijay Chowk in Delhi on the issue of suspension of Opposition MPs in both Houses.
A total of 97 Opposition MPs have been suspended from Lok Sabha and 46 from Rajya Sabha so far. All of them have been protesting in the Parliament premises.
Earlier, MPs who were protesting outside the Parliament over their suspension triggered a political row when one of the MPs mimicked Rajya Sabha chairperson and Vice President Jagdeep Dhankar.
Addressing the media, TMC MP Kalyan Banerjee who mimicked VP Dhankhar said that "his intention was not to hurt anybody."
'Passage of Criminal Bills a Watershed Moment': PM Modi
Taking to X, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that the passage of the three criminal law bills by Parliament is a "watershed" moment.
"The passage of Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 and Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam, 2023 is a watershed moment in our history. These Bills mark the end of colonial-era laws. A new era begins with laws centered on public service and welfare," he said.
Parliament Adjourned Sine Die
The Rajya Sabha was adjourned sine die after passing three criminal law bills. The Lok Sabha was adjourned sine die earlier in the day.
Rajya Sabha Passes 3 Criminal Law Bills
The Rajya Sabha on Thursday, 21 December, passed three criminal law bills to replace the Indian Penal Code, Code of Criminal Procedure, and Evidence Act. The bills had been passed by the Lok Sabha on Wednesday.
The bills passed are the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita and the Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam.
'Justice Is the Motive Behind New Criminal Bills': Amit Shah
Replying on the debate over three criminal law amendment bills in the Rajya Sabha, Home Minister Amit Shah said that the motive behind the legislation was not to punish but to give "justice".
"The implementation of new criminal laws will ensure an end to 'tareekh pe tareekh' era and justice will be given in three years," Shah said.