Parliament highlights: Bills to revamp criminal laws passed in LS amid mass suspension of Oppn MPsBJP decided to stand and participate in the proceedings of the Rajya Sabha in support of Dhankhar after Oppn mimicry row. On the other hand, TMC MP Kalyan Banerjee said that he never had any intention to hurt anyone after his mimicry outside the Parliament. Meanwhile, Home Minister Amit Shah talking about the new criminal laws that were passed in Lok Sabha said that the definition of Sedition has been changed from 'Rajdroh' (against the government) to 'Deshdroh' (against the nation). Here are the highlights from the day's proceedings.
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The Parliament.
Credit: PTI file photo
FM Sitharaman is to move the Provisional Collection of Taxes Bill, 2023 in the Rajya Sabha
After more MPs suspended, Oppn leaders compare Parl with 'North Korean assembly'
Opposition lawmakers Tuesday hit out at the government after 49 more Lok Sabha members were suspended from the House, calling Parliament a graveyard of the Constitution and comparing it with the North Korean assembly. (PTI)
Winter Session of Parliament | Various reports of the Department Related Parliamentary Standing Committees on Industries; Defence; External Affairs; as well as Labour Textiles and Skill Development are to be laid on the table of Rajya Sabha today.
Winter Session of Parliament | Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan is to move a motion in the Rajya Sabha today for election to the court of the University of Delhi so that the House proceed to elect, in such a manner as directed by the Chairman, one member from amongst the members of the House to be a member of the Court of the University of Delhi.
Lok Sabha Secretariat issues circular for the suspended MPs barring them from entering the Parliament chamber, lobby and galleries.
General body meeting of Congress Parliamentary Party to be held at today, in Central Hall of Sanvidhan Sadan, Parliament House.
The Prime Minister and his party want to establish a “Single party rule” in the country, says Kharge on suspension of 141 MPs
We are ready to face the action because our demand is genuine that the Home Minister makes a statement in Lok Sabha on the security breach incident: K Suresh, Chief Whip of Congress Parliamentary Party in Lok Sabha
How can he condemn Rahul Gandhi for only taking photos? A lot of people were taking photos there: TMC MP Kalyan Banerjee on Union Minister Pralhad Joshi condemning Rahul Gandhi for filming the mimicry act
Dhankhar receives call from PM, says antics of a few won’t prevent him from performing duty
Sonia Gandhi addresses Congress Parliamentary Party meeting in old building
"Democracy has been strangulated by this government. Never before have so many Opposition Members of Parliament been suspended from the house, and that too, simply for raising a perfectly reasonable and legitimate demand."
"What happened on Dec 13th is inexcusable and cannot be justified. It took four days for the PM to address the nation and express his views on the incident, and he did so outside of the Parliament. By so doing, he clearly indicated his disdain for the dignity of the house and his disregard for the people of our country," CPP chairperson Sonia Gandhi in Congress parliamentary Party meeting
"...This session has seen the passage of some important Bills relating to Jammu & Kashmir. Those who distort history and twist historical facts just to defame great patriots like Jawaharlal Nehru have been running a relentless campaign. In these efforts, the Prime Minister and the Home Minister have taken the lead themselves, but we will not be intimidated or cowed down. We will persist in telling the truth...." says CPP chairperson Sonia Gandhi in the Congress Parliamentary Party meeting
"To say that the assembly election results in Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan have been very disappointing for our party is an understatement. The Congress President has already had a first round of reviews to understand the reasons for our poor performance and draw the needed lessons for our organization. We are facing enormous challenges, yet I am confident that our fortitude and resilience will see us through," says CPP chairperson Sonia Gandhi.
Passing Women's Reservation Bill with rider eyewash to mislead women, garner their votes; quota must be implemented immediately: Sonia Gandhi
West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee arrives at the Parliament
West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee will meet PM Modi today in Parliament along with the party MP Abhishek Banerjee and 10 suspended MPs of the party
Posters for Opposition protest at Gandhi Statue in Parliament against suspension of MPs
Opposition MPs protest at Gandhi Statue in Parliament.
Kharge, Sonia, Rahul join Opposition MPs' protest at Gandhi Statue in Parliament.
141 of 237 INDIA MPs were ausoended in this ongoing Winter Session. Sanjay Singh also under suspension since Monsoon Session. Total MPs under suspension 142
Rajya Sabha adjourned till 11:30 am
Question Hour under way in Lok Sabha
Redevelopment of stations being discussed in the Lok Sabha
BJP should stop crying because I.N.D.I.A has begun to see through their fakery: Clyde Crasto
Lok Sabha adjourned till noon
Dhankhar adjourns RS till 11:45 with 'expectation' that Lop will 'rise up to his position to bring order in this House'
No intention to hurt anyone, says TMC MP on Dhankhar mimicry row
Insult me I don't care, but not famer community and VP position, says Jagdeep Dhankhar; LS, RS adjourned till noon
BJP to stand and participate in Rajya Sabha in support of Dhankhar after Oppn mimicry row
Dhankhar 'greatly touched' by BJP MPs' gestures to stand and attend Rajya Sabha proceedings, asks them to take a seat.
They want to run an Oppn free Parliament: Shashi Tharoor
Jat community stages protest in support of Vice President & Rajya Sabha chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar
Caste should not be dragged into every issue and used to incite people: Cong leader Mallikarjun Kharge on mimicry row
If I am not allowed to speak, should I say it is because I am Dalit: Cong leader Mallikarjun Kharge on mimicry of VP Jagdeep Dhankhar
Mimicry no offence, they (BJP) are trying to change the issue which is whether suspension of opposition MPs was correct: TMC MP Kalyan Banerjee
They do have a majority in the House, but at least our counter view has to be recorded,” says Congress MP Karti Chidambaram
Has PM boycotted the House that he is not coming and making a statement, asks Kharge on security breach issue
Bharatiya Nyaya (Second) Sanhita, Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha (Second) Sanhita and Bharatiya Sakshya Bill, which seek to repeal and replace the Indian Penal Code 1860, Code of Criminal Procedure 1973 and the Indian Evidence Act 1872 being discussed in the Lok Sabha
You wouldn't have come to know if Rahul Gandhi would not have recorded the mimicry
Rajya Sabha adjourned till 2 pm
SAD MP Harsimrat Kaur says that history has shown that whenever there are atrocities, minorities are at the receiving end of it.
Harsimrat Kaur says that she agrees with Owaisi that this law is going to give so much power to the police that India might become an authoritarian state
Harsimrat Kaur says that we are talking about police at the level of the state also, they are all political appointees and that is why they have political pressure.
Such an important bill is being discussed but there are only the members of the ruling party and only a handful of us Oppn party members present in the House. This is not the way such an important bill should be passed: Harsimrat Kaur
Will not let Kalyan Banerjee enter Maharashtra till he apologises: Shiv Sena leader on mimicry row
LS Speaker Om Birla meets Dhankhar, expresses deep concern over mimicry incident
Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla met Rajya Sabha Chairperson Jagdeep Dhankhar on Wednesday and expressed his concern over the 'serious misdemeanor" by some MPs "demeaning and denigrating" the constitutional office of the Vice President while terming it a "new low."
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Sardar Simranjit Singh Mann from SAD(M) seeks for these bills to be discussed when the Opposition is in the House
AIMIM MP Asaduddin Owaisi: If Bhagat Singh and Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi were alive, they would say that this is the Rowlatt Act.
AIMIM MP Asaduddin Owaisi highlights the increasing percentage of Muslim undertrials in Indian jails, alleges prejudice against religious minorities and other vulnerable communities in the implementation of criminal laws
YSRCP's Shri Krishna Lavlu says he appreciates the Home ministry and PM for coming forward and changing the old laws. However, there are some hypocrisies in the three bill, he adds.
Rajya Sabha reconvenes
After President, the post of VP comes in the country, Cong has left no stones unturned to insult him: Anurag Thakur
YSRCP's Shri Krishna Lavlu says that let these three bills be as clear as possible and not leave any grey area. Let is not increase the burden of the judiciary that as it is spends a lot of time clarifying laws.
Central GST (Second Amendment) Bill 2023 being discussed in the Rajya Sabha
Chandrani Murmu of the BJPD said that the three new criminal laws will get rid of all the colonial impressions from the previous law, they will modernise the criminal justice system and Indian criminal law
Amar Patnaik from the BJD supports the amendment brought into the GST Act in the Rajya Sabha
There are two issues which I wanted to raise. One is that having the structure in place is one thing but getting vacancies filled up is another, says Amar Patnaik as he adds that vacancies continue to be there in various ministries. These numbers even after one year of the SC expressing concerns remains 200. next important thing for the govt should be filling these vacancies.
Rajya Sabha [Central GST (Second Amendment) Bill 2023]: BJP's Sushil Kumar Modi says that implementing one-nation-one-tax was not an easy one. You cannot imagine how difficult it has been. What Manmohan Sigh and Pranab Mukherjee could not do, Modi govt implemented it
Lok Sabha [Criminal Law Bills]: Jamyand Namgya says this law will not work on basis of religion and caste but crime and justice. I myself come from minority community. These new three bills will ensure strict criminal law.
Lok Sabha suspends Thomas Chazhikadan, K C Mani and A M Ariff for remainder of Winter Session for misconduct.
Rajya Sabha [Central GST (Second Amendment) Bill 2023]: Very upsetting that Congress leader called this tax the 'Gabbar Singh' tax. But I want to ask them if they have the courage to not implement GST in their respective states, says Sushil Kumar Modi
Lok Sabha [Criminal Law Bills]: In support of the bills, BJP's Jayant Kumar Rai says that the exact definition of terrorism was missing in the IPC and UAPA.
Rajya Sabha [Central GST (Second Amendment) Bill 2023]: To avoid a situation like the online gaming issue, there should be ample clarification on digital economy. I would like to Modi for implementing GST.
Lok Sabha [Criminal Law Bills]: Dr Pritam Gopinath says we could not expect anything from the British but what was the problem of the govt after the British went that they could not implement such a law?
Lok Sabha [Criminal Law Bills]: I am very grateful for Modi govt for bringing this bill forward, says BJP's Dr Pritam Gopinath
Rajya Sabha [Central GST (Second Amendment) Bill 2023]: Masthan Rao from the YSRCP says we must acknowledge the need forfutur changes and updates to honour the law. We support the bill.
Lok Sabha [Criminal Law Bills]: BJP's Poonam Mahajan says Modi govt believes in women-led development.
Lok Sabha [Criminal Law Bills]: Sadhvi Pragya Thakur says that we have come forward to change this British influenced law. We had to bear with this colonial rule for all this years. What was the reason that Congress could not change this law yet?
Lok Sabha [Criminal Law Bills]: Sadhvi Pragya Thakur thanks Modi and Shah for bringing about this bill.
Lok Sabha [Criminal Law Bills]: Hema Malini says that animals are suffering because there is no strict law on the same. I seek a change in the older law because animals are mute creatures and cannot ask for themselves. The way we are bringing new laws for citizens we also need amendment in the cruelty towards animals law.
Lok Sabha [Criminal Law Bills]: ' Jo kehte hai voh karte hai jo nahi kehte voh zaroor karte hai, says Hema Malini appreciating Amit Shah
MPs were sitting there, I took their video which remains on my phone: Rahul Gandhi while rejecting claims he shared Dhankhar mimicry clip
Lok Sabha [Criminal Law Bills]: Amit Shah says he has heard all the MPs carefully. Owaisi and some like him have points that I cannot help with because it is apparently bigger than the law. However, most of the confusion will be clear once I explain the Bills.
Two more opposition MPs suspended from Lok Sabha
The Lok Sabha on Wednesday suspended two more opposition MPs for showing placards in the House. Thomas Chazhikadan of the Kerala Congress (Mani) and A M Ariff of the CPI(M) were suspended for misconduct after a resolution moved by Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi was adopted by the House. This takes the number of suspended MPs in the Lok Sabha to 97. So far 143 opposition MPs have been suspended from the two Houses of Parliament. (PTI)