Parliament proceedings live | Five Bills to be introduced in Lok Sabha today

External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar is scheduled to make a statement in both the Houses regarding the recent developments pertaining to the welfare of Indians living abroad, NRIs and PIOs in the COVID-19 situation.

Both Houses saw multiple adjournments on all days of last week as the Opposition demanded a discussion on the rising prices of fuel in the country.

Here are the latest updates:

Lok Sabha | 11.40 am

Rahul Kanswa of BJP from Rajasthan asks a question on the protection of heritage structures in Shekhawati region.

Congress MP Shashi Tharoor says heritage includes not only monuments but bio diversity too. He speaks about a unique eco system in his constituency.

In his reply to Mr. Tharoor, MoS Parliamentary Affairs Arjun Meghwal says, the decision to designate any place as heritage site is based on the State government’s recommendation.

Rajya Sabha | 11.40 am

Chairman M. Venkaiah Naidu welcomes IPU chief in Rajya Sabha.

Harnath Singh Yadav of BJP raises the issue of rising number of cancer patients in the country. “Even children below 18 years are being affected, it is becoming dangerous.”

Lok Sabha | 11.30 am

Congress MP Ravneet Bittu speaks about migrant workers defaulting on LIC instalments during the corona pandemic and asks why the LIC was being forced to donate to the PM CARE Fund.

Replying to Mr Bittu, Mr. Thakur says the government had announced rations and other welfare schemes. Talking about PM Care fund, Mr. Thakur says there have been instances when even MNREGA workers have contributed to PM CARE Fund.

Mr. Thakur then counter attacks the Congress and says, “there is one family that has collected funds only for Rajiv Gandhi Foundation and even accepted foreign funds.”

Rahul Gandhi was present in the House. There was some protest from Congress MPs at Mr. Thakur’s statements.

Rajya Sabha | 11.30 am

Priyanka Chaturvedi of Shiv Sena brings up the GoM report on how to “neutralise media”. “How can we discriminate between those news agencies who speak against the government and those who speak for? India has been slipping in the press freedom index,” she points out.

Vandana Chavan of NCP raises the issue of criminalising marital rape. “Why is marital rape not treated as an offence,” asks Chavan. More than 100 countries in the world have made marital rape an offence, India is only among 36 countries that have not criminalised marital , she says.

Ashok Bajpai of the BJP demands recognition to Awadhi language.

Pratap Singh Bajwa of Congress speaks in Punjabi. “FCI has changed norms to procure grains from farmers in Punjab. Are farmers responsible for global warming? How can the farmer adhere to such norms a month before the crops are harvested?”

Rajya Sabha | 11.15 am

Tiruchi Siva of DMK raises the role of unsung women freedom fighters who fought the British. He says the CBSE should include lessons on these women.

Ashwin Vaishnaw of BJP raises the issue of racism in U.K. and says Oxford student Rashmi Sawant was cyber bullied to resign. “Hindu religious beliefs of her parents were also highlighted. This happened in Oxford University,” he says. He also raises Meghan Markel’s interview and says, “if such racial discrimination exists at such high levels, what about the lower levels? The condition of migrants is also not hidden, we are a country with large diaspora in the U.K. The era of colonialism is over, they have to change.”

EAM S. Jaishankar replying to Mr. vaishnaw, says, “As a friend of the U.K., we have strong ties with the U.K., we will monitor and take up the matter when required. We always take up the issue of racism and other forms of intolerance.”

Lok Sabha | 11.15 am

HRD Minister replies that the Ministry is focusing on giving priority to training of teachers for children with special needs as well as the North East.

Manish Tewari of Congress asks the Finance Ministry if the government had taken the views of 21 crore policy holders before announcing disinvestment of Life Insurance Corporation.

Minister of State for Finance, Anurag Thakur, says it is premature to hold talks about policy holders, explaining the process. Mr. Thakur also claims that all international agencies have hailed India as one of the most promising economies poised for growth.

Namo Nageswara Rao of TRS asks a follow-up question on LIC and tells the Minister not to “bulldoze” while replying.

MoS Finance Anurag Thakur says, “everyone is elected and neither does anyone bulldoze nor does anyone gets bulldozed”. He says, “as far as the LIC is concerned, the government is getting evaluation done through actuarial surveyors, and getting suggestions on percentage of shares to be disinvested.”

Rajya Sabha | 11.10 am

A demand for the setting up of special task force to preserve historical monuments in Manipur is raised by Maharaja Sanajaoba Leishemba of BJP.

Prasanta Nanda of BJD asks that Odissi music be given due classical status.

Phulo Devi Netam of Congress raises the issue of lack of proper housing facilities for paramilitary jawans. “They have to vacate the official accommodation in Delhi within three years of being allotted the house. This impacts the education of their children. Overstay invites penalty of up to Rs. 28,000. Jawans should be provided such accommodation for minimum six years.”

Lok Sabha | 11 am

Lok Sabha proceedings starts

Speaker Om Birla welcomes Inter Parliamentary Union Chief on his India visit. The IPU chief is seated in the Speaker’s Gallery.

Biju Janata Dal MP B. Mahtab asks about the affiliation of B.Ed colleges in States.

HRD Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank, replying on training of Teachers online during the pandemic, says nearly 27 lakh teachers covered.

Ritesh Pandey of Bahujan Samaj Party asks a question on training of teachers.

BJP MP from Arunachal, Tapir Gao, also asks a question to the HRD Minister on how much money the Ministry would spend on training its teachers in remote areas.

Rajya Sabha | 11 am

Rajya Sabha proceedings start

Department related standing committee report on Home Affairs laid on the table of the House by committee chairman Anand Sharma.

Report on tourism and culture laid down on the table of the House by G. Venkatesh.

Public Accounts Committee report presented in the House by Leader of Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge.

Zero Hour begins.

Legislative Business

Lok Sabha

Bills to be introduced

The Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (Amendment) Bill, 2021

The Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2021

The National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (Amendment) Bill, 2021

The Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Amendment Bill, 2021

The Marine Aids to Navigation Bill, 2021

Bill for consideration and passing

The Constitution (Scheduled Castes) Order (Amendment) Bill, 2021

Rajya Sabha

Bills for consideration and passing

The National Institutes of Food Technology, Entrepreneurship and Management Bill, 2019