Page 6 - Lok Sabha

LS, RS face disruptions, oppn to intensify pressure over Adani, Rahul row

Opposition parties sought to build pressure on their demand and embarked on a protest march to Enforcement Directorate (ED) office

Jayant Sinha to introduce Competition (Amendment) Bill 2023 on Friday

The list of private members business on the Lok Sabha's website mentions this bill to be introduced on March 17

First of 4 abort missions of Gaganyaan in May: Centre tells Lok Sabha

The first of the four abort missions for India's maiden human spaceflight Gaganyaan is planned for May this year, the Lok Sabha was informed on Wednesday. "The first test vehicle mission, TV-D1, is planned in May 2023, followed by the second test vehicle TV-D2 mission and first uncrewed mission of Gaganyaan (LVM3-G1) in the first quarter of 2024," Minister of State for Science and Technology Jitendra Singh said in a written reply in the Lok Sabha. "The second series of test vehicle missions (TV-D3& D4) and LVM3-G2 mission with robotic payload is planned next. The crewed mission is planned by end of 2024 based on the outcome of the successful test vehicle and uncrewed missions," he said. Singh said the total expenditure incurred for Gaganyaan programme as on October 30, 2022 was Rs 3,040 crore. He said the Human-rated Launch Vehicle Systems (HLVM3) are tested and qualified. "All propulsion systems tests for higher margins completed. The Test Vehicle TV-D1 mission for demonstration

Parliamentary panel pulls up govt over non-release of funds under RGSA

A parliamentary panel has ticked off the panchayati raj ministry over non-release of funds to states under the flagship Rashtriya Gram Swaraj Abhiyan (RGSA). In its report tabled in Rajya Sabha on Wednesday, the Standing Committee on Rural Development and Panchayati Raj said these funds are released to the states primarily for capacity building and training of elected representatives, functionaries and other stakeholders of the panchayats. It said that 19 out of 34 states and Union territories have not received any funds under the scheme for the financial year 2022-23 (as on 31.12.2022). Similarly, in 2021-22, no funds were released to nine out of 34 states and Union territories. "The Ministry to this effect submitted that timely non-submission of requisite documents and non-compliance of instructions stipulated by the Ministry of Finance, inter alia, are the reasons for non-release of funds. "In Committees view, halting funds in such a manner to many states will hamper the progres

Lok Sabha adjourned for the day over Rahul Gandhi's democracy remark

Lok Sabha proceedings were adjourned for the day on Wednesday amid slogan shouting by opposition and treasury benches over Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's "democracy under attack" remark made in the UK. As soon as the house assembled, opposition members stormed into the well holding placards and shouting slogans. They demanded a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) probe into the alleged stock manipulation by the Adani Group. Members of the treasury benches also raised counter slogans, demanding an apology from Gandhi for his remarks made during an event in the UK. Gandhi had alleged that the structures of Indian democracy are under attack and there is a "full-scale assault" on the country's institutions. The remarks have triggered a political slugfest. The BJP has accused Gandhi of maligning India on foreign soil and seeking foreign interventions, while the Congress has hit back at the ruling party by citing instances of Prime Minister Narendra Modi raising internal politics ...

Women's Reservation Bill necessary to ensure representation: K Kavitha

Stating that the Women's Reservation Bill will help in raising the representation of women in the Parliament, Bharatiya Rashtriya Samiti (BRS) leader K Kavitha on Wednesday

Rise in average value of card, internet banking frauds: Govt data

Average fraud value up at Rs 34,802 in 2021-22, but number of such instances down 8% to 65,045

J&K got Rs 1,547 cr investment in 2022-23, says MoS Home Nityanand Rai

A record investment of Rs 1,547 crore has been received by Jammu and Kashmir in the current fiscal till January, Union Minister of State for Home Nityanand Rai said in the Lok Sabha on Tuesday. Rai said the government expects investments to further increase in the next five years in various important sectors like manufacturing, services, healthcare and pharmaceuticals, agro-based industry, and tourism, including film and medical. During 2022-23 till January, a record investment of Rs 1,547.87 crore has been received by the Union Territory and this investment during the current financial year is the highest ever compared to any of the previous financial years, he said replying to a written question. The minister said Jammu and Kashmir had received investment of Rs 376.76 crore in 2021-22, Rs 412.74 crore in 2020-21, Rs 296.64 crore in 2019-20, Rs 590.97 crore in 2018-19 and Rs 840.55 crore in 2017-18. He said the government of Jammu and Kashmir has already received investment propos

Over last 12 years, Naxal violence down by 77%, govt tells Lok Sabha

The Naxal violence in India has decreased by 77 per cent over the past 12 years and the number of deaths in related incidents has also reduced by 90 per cent during the same period, the government said in Lok Sabha on Tuesday. Union Minister of State for Home Nityanand Rai said the geographical spread of LWE-related violence has significantly reduced and only 176 police stations of 45 districts reported related violence in 2022. In 2010, at least 465 police stations of 96 districts had reported LWE-related violence. Replying to a written question, Rai said the number of LWE-related deaths (security forces and civilians) has reduced from an all-time high of 1005 in 2010 to just 98 in 2022. The minister said the decline in geographical spread of violence is also reflected in the reduced number of districts covered under the security related expenditure (SRE) scheme. He said 126 districts were covered under the SRE scheme in 2010 but that number came down to 90 in April 2018 and furt

Patients can register for organ transplantation in any state: Centre

The government has done away with the requirement of state domicile for registration of patients requiring organ transplantation, the Rajya Sabha was informed on Tuesday. Now such patients will be able to go to any state of the country and register themselves for organ transplantation, Minister of State for Health Bharati Pravin Pawar said in a written reply. The government is working with the aim of "One Nation, One Policy" for organ donation and transplantation in consultation with the states, she said. "In this regard, it has been decided to remove the requirement of domicile of the state for registration of patients requiring organ transplantation from deceased donor. "Now such patients will be able to go to any state of the country and register themselves for organ transplantation," she said. According to the new government guidelines, the upper age limit of 65 years as eligibility for registration to receive deceased donor organ has been removed. Now, a person of any age c

Cong demands JPC into Adani row, blames govt for impasse in Parliament

The Congress on Tuesday said the Modi government's refusal to allow the Opposition to raise its demand for a JPC into the Adani issue was to be blamed for the impasse in Parliament. Amidst stepped up opposition demand for a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) probe into the Adani issue, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi levelled a slew of allegations against the Modi government on its foreign policy and claimed that it was aimed at benefiting the Adani Group. "Is the objective of India's foreign policy to make Adani richer? In the last nine years, Modi ji has kept India in 'bhram (misled)' and Adani in 'vishwa bhraman (global travel)' along with him," Gandhi alleged in a video in Hindi. Asked about Congress' allegations, Union minister Giriraj Singh said, "Adani had made it clear that the first break was given to him was given by (Congress CM) Chimanbhai Patel...the second break was given by Rajiv Gandhi. (They believe that) if Adani does development for the country then it should be onl

Rahul's remarks disrupt Lok Sabha proceedings for second consecutive day

The row over Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi's remarks in Britain seeking intervention of the US and European nations over disappearing democracy in India disrupted the Lok Sabha for the second consecutive day on Tuesday. Soon after the house assembled, BJP members raised slogans seeking an apology from Rahul Gandhi, while the Congress-led opposition waved placards with quotes from speeches of Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his visits abroad. "Rahul Gandhi maafi mango (Rahul Gandhi apologise)," BJP members shouted repeatedly from their seats. Some ministers, too, were on their feet. Opposition members raised slogans from the aisles and avoided trooping into the well of the house. "BRICS ka 'I' ludak raha hai (The 'I' in BRICS is tottering), read one placard referring to the Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa grouping. "Pata nahi pehle janam main kya paap kiya tha, Hindustan main paida hua (Don't know what sin I had committed that I was born in India)," read another .

Lok Sabha adjourned till 2 PM amid uproar over Rahul's democracy remarks

Lok Sabha proceedings were adjourned till 2 pm on Tuesday amid uproar over Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's democracy remarks. As the Lok Sabha met for the day, Speaker Om Birla urged members to let the House function and took up the Question Hour. Asking the Congress members, who were on their feet, to maintain the decorum of the House and not show placards, Birla said they should let the House function. However, Congress members continued their protest following which the speaker adjourned the House till 2 pm. Gandhi had recently alleged in London that the structures of Indian democracy are under brutal attack and there is a full-scale assault on the institutions of the country. Demanding an apology from Gandhi for his remarks, the ruling BJP charged that the Congress leader has tried to defame India. Lok Sabha proceedings were disrupted on Monday as well as the BJP-Congress slugfest escalated over Gandhi's remark with the Government seeking an apology while the opposition benche

Tewari moves adjournment notice in LS to discuss freedom of speech to MPs

He said that the House should suspend Zero Hour and other businesses of the day to have a detailed discussion on the issue

Govt has not set up any committee to probe Adani Group, says minister

The government has not set up any committee to probe allegations a US short seller labelled against the Adani Group, but stock market regulator SEBI is investigating market allegations against the group, the Lok Sabha was informed on Monday. A separate investigation into imports of Indonesian coal by the conglomerate hasn't reached finality, Minister of State for Finance Pankaj Chaudhary said. Lok Sabha saw several questions being put by MPs to the government on the Adani issue, which were replied through written responses by the minister. To a question asking if the government had constituted any committee to investigate allegations made against the Adani group by Hindenburg Research, he said, "No". In the January 24 report, US short seller Hindenburg Research alleged that the Adani group was "engaged in a brazen stock manipulation and accounting fraud", and used offshore shell companies to inflate stock prices. The group has denied all Hindenburg allegations, calling them ...

Govt seeks Parliament nod to spend additional Rs 1.48 trillion in 2022-23

The government on Monday sought Lok Sabha approval for net additional spending of over Rs 1.48 lakh crore in the current fiscal. The second batch of supplementary demands for grants for the 2022-23 fiscal was tabled in the Lok Sabha by Minister of State for Finance Pankaj Chaudhary. "Approval of the Parliament is sought to authorise gross additional expenditure of Rs 2,70,508.89 crore. Of this, the proposals involving net cash outgo aggregate to Rs 1,48,133.23 crore and gross additional expenditure, matched by savings of the Ministries /Departments or by enhanced receipts/recoveries aggregates to Rs 1,22,374.37 crore," said the supplementary demands. This additional spending includes over Rs 36,000 crore towards fertiliser subsidy and Rs 25,000 crore to the Department of Telecom. Another Rs 33,718 crore is towards meeting defence pension expenditure.

Both houses of Parliament adjourned till 2 pm amidst protests by Opposition

Shortly after Parliament reconvened the second leg of the Budget Session, Lok Sabha was adjourned till 2 pm, after the protesting Opposition leaders rushed to the Well of the House leading to a ruckus

Sitharaman to present J-K budget in LS today as 2nd leg of session begins

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Monday will present the budget for 2023-24 for the union territory of Jammu and Kashmir in the Lok Sabha

Certain to win all 5 seats in 2024 election, says Uttarakhand CM Dhami

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Sunday said he was certain that BJP will win all five Lok Sabha seats in the state in the 2024 general election and the party's focus is only on increasing the winning margin. Speaking here at the Namo App Virtual Meet, Dhami said he has not doubt that BJP will romp to power just as it did in 2014 and 2019. "But breaking the previous winning margin will be a challenge and the party organisation is moving with a view to overcome that challenge. I am certain that Modiji will become the prime minister again with two-thirds majority," Dhami said. Asked about arrangement made for pilgrims ahead of the Chardham Yatra season, which will begin from April 22, the CM said the government is considering all stakeholders' suggestions and is also learning from past experiences to give pilgrims the best experience. Dhami also urged the pilgrims to spend five per cent of their expense on buying local products, as appealed by Modi in his address in

Amit Shah sounds Lok Sabha poll bugle in Kerala, targets CM on corruption

Taking on Kerala's CPI(M)-led Left government on alleged corruption in the Life Mission project, Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday urged Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan to shed his silence on the matter. Shah, while addressing a BJP rally here, also alleged that Communists were keeping mum on the alleged gold smuggling scam and said they will be forced to answer the public in 2024 Parliamentary elections. "The communists are immersed in the Life Mission corruption. The Chief Minister's former Principal Secretary, M Sivasankar, was arrested in this case. I urge the chief minister to answer the people on that matter," Shah said. Referring to the government action against the Popular Front of Indi (PFI), the Union Home Minister said the outfit has been completely banned in the country and thus helped Kerala to get rid of violence. "This step was not welcomed by either the Congress or by the Communists," he said. In a rally, marking the launch of BJP's election campaign for the