Parliament proceedings | Lok Sabha adjourned for the day

Lok Sabha proceedings were adjourned for the second time on Thursday till 6 p.m. amid uproar by opposition members over the three new farm laws.

As soon as the House re-convened at 5 p.m., members of the Opposition started raising slogans against the government and the agri laws.

Some ministers and members laid papers on the table o the House, and Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad introduced the Arbitration and Conciliation Amendment Bill, 2021.

Here are the latest updates:

Lok Sabha | 9:03 p.m.

Lok Sabha adjourned for the day

Ramesh Bidhuri(BJP) asks for road widening through allocation of gram panchayat land in Sangam Vihar connected to Asola sanctuary for convenience of commuters. Lok Sabha adjourned for the day.

– Delhi Bureau

Lok Sabha | 8:58 p.m.

Jhansi and Bundelkhand is facing water shortage: Anurag Sharma of BJP

Anurag Sharma (BJP) says in Jhansi and Bundelkhand is facing water shortage. He asked the Water Ministry for desilting of dams in the area and the silt distributed to farmers. Also he demanded the revival of Chandela era step wells.

– Delhi Bureau

Lok Sabha | 8:57 p.m.

Dues of upto ₹10 crores are pending towards farmers: Rama Devi of BJP

Rama Devi (BJP) says dues of upto ₹10 crores are pending towards farmers and workers in the sugar mill in her constituency Sheohar. She requests that the dues be processed soon and the mill itself be revived.

-Delhi Bureau

Lok Sabha | 8.55 p.m.

Education is in a bad way in Delhi: Manoj Tiwari

Manoj Tiwari (BJP) says education is in a bad way in Delhi. He asks for a Navodaya vidyalaya in his constituency of North East Delhi

– Delhi Bureau

Lok Sabha | 8:52 p.m.

Gandhiji’s portrait be displayed in the five railway stations he passed through in Odisha: BJD MP

Bhratruhari Mahtab (Biju Janata Dal) said in the century of non cooperation movement, Mahatma Gandhi was given a rousing reception in Cuttack .  He gave details of Mahatma Gandhi’s visit to Odisha and requested central government to arrange a laser show. Also, he empasiesd that Gandhiji’s portrait be displayed in the five railway stations he passed through in Odisha.

– Delhi Bureau

Lok Sabha | 8:50 p.m.

Uday Pratap Singh (BJP) asks that a portrait of Savitribai Phule be displayed in every school to highlight her contribution to education as Opposition MPs keep on protesting inside the House.

-Delhi Bureau

Lok Sabha | 8:50 p.m.

BJP MP Dhal Singh Bisen complains of poor internet connectivity in Balaghat constituency

Dhal Singh Bisen (BJP) says internet connectivity is bad in his constituency of Balaghat affecting students and commercial activity in the area. Many telecom towers are shut down or defunct, with repairs very slow. He requested telecom minister to expedite repairs and connectivity.

– Delhi Bureau

Lok Sabha | 8:45 p.m.

BJP MP requests rail ministry to restart the trains

Sumedhanand Saraswati (BJP) says many trains which were suspended during lockdown have not been restarted in his constituency of Sikar. Requests rail ministry to restart the trains.

– Delhi Bureau

Lok Sabha | 8:40 p.m

Kapil Moreshwar requests rail ministry to expedite land acquisition to carry track extension work

Kapil Moreshwar Patil (BJP) requests rail ministry to expedite land acquisition to carry track extension work in Bhiwandi. Satyadev Pachauri (BJP) asks that Lal Imli Mills(in Lucknow) closure be expedited and mill workers be given their dues.

– Delhi Bureau

Lok Sabha |8:30 p.m.

Lok Sabha resumes proceedings

Lok Sabha resumes proceedings. Matters of urgent public importance being taken up. Nishikant Dubey (BJP) demands President’s rule in Jharkhand due to rise in crimes against women. Vishnu Dayal Sharma (BJP) asks for railways crossings that have been shut down to be opened in his constituency in Jharkhand.

– Delhi Bureau

Lok Sabha  | 7.00 p.m.

Lok Sabha adjourned till 8.30 p.m.

Lok Sabha resumes work as Opposition leaders raise slogans. Rajendra Agarwal, in the chair of the Speaker, asks protesting members to return to their seats. Lok Sabha has been adjourned till 8.30 p.m.

– Delhi Bureau

Lok Sabha | 6.00 p.m.

Lok Sabha adjourned till 7 p.m.

Lok Sabha resumes proceedings for the third time. Chair requests protesting members to go back to their seats and cooperate in the discussion. “You have the right to discuss any issue, you can raise any issue from your respective seats,” he said. House adjourned for the third time till 7 p.m.

– Delhi Bureau

Lok Sabha | 5.15 p.m.

Lok Sabha adjourned till 6 p.m.

The Chair requested the protesting members to go back their seats. “It is not achieving any purpose, we are making a mockery of ourselves,” she said before adjourning the proceedings till 6 p.m.

– Delhi Bureau

Lok Sabha | 5.10 p.m.

Arbitration and Conciliation (Amendment) Bill introduced in Lok Sabha

Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasaid said that the government has got the power under the Constitution to introduce the Arbitration and Conciliation (Amendment) Bill, 2021. Merit of the Bill will be explained by him in a detailed reply, he said.

The House by voice vote has approved the introduction of Bill. The Bill has been introduced in the house.

-Delhi Bureau

Lok Sabha | 5.05 p.m.

Leave sought for introduction of Arbitration and Conciliation (Amendment) Bill 2021

Leave has been sought for introduction of Arbitration and Conciliation (Amendment) Bill, 2021. BJD Member Bhartruhari Mahtab  has oppsed opposes the move. What was the hurry to bring in this amendment in this Bill, asked the BJD Member

– Delhi Bureau

Lok Sabha| 5. 00 p.m.

Lok Sabha has resumed proceedings amid sloganeering from Opposition who are flashing pamphlets in support of farmers.

– Delhi Bureau

Rajya Sabha | 4.30 p.m.

Over 2.9 lakh cyber security incidents related to digital banking reported in 2020: Minister of State for Electronics and I.T.

Over 2.9 lakh cyber security incidents related to digital banking were reported in 2020, Parliament was informed on Thursday.

As per the information reported to and tracked by Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-In), a total number of 1,59,761; 2,46,514 and 2,90,445 cyber security incidents pertaining to digital banking were reported during 2018, 2019 and 2020, respectively, Minister of State for Electronics and I.T. Sanjay Dhotre said in a written reply to the Rajya Sabha.

These incidents included phishing attacks, network scanning and probing, viruses and website hacking, he added.

– PTI

Lok Sabha | 4.20 p.m.

Lok Sabha adjourned till 5 p.m. after uproar by opposition members over three new farm laws.

– PTI

Lok Sabha | 4.10 pm

Bharat Mala project

In reply to a query about implementation of Bharat Mala project, Nitin Gadkari says work has started for 13,521 km stretch, 4,070 km has been completed, DRP for 16,500 km in pipeline, the total expenditure is about 1 lakh crore expenditure.

The govt. also to develop 22 greenfield corridors involving 7,600 km. The work for 2,800-km-long roads have been awarded. About the Delhi-Mumbai express highway, a 1350-km- long stretch,  he says the cost is about up to 1 lakh crore.

Speaker Om Birla says the cooperation of all the members is required to smoothly run the Question Hour proceedings, he urges the protesting members to go back to their seats. He adjourns the proceedings till 5 p.m.

Lok Sabha | 4.00 pm

Lok Sabha assembles. Speaker Om Birla is in the Chair. He proceeds with Question Hour despite sloganeering.

Ramesh Biduri, a BJP MP asks if the disabled are exempted from paying toll fee. Roadways Minister Nitin Gadkari says the divyangs or differently abled people are exempted from paying fee at toll plazas. Several states have waived road tax for such people, he says and says vehicle manufacturers are encouraged to develop designs that are disabled friendly.

The MP uses the time alloted to make supplementary question to hit out at the opposition.

Rajya Sabha | 2.00 pm

‘Are farmers the country’s enemies?’

Binoy Viswom (CPI) opposes the motion, accuses the government of favouring corporates and FDI. This address completely ignored the protesting farmers, it even insulted them, he says.

You are calling the farmers annadata and denying them basic facility such as water, he says.

Delhi’s borders are deployed with paramilitary borders like a war front. Are farmers the country’s enemies, he asks.

His speech will continue tomorrow.  House adjourned.

Rajya Sabha | 1.45 pm

No self reliance without farmers: Hooda

Deepinder Hooda, Congress MP from Haryana, is the next speaker. He asks the government to shed its hard stance and withdraw the farm Bills.

I have a list of 184 farmers who died. Their brothers and sons are deployed at China border and elsewhere. I want to lay this on the table of the House, he says.

In Haryana, the CM and deputy CM have not been able to do programs in their own constituencies… as Mr. Hooda speaks members from  Treasury Benches object. The Chair intervenes.

Mr. Hooda continues. On June 5, 2020 in the middle of the pandemic, an ordinance that are usually brought in conditions of emergency, was brought. Both houses were used as rubber stamp to authorise the ordinance signed by the President, he says.

Farmers are sitting for 2.5 months. They have not disturbed or harassed anyone, did not even snatch even a peanut from a road side vendor. Even at Red Fort they did not vandalise any single shop. They have fed other residents too, Mr. Hooda says and quickly adds his party condemns the incident.

Quoting newspaper reports, he says farmers are being ill-treated at the borders of Delhi.  The PM said I am only a phone call away but next day concrete barriers, policemen were deployed. Even toilets were removed from the protest site.

You are talking about being self reliant, we were importing foodgrains. Our farmers made us self reliant, he says.

Rajya Sabha | 1.05 pm

Dharmendra Pradhan, Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas, speaks on Motion of Thanks on President’s Address.

 

“In 2014, Prime Minister Modi said his priority was the poor, the young, women and backward in the country. Our mantra is minimum government maximum governance,” he says, adding that he is a decisive leader who doesn’t just give slogans.

He goes on to praise Mr. Modi, asking “which other PM has conducted a Pragati meeting of all bureaucrats ever month?”

He goes on to cite the various schemes of the government. “It took 34 years to bring a new education policy for this country,” he says.

We don’t discriminate between States ruled by us and others, he says.

Mr. Pradhan, the Petroleum Minister, speaks on India leading the International Solar Alliance. The President’s address highlights the need for using alternative energy.  Ethanol blended fuel is helping farmers, he adds.

Rajya Sabha | 1 pm

K Vanlalvena (MNF, Mizoram) speaks on Motion of Thanks on President’s Address.

 

He says that many BSF border outposts along Bangladesh border have no road connectivity, establish new roads along the border.

“The fear of China remains in the heart of some people. Modi ji’s government changed the mindset of people who feared Chinese invasion,” he adds.

Rajya Sabha | 12.55 pm

BJP govt. dishonoured Red Fort by handing it over to a private entity, says Shreyams Kumar

M.V. Shreyams Kumar (LJD, Kerala) speaks on Motion of Thanks on President’s Address.

 

Addressing the challenges to press freedom, Mr. Kumar says that even the military junta Myanmar is ranked above India in press freedom index.

“The BJP government dishonoured the national monument of Red Fort by handing it over to a private entity. The dispensation allowed miscreants to enter Red Fort and make jingoist slogans, and for this, all farmers are being called anti-nationals,” he says.

He also speaks against the draconian move banning internet, and says that the country is being mortgaged to private entities.

Rajya Sabha | 12.50 pm

Delhi govt. will support farmers, says Sanjay Singh

Sanjay Singh continues his speech on Motion of Thanks on President’s Address.

Mr. Singh says: “Adani’s application to change land use of 100 acres was pending with Haryana Government. It was cleared in May, and in June, the farm ordinances were signed.”

“These laws are to help four corporate houses,”says Mr. Singh, adding that the governing party make laws for them from whom they receive donations.

Mr. Singh adds: “It was said that Delhi CM is supporting the farmers. We want to assert that we did support farmers, and we will continue to do so. You asked for a stadium to make into a jail, we denied it. Now, we are arranging water and toilets, and you are stopping us.”

“Are they an enemy country that you have shut down their Internet?” he asks.

“On seven routes farmers marched peacefully on January 26, those who stormed Red Fort and disrespected tiranga belong to BJP. Deep Sidhu is a BJP man. They can stoop to any level for their politics. They say they will give MSP to farmers, let me mention Uttar Pradesh… an FIR was registered against 10 officials in U.P as xghost procurement has been made in name of farmers. You are helping corporates by giving them permission to store grains beyond any limit and when there is a shortage it will be sold at high price. They will sell river, sky, if you keep sleeping then these fake nationalists will sell the nation,” says Mr. Singh.

Rajya Sabha | 12.40 pm

This government doesn’t have ₹2 to call farmers?  asks Sanjay Singh

Sanjay Singh (AAP, Delhi) speaks on Motion of Thanks on President’s Address.

 

“For past 76 days, farmers are protesting, and they have been called terrorists and Khalistanis. A BJP MLA said that they are not farmers, they are terrorists and should be shot, and if Delhi Police cannot do it then I will hit them with shoe. Is this the language for annadatas?” he asks.

Mr. Singh says that 11 round of talks have failed.

“This government doesn’t have ₹2 to call farmers? If you don’t have ₹2, take the money from us and call the farmers. At least 165 farmers have died. At Ghazipur you will meet a 97-year-old farmer, both his sons are in the Indian Army. He is pained that he is being called a terrorist. What is your enmity with them?” asks Mr. Singh.

“You will have to repeal the laws, you have crossed all limits. On the road, 12 inch nails have been studded as though enemy forces are coming. This happens when the ruler is afraid or he considers people as enemy. Rakesh Tikait was in tears,” he says.

Speaking on the numerous FIRs against journalists and farmers, Mr. Singh says. “You talk of democracy and create conditions so that you can register case against journalists like Rajdeep Sardesai. You have registered an FIR against everyone, including those who provide water or food. The NIA, ED… every agency is set after them.”

“The government’s problem is not that farmers did not understand the Bills, their problem is that farmers have understood the Bills,” he says.

“All BJP MPs mentioned that Congress has supported this Bill in their manifesto, but they forgot that when this Bill was brought by Congress, then Arun Jaitley and Sushma Swaraj had opposed the Bills. Congress had only thought of the Bills and they have reached 55 seats, you have passed it, so wait and see, you will reach 5 seats,” he says, adding “Change your party name to Congress A or Congress B if you want to follow Congress’ path.”

Rajya Sabha | 12.30 pm

No mention of farmers in President’s address, says Bikash Ranjan

Bikash Ranjan (CPI-M, Wst Bengal) speaks on Motion of Thanks on President’s Address.

He sas that the President od India is the head of the state but from his speech, it appeared as if he is the head of the government.

“President was deliberately not allowed to mention the hunger index of our country, and how the people in the country are not getting proper food… but tall claims about so called gareeb programs. I accuse the government of not taking appropriate steps during COVID-19. Sudden declaration of lockdown has caused tremendous difficulty, this was missing in the President’s speech. He was not allowed to speak about the real sufferings of the people,” says Mr. Ranjan.

“In the speech, President did not mention the peasants struggle. He said that he condemned the January 26 incident. The fundamental question is had there been an extensive discussion, why take the ordinance route when it is only in emergency condition? You brought it in Parliament only to get approval of the ordinance. This caused tremendous amount of dissent among peasants. Everywhere there is demonstration and peasants aggrieved by this Act,” he says.

Mr. Ranjan says education does not mean having only acquired university degree. “What do farmers want? They want MSP. It is the basic duty of government to ensure our food safety. Peasants cannot be made to be traders,” he says.

“Government and the ruling dispensation talk about Rabindranath Tagore, quotes Gitanjali… but they dreamed of a world where somebody will not be arrested for speaking against the government, and intellectuals will not be called urban naxals,” he says.

“Withdraw your farm laws, you cannot invite them for discussion by putting concrete walls,” he says, concluding his speech.

Rajya Sabha | 12.15 pm

Banda Prakash (TRS, Telangana) speaks on Motion of Thanks on President’s Address.

 

“Telengana government is giving 24 hours free electricity supply to farmers. We get appreciation from Centre but dont get any money for projects,” he says.

He also demands that the Centre award Bharat Ratna to P.V. Narasimha Rao, and rename Hyderabad Central University after him. He requests that a road be also named after P.V. Narasimha Rao.

Rajya Sabha | 12.05 pm

We call them annadathas, and then we pass laws against them, says Elango

N.R Elango (DMK, Tamil Nadu) speaks on Motion of Thanks on President’s Address.

 

He begins with comments on medical seats, and goes on to speak on the farmers’ protests, saying “After seeing the protest of the farmers, and knowing 160 to 190 farmers died, government is not repealing the laws.”

“There is no need for Centre to legislate it in such a tearing hurry,” he adds.

“This is against federalism. Sll these laws are going to create a black market regime,” says Mr. Elango, adding “our action today determines the country of tomorrow.” He says that the idea of India we grew up was one of love and harmony, and it is important to remind ourselves of the principles of secularism. He adds that all of us must rise to fight the divisive forces.

“Often we see the Prime Minister and Ministers quoting Tamil poets, maybe because of upcoming elections in Tamil Nadu,” sats Mr. Elango. “In Hindi we are calling farmers as annadatas,” he says, “but at the same time, we are passing bills against farmers.”

He adds that to determine the ground reality, ir is important that the government listen to what the Opposition has to say.

Rajya Sabha | 11.40 am

“Failed on all fronts”: Derek O’Brien on Modi govt

Derek O Brien continues speaking on Motion of Thanks on President’s Address.

Mr. O Brien says the government has failed to protect the legacy of Indian students.

He narrates the story of Satyajit Ray’s Hindi movie about a chess game that goes on in between chaos, and says Ray was a visionary. Many PSUs are being sold, “You are selling family jewels,” he says.

We all want GST, but we told you not to rush the process, he says. The government has failed India’s women, jobs, economy, farmers… what has the government so far, he asks?

He adds that the government has failed Indian media, and congratulates young media professionals who are not attached to any corporate media houses. He touches on the manipulation of BARC, fake news, etc.

Rajya Sabha | 11.10 am

Thankful for small freedoms in these times, says Derek O’Brien

Derek O Brien of AITC, from West Bengal, speaks on Motion of Thanks on President’s Address.

In these times, we should be thankful for small freedoms like being allowed to speak without the mike being muted, or the television feeds being censored or MPs not being escorted out by marshals, begins Mr. O Brien.

“If elected MPs feel such heat, what must journalists and farmers be feeling? They are not separate entities, they are all Indians,” he says.

He says TMC has never opposed President’s address, even though we disagree with it, because tradition dictates otherwise. He goes on to list how he disagrees with the address, saying that this government has failed India.

Mr. O Brien says if something similar to the death of the farmer in Delhi had happened in West Bengal or Maharashtra, what would have the reaction been? The Home Minister and Prime Minister are in charge of the law and order, so they should investigate the circumstances and provide a report.

He goes on to say how the farm laws can be repealed. 

Speaking on how the government has undermined federalism, Mr. O’Brien cites how cess (which is not shared with States) has been increased, and how MPLAD funds have been suspended under the guise of pandemic. Meanwhile, Railways projects, which were earlier entirely funded by Centre, have to be funded partially with States.

Rajya Sabha | 11 am

H. D. Deve Gowda continues to speak on Motion of Thanks on President’s Address.

Speaking on the river-linking issue, he says that Karnataka is facing deficiency in water from Cauvery basin. Karnataka is fighting with Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Kerala for water. Cauvery-Mahanadi too should be given preference for river-linking, he says, appealing to PM Modi.

Rajya Sabha | 10.50 am

BJP leader Sasmit Patra is Chairing the Upper House now.

Farmers are the backbone of our society, says Deve Gowda

H. D. Deve Gowda (JD(S), Karnataka) speaks on Motion of Thanks on President’s Address.

He says that farmers are the backbone of our society, and they need to be treated right.

Speaking on the events of Republic Day, he says all political parties have condemed the actions of the miscreants and agree that they need to be punished. But the farmers’ issue should not be mixed with it. The whole thing should be dealt with amicably.

My concern is for the farmers, he says. State governments’ opinions too have to be taken into account, he adds.

Rajya Sabha | 10.40 am

Suppression of dissent in our democracy is deplorable, says Digvijay Singh

Digvijay Singh continues to speak on Motion of Thanks on President’s Address.

Addressing vaccine hesitancy, he criticises the budget set aside for vaccination as low and points out that the permit is only for emergency use.

The farm Bills are anti-farmers, he says.

The hoisting of cases against farmers, journalists, activists and such need to stop, he says. “We respect the mandate you have, but the way in which dissent (which is the backbone of a democracy) is being suppressed in our country is deplorable,” he says.

He mentions Sudha Bharadwaj, who was been jailed for over 3 years. “She was a Harvard professor and now she is languishing in jail for supporting Dalits in Bhima Koregaon,” he says.

Rajya Sabha | 10.30 am

Digvijay Singh (Congress, Madhya Pradesh) speaks on Motion of Thanks on President’s Address.

“I am opposing President’s address because he did not mention the facts anywhere,” says Mr. Singh.

 

He says that the gap between Modi government’s promises and implementation of those promises are huge.

He also speaks about how the lockdown was announced strategically to form government in Madhya Pradesh.

“In Singapore, they gave 8 days notice before lockdown. But in a country as vast as India, just 4 hours? PM Modi misused the federal structure in this decision,” he says, going on to speaking about the effect of lockdown on migrant workers, including pregnant women and children who had to walk for kilometres to get home.

Rajya Sabha | 9.50 am

Call for Aatmanirbhar Bharat similar to that of Swaraj, says Scindia

Jyotiraditya Scindia continues to speak on Motion of Thanks on President’s Address.

After mentioning the schemes the central government has set aside for farmers, Mr. Scindia speaks on the events that occured on Republic Day. He says that the members of the House insulted the country by their conduct during President’s Address. He compares the call for Aatmanirbhar Bharat to that of Swaraj from British rule.

 

PM Modi has realised Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s call for ‘Insaniyat, Jamhuriyat, Kashmiriyat’ in Kashmir, he says.

Lighter moment in the House as Congress leader Digvijay Singh is called next to speak on the issue. Chairman Naidu says that was the order he was handed, and he didn’t switch names on purpose, as the House laughs. Mr. Singh laughs as well, and says Mr. Scindia spoke as well as he used to speak when he was Congress even now, and Mr. Scindia replies, “thanks to your blessings.”

“You had my blessing before, you have it now, and you’ll have it forever, regardless of which party you were in, are in now, and will be in future,” says Mr. Singh, smiling.

Rajya Sabha | 9.50 am

India has risen like a phoenix from the ashes of coronavirus, says Scindia

Jyotiraditya Scindia (BJP, Madhya Pradesh) speaks on Motion of Thanks on President’s Address.

 

Mr. Scindia says 2020 was a challenging year for the whole world. But after a year, looking at the falling COVID-19 cases there is a new sense of energy. India has risen like a phoenix from the ashes of coronavirus, he says. He adds that India’s recovery rate from COVID-19 is high compared to the rest of the world.

He goes on to praise PM Modi and government for their timely action that contributed to this, and cites the example of emergency to counter allegations that the lockdown was not implemented in an intelligent manner.

“The country followed the lockdown [during coronavirus pandemic] on the request of one person. There was another lockdown in 1975 when the whole country was converted into a jail. This is something I used to stay standing there also,” he says, pointing towards Opposition Benches.

Rajya Sabha | 9.40 am

A.P. govt should consider demands of Amravati farmers, says Kanakamedala Ravindra Kumar

Kanakamedala Ravindra Kumar (TDP, Andhra Pradesh) speaks on Motion of Thanks on President’s Address.

 

Mr. Kumar says the government should be magnanimous in considering the farmers demands.

He says Andhra Pradesh government should consider the demands of the Amravati farmers who have been protesting for 415 days.

Rajya Sabha | 9.25 am

Need an integrated approach for whole eastern region of India: Swapan Dasgupta

Swapan Dasgupta (nominated from West Bengal) speaks on Motion of Thanks on President’s Address.

 

Mr. Dasgupta says when civil servants from East India Company used to be sent from Britain to India they were given instructions, and one thing they were told was that for everything that is true about India, the opposite is also true.

The top 2 lakh farmers of Punjab and Haryana have incomes in the top 8% in the country, but this is not a situation that prevails in the whole country, he says.

“Most farmers undertake subsistence farming. They need other occupation to survive,” he adds.

He addresses Prakash Acharya’s request in February 3 session of Rajya Sabha on declaring Odisha as a special zone because it is very affected by natural disasters frequently. Mr. Dasgupta suggests that the entire east zone of India be declared as a special zone because States in that area are vulnerable to cyclones and hurricanes.

“We need an integrated approach to whole eastern region of India, he says.

Rajya Sabha | 9.10 am

Our democracy is strong, it will not be weakened by anyone’s tweet: Jha

RJD MP Manoj Kumar Jha, hailing from Bihar, speaks on Motion of Thanks on President’s Address.

We should learn from history, says Mr. Jha. Soon as protests started, the media starts talking of the “Pakistani angle and Khalistani angle” with regard to farmers’ protest, he says. This is not right, he adds.

 

Citing a portion of the President’s Address on the importance of democracy, he says that whatever we have seen recently has been against the Constitution.

Our democracy is strong, it will not be weakened by anyone’s tweet, he says, addressing government’s response to tweets by Rihanna and Greta Thunberg on farmers’ protests.

A country is made of relationships, you have ended so many relationships, he says.

He goes on to recite a short poem on nationalism and revolutionary spirit.

Rajya Sabha | 9 am

Rajya Sabha proceedings begin.

MP Jairam Ramesh requests that more members be allowed in the Rajya Sabha hall to create an atmosphere of debate. Currently, members are spread across Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha halls in adherence of COVID-19 protocol. Chairman Naidu says they will discuss the issue later.

Jammu & Kashmir Reorganisation (Amendment) Bill, 2021 introduced.

Discussion on Motion of Thanks on President’s Address resumes.

Agenda

Lok Sabha

Bill for Introduction

• Arbitration and Conciliation (Amendment) Bill, 2021

Motion of Thanks on the President’s Address

Highlights of the President’s Address 2021

Rajya Sabha

Bill for Introduction

• Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation (Amendment) Bill, 2021

Motion of Thanks on the President’s Address

Highlights of the President’s Address 2021

Date | Time