New Delhi:
The Lok Sabha adjourned sine die on Wednesday, marking an end to the Budget Session, which lasted three months.
"The eager participation of members and the demand for more such opportunities, underlines the need for more time being made available. This would be possible only if the duration of sessions is longer, as was the practice many years back," Vice President and Rajya Sabha Chairman Hamid Ansari said, before adjourning the House.
He also noted that the session had seen the passing of the first private member's bill in 36 years.
Rajya Sabha adjourns sine die, bringing three-month long Budget Session to a close.
Lok Sabha adjourns sine die after Budget Session, which was spread across three months.
This government is anti-poor, anti-farmers... it is a 'suit-boot ki sarkar'. If we can't stop you here, we'll take to the streets. Yeh suit-boot ka kaam nahi chalne dengey: Rahul Gandhi
We asked your Finance Ministry, how many projects are pending due to land. Ministry said that only 8 out of 100 projects are pending due to land: Rahul Gandhi
Government wants to give the land to crony capitalists: Rahul Gandhi
In Special Economic Zones (SEZs) 40% land lies unused, but NDA still wants farmers' land. Why?: Rahul Gandhi
We had said if a piece of land hadn't been used for 5 years, then the land will be returned. This government did away with the clause: Rahul Gandhi
Rahul Gandhi says government has "snatched" farmers' rights by diluting clause for getting their consent to acquire land.
The first body blow to the land bill was the consent clause where this government says we will not ask for the consent of the farmers whose land is being taken away: Rahul Gandhi
It took us 2 years to enact the land bill and the NDA government has murdered it in a few months: Rahul Gandhi in Parliament
"Nobody can challenge the Speaker on the rules," says Parliamentary Affairs Minister Venkaiah Naidu amid protests by the Opposition
Speaker rebuts Opposition's allegations:- She (Harsimrat Kaur) had sent a request letter to me to make a statement on food park
- This is the second time she has made a statement... Read the statement
- Are you challenging me?
- Go through the record and then come to me
Opposition objects to Food Processing Minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal's statement on cancellation of food park in Amethi, calls it a "repetition"
"You cant raise it five times... They (government) cancelled food park... five times the government has responded... Is it not repition? Rules dont allow it," said Congress' Deepender Hooda
Home Minister Rajnath Singh makes statement in Lok Sabha over food park in Amethi:- When Rahul Gandhi had raised the issue in Parliament, I had given an assurance that I would personally look into the matter.
- I also ensured he was sent the relevant information over the matter
- I do not understand why there should be a problem even after there have been two statements over the matter
Rajya Sabha adjourned till 11:30 after protests by Opposition over auditor report that indicts company linked to Union minister Nitin Gadkari
Uproar in Rajya Sabha on auditor report that indicts company linked to Union minister Nitin Gadkari
Lok Sabha adjourned till 11.30 am following noisy protests by the Opposition over the cancellation of food park in Amethi
Opposition members shout slogans during a statement by union minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal on the food park in Amethi
Ruckus in Lok Sabha over the cancellation of a food park in Amethi, the constituency of Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi
JUST IN
Rajya Sabha adjourned for the fifth time as Opposition seeks Union minister Nitin Gadkari's resignation over auditor's report indicting company linked to him.
Lok Sabha adjourns briefly after heated exchanges between Opposition and government over ban on fishing in high seas, reports news agency Press Trust of India
Home Minister Rajnath Singh speaks in the Lok Sabha on controversy over statement on Dawood:
- India has credible information of Dawood Ibrahim being in Pakistan
- Will put pressure on Pakistan if needed, we will get Dawood Ibrahim
Union minister Nitin Gadkari denies any wrongdoing amid controversy over auditor's report on company linked to him. He also says that the law will take its own course if any irregularities are found.
Rajya Sabha Chairman adjourns the House for 10 minutes after ruckus by Opposition as Union minister Nitin Gadkari speaks on auditor's report indicting company linked to him.
Amid opposition attack, Union minister Nitin Gadkari likely to speak in Parliament on auditor's report indicting company linked to him,
Parliament passes the Budget for 2015 -16: Press Trust of India
India-Bangladesh Land Boundary Agreement: PM Modi thanks chief ministers of five states for passing of the Bill.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi thanks Congress chief Sonia Gandhi after India-Bangladesh Land Boundary Agreement is passed.
India has taken a huge step forward towards a historic land agreement with Bangladesh today to settle a long-simmering border dispute.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi personally thanked Congress leader Sonia Gandhi in the Lok Sabha after law-makers cleared a land swap that Bangladesh and India have been negotiating for years.
The constitutional amendment that was approved by the lower house is intended to end decades of uncertainty for tens of thousands of citizens living in enclaves on the "wrong" side of their homeland's border. 15 states in India now have to clear the amendment, which is unlikely to be a problem.
Dozens of enclaves exist on either side of the border, a historical oddity left after the partition in 1947.
Lok Sabha session extended by 3 days till May 13 so that key bills can be passed.
Historic Land Boundary Agreement to redraw border with Bangladesh passed in both houses of Parliament
Foreign minister Sushma Swaraj is speaking in the Lok Sabha
The Lok Sabha today passed amendments to the Juvenile Justice Act.
The new law provides that in case a heinous crime has been committed by a person in the age group of 16-18 years it will be examined by the Juvenile Justice Board to assess if the crime was committed as a 'child' or as an 'adult'.
The amended bill also proposes to streamline adoption procedures for orphaned, abandoned and surrendered children. It establishes a statutory status for the Child Adoption Resources Authority (CARA).
The major amendments include the removal of Clause 7 that relates to the trial of a person above the age of 21 years as an adult for committing any serious or heinous offence when the person was between the ages of 16-18 years; enhancing the period of preliminary inquiry by the Juvenile Justice Board in case of heinous offences committed by children in the age group of 16-18 years; increasing the reconsideration period for surrender of children by parents or guardians; enhancing the period for inter-country adoption in case the child is not given for domestic adoption; assigning the role of designated authority to monitor the implementation of the Bill to the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights and making the central and state governments responsible for spreading awareness on the provisions of the bill.
Mr Gandhi recently coined the praise "suit-boot ki sarkar" (government for the elite) to target Mr Modi's administration. The Congress, decimated in last year's election, appears somewhat re-energized with a new campaign to discredit the land reforms pitched by the PM as "anti-farmer."
Mr Gandhi's lobbying for Amethi comes as the government has said it will be developed as a smart city with wi-fi, uninterrupted power supply and good roads, a plan that could win it much credit in an area traditionally loyal to the Gandhis.
When the Congress-led coalition was in power, it had sanctioned a food-processing plant for Amethi; permission for the project has been cancelled by Mr Modi's government, reportedly because of ambiguities involving land clearances.
Home Minister Rajnath Singh replied that was incorrect and said he will look into the cancellation of the food park. The planned 200-crore project was expected create thousands of jobs in under-developed Amethi with food processing units for potatoes, sugarcane and more.
"The PM gave a 52-minute speech in Amethi ahead of the national election," Mr Gandhi said. "I was impressed when he said he would deliver politics and policies guided by badlaav, not badlaa (change, not vendetta)...but that is exactly what he has done," the 44-year-old charged.
Mr Gandhi is a three-time Lok Sabha member from Amethi, a stronghold of the Gandhi family in Uttar Pradesh.
This is the fourth statement made by the Congress Vice-President in the Lok Sabha since he reappeared after missing eight weeks of a crucial parliament session. Mr Gandhi's sabbatical exposed his party to much criticism and bolstered the perception that he is a reluctant politician; but he has, since his return, shown a new vigor exemplified partly with uncharacteristic participation in parliamentary debates.
The Prime Minister has reneged on public commitment he made to "politics of change, not revenge," Rahul Gandhi said in Parliament today, attacking the government over its decision to cancel a proposed food park in his constituency of Amethi.
PM Guilty of 'Politics of Revenge' for Amethi, Charges Rahul Gandhi
Congress Vice-President Rahul Gandhi raises Amethi food park closure in Lok Sabha
The GST Bill has been passed in the Lok Sabha.
Lok Sabha is currently voting on the GST Bill.
Finance Minister Arun Jaitley Speaks in Lok Sabha on Goods and Services Tax Bill (GST)
- There will be uniformity of taxation across the country; there'll be seamless transfer of goods and services.
- To pass on constitutional amendment you need positive votes.
- Mr Jaitley clarifies - whatever Mr Moily is referring to as new proposals are the same proposals that went to the Standing Committee in 2011 and they made some recommendations.
Government is setting out to systematically subvert the functioning of the RTI Act: Sonia Gandhi
Sonia Gandhi attacks Government in Lok Sabha, says it is trying subvert the RTI act.
Government has shown a deplorable lack of interest in punishing people responsible for delays in public services: Sonia Gandhi
Information delayed is information denied. This is simply not acceptable: Sonia Gandhi
PM made many promises to the people on transarency and good governance. In a blatant U-turn , his government, through the absence of a CIC has made sure that the highest offices are not accountable under the RTI Act: Sonia Gandhi
Sonia Gandhi attacks government in Lok Sabha over Institutional appoinments
Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on the GST Bill in Lok Sabha:
- Original constitution also had a transition provision, that is, Article 392
- What existed in the original Constitution, if it exists in a constitutional amendment , then that isn't a violation since we are moving to a different system of taxation
- Power to remove difficulties lies with the President, and therefore with the council of ministers. It is not indefinite. It is only in the transitional phase.
- This argument is no longer valid that it has not gone to a standing committee. It spent two and a half years in front of a standing committee
- If you want to further delay the GST Bill, the deadline of April 1, 2016 will be lost
- State finance ministers and Centre must work together
- I beseech you, rise above party considerations. If all our chief ministers agree, why are we delaying it? And that means your states will suffer.
Moga molestation issue forces Rajya Sabha to adjourn twice.
Lok Sabha adjourns for the second time for 30 minutes amid protests by TRS members demanding High Court for Telangana.
'Akali minister who said 'It's an act of God' must resign', says CPI(M) leader Sitaram Yechury.
Lok Sabha speaker Sumitra Mahajan rejects Congress' adjournment motion.
Lok Sabha adjourned briefly amid protests by TRS members demanding separate High Court for Telangana.
Opposition protests in Lok Sabha over the death of Punjab teen who was pushed off a moving bus in Punjab's Moga
Congress to give notice for adjournment motion in Lok Sabha on Moga molestation case: Press Trust of India
Government Ready For Showdown on GST Bill, Say SourcesThis is the government's last chance to pass the GST Bill this session and sources said the government was ready for a showdown in Rajya Sabha, or the upper house, where it is in minority. Privately, government managers concede there might not be enough time to pass the bill this session - Lok Sabha adjourns on May 8, Rajya Sabha on May 13.
The Goods and Services Tax Bill, which aims to replace the country's complex array of duties with a simpler tax regime, faces the problem of numbers. As a Constitutional Amendment Bill, it needs support from two-thirds of both Houses.
Congress' Captain Amarinder Singh to raise in Parliament the death of teen who was pushed off moving bus in Punjab's Moga
Lok Sabha passes Finance Bill, 2015, by a voice vote.
Extremely simplified Income Tax form will be introduced very soon: Arun Jaitley
Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on Country's Financial Growth Trajectory
- The current status quo of the country is that 15% of the GDP is the earning and 60% of its people are dependent on it.
- We want the people living in rural areas to earn a better living.
- When the growth of a country goes up, the revenue also goes up.
Opposition in Lok Sabha objects to last minute amendments to Finance Bill, wants it to be withdrawn.
Any unclaimed amount in the Employees' Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO), the government of India takes it upon itself to spend it on senior citizens - so that is an obligation I have undertaken: Finance Minister Arun Jaitley
Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley addresses the House in the Lok Sabha to explain what a money bill is.
Land Bill not listed for discussion in Lok Sabha next week.
Lok Sabha adjourns amid chaos after Rahul Gandhi's attack on government in Parliament speech on farmers: Press Trust of India
Reacting to Rahul Gandhi's remarks on farmer crisis, Harsimrat Kaur Badal said,"Desh ki janata unke (Rahul Gandhi) drame ko pehchaan chuki hai. Mujhe hassi aati hai, inki (Rahul Gandhi) tube light itni late chalti hai, jab sab ho gaya toh ab Punjab kya karne ja rahe hai"
Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi on farmers' issues:
- Your government says "make in India" hona chahiye... hamaari sarkaar, aapki Sarkar, but not farmers' Sarkar.
- Indian Prime Minister is in the country for some time. He should visit Punjab too and listen to farmers.
- Does farmer not do "Make in India?".
Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi is speaking in the Lok Sabha.
- Farmers are crying in mandis, there are in pain
- Your minister says farmers committing suicide are cowards, criminals
- Your government did not help, farmers suffered. You stopped their bonus, farmers suffered
Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi will speak in the Lok Sabha today on the farmers' crisis. His party had given a notice to suspend the Question Hour but it was rejected by Speaker Sumitra Mahajan.
Finance Minister Arun Jaitley defends PM Modi's remarks in Canada on '60 years of corruption'
- There is no gag order and the Prime Minister of India is perfectly entitled to say that what happened in the last 60 years, we will break away from that and present an honest government to the people of India
- I am surprised at this new-found dialectics of the Marxist parties. According to them, with their new changed strategy, India is not defamed by acts of corruption, India is only defamed when you refer to acts of corruption.
Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Majahan condoles the deaths in Saturday's earthquake in Nepal, House observes silence
Rajya Sabha unanimously passes a bill on transgender rights proposed by DMK's Tiruchi Siva; this is the first private member's bill passed in 47 years
Congress challenges the start of the discussion on the Constitutional amendment for the Goods and Services Tax, which was tabled in Parliament earlier.
Deepender Singh Hooda:
- Rule 220 is impregnable. The matter should be referred to standing committee.
- BJP always does a U-turn. And now, they want to preach.
Mallikarjun Kharge:
- If there are new amendments then the bill goes to the standing committee... If not, why have the committee then?
Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley speaks in the Lok Sabha on the Constitutional amendment for the Goods and Services Tax, which was tabled in the House earlier:
- Goods and Services Tax (GST) can lead to 2 per cent increase in GDP.
- The UPA must start supporting legislation that was introduced my itself.
- You should be happy that the good work that was done by your government... I'm accepting that, complimenting you and taking it forward.
- I request the Speaker to allow a start to the debate on this subject.
Mr Kharge then said "he is the Prime Minister of the country. But you are supreme in this House. Here, everyone is under you, even the Prime Minister is under you, we are all under you."
Today, when PM Modi entered the House, Mr Kharge said caustically, "We are fortunate that the PM has come." The Speaker objected to this.
AAP members protested against the order in the aisle.
Congress president Sonia Gandhi also rallied her party's MPs to raise the matter.
Ms Mahajan later agreed to review her decision, as protests continued.
"Against whom will they speak should they have to criticise the government," he asked.
Mr Kharge also said that members have a right to speak against the Prime Minister as he is the Leader of the House.
Ms Mahajan contended that it was not fair to "drag the PM's name into every issue."
Amid loud protests the Congress' Mallikarjun Kharge along with Saugata Roy of the Trinamool Congress, sought to know under which rule the Speaker had made the decision, arguing that Mr Mann's remark on Mann ki Baat was neither "unparliamentary", nor "against rules".
Ms Mahajan immediately ordered that the remark be expunged, action that the Speaker takes when unparliamentary comments or remarks are made by lawmakers.
Bhagwant Mann, who now heads the small team of AAP lawmakers in the Lok Sabha, had taken a dig at PM Modi's radio show 'Mann ki Baat,' demanding better policies and schemes for farmers.