Parliament's Monsoon Session Day 8 LIVE: Uproar Over Anand Sharma's Remarks On Ram Nath Kovind's Speech

Rajya Sabha discusses farmer distress.

Here's why Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan asked Anurag Thakur to apologise today

Some opposition members had complained about Mr Thakur shooting video of their protests in the Well on July 24 and AAP member Bhagwant Mann had written a letter in this regard to the Speaker.

While stating that nothing has come to her notice, Ms Mahajan said if someone had done so, then it is condemnable. "If you have done it, then you have to tender an apology (to the House)," she said.

Thereafter, Mr Thakur gave a statement and expressed regret.

Rajya Sabha adjourned till 2pm for lunch.

Need solid proof of them being alive: Sushma Swaraj on missing Indians

"If they are alive, give me a concrete proof of their existence. If one could ask them to write their name and their village's name in their language, I would consider that a concrete proof. Unless that happens, I will not call their families," Ms Swaraj said in Lok Sabha.

"Declaring anyone dead without proof is a sin and I won't commit a sin,"said the leader.

Ministry is in touch with the families of the missing Indians, she added and repeated that she does not want to mislead the house, nor has she ever.

"We can't close files based on reports saying they were "believed to be killed". How do we respond if they turn up alive," said Sushma Swaraj on 39 Indians that are missing in Iraq.

Have no concrete evidence of death of the Indians missing in Iraq: Sushma Swaraj

Turkey has offered to help. I've met their Foreign Minister and accepted their offer. We are taking help from any country that has offered it to us.

I don't have any concrete evidence of death yet and hence I can't declare them dead.

"I need permission from Lok Sabha that I can continue search operations based on Harjeet's (the Indian who returned home from Iraq) inputs," said Ms Swaraj.

Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj speaks on Indians missing in Iraq

Haven't misled anyone, says the Minister of External Affairs as opposition listens silently. "I don't have any proof they are alive, but don't have any proof they are dead either," declared Ms Swaraj of the Indians missing in Iraq.

Rajya Sabha adjourned for 10 minutes, again

But, in barely a few minutes, the Rajya Sabha was adjourned again. 

Now, opposition in Rajya Sabha demands that Arun Jaitley's remarks be expunged

Meanwhile, in Rajya Sabha Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad expressed displeasure over Arun Jaitley's remarks that opposition raised some issues for grabbing media attention. Mr Azad said,"We only raise the issues of Dalits etc..not for TV. We know it (television) mostly covers the government, not us. They strangled the TV three years back, it doesn't cover us."

Mr Azad, then added that Mr Jaitley's remarks be expunged.



Amid, repeated requests from other opposition leaders that Mr Jaitley "take back his words", Congress leader Kapil Sibal said: "I never expected the Leader of the House to degenerate...to destroy the sanctity of the House... I have never seen the level of arrogance that I am now seeing in the Treasury Benches."

Amid all the chaos, Textile Minister Smriti Irani urged for continuation of House proceedings.

Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan intervenes amid ruckus in Lok Sabha

"We all are worried for Indian in Iraq...Do you want to listen about it or not," asks Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan.

Mallikarjun Kharge replied: "We are also very worried about Indians in Iraq but we want to discuss about farmers and lynching."

"Issue about Indians missing in Iraq a very sensitive issue": Sushma Swaraj

"The issue about Indians missing in Iraq is a very sensitive issue," Sushma Swaraj appeals to the Lower House to allow her to give statement in Lok Sabha. "I will speak for 20-22 minutes.  Let me finish and then do whatever you want to do. I will not speak unless there is silence," Ms Swaraj added amid demands by opposition leaders to discuss issues of farmers in the country.  

Sushma Swaraj speaks on Iraq in Lok Sabha.

All party meeting on Motor Vehicle Bill at 3 pm today

Deputy Chairman of Rajya Sabha has convened an all party meeting regarding Motor Vehicle Bill in Parliament at 3 pm today to resolve the deadlock over the bill. Opposition parties Congress and DMK want this bill to be sent to the select committee.

The amendment in the bill is set to address issues such as third party insurance, regulation of taxi aggregators(like Uber, Ola, Meru etc in India), and road safety.

Lok Sabha has already passed it

Rajya Sabha adjourned till noon over protests by parliamentarians

"We know why the opposition is creating ruckus in the house. It is because we want to raise the issue of Samjhauta Express, which they don't want," said Arun Jaitley before Rajya Sabha was adjourned till noon.

Parliamentarians proceed towards well of the Upper house and resort to sloganeering. Finance Minister Arun Jaitley demands Anand Sharma's speech be expunged.

Row over Congress leader Anand Sharma in Rajya Sabha.

PM Modi underlines importance of MPs' presence in parliament

PM Modi has underlined the importance of party MPs being present in parliament through the day on several occasions and told lawmakers that he would not tolerate their absence again.

The immediate provocation for PM Modi ticking off the BJP lawmakers was the Rajya Sabha's inability to take up a discussion on a bill on maritime law on Friday evening. And this, after the government had persuaded the opposition earlier in the day to discuss legislations for an hour after 5 pm.

The bill could not be taken up because of lack of quorum - or minimum attendance for the House to take any up business.

Schedule of the Parliament today

Lok Sabha

Bill for consideration and passing

The Banking Regulation (Amendment) Bill, 2017.
The Companies (Amendment) Bill, 2016.
 
Rajya Sabha

HRD Minister Prakash Javadekar to move that the Bill further to amend the National Institutes of Technology, Science Education and Research Act, 2007, as passed by Lok Sabha, be taken into consideration.

Minister of Social Justice and Empowerment Thaawar Chand Gehlot to move that the Bill further to amend the Constitution of India, as passed by Lok Sabha and as reported by the Select Committee of Rajya Sabha, be taken into consideration.