Parliament began the day's proceeding in the ongoing Monsoon Session. (File photo)
Parliament continued its proceedings today till 11.59 pm in the ongoing Monsoon session. The Lower House or Lok Sabha discussed and vote on Demand for Grants under the Control of Ministry of Road Transport and Highways and Demand for Grants under Control of Ministries of Rural Development and Agriculture and Farmers Welfare for 2019-20. Meanwhile, the Upper House or Rajya Sabha will consider for passing bills including the New Delhi International Arbitration Centre Bill, 2019, the Airports Economic Regulatory Authority of India (Amendment) Bill, 2019 and the Central Universities (Amendment) Bill, 2019. On Monday, Lok Sabha deliberations went on till 11 pm. Last week, Rajya Sabha witnessed uproar over the Karnataka crisis with opposition Congress members storming the well of the House and raising slogans, leading to adjournment of proceedings for the day. On July 9, the House was adjourned within three minutes as ruckus prevailed. The Karnataka government crisis may take a new turn today as the Supreme Court takes up the case of 15 rebel lawmakers of the ruling Congress-Janata Dal Secular coalition who have petitioned against the Speaker for not accepting their resignation.
Here are the highlights from Parliament today:
The Lok Sabha sat till 11.59 pm today to conclude discussion on demands for grants for the agriculture and rural development ministries.
This is for the second time in less than a week that the Lower House conducted business late in the night to conclude a debate. On July 11, it had worked till 11.58 pm to conclude debate on the Railway Ministry.
Nearly 90 members participated in the debate which began around 2.45 pm.
Speaker Om Birla said there were "technical" reasons and he has to adjourn the House at midnight otherwise he would have preferred to run the business till 3 am.
Concerned over increasing number of farmers'' suicide and ''worsening'' agrarian situation, Opposition Members Tuesday suggested the government ensure adequate water, quality seeds and remunerative prices for farm produce in a bid to improve the plight of farmers.
While the Opposition members attacked the government for not doing enough for the agriculture sector, the members of the ruling party stressed that farmers are benefiting from the host of schemes launched by the Modi government in the last five years.
Priyanka Gandhi Vadra also expressed her condolences:"I pray for the well-being of those trapped in the four-storey residential building that collapsed in Mumbai. My condolences to the bereaved families," Priyanka Gandhi Vadra tweeted in Hindi
"Congress workers must extend all support possible in the relief and rescue operations. This is the third such incident recently. Why wasn't action taken on time?" she said.
Rajya Sabha again adjourned for 30 minutes over demand for postal exam in Tamil language
Congress members walked out of the Lok Sabha after its leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury was not allowed to raise an issue in the House. Mr Chowdhury was urging Lok Sabha speaker Om Birla to allow him to raise an issue, but Mr Birla denied as Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari has started speaking on the demand for grants under his ministry.
Congress members then walked out of the House but later came back.
Rajya Sabha adjourned till 2 pm.
If you want good service, you pay: Nitin Gadkari on toll collectionUnion minister Nitin Gadkari today said people have to pay toll if they want good roads, making it clear that the toll system would stay as the government does not have enough funds, according to news agency Press Trust of India.
Replying to a discussion on demands for grants for the Road Transport and Highways ministry in the Lok Sabha, he said the government built 40,000 kilometres of highway in the last five years.
"Toll system can never end though rates may vary from time to time. Toll is my brain child," Mr Gadkari was quoted by PTI.
"If you want good services, you have to pay for it. Government does not have money...," he stressed.
BJP lawmaker's Zero Hour notice in Rajya Sabha over forced conversion of Hindus in Pakistan:BJP lawmaker Kirodi Lal Meena gave a Zero Hour notice in the Rajya Sabha over the forced conversion of Hindus in Pakistan. Outlining the atrocities against Hindus, a minority in Pakistan, and the atrocities against them, Mr Meena submitted the notice in the Upper House. The lawmaker's move comes after a large number of Hindus and Sikhs gathered in Jacobabad city of Pakistan's Sindh province on July 12, to protest against the forced conversion of Hindu girls.
The Zero Hour denotes the time immediately following the Question Hour in both the Houses of Parliament. During this hour, parliamentarians can raise matters of great importance without the mandatory ten-day notice.
Rajya Sabha congratulates Dutee Chand:The Upper House today congratulated Dutee Chand and other Indian medal winners at the Universiade, the World University Games, in Naples. Dutee Chand became the first Indian to clinch a gold medal at World Universiade after she won the 100m dash event held in Naples, Italy.
Rajya Sabha proceedings adjourned till noon:Rajya Sabha proceedings have been adjourned for an hour following vociferous protests by Tamil parties led by the AIADMK against holding of recruitment exam for postmen only in English and Hindi language.
Soon after listed papers were laid on table of the House, AIADMK members shouted slogans demanding that the government cancel the postal department exam for recruitment of postmen and other posts and hold it afresh by including Tamil as a language of exams.
Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu said the issue was raised by AIADMK on Monday and he cannot order the government to respond to their demands. "This is not allowed as per rules," he said. "I will not direct, it is very unfair."
PM Modi, Amit Shah Attend BJP Parliamentary Party MeetThe Bharatiya Janata Party held a parliamentary party meeting at the Parliament Library Building in New Delhi today with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah and other senior leaders of the party in attendance. The meeting came ahead of the beginning of day's proceeding in the ongoing Monsoon Session of the Parliament.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi, Minister of External Affairs, S Jaishankar, and Minister of State for External Affairs, V Muraleedharan were among the early leaders to arrive for the meeting.
On July 14, the BJP had issued a notice to its Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha MPs informing them about today's meeting and asked them to ensure attendance.