Last Updated on December 12, 2021 12:43 am by INDIAN AWAAZ
Our Correspondent
Unlike previous week, Parliament this week (Dec 6-10) witnessed more productive stint. The proceedings in the Lok Sabha were almost back on track to complete its scheduled businesses this week. Passing of a few key legislations and statements made by the government on the demise of the country’s first Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat and the Nagaland firing incident were the major highlights of this week in Parliament.
On Monday, Home Minister Amit Shah made a statement in both the houses over the Nagaland firing incident by security forces which first happened on previous Saturday due to a case of mistaken identity and the subsequent day due to firing to quell violence. Fourteen people died in the incidents, including 13 civilians and a Jawan. Mr Amit Shah first made the statement in the Lok Sabha and conveyed the Government’s regret saying a probe by a Special Investigation Team (SIT) has been constituted which will complete its probe within a month.
With members from various parties condemning the incident, Mr. Shah said, all agencies must ensure that such incidents do not recur when they take action against insurgents.
Expressing dissatisfaction with the statement, Opposition parties including the Congress, DMK, SP, BSP and the NCP walked out of the house.
Earlier in the day, the Opposition members called for the repeal of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA).
On Monday evening, the Lok Sabha passed the National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (Amendment) Bill, 2021, in a voice vote after a detailed discussion. It was moved by Health Minister Dr Mansukh Mandaviya who said, it seeks to bring all National Institutes of Pharmaceutical Education and Researches across the country at par by giving them the status of Institute of National Importance. As of now, only one such institution enjoys the status which will be increased to seven. While replying to the discussion, Dr Mansukh Mandaviya said, the government is taking all necessary steps to make India the pharma capital of the world.
The Rajya Sabha on Monday saw repeated adjournments as the Opposition continued with their protests demanding revocation of the suspension of 12 members. In the midst of noisy scenes in the afternoon, Home Minister Amit Shah made a statement on the Nagaland killings which was identical to the one he made in the Lower House. After the statement, Deputy Chairman Harivansh adjourned the house for the day as Opposition members refused to relent and continued with their protests.
On Tuesday, Lok Sabha conducted its business smoothly, though there had been sloganeering by the TRS members for a brief while in the morning, who later staged a walkout. The house took up the High Court and Supreme Court Judges (salaries and conditions of service) Amendment Bill, 2021 for discussion and passage in the post-lunch session.
While moving the bill, Law Minister Kiren Rijiju said, it clarifies on when the retired Supreme Court and High Court Judges are entitled to an additional quantum of Pension or Family Pension on attaining a certain age. The Opposition members expressed concern over the long pendency of cases in the courts and the vacancies of Judges.
Meanwhile, in the morning, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi demanded compensation and jobs from the Centre for the next of kin of farmers who died during the year-long agitation against the three farm laws. Raising the issue during the Zero Hour, he referred to a list of farmers who were paid compensation and given jobs in Punjab. He said, around 700 farmers died in the agitation.
BJP MP Parvesh Verma raised the issue of drug abuse in the national capital and charged the Delhi Government of taking no concrete steps to deal with the growing menace.
The Rajya Sabha failed to transact any business on Tuesday as well, as the Opposition members continued to protest, disrupting the proceedings. The house witnessed two adjournments before the final one for the day a few minutes after 3 P.M., amid continued uproar over the issue of suspension of 12 MPs.
However, amid the din, Health Minister Dr Mansukh Mandaviya managed to introduce The Assisted Reproductive Technology (Regulation) Bill, 2021 and The Surrogacy (Regulation) Bill, 2020. Mamta Mohanta of the BJD managed to speak about the two bills amid the din. With Opposition members unrelenting in their protests, the Deputy Chairman adjourned the house for the day.
The Lok Sabha on Wednesday passed the High Court and Supreme Court Judges (Salaries and Conditions of Service) Amendment Bill, 2021 that seeks to rectify an anomaly in the pension and family pension to end any confusion. It was later passed by a voice vote.
Replying to a variety of issues raised by the members during the debate on the bill, the Minister said, 90 per cent of the pendency of cases lie with the lower judiciary adding that the concerted efforts are being made in coordination with the states and other stakeholders to address them.
After the passage of the bill, the Lok Sabha took up a discussion on Climate Change. Initiating the debate, DMK’s Kanimozhi said, India fulfills over 60 per cent of its energy needs from fossil fuel and asked how the government is going to fulfill its promises made in COP-26 at Glasgow and reduce the sulfur dioxide emission.
The highlight of the Rajya Sabha activities on Wednesday was the passage of the two bills to regulate and supervise assisted reproductive technology clinics and to curb unethical practices relating to surrogacy. The Upper House passed the Assisted Reproductive Technology (Regulation) Bill, 2021 and the Surrogacy (Regulation) Bill, 2020 with amendments. Therefore, the bills, earlier passed by the Lok Sabha, will again go back to it for its approval. The provisions in both the bills include penalty and jail terms for violations.
On Thursday, it was an emotional moment for all the Members, cutting across party lines, to stand up and pay tributes to the Country’s first Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat who died in a chopper crash in Tamil Nadu. Along with General Bipin Rawat, his wife Madhulika and 11 other Armed Forces personnel died when the military helicopter they were traveling in crashed near Coonoor on Wednesday. Indian Air Force Group Captain Varun Singh, the lone survivor of the crash is presently on the life support.
Making a statement on the incident first in the Lok Sabha, and then in the Rajya Sabha, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said, a tri-services inquiry team led by Air Marshal Manavendra Singh has started investigation into the incident. Mr Singh said that all efforts were being made to save the survivor of the crash, Group Captain Varun Singh.
Giving details about the incident, Mr Singh said, Gen Rawat was on a scheduled visit to the Defence Services Staff College at Wellington to interact with the student officers. The Indian Air Force’s Mi-17 V-5 helicopter took off from Sulur Air Base at 11.48 a.m. on Wednesday which was to land at Wellington at 12.15 p.m., he said. The Air Traffic Control tower at Sulur Air Base lost contact with the helicopter by eight minutes past 12 noon, the Minister said.
Mr. Singh said, a few locals reported fire in the forest near Coonoor and rushed to the spot where they saw the remains of a helicopter engulfed in flames. Rescue teams from local administration also reached the crash site and tried to rescue the survivors, he said.
All those recovered from the wreckage were immediately rushed to the military hospital at Wellington. Out of 14 persons on board the helicopter, 13 have succumbed to their injuries, Mr. Singh said.
Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla expressed grief at Gen Rawat’s untimely demise and said that the country had lost a skilled warrior, an outstanding strategist and an experienced leader.
The members in both the houses stood in silence for a brief while as a mark of respect for the departed souls.
In the Lok Sabha on Friday, the discussion on climate change resumed in which the BJP members lauded Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led Government for taking measures to protect the environment and bring India at the centre of international initiative to control global warming.
In contrast, the Opposition members alleged that the Centre did a volte-face at the Climate Summit in Glasgow by setting a Net Zero target of 2070, questioning the rationale behind it. Trinamool member Saugata Roy asked what prompted the Prime Minister to commit in the COP-26 Summit to a Net Zero target in 2070.
N. K. Premachandran of RSP charged the developed nations of diluting their climate commitments over the past three decades since the 1992 Rio Summit adding the common but differentiated responsibility concept has become an insignificant part of the Glasgow Declaration. BJP’s Ramesh Bidhuri lauded the Prime Minister’s initiatives to popularize the use of energy efficient LED bulbs as an alternative to traditional lighting solutions and offer LPG subsidies which, he claimed, have reduced the dependence on firewood for cooking. Mr Bidhuri targeted the Aam Aadmi Party Government in the national capital, alleging that it has indulged in gimmicks in the name of fighting air pollution and has taken no substantive measures.
Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Bhupender Yadav said in his intervention during the debate that the Central Government is working towards making use of stubble in making biofuels and manure in an exercise aimed at reducing incidents of its burning, which is seen to be one of the sources of air pollution in the region, including in the national capital. He made the remarks after Shiromani Akali Dal member Harsimrat Kaur Badal alleged that Punjab farmers were being defamed for stubble burning and asked the Central Government to provide them with resources to deal with it. Ms Badal cited reports, including a submission by the Central Government, to claim that stubble burning plays a minimal role in air pollution and asked the ministry to bring out a white paper on the issue. Mr. Bhupender Yadav said, stubble burning has now been decriminalized and also listed the measures taken to put to use stubble for different purposes so that farmers don’t burn them.
During Question Hour, External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar told Lok Sabha that the US sanctions on Iran have not affected India’s Chabahar Port Project. Replying to a question from BSP member Ritesh Pandey, he clarified that US sanctions are not relevant to the project in Iran.
Meanwhile, members of the Upper House on Friday participated in a discussion on a resolution moved by Congress member Amee Yajnik on controlling pollution in the country. Moving the resolution post-lunch during Private Member’s business, she asked the government to introduce stringent legal provisions to mitigate environmental pollution and promote sustainable development.
Participating in the discussion, Shiv Pratap Shukla of BJP highlighted several steps taken by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government to combat pollution, including the launch of the Swachh Bharat Mission and providing LPG connections to the poor.
In a nutshell, the Parliament this week passed a host of key legislations, listened to the statements of Ministers and participated in discussions on crucial issues being faced by the nation.