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Rajya Sabha disrupted over Ram temple, DDCA row

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rajya Sabha

New Delhi: The Rajya Sabha’s proceedings were briefly disrupted twice in the pre-lunch session on Wednesday over the issues of a Ram temple in Ayodhya and alleged irregularities in the DDCA.

Soon after the upper house met for the day, Janata Dal-United member K.C. Tyagi raised the issue of stones being transported and carved for constructing the proposed Ram temple at Ayodhya in Uttar Pradesh.

He said that tension is being created in Ayodhya, where the Babri mosque once stood.
“A similar situation (to what prevailed earlier) is being created in Ayodhya once again. Tension is being incited,” Tyagi said.

Members of the Samajwadi Party, Bahujan Samaj Party and the Congress too supported him.

BSP leader Mayawati accused the Bharatiya Janata Party and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh of trying to derive political mileage by again raking up the Ram temple issue.

“There should not be anything that is in contempt of the Supreme Court. It’s the responsibility of the Uttar Pradesh government to maintain law and order,” she said.

“Stones are being polished since 1990, and the site is around one-and-a-half km away from the disputed site. Second, both the government and the BJP firmly believe the court decision should be respected and we will respect it,” Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said.

“There is no restriction on carving of stones; it does not mean the Ram temple is being constructed,” he said.

However, members of the Congress and Samajwadi Party trooped near the chairman’s podium and shouted slogans against the government.

Deputy Chairman P.J. Kurien adjourned the house for 10 minutes.

As the house reassembled at 11.34 a.m., Congress members again trooped near the chairman’s podium to demand the resignation of Finance Minister Arun Jaitley over the Delhi and District Cricket Association issue.

Chairman Hamid Ansari requested the Congress members not to disrupt the proceeding on the last day of the winter session but his request was ignored.

He then adjourned the house till 1.00 p.m.

(Agencies)

Ruckus in Rajya Sabha over National Herald case

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rajya Sabha

New Delhi: The Rajya Sabha on Wednesday witnessed a ruckus for the second successive day over the National Herald case as Congress members stalled the proceedings, forcing two brief adjournments during zero hour.

Soon after the house assembled for the day, Congress members stormed the chairman’s podium raising the issue of summons to party president Sonia Gandhi and vice president Rahul Gandhi in the National Herald case.

The Congress members shouted slogans against Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Members of the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) also protested against the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party on the Polavaram project, a multi-purpose dam in Andhra Pradesh whose reservoir spreads into parts of Odisha and Chhattisgarh.

Amid the din, Deputy Chairman P.J. Kurien adjourned the house till 11.30 a.m.

When the house reassembled, Congress and BJD members trooped near the podium.

Meanwhile, Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said: “The Congress party is stalling the development of the county. Whistleblowers protection bill and the ST/SC (prevention of atrocities) amendment bill are listed in today’s business.”

He said that government is ready to discuss any issue.

“If the Congress party feels any kind of discrimination, we are ready to discuss. They are protesting inside and outside parliament,” he said.

Leader of Opposition Ghulam Nabi Azad said: “We want discussions against Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh governments.”

As the ruckus continued, Kurien adjourned the house till 12 noon.

(IANS)

Opposition protests over remarks of VK Singh, RSS chief disrupts Rajya Sabha

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rajya-sabha-chaos

New Delhi: Rajya Sabha today witnessed two adjournments before noon after BSP launched a vociferous protest over V K Singh’s alleged anti-Dalit remarks and SP created ruckus over RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat’s reported comments on Ram temple in Ayodhya.

No sooner did the House met and mourned the death of former member M A M Ramaswamy and the listed papers laid, BSP supremo Mayawati rose to say that the government’s attitude over Singh’s comments was “very sad and unfortunate”.

As Deputy Chairman P J Kurien disallowed her and asked her to give a notice for making a statement, her party members rushed into the Well raising anti-government slogans.

Not to be left behind, Naresh Agarwal (SP) raised the issue of reported statement of Bhagwat over the construction of the temple.

Kurien did not allow this as well and asked them to make mentions during the Zero Hour. “Please give notice. This is against rules. You cannot make a statement without notice,” he said. Immediately thereafter, SP members rushed into the Well of the House raising slogans.

Mayawati alleged that social and communal atomsphere in the country has detoriated since BJP came to power, as the government instead of taking action against the rabble-rousers was indulging in soft-peddling such issues.

“Dalit virodhi yeh sarkar nahi chalegi, nahi chalegi (anti-Dalit government will not be allowed)”, “V K Singh murdabad (down with V K Singh)”, the BSP members shouted.

With members of the two parties not listening to his pleas for order, Kurien adjourned the House for 15 minutes.

Similar scenes were witnessed when the House met at 11:30 hours with slogan-shouting BSP members again trooping into the Well.

Ram Gopal Yadav (SP) said while the issue of Ram Temple at Ayodhya was pending in courts, a communally tense situation was being created by Bhagwat’s statement. Alleging collusion between government and RSS, he sought action against Bhagwat. Some of his party members too trooped in the Well.

To this, Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said the government respected court’s decision on the Ayodhya issue, but people have “fundamental right” to reiterate committment for construction of a temple.

However, he added the construction would be according to the court’s decision. On Singh’s reported remarks, Naqvi also stated that the Minister has repeatedly clarified that he had not made any anti-Dalit comment.

But he could not douse the slogneering as some Congress members also rushed to the Well, forcing Kurien to adjourn the proceedings till 12 noon.

(PTI)

Monsoon Session a washout, Parliament adjourned sine die

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Parliament

New Delhi: A passionate plea for forging consensus on running of the House as well as on wider national policies was made by retiring members of Rajya Sabha today, as the Monsoon Session was completely washed out due to continued Opposition protests.

The Upper House was adjourned since die at noon after it bade farewell to P Kannan (Cong) and nominated members Ashok Ganguly and H K Dua who complete their six years terms in October and November – the intervening period between Monsoon and the Winter Sessions.

Rajya Sabha was adjourned for half an hour till noon after Ganguly and Dua made farewell speeches and the listed papers were laid on the table, as the House completed its limited agenda.

When it reassembled at noon, the House was adjourned sine die by Chairman Hamid Ansari.

Earlier as the House met for the day, Ansari mentioned that Kannan, who represented Puducherry, will retire on October 6 while nominated members Ganguly and Dua will complete their six year term on November 17.

The trio, he said, had contributed significantly to the deliberations of the House with their active participation. “They have definitely enhanced dignity and prestige of this House,” he said adding that Rajya Sabha will cherish their association.

In his farewell speech, Dua said he had seen ups and downs in his six year tenure with his participation in debates on price rise, nuclear liability bill and Maoist violence being the high points, but an instance of tearing of bills was a sad moment.

He said disturbances and disruptions, first during the UPA rule and now under NDA government, “bring bad name to Parliament.” Observing that cynicism was developing among the people, he said “Government has to be more responsive to Opposition and the Opposition has to be more responsible. … What is needed is not acrimony… what is missing is tolerance and listening capacity.”

“Tolerance level is low. Dissent is not acceptable to anyone”, Dua said, adding that the need of the hour was evolving consensus on wider national policies like terrorism and nuclear programme.

“There is a need for consensus on running of Parliament,” he said adding the government and Opposition need to sit together to draw out “how to run House better.” In his speech, Ganguly thanked members for warm friendship and embracing him as one of them and said “unfailing bonhomie in the Central Hall (of Parliament) cutting across party lines is most reassuring feature of our unity among diversity.” he said.

Dua also termed the passage of the the bill on the Indo-Bangla Land Boundary Agreement passed in the last session as a “golden moment”, while the impeachment motion to remove a Kolkata High Court judge was also a high point.

Members thumped their desks to bid farewell to the retiring members who also thanked leaders of various political parties as well as the Chair for their support and cooperation. Kannan was not present in the House. Interestingly, soon after the listed papers were laid, Deputy Chairman P J Kurien said, “we can adjourn till 12 noon for a change on peaceful note.”

Parliamentary Affairs Minister M Venkaiah Naidu said adjournment of Parliament on the last day of the session must be on a peaceful note. Kurien then adjourned the House till 1200 hours.

(PTI)

AIADMK, DMK MPs unite to oppose Karnataka members on Cauvery issue

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CAUVERY

New Delhi/Bengaluru: An unusual bonhomie was witnessed in Rajya Sabha today when members of rival Tamil Nadu parties AIADMK and DMK got together to oppose MPs from Karnataka while seeking government’s intervention in stopping construction of dams in the Cauvery river basin.

Raising the issue of construction of a reservoir by Karnataka in the Cauvery river basin during Zero Hour, S Muthukuruppam (AIADMK) urged the central government and the Ministry of Environment and Forests not to grant clearance to any such project.

The AIADMK member also demanded that Karnataka government should be told to maintain status quo on the issue and not go against the directions of the Supreme Court and the Cauvery Disputes Redressal Commission.

This prompted members from Karnataka including B K Hari Prasad (Congress) to rise and raise strong objections to the AIADMK member’s plea, leading to a verbal clash.

The AIADMK member was joined by his party members as well as those of the rival DMK in putting up a strong protest against the objections raised by Karnataka members who were far outnumbered in the verbal spat.

The uproar led the Deputy Chairman P J Kurien to intervene and ask the protesting members from Karnataka to give notice to put across their point of view.

Muthukuruppam then insisted that he be given some more time to complete his mention, but the Chair refused to allow him saying his three minutes were over and he was not allowed to read out in the House as per the rules.

(Agencies)

Rajya Sabha scripts history, passes bill on transgenders

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transgenderS

New Delhi: For the first time in 45 years, the Rajya Sabha on Friday unanimously passed a private member’s bill to accord equal rights on transgenders.

“It is a unanimous decision of the house… This is a rare thing,” Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman P.J. Kurien announced after the bill was passed by voice vote.

The central government, however, said it will bring an improved bill as DMK member Tiruchi Shiva’s bill has some practical difficulties.

The government sources told IANS that they will bring a bill soon.

The transgender community, meanwhile, said it was happy to receive a “positive response” from all political parties.

The Rights of Transgender Persons Bill, 2014, moved by Shiva, calls for equal rights and reservation to transgenders and envisages creation of a national commission and state level commissions for transgender communities.

“We all have human rights, whatever our gender identity. The bill I have presented is for an act which will create an equal society as it recognises and protects transgender persons, in all spheres of life,” Shiva said while moving the bill.

Talking to IANS later, the DMK member said: “Transgenders are as efficient as any one else. One transgender person asked me I pay my taxes, why don’t I have the rights?”

“Imagine they have gender written as female in their I-cards, but they cannot enter women’s compartment in trains,” he said.

The bill will now have to be taken up in the Lok Sabha, where a member from the lower house will have to pilot the bill.

If the bill is passed, it will be sent for presidential assent and become an act thereafter.

“The procedure for a private member’s bill is same as any other bill. It will now go to the Lok Sabha, and if it is passed there, it will go to the president. If president signs it, it will become an act,” constitutional expert and former Lok Sabha secretary general Subhash C. Kashyap told IANS.

A senior minister told IANS: “Wide consultation is needed with different departments and ministries. There are many issues, for example if reservation is provided, how will it effect other reservations…”

In the Rajya Sabha, as Shiva pushed for putting the bill to vote, Social Justice and Empowerment Minister Thawar Chand Gehlot said the government was in consultation with several departments to formulate a law for the transgenders and urged him to withdraw the bill.

“Emotionally, I agree with Shiva’s bill, but there are some technical problems… There is some impracticality in the bill,” he said. Shiva, however, remained adamant to put the bill to vote.

After an intervention by Leader of the House Arun Jaitley, who advocated for unanimously passing the bill, it was adopted through voice vote.

The transgender community welcomed it.

“The bill received support from all political parties and this shows how they have become sensitive towards our issues and difficulties. I am sure it will smoothly pass in the Lok Sabha as well,” Reshma, a transgender from Patna, told IANS by phone.

Mumbai-based Gauri Sawant, a transgender, felt if the bill is passed in parliament smoothly, it will reinforce their identity in the country and also help them to get rid of the stigma.

Members of parliament other than ministers are called private members and bills presented by them are known as private members’ bills.

Figures show since independence only 14 private members’ bills have been converted into legislative acts.

The last private member’s bill passed by parliament was the Supreme Court (Enlargement of Criminal Appellate Jurisdiction) Bill, 1968, which became an act on August 9, 1970.

(IANS)

Mines Bill passed, auction likely in June

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Conversion Rajya Sabha

New Delhi: Paving the way for auction of iron ore and other mines, Parliament today cleared the Mines and Minerals Bill after days of high drama, as some Opposition parties broke ranks from Congress and Left in Rajya Sabha to support this key reform measure of the government.

States are likely to launch the auction process in June for allocation of mines, having iron ore and other minerals, following the passage of this Bill, which has incorporated amendments suggested by a parliamentary panel, would now replace an Ordinance promulgated in December last.

Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said that the new law would enable “computerised allocation” of the mines, while checking corruption and any discriminatory allocation systems, while Steel and Mines Minister Narendra Singh Tomar said it would bring in a “revolutionary change” in the beleaguered sector.

The estimated revenue proceeds could not be immediately ascertained for the auction, for which states have so far identified over 100 mines, containing as many as 10 minerals like iron ore, bauxite and others, for the first phase. In all, 199 mines have been identified so far.

The Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2015, was passed by the Rajya Sabha earlier in the day with 117 members voting in favour and 69 against it. Later it was approved by the Lok Sabha within 20 minutes.

Industry bodies, including CII, FICCI and Assocham said the new law will bring transparency in auctioning of mines, boost investor sentiment and kick-start industrial growth.

The Bill envisages spending a fixed percentage of revenue generated from mining on the development of the local area.

As per its provisions, there will be no renewal of any mining concession, unlike the original act of 1957. Also, the licence will be for 50 years, as against 30 now, after which there will be no renewal but compulsory auction.

The bill was cleared by the Lok Sabha earlier also but was referred to a Select Committee in Rajya Sabha by a united Opposition. After a day of high drama yesterday, the Bill was cleared by the upper house today as the government agreed to the amendments recommended by Select Committee on March 18.

These amendments provide for existing lease holders to pay 100 per cent of royalty towards district mineral foundation (DMF) while those who will get mines after the new legislation will have to pay up to one-third of the royalty.

“The Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2015, will bring in a revolutionary change in the sector. It will attract more investment, enhance expertise and income of those employed with the sector,” Steel and Mines Minister Narendra Singh Tomar told PTI.

While hailing the passage of the Bill, industry body FIMI said higher payment for development for the project affected persons mandated in the Bill would inflate cost of production which would be felt by end-users and the general public alike.

(PTI)

Furore over Sharad Yadav's remarks on women's complexion

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Conversion Rajya Sabha

New Delhi: The Rajya Sabha on Monday witnessed a furore over Sharad Yadav’s remarks on women’s complexion, as sharp words were exchanged between the JD-U leader and Human Resource Development Minister Smriti Irani.

The comments created a ruckus in the upper house after union minister Ravi Shankar Prasad asked the member to withdraw his comments.

The Janata Dal-United chief said his comments last week on women’s complexion were misinterpreted and refused to apologise. He said he was ready for a debate on the topic.

Yadav, during the debate on the insurance bill in the Rajya Sabha last week, spoke on India’s obsession for fair skin. “Your god is dark like Ravi Shankar Prasad, but your matrimonial ads insist on white-skinned brides.”

Referring to the complexion of south Indian women, he said: “The women of the south are dark but they are as beautiful as their bodies… We don’t see it here. They know (how to) dance.”

He got away lightly when he made the comments last week, as several members laughed over them. Only DMK leader Kanimozhi had protested.

On Monday, Prasad said: “Comments were made on south Indian women, I was also mentioned, I remained quiet. I want to keep myself away from that comment.”

“I completely disagree with the comment. Ask the member to withdraw the comment,” he urged the chair.

Trying to clarify, Yadav said his comments were misinterpreted.

“There are more dusky women in India and in the world… I can discuss the issue with anyone, we are in favour of Indian culture.”

Irani, responding sharply, said the member (Yadav) should not comment on the complexion of women in any way.

“I appeal through you (chair) to the gentleman, do not make comments about the colour of any woman’s skin. You (Yadav) are a senior member, a very wrong message is going to the rest of the country,” she said.

Yadav responded by saying: “I strongly refute the allegation.”

“From (Mahatma) Gandhi to (Ram Manohar) Lohia, I have all the record of what has been said about women. A lot of struggle has been done for women with dark complexion,” he said, to which Irani responded by saying: “Please don’t do this.

Naming Lohia and Gandhi and commenting on women.”

Kanimozhi joined Irani in her protest against Yadav. “Women from all parties are together, we demand a regret on it,” she said.

Deputy Chairman P.J. Kurien said he would not allow a discussion on the issue.

“White complexion or dark complexion, it is all the same, I am not allowing a discussion on this,” Kurien said.

Leader of Opposition Ghulam Nabi Azad said the issue should not be discussed as it will get more complicated.

Yadav, however, said he was ready for a discussion.

“There has been a long struggle against discrimination based on colour… I am ready to participate in a debate any time,” he said.

Women leaders on Monday slammed the JD-U leader outside the house also.

Kanimozhi said: “The issue is why women’s body and colour was being discussed in a such a derogatory way in parliament.”

Communist Party of India-Marxist leader Brinda Karat said: “The time has now come for a code of conduct for our members of parliament and that should be very strict as far as use of languages is concerned. These are senior leaders and what they say influences people.

“It is shocking that none of the other MPs said a word,” she said.

Yadav, however, decided to brazen it out by humming a popular song — “Mora Gora Rang Laile” — from 1960s Bimal Roy-directed film “Bandini” to justify his point.

(IANS)

58 Rajya Sabha MPs give notice for impeachment of HC judge

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Conversion Rajya Sabha

New Delhi: 58 MPs of Rajya Sabha have given a notice for impeaching Justice S K Gangele of Madhya Pradesh High Court who is facing allegations of sexual harassment of a woman Additional District and Sessions Judge of Gwalior.

The move, initated by JD-U President Sharad Yadav, has got endorsement from members of a number of parties including Congress, CPI-M, Trinamool Congress, Samajwadi Party and BSP.

Some members of the legal fraternity had met the MPs and and requested them to take up this matter, Yadav said.

“A number of people from the judicial fraternity had come to meet me in this regard and told me the case history. I felt that the lady judge’s voice was not being heard. I found that this is a fit case for impeachment,” said the JD(U) leader.

As per the rules, at least 50 MPs have to give notice for impeachment of any judge of a High Court or the Supreme Court.

In the notice given to Rajya Sabha Chairman Hamid Ansari, the MPs have said the motion should be admitted for removal of Gangele under Article 217 read with Article 124 of the Constitution.

The notice cites three grounds of “misconduct” for initiating the process of impeachment.

They include “sexual harassment” of a woman Additional District and Sessions Judge of Gwalior while Gangele was a sitting judge of the Gwalior Bench of the High Court, victimisation of the particular judge for not submitting to his “illegel and immoral demands”, including, but not limited to transferrring her from Gwalior to Sidhi and “misusing” his position as the Administrative Judge of the High Court of Madhya Pradesh to use the subordinate judiciary to “victimise” the lady judge later.

The issue had hogged media headlines after the lady judge resigned on July 15 last year days after she was transferred to a remote district.

After resigning the lady judge had sent representations to the President of India, the Chief Justice of India and the Chief Justice of Madhya Pradesh High Court on August 1, 2014 in which she had made serious allegations against the Justice.

Supreme Court Chief Justice H L Dattu has set up a three-judge committee for a thorough probe into the sexual harassment complaint against the Madhya Pradesh High Court judge after receiving a preliminary inquiry report on a complaint by a woman judicial officer.

Article 124(4) when read with proviso (b) to Article 217(1) states that a judge of a High Court shall not be removed from his office except on the grounds of ‘proved misbehaviour’.

The prefix ‘proved’ only means proved to the satisfaction of requisite majority of Parliament, if so recommended by the inquiry committee.

If the Rajya Sabha takes up the impeachment motion, it will be the third such case in Parliament’s history and the second in the Upper House.

In recent times, Justice Soumitra Sen of Calutta High Court had faced impeachment proceedings in Rajya Sabha in 2011 for “misconduct” and “misappropriation of funds” in the capacity of a Calcutta High Court receiver.

The Rajya Sabha had voted in favour of impeaching him and while the proceedings in the Lok Sabha were in progress, the judge resigned. Subsequently, the impeachment proceedings were dropped, taking into consideration his resignation.

Under the constitution, a judge of a high court or the Supreme Court can be removed by the President by a motion adopted in both the Houses of Parliament by two-thirds majority in the same session on “proved misconduct and incapacity”.

The first such case involved impeachment of Justice V Ramaswami of the Supreme Court in May 1993 which fell in Lok Sabha for lack of numbers.

(PTI)

Rajya Sabha logjam over conversion row persists for fourth day

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Conversion Rajya Sabha

New Delhi: The Rajya Sabha was Thursday stalled for the fourth consecutive day over the conversion row as the opposition insisted Prime Minister Narendra Modi should reply to a debate on attack on the country’s secular fabric and the government blamed them for shying from the discussion.

The first adjournment came during zero hour, and then question hour saw a 15 minute adjournment even as the prime minister was present. At 1 p.m., still unable to take up the debate, the house was adjourned for lunch.

The post-lunch session saw a 15 minute break again before it was adjourned for the day.

Modi was present in the house during question hour, and despite Chairman M. Hamid Ansari allowing the debate, it could not be taken up as the opposition insisted on an assurance first that the prime minister would reply to the debate.

Later, Home Minister Rajnath Singh said the prime minister could have intervened in the debate if it had been taken up while he was there in the house.

“In the pre-lunch session, there was a general consensus that a discussion should take place. PM was here. I would have replied, and wherever needed, if the members were not satisfied, PM could have intervened,” said Rajnath Singh.

“I am sorry that the PM was present but opposition did not allow the debate. There is some prestige of the prime minister’s post,” he said.

The house witnessed repeated disruptions, adjournments and angry exchanges between ruling and opposition sides.

Members from both the opposition and treasury benches created a din and the debate could not be taken up despite the chair repeatedly asking the members to start the discussion.

Congress leader Anand Sharma accused the government of heckling the opposition.

“Treasury benches are not allowing our members to speak. They are heckling us,” he said.

An angry Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi accused opposition benches of running away from the debate.

“Look at your members. You come out with a new condition every time. You are running away from a debate,” he said.

Earlier, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley slammed the opposition, saying it appeared to be only interested in creating roadblocks in the functioning of the house.

“The notice for this discussion under Rule 267 (adjournment of question hour) came Monday. We agreed for a debate,” he said.

“But the opposition wants to decide how the debate will happen, who will respond,” he said.

He said even after the last statement by the prime minister, the house was not allowed to function.

“The (prime minister’s) response was conciliatory. It indicated the house should go on. But someone said this is not acceptable, and that is where competitive politics of disruption started,” said Jaitley.

(IANS)

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