New Delhi, Aug 06 (ANI): Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman speaks in Rajya Sabha during the Monsoon Session of Parliament, in New Delhi on Tuesday. (ANI Photo/Sansad TV)
The amendment implies that taxpayers can avail either a lower tax of 12.5 per cent without indexation or a rate of 20 per cent with indexation, if the property is acquired prior to July 23, 2024, the day union budget was presented in the Lok Sabha…reports Asian Lite News
The Finance Bill 2024 was passed by Lok Sabha on Wednesday evening with a few amendments moved by the government.
Replying to the debate, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharman said the approach of the government has been to bring greater simplification of tax laws and procedures and enable growth and employment in the country. She responded to points made by members.
The Finance Minister clarified that in real estate, the roll over provisions have not been withdrawn and are applicable.
She said if the capital gain in a property transaction is invested in buying another one or two properties up to a maximum value of Rs 10 crore, no capital gain tax is required to be paid on such profits.
Capital gains can also still be invested in bonds which are notified under Section 54 of the Income Tax Act up to a maximum of Rs 50 lakh annually and save on taxes.
To give relief on budget proposals, Sitharaman also moved an amendment in the Finance Bill on the changes in the capital gains tax on property transactions.
The amendment implies that taxpayers can avail either a lower tax of 12.5 per cent without indexation or a rate of 20 per cent with indexation, if the property is acquired prior to July 23, 2024, the day union budget was presented in the Lok Sabha.
Sitharaman clarified that taxpayers can compute taxes under both provisions and choose to pay tax under the scheme where lower tax is applied.
Effectively, July 23, 2024, is now set as the cut-off date for the calculation of the capital gains versus the earlier cut-off of 2001.
Sitharaman said she has proposed these amendments as some members have raised hypothetical calculation to prove that under new provisions taxpayers will have to pay higher taxes.
The new tax proposals on capital gains tax was brought in to bring in parity among different asset classes like equities, mutual funds and real estate.
In the Finance Bill introduced on July 23, the Finance Minister had proposed a flat long term capital gains tax of 12.5 per cent with no indexation benefits, prior to it property transactions used to be taxed at 20 per cent with indexation benefit.
The minister also clarified that the grandfathering proposal will be allowed only for individual and Hindu Undivided Family (HUF) taxpayers and not for companies and Non Resident Individuals. They have to pay flat 12.5 per cent LTCG tax without indexation.
The proposed amendment will apply not only on real estate transactions but also on unlisted equity transactions, which are done before July 23, 2024. All such transactions will be taxed at 10 per cent long term capital gains instead of FY24-25 budget provision of 12.5 per cent tax.
With the opposition members demanding removal of GST on health insurance, Sitharaman said tax was there on medical insurance even before GST was introduced.
“There was already a Service Tax on medical insurance, before the GST was introduced. This is not a new tax, it was already there in all the states. Those protesting here, did they discuss regarding the removal of this tax in their states? Did they write to the Finance Ministers of their respective states about it and asked them to raise it in the GST Council where states have 2/3rd part? No, but they are protesting here. This is their double standards, this is their drama,” she said.
“Wrongful protests have happened recently, and comments have been passed on the basis of a news report which suggested that the ‘Centre has pocketed Rs. 24,529 crores of health insurance premiums alone’. This is incorrect and highly misleading. The GST rate of 18% on Health Insurance comprises of 9% CGST and 9% SGST. Thus, of the total collections of Rs 24,529 crores from Health Insurance in the last 3 years, Half of it, Rs. 12,264 crores, went straight to the states as SGST. It doesn’t even come to the Centre,” she added.
In the recently concluded Lok Sabha polls, Birla was fielded from Kota by the BJP, and he bagged the Parliamentary seat with a margin of over 41,139 votes…reports Asian Lite News
The election for the post of Lok Sabha speaker is to be held on June 26, an official statement from the Lok Sabha said on Thursday.
“In pursuance of sub-rule (1) of Rule 7 of the Rules of Procedure and conduct of Business in Lok Sabha, the President has been pleased to fix Wednesday, the 26th June, 2024, for holding the election to the office of speaker, Lok Sabha”, read the official release.
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Om Birla presently holds the post of LS speaker.
He was elected as the speaker of the 17th Lok Sabha in June 2019, following a motion for election moved by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
In the recently concluded Lok Sabha polls, Birla was fielded from Kota by the BJP, and he bagged the Parliamentary seat with a margin of over 41,139 votes.
Meanwhile, the first session of the 18th Lok Sabha will be held from June 24 and conclude on July 3 for oath/affirmation of newly elected Members, Union Minister of Parliamentary Affairs Kiren Rijiju said on Wednesday.
The 264th Session of Rajya Sabha will also commence on June 27 and conclude on July 3, the minister said.
“First Session of 18th Lok Sabha is being summoned from 24.6.24 to 3.7.24 for oath/affirmation of newly elected Members, Election of Speaker, President’s Address and discussion thereon. 264th Session of Rajya Sabha will commence on 27.6.24 and conclude on 3.7.24.”
President Droupadi Murmu will address a joint sitting of the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha on June 27.
The last session of the 17th Lok Sabha (Budget session) was held between January 31 and February 10, 2024.
BJP to ‘retain’ post
The BJP is set to “retain” the post of Speaker for the 18th Lok Sabha, with a BJP MP expected to be elected for the role, sources said.
Dismissing media reports suggesting that BJP’s allies had demanded the Lok Sabha Speaker’s post, a senior party leader said that the matter would be first considered internally before discussing it with NDA allies to reach a consensus.
In the Modi government’s first term, Sumitra Mahajan, a BJP MP from Indore, Madhya Pradesh, served as Lok Sabha Speaker, while in the second term, Om Birla, a BJP MP from Kota, Rajasthan, held the position.
Although the BJP does not hold a majority as it did in 2014 and 2019, speculation was rife that the TDP and a JD(U) MP were vying for the Speaker’s post.
Sources indicate that the name of the new Lok Sabha Speaker will be deliberated upon after Prime Minister Narendra Modi returns from Italy.
If any suggestions or demands regarding the position arise from allies, the BJP will consider a new formula.
The 17th Lok Sabha, in which the BJP was in an absolute majority with 303 seats, elected Om Birla as the Speaker. In a first, no deputy speaker was elected through its term of five years…reports Asian Lite News
With the INDIA bloc parties’ numbers increasing in the 18th Lok Sabha, the lower house is set to get a leader of the opposition (LoP) after ten years, and opposition leaders also hope that a deputy speaker will be elected soon, a post that had been vacant for the last five years.
The 17th Lok Sabha, which was dissolved on June 5, did not have a deputy speaker for its full term, and it was the second consecutive term of the lower house without an LoP. All eyes are set at the lower house which will get an LoP, and is also expected to have a deputy speaker, a post which usually goes to the opposition ranks. While the INDIA bloc has not yet held any coordination meeting on its strategy for the Parliament, an opposition leader said they will mount pressure that the deputy speaker’s post is not left vacant this time.
“The BJP government has been rejected by people, they did not elect any deputy speaker in last five years… Hope they have learnt a lesson and will elect a deputy speaker this time,” a TMC leader said.
The 17th Lok Sabha, in which the BJP was in an absolute majority with 303 seats, elected Om Birla as the Speaker. In a first, no deputy speaker was elected through its term of five years.
As per Article 93 of the Constitution, the Lok Sabha shall, as soon as may be, choose two members to be speaker and deputy speaker so often as the offices become vacant. However, it does not provide a specific time frame. “The office of the deputy speaker is a constitutional requirement. However, a troubling trend is that legislatures, both national and state, have not filled the office of the deputy speaker. For example, between 2019 and 2024, there was no deputy speaker in the Parliament. The last Rajasthan Assembly also did not have a deputy speaker for its full five-year term,” Chakshu Roy, who heads the legislative and civic engagement initiatives at PRS Legislative Research said.
“Currently, the Jharkhand legislature, whose term is scheduled to end later this year, does not have a deputy speaker,” he said.
“Other than the constitutional requirement, the office of the deputy speaker by convention in the past on multiple occasions has gone to opposition parties. This convention not only strengthens democratic norms but also ensures continuity of the office of speaker, which can never remain vacant,” he said. In the 16th Lok Sabha, M Thambidurai of the AIADMK was elected as Deputy Speaker, 70 days after the election results.
Before this, the longest that the lower house had no deputy speaker was in the 12th Lok Sabha, when the House functioned for 269 days without one since election, data compiled by the PRS shows. The tenure of the 12th Lok Sabha, led by BJP’s Atal Bihari Vajpayee lasted only for 13 months, from 10 March 1998 to 26 April 1999. While GMC Balayogi was elected the Speaker in the 12th Lok Sabha in March 1998, P M Sayeed of the Congress was elected the deputy speaker only in December that year. In the ninth Lok Sabha, the term of which started on 2 December 1989, Rabi Ray was elected the Speaker in December 1989, while Shivraj Patil became the Deputy Speaker in March 1991.
The 18th Lok Sabha will also have an LoP for the first time in ten years. In the previous two Lok Sabhas, the largest opposition party Congress could not get the post as it did not have the requisite numbers, which is one-tenth of the strength of the House. In the 16th Lok Sabha, the Congress had 44 MPs, while in the 17th Lok Sabha it had 55.
“Legislative functioning depends not only on the written rules of procedure but also on precedent and convention. The position of the leader of opposition is a critical one in our legislatures,” Roy said.
“Their responsibility is to ensure that the voice of the opposition is effectively conveyed in legislative functioning. The position gives and recognises the opposition has a vital voice contributing to the debate. It is in recognition of this that laws have been made to give the LoP more status and also a position in selection committees of key offices,” he said.
The post of LoP was not recognised till 1969, when Ram Subhag Singh became the first recognised LoP of the Lok Sabha. The post received statutory recognition through the Salary and Allowances of Leaders of Opposition in Parliament Act, 1977 which defines the term ‘Leader of the Opposition’ as that member of the Lok Sabha or the Rajya Sabha who, for the time being, is the leader of that House of the party in opposition to the government having the greatest numerical strength and recognised, as such, by the chairman of the Rajya Sabha or the speaker of the Lok Sabha.
This time, the leader of Congress, which is the largest opposition party in the Lok Sabha with 99 MPs, will be recognised as the LoP.
Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar addresses a press conference on General Elections 2024, in New Delhi on Saturday, March 16, 2024. (Photo: IANS)
The Election Commission of India (ECI) announced the dates for Lok Sabha and four state Assembly elections.
The general election for 543 Lok Sabha seats will be held in seven phases from April 19, Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar announced on Saturday. The counting will be held on June 4.
The Election Commission of India (ECI) announced the dates for Lok Sabha and four state Assembly elections.
Phase 1 elections will be held on April 19, the last date for making nominations is March 27. Polls will be held in 21 States and Union Territories.
Phase 2 elections will be held from April 26, last date of nominations for candidates in April 4.Second phase will cover 12 States and Union Territories.
Chief Election Commissioner of India (CEC) Rajiv Kumar, Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu, Gyanesh Kumar and others during a press conference on General Elections 2024, in New Delhi on Saturday, March 16, 2024. (Photo: IANS/Qamar Sibtain)
Phase 3 elections will be held on May 7, last date for nominations for candidates is April 19. The third phase will cover 12 States and Union Territories.
Phase 4 elections will be held on May 13, last date for nominations for candidates is April 25.Fourth phase will cover 10 States and Union Territories.
Phase 5 elections will be held on May 20, last date for nominations for candidates in May 3. The fifth phase will cover 8 States and Union Territories.
Phase 6 elections will be held on May 25, the last date for nominations for candidates is May 6. The sixth phase will cover 7 States and Union territories.
Phase 7 elections will be held on June 1, last date for nominations for candidates is May 14. The seventh phase will cover 8 States and Union Territories.
Phase 1 elections will be held in 102 constituencies, a total of 89 constituencies will undergo in phase 2.
In Phase 3, polling will be held in 94 constituencies.
96 constituencies will undergo polling in Phase 4, and 49 constituencies will undergo polling in Phase 5.
A cyclist rides past a wall adorned with political graffiti in anticipation of the 2024 Lok Sabha Elections, in Kolkata, Monday, March 4, 2024.(IANS/Ashok Nath Dey)
In Phase 6, polls will be held in 57 constituencies and also in Phase 7, 57 constituencies will undergo for polls.
The assembly elections in Andhra Pradesh and Odisha will be held on May 13. while the Assembly polls in Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim on April 19; Counting of votes will be held Jun 4.
Nearly 97 crore voters will be eligible to vote for 543 Lok Sabha constituencies across the country. With the announcement of dates, the moral code of conduct comes into force immediately.
CEC Rajiv Kumar said that strict directions have been given to District Magistrates and SPs to ensure level playing field. CAPF to be deployed adequately & assisted by Integrated control rooms in each district. Check posts & drones to ensure vigil.
Ensuring voters’ trust is paramount. Violence in elections is unacceptable. Impersonators to be swiftly punished. Transparency in permissions to parties/candidates through SUVIDHA portal.
ECI has offered 27 apps and portals for all stakeholders.
cVigil empowers citizens to report MCC violations and assured action within 100 mts. KYC app facilitates informed voting. A revamped results portal to enhance the experience on results day.
He further mentioned that the poll body is sensitive to environmentally sustainable elections.
A Woman walks past a wall adorned with political graffiti in anticipation of the 2024 Lok Sabha Elections, in Kolkata, Monday, March 4, 2024.(IANS/Ashok Nath Dey)
“We are making efforts to minimise single-use plastic and encourage eco-friendly practices in the election process,” he said.
CEC Kumar informed that to curb the flow of illicit money, the poll body has held extensive reviews with enforcement agencies.
“Cash movement worth around Rs 3,400 crore was restricted in the last 11 state assembly elections in Rajasthan, Telangana, Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka, Chhattisgarh, Mizoram, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Himachal Pradesh, Gujarat and Tripura,” CEC Kumar said.
“Measures like ESMs portal, and coordination between agencies resulted in an exponential increase in seizures in the last 11 elections,” he added.
Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar said that there is no place for bloodbath and violence in the elections.
“From wherever we will receive the information of violence, we will take action against them,” he said.
On the misinformation being spread in the current era, CEC Kumar said, “We have put certain measures in place to ensure misinformation is nipped in the bud. We’re proactive in debunking fake news. Originators of fake news to be dealt with severely as per extant laws.”
“Verify Before You Amplify” is the mantra to combat fake news. Let’s rely on authoritative sources to ensure accurate information prevails. Stay vigilant and help us maintain the integrity of the electoral process,” he added.
Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar’s mentioned a Shayari advising voters to not forward fake news and unverified information.
“Jhuth ke bazaar mein raunak to bahut hai, Goya bulbule jaisi turant hi fat jati hai.. Pakad bhi loge to kya hasil hoga siwaye dhokhe ke,” he said. (ANI)
TMC minister Babul Supriyo, who is a native of Asansol, questioned the BJP’s choice of a candidate, who could potentially offend the sensibilities of the local population…reports Asian Lite News
In a poll twist that few saw coming, a day after being named the BJP’s candidate from Bengal’s Asansol constituency; popular Bhojpuri singer Pawan Singh withdrew from the race for the Lok Sabha.
Taking to his official handle on X, the singer confirmed that he was pulling out of the contest “due to some reason”.
“I express my heartfelt gratitude to the top leadership of Bharatiya Janata Party. The party trusted me and declared me as the candidate from West Bengal’s Asansol but due to some reason, I will not be able to contest the elections from Asansol,” Singh posted from his X handle on Sunday.
Adding to the intrigue around his decision to stand down from the contest, the national general secretary of the ruling Trinamool Congress, Abhishek Banerjee, who is also the nephew of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, tagged the Bhojpuri singer’s post with a comment reading, “The indomitable spirit and power of the people of West Bengal.”
However, speaking to ANI on Sunday, TMC minister Babul Supriyo, who is a native of Asansol, responded to Singh’s withdrawal from the contest, questioned the BJP’s choice of a candidate, who could potentially offend the sensibilities of the local population.
Alleging an obscene portrayal of women in his music videos and films, the TMC leader, who represented Asansol in the Lok Sabha during his time with the BJP, said, “I have nothing against him or his place or following as an artiste. However, in his music videos and films, Bengali women are portrayed in a certain manner that might offend the sensibilities of voters. How can the BJP field such a person from Asansol? It is clear he was asked to post about his withdrawal from the race. However, it is hard to believe that the BJP fielded him from Asansol without running a necessary background check and gathering details about him. It also seems implausible that they put on the ticket without seeking his consent.”
Setting the pace ahead of its rivals, the BJP, on Saturday, released its first list of 195 candidates for the upcoming Lok Sabha polls.
The list included 47 youth candidates, 28 women candidates, 27 Scheduled Caste (SC) faces, 18 Scheduled Tribes (ST) candidates and 57 OBC/Backward Class nominees.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will seek a third straight term in the Lower House from Varanasi while Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia, who joined the BJP from the Congress in 2020, will contest from Guna in Madhya Pradesh.
Of the 195 candidates, 34 are ministers from the Center and States, while two are former chief ministers who are on the list.
Home Minister Amit Shah will contest from Gandhinagar, while Mansukh Mandaviya will contest Porbandar.
BJP leader Manoj Tiwari will contest from North-East Delhi while late BJP stalwart and former Union Minister, Sushma Swaraj’s daughter, Bansuri Swaraj, will contest from New Delhi.
Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will seek a fresh term in the Lok Sabha from Lucknow while his colleague in the central cabinet, Smriti Irani, will again contest Amethi.
Earlier in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, PM Modi secured a victory in Varanasi with 6,74,664 against Congress’s Ajay Rai.
The BJP-led National Democratic Party (NDA) won a total of 303 seats, leaving the grand-old party behind at 52 seats.
The Lok Sabha polls are slated to be held in April-May this year. (ANI)
‘New Nature of Dictatorship is on Rise’
Launching a scathing attack over the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Former Chief Minister of Rajasthan and Congress leader Ashok Gehlot on Sunday said that if the saffron party retains power in the upcoming Lok Sabha election then a new nature of dictatorship will rise.
“The preparation of Congress party and INDIA bloc are going manifolds better than the perception. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is less religious and he does things for winning elections. A new nature of dictatorship is on the rise. If they (BJP) win this election, whether further elections will be held or not, people should think about it, otherwise all will have to suffer,” he said.
Appreciating the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra led by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, the former CM said that the issues about which Rahul Gandhi is talking are of national concern.
“The response that Rahul Gandhi’s Yatra is getting is praiseworthy. What does Rahul Gandhi talk about? He talks about inflation, unemployment, income inequality, peace and love. These are the national issues,” he said.
Alleging the BJP for dividing Ram Bhakts into two groups, Gehlot said, “They (BJP) have divided Ram Bhakts into two groups. Those who are in their party are Ram Bhakts and the rest are not. Who are they to issue this certificate?”
Meanwhile, Rahul Gandhi on Sunday claimed that the unemployment rate in India was double that of Pakistan, adding that this situation has been brought about by the poor financial policies of PM Modi, which have resulted in the “destruction of small and medium enterprises in the country”.
Rahul Gandhi also said that India is even performing worse than Bhutan and Bangladesh on the economic and employment fronts.
Addressing the public in Madhya Pradesh’s Gwalior as part of his Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra, Rahul Gandhi said, “The country is facing injustice on many fronts. There is economic and social injustice. Farmers are facing injustice. Our country is facing the worst unemployment rate in the last 40 years. India’s unemployment rate is double that of Pakistan. 23 per cent of youth were unemployed in India and 12 per cent in Pakistan. Our unemployment rate is higher than in Bhutan and Bangladesh as well.”
“Our small and medium enterprises in the country have been destroyed due to due to PM Modi’s implementation of GST and demonetisation,” he added.
A World Bank report released in 2022 points out that the youth unemployment rate in India was at 23.22 per cent, which was higher than its neighbours Pakistan (11.3 per cent) and Bangladesh (12.9 per cent). (ANI)
‘New Nature of Dictatorship is on Rise’
Launching a scathing attack over the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Former Chief Minister of Rajasthan and Congress leader Ashok Gehlot on Sunday said that if the saffron party retains power in the upcoming Lok Sabha election then a new nature of dictatorship will rise.
“The preparation of Congress party and INDIA bloc are going manifolds better than the perception. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is less religious and he does things for winning elections. A new nature of dictatorship is on the rise. If they (BJP) win this election, whether further elections will be held or not, people should think about it, otherwise all will have to suffer,” he said.
Appreciating the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra led by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, the former CM said that the issues about which Rahul Gandhi is talking are of national concern.
“The response that Rahul Gandhi’s Yatra is getting is praiseworthy. What does Rahul Gandhi talk about? He talks about inflation, unemployment, income inequality, peace and love. These are the national issues,” he said.
Alleging the BJP for dividing Ram Bhakts into two groups, Gehlot said, “They (BJP) have divided Ram Bhakts into two groups. Those who are in their party are Ram Bhakts and the rest are not. Who are they to issue this certificate?”
Meanwhile, Rahul Gandhi on Sunday claimed that the unemployment rate in India was double that of Pakistan, adding that this situation has been brought about by the poor financial policies of PM Modi, which have resulted in the “destruction of small and medium enterprises in the country”.
Rahul Gandhi also said that India is even performing worse than Bhutan and Bangladesh on the economic and employment fronts.
Addressing the public in Madhya Pradesh’s Gwalior as part of his Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra, Rahul Gandhi said, “The country is facing injustice on many fronts. There is economic and social injustice. Farmers are facing injustice. Our country is facing the worst unemployment rate in the last 40 years. India’s unemployment rate is double that of Pakistan. 23 per cent of youth were unemployed in India and 12 per cent in Pakistan. Our unemployment rate is higher than in Bhutan and Bangladesh as well.”
“Our small and medium enterprises in the country have been destroyed due to due to PM Modi’s implementation of GST and demonetisation,” he added.
A World Bank report released in 2022 points out that the youth unemployment rate in India was at 23.22 per cent, which was higher than its neighbours Pakistan (11.3 per cent) and Bangladesh (12.9 per cent). (ANI)
New Delhi, Feb 10 (ANI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi speaks in the Lok Sabha on the last day of the Budget Session of the Parliament, in New Delhi on Saturday. (ANI Photo/Sansad TV)
The overall productivity of the 17th Lok Sabha has been around 97 percent, which is the highest in the last 5 Lok Sabhas….reports Asian Lite News
Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla said that the 17 Lok Sabha passed 222 bills in the last five years.
The last session of the 17th Lok Sabha, which commenced on January 31, 2024, was adjourned sine die today. With this, the Seventeenth Lok Sabha was also adjourned sine die.
On this occasion, presiding over the proceedings of the House, the Lok Sabha Speaker said that the Seventeenth Lok Sabha is historic in many ways as a total of 274 sittings were held during the 17th Lok Sabha, which lasted for a total of 1354 hours. The House sat late for more than 345 hours and completed its business.
Birla informed the House that it lost a total of 387 hours to disruptions. The overall productivity of the 17th Lok Sabha has been around 97 percent, which is the highest in the last 5 Lok Sabhas.
The Lok Sabha speaker further said that the 17th Lok Sabha passed 222 laws. During this period, 202 bills were introduced and 11 were withdrawn by the government.
He also said that the 17th Lok Sabha, which held its first meeting in June, had 540 members who participated in discussions held in the House.
Om Birla added that women MPs saw maximum representation in the 17th Lok Sabha and the House also witnessed their active participation in the proceedings.
Speaking on some of the historic laws passed during the 17th Lok Sabha, Birla said that the Nari Shakti Vandan Bill, 2023, was the first bill to be taken up for discussion in the new building of Parliament and the historic bill was passed on the same day with the support of all parties. Also, the House passed many historic laws such as the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganization Bill, Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita, Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam, Bharatiya Nagrik Suraksha Sanhita, Digital Personal Data Protection Bill, Muslim Women (Protection of Marriage Rights) Bill, Consumer Protection Bill, Direct Tax Vivad se Vishwas Bill, Industrial Relations Code, etc.
He said that during the 17th Lok Sabha, many ineffective laws from the pre-independence era were repealed and replaced by new laws. Three Constitution Amendment Bills were also passed by the House during the term of this Lok Sabha.
Birla informed the House that during the 17th Lok Sabha, 4663 starred questions were listed, out of which 1116 questions were answered orally. In the same period, 55889 unstarred questions were also asked, which received written answers in the House. All the listed starred questions were answered orally on two occasions during this Lok Sabha.
729 Private Members’ Bills were introduced in this Lok Sabha. During the 17th Lok Sabha, 26,750 papers were laid by ministers.
Birla said that during this Lok Sabha, 5568 matters were taken up under Zero Hour, while 4869 matters under Rule 377 were raised by the Members. A total of 161 matters were taken up in one day under Zero Hour on July 18, 2019 and 1066 matters were raised during Zero Hour in the first session of the 17th Lok Sabha, which is a record. For the first time in this Lok Sabha, in order to ensure executive accountability, respective ministries were requested to respond to issues raised during Zero Hour and a good number of responses were received from the ministries concerned.
Birla said that during the 17th Lok Sabha, 534 statements were made by ministers on various subjects. 12 discussions under Rule 193 were also held during this Lok Sabha.
Parliamentary Standing Committees presented a total of 691 reports in this Lok Sabha and more than 69 percent of the committee recommendations were accepted by the government.
Speaking on innovations undertaken during the 17th Lok Sabha, Birla mentioned about PRISM, Briefing Sessions for Members of Parliament, home delivery of library books to MPs, digitization of proceedings, Mobile app, sharing of MPs’ video footage on Whatsapp, etc. He said that maximum use of digital technology is being made in parliamentary work while realizing the vision of paperless offices in the 17th Lok Sabha. Presently, more than 97 percent of question notices are being given through electronic means.
Speaking on the austerity measures in the 17th Lok Sabha, Birla said that during the 17th Lok Sabha, savings of around Rs 875 crore were made, which is 23 percent of the budget of the Secretariat. The canteen subsidy was completely abolished during this Lok Sabha, resulting in an annual saving of around Rs 15 crore. Facade lighting in Samvidhan Sadan and the merger of Lok Sabha TV and Rajya Sabha TV have led to savings of crores of rupees.
Parliamentary delegations from 16 countries visited India during this Lok Sabha. Also, 42 Indian Parliamentary Delegations visited abroad. He said that the active participation in international parliamentary forums is indicative of India’s growing stature and prestige at the global level.
This was the last day of the last session of the 17th Lok Sabha, before the general polls which are slated to be held in April-May this year. (ANI)
The Prime Minister is expected to address the House when he will reply to the Motion of Thanks on the Ram Mandir…reports Asian Lite News
Discussion has started in the Lok Sabha on the Ram temple that was inaugurated with a grand Pran Pratishtha (consecration ceremony) of Ram Lalla by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Ayodhya on January 22.
Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, while giving information about the special discussion in the House under Rule 193 on the historical construction of Ram Temple and the consecration of Ram Lalla, said that today an important topic — a topic of historical importance — is being discussed.
BJP MP Satyapal Singh, while presenting the proposal for discussion on Ram Temple, said that Lord Ram is not only for Hindus, Lord Ram belongs to everyone; Lord Ram is the ancestor of all of us and is also an inspiration for all of us.
He said that it is his great misfortune to propose in this great House the historic work of construction of a grand Ram temple in Ayodhya and the consecration of Ram Lalla on January 22.
The Prime Minister is expected to address the House when he will reply to the Motion of Thanks on the Ram Mandir, as the final Parliament session before the Lok Sabha election concludes on Saturday.
The government is bringing a motion on Ram Temple in Upper House and Lower House on Saturday which is the last day of the interim budget session of Parliament.
This discussion will bring to a close the proceedings of the 17th Lok Sabha.
The BJP issued a three-line whip on Friday, directing its MPs to be present in both Houses on Saturday.
The parliament will pass a resolution thanking Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the consecration of the Ram temple in Ayodhya.
New Delhi, Feb 6 (ANI): Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla conducts the proceedings of the House during the Budget Session of Parliament, in New Delhi on Tuesday. (ANI Photo/Sansad TV)
The bill has stringent provisions against malpractices. Students in several states have suffered in the past due to examinations getting cancelled for malpractices including paper leaks…reports Asian Lite News
The Lok Sabha on Tuesday passed ‘the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Bill, 2024, which seeks to deal sternly with malpractices and irregularities in government recruitment examinations and competitive entrance tests.
The bill covers exams conducted by the UPSC, Staff Selection Commission and entrance tests such as NEET and JEE. Bonafide candidates and students as defined in the Bill shall not be liable for action within the purview of the Bill.
The Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Bill, 2024 was introduced in Lok Sabha by Minister of State for Personnel and Training Jitendra Singh.
Singh said the proposed law is meant to safeguard the interest of meritorious students and candidates.
“This is above politics and concern which deals with the daughters and sons of this country, which we all of us should share. There are few doubts as we have not read the bill thoroughlly. Firstly I want to clear that the students or the candidates do not fall in the purview of this legislation. This Bill is for those who indulge in unfair means and adversely impact the public examination system for wrongful gains,” he added.
The bill has stringent provisions against malpractices. Students in several states have suffered in the past due to examinations getting cancelled for malpractices including paper leaks.
Officials said the bill, aimed at competitive and entrance exams, entails setting up a high-level technical committee to tackle challenges of cyber security in public examinations.
At present, there is no specific substantive law at the national level to deal with unfair means adopted or offences committed by persons, organized groups, or any other agency or organisation that adversely impacts the conduct of public examinations by the central government and its agencies.
The bill provides for a hike in the punishment for malpractices. The objective of the bill is to bring greater transparency, fairness and credibility to the public examination systems and to reassure the youth that their sincere and genuine efforts will be fairly rewarded and their futures are safe.
The bill covers exams conducted by the UPSC, Staff Selection Commission and entrance tests such as NEET and JEE. Bonafide candidates and students as defined in the Bill shall not be liable for action within the purview of the Bill.
Officials said the government has introduced several reforms to enhance transparency in examinations for recruitment as well as admission to higher education institutions. These include introducing self-attestation, shortening the examination cycle (from 18-22 months to 6-10 months), doing away with interviews for recruitment to Group ‘C’ and ‘D’ posts, introduction of computer-based tests and issuance of appointment letters through digital means under ‘Rojgar Mela’.
In the recent past, many states have had to cancel or were unable to declare the results of their public examinations due to the adverse impact of unfair practices and means adopted by anti-social and criminal elements. (ANI)
Bill to amend Water Act clears RS
The Rajya Sabha on Tuesday passed a Bill which seeks to decriminalise minor offences related to water pollution, enable the Centre to prescribe service conditions of chairpersons of State Pollution Control Boards, and exempt certain categories of industrial plants from statutory restrictions. Piloting the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Amendment Bill 2024 in the Upper House of Parliament, Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav said that development and environment protection must go together.
‘Budget share for entire South is less than UP’
Congress Lok Sabha member DK Suresh on Tuesday accused the Narendra Modi-led Union government of betraying the South Indian states with discriminatory budget allocation. He said that the budget share for the entire South is less than Rs 2 lakh crores while the single state of Uttar Pradesh is Rs 2 lakh crores. “South Indian states contribute the maximum but are betrayed by the Union government. The budget share for the entire South is less than Rs 2 lakh crores while the single state of Uttar Pradesh is Rs 2 lakh crores,” DK Suresh posted on X.
MHA lists 17 organisations as unlawful
Seventeen organisations are currently named in the list of the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) as unlawful associations under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967, the Lok Sabha was informed on Tuesday. Union Minister of State for Home Nityanand Rai shared the details in a written reply, naming Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI); United Liberation Front of Assam (ULFA); National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB); Meitei Extremist Organizations, among those 17 organisations declared as unlawful associations under the UAPA.
‘Prices of perishable items within tolerance band’
New Delhi: Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman displays a digital tablet wrapped in ‘bahi khata’ before presenting the Union Budget 2023, at the Ministry of Finance in New Delhi on Tuesday, Feb. 1, 2023. (Photo: Biplab Banerjee/IANS)
Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Tuesday said prices of perishable items have come down and are well within the tolerance band. To a query raised by AIADMK’s M Thambi Durai on the rise in retail inflation, during the Question Hour in Rajya Sabha today, she detailed the interventions made by her government to keep in check the price rise.
The expelled Lok Sabha MP alleged that she has been found guilty of breaching a code of ethics that ‘does not exist’…reports Asian Lite News
Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader Mahua Moitra has moved the Supreme Court against her expulsion from the Lok Sabha over ‘Cash-for-Query’ allegations.
Mahua Moitra was on Friday expelled from the Lok Sabha after a discussion on the report of the Ethics Committee in the ‘cash for query’ that was tabled in the Lower House.
Mahua Moitra, who was not allowed to speak during the discussion inside the House, the Trinamool leader read out her statement outside the Lok Sabha.
She said that the Ethics committee broke every rule.
“This LS has also seen the weaponisation of the Parliamentary committee. Ironically the Ethics Committee which was set up to serve as a moral compass for members, instead it has been abused egregiously today to do exactly what it was never meant to do, which is to bulldoze the opposition and become another weapon to ‘thok do’ (crush) us into submission,” Mahua Moitra said.
The opposition staged a walkout after the Lok Sabha adopted the motion to expel the TMC MP.
“I am 49 years old and for the next 30 years, I will fight you inside the Parliament and outside; in the gutter and on the streets…We will see the end of you…This is the beginning of your end…We’re going to come back and we’re going to see the end of you,” she added.
The expelled Lok Sabha MP alleged that she has been found guilty of breaching a code of ethics that ‘does not exist’.
Moitra further alleged that the findings are solely based on the written testimonies of two private citizens whose versions contradict each other in material terms and her right to cross-examine them was snatched.
“None of whom I was allowed to cross-examine. One of the two private citizens is my estranged partner, who with malafide intention, masqueraded as a common citizen in front of the committee. The two testimonies have been used to hang me there at polar opposites to each other,” she said.
The Ethics Committee report probing ‘Unethical Conduct’ of the Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP had recommended that Moitra “may be expelled” from the Lok Sabha and called for an “intense, legal, institutional inquiry” by the central government in a “time-bound manner”.
The report was adopted by a 6:4 majority in the panel last month. The report on Moitra’s cash-for-questions case revealed that she visited the UAE four times from 2019 to 2023 while her login was accessed several times. (ANI)
New Delhi: Union Home Minister Amit Shah speaks in the Lok Sabha during the Winter session of Parliament, in New Delhi, Tuesday, Dec. 5, 2023.(IANS/Video Grab/Sansad TV)
The Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation (Amendment) Bill and the Jammu and Kashmir Reservation (Amendment) Bill have been taken up together for consideration in the Lok Sabha…reports Asian Lite News
Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday moved two Bills in Lok Sabha — the Jammu and Kashmir Reservation (Amendment) Bill, 2023, and the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation (Amendment) Bill, 2023.
The Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation (Amendment) Bill and the Jammu and Kashmir Reservation (Amendment) Bill have been taken up together for consideration in the Lok Sabha.
Around four hours had been initially set apart for the discussion.
Union Minister Anurag Thakur said: “Earlier there were stone-pelting incidents in Kashmir. Today, there are no such incidents. Today, not only at Lal Chowk but the Indian flag is hoisted in every lane in Kashmir.”
While deliberating upon the two amendment Bills on reorganisation and reservation in Jammu and Kashmir, Congress MP Manish Tewari questioned the constitutionality of repealing Articles 370 and 35A.
The Congress MP recalled the President’s Proclamation released in 2018 and pointed out a clause which referred to the termination of Sections 1 and 2 of Article 3 of the Constitution.
Tewari alleged that the idea of repealing Article 370 was incorporated in the Proclamation leading up to the President’s Rule in the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir.
Responding to the remarks, Home Minister Amit Shah said the clause in the Proclamation was a necessary step as passing the state’s budget would only be possible then at a time when the state’s legislative assembly stood dissolved.
Tewari responded to this saying Article 3 does not talk about the functioning of the state assembly rather it only talks about the reorganisation of the territory.
Trinamool Congress MP Sougata Roy raised questions on the revocation of the Article 370 and 35A which led to the formation of Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh.
Roy asked the government about the outcomes after the Articles were repealed. The Trinamool Congress MP from West Bengal’s Dum Dum also complained that the situation of people in Jammu and Kashmir has not improved since.
Shah during discussion on the J&K Bills in Lok Sabha said: “How can a country have two Prime Ministers, two Constitutions and two flags? Those who did this, they did wrong. Prime Minister Narendra Modi corrected it. We have been saying that there should be ‘Ek Pradhan, Ek Nishan, Ek Vidhan’ (One Prime Minister, one flag and one Constitution) in the country, and we did it.”
He was speaking on remarks made by Roy on the J&K Bills.
NCP (Sharad Pawar) faction MP Supriya Sule, amid the Maratha quota agitation in Maharashtra, asked for a discussion on pan-India reservation.
She was speaking amid the deliberations on the two J&K amendment bills, one of which talks about reservation for the people of the union territory.
She also remembered late BJP leaders Arun Jaitley and Sushma Swaraj for their contributions to Indian politics.
“Today, I miss Arun Jaitely and Sushma Swaraj… they were the only BJP leaders who advocated for the cooperative federalism,” Sule said.
Oppn Seeks Time-Frame For J-K Polls; RS Discusses Economic Situation
Lok Sabha on Tuesday took up discussion on two bills on Jammu and Kashmir while the Rajya Sabha discussed the economic situation in the country with the BJP members praising the government for its handling of the economy in a difficult global situation and the opposition members pointing to price rise and “high unemployment” in the country.
Home Minister Amit Shah moved the Jammu and Kashmir Reservation (Amendment) Bill, 2023 and Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation (Amendment) Bill, 2023 for consideration and passing in Lok Sabha. The House took up debate on the two bills together.
Several members took part in the debate and the Home Minister is expected to give reply on Wednesday.
Participating in the debate, opposition members accused the government of delaying elections in Jammu and Kashmir. They said the government is talking of improved law and order situation in Jammu and Kashmir but assembly elections have not been held.
During the debate, which was initiated by Congress member Amar Singh, several members also said that the government should restore the statehood of Jammu and Kashmir.
Saugata Roy of the Trinamool Congress (TMC) said the government should announce a time-frame for holding polls in Jammu and Kashmir.
Roy targeted the government and said it was first time that a state had been turned into Union Territory.
“Let me start with the situation in Jammu and Kashmir since Amit Shah took over as Home Minister. One of the major steps taken by him was to abrogate Article 370 and then convert the states of Jammu and Kashmir to Union Territories. First Jammu and Kashmir and second, Ladakh. Earlier, Union Territories were converted into States and here, Amit Shah converted the states into Union Territories. What have you achieved?” he asked.
“If there is no Legislative Assembly, then why are you making the changes? Have a Legislative Assembly and then make it. I don’t know what the hurry is; the hurry should be to hold the elections in Jammu and Kashmir,” he added.
“They abrogated Article 370 just to fulfil the BJP promise: ‘Ek Pradhan, Ek Nishan, Ek Vidhan’ (One Prime Minister, one flag and one Constitution). This was the slogan at the time of Syama Prasad (Mookerjee), this is not for the people of Jammu and Kashmir, as this was a political statement and was his slogan,” he said.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah countered Sugata Roy over some of his remarks and asked how can a country have two PMs, two constitutions and two flags.
“How can a country have two PMs, two constitutions and two flags? Those who did this, they did wrong. PM Modi corrected it. We have been saying since 1950 that there should be ‘Ek Pradhan, Ek Nishan, Ek Vidhan’ (One Prime Minister, one flag and one Constitution) in the country, and we did it.” Shah said.
Union Minister Anurag Thakur said Kashmir saw stone-pelting incidents earlier but there were no such incidents now.
Thakur alleged that the TMC government in West Bengal is not allowing the “Viksit Bharat Sankalp Yatra”, which showcases the people-centric policies of the Narendra Modi government in the state.
Participating in the debate, J-K National Conference MP Hasnain Masoodi said the bill should not have been brought at this stage as the Supreme Court was yet to announce its verdict on the petitions challenging the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganization Act.
He said the decisions on matters, being sought to be amended by the bills, were taken by the assembly and any changes should be made there. (ANI)
