News
Lok Sabha
MP Dhanorkar Pratibha Suresh raised the issue of BSNL's operations and profitability. Communications Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia highlighted the revival package provided by the Centre in 2019 and claimed BSNL has been transformed into a profit-making entity.
The Speaker tells the House after Question Hour is over that he has received multiple notices of adjournment but is not accepting any of them.
Opposition members staged a brief walkout after a heated back and forth on Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi’s not being allowed to visit the violence-hit district of Sambhal.
The Railway Minister brought up the the Railways (Amendment) Bill, 2024 for consideration and passing in the Lok Sabha.
The Railways (Amendment) Bill, 2024 serves the goal of giving the Railway Board statutory authority and improving the organization's autonomy and operations.
INC MP Manoj Kumar expressed concerns that the bill will open up railways to privatisation and make it inaccessible for poor people. Samajwadi Party MP Neeraj Maurya also built on the same argument. BJP MP Ravi Kishan highlighted the progress in the Railway industry under PM Modi.
Samajwadi Party MP Ramashankar Rajbhar requested the government to consider including members from the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe community in the proposed expanded railway board.
The opposition claimed the bill was superficial and an exercise to move the papers around. Hyderabad MP Owaisi also argued the bill failed to include recommendations made by expert committees over the years.
Multiple members demanded better connectivity for their districts while urging the Railway Minister to focus on completing the ongoing projects by the government on time.
Rajya Sabha
According to Chairman Dhankhar, members brought up several topics under rule 267, including the Sambhal dispute, farmers' concerns, the storm Fengal, and accusations against the Adani company. "The House will not take up the issues," he claims. Members of the opposition beg the chairman to take their requests into consideration.
He added, “We didn’t work for five days. During those five days, Rule 267 notices were raised, not a single one regarding farmers. Now crocodile tears!”
Opposition resorted to sloganeering but the House proceeded to discuss matters raised with the permission of the Chair.
Rajya Sabha was adjourned for lunch.
After lunch, the External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar informed the House of recent events along the India-China border. Opposition was not allowed to question or respond to statements made by Jaishankar.
Union Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal moved The Boilers Bill, 2024, for consideration and passing.
CPI(M) MP John Brittas said the Boiler Bill has no substantial amendments. he said the bill is only introduced to undermine the power of the States. He pointed out the bill specifies State government must follow Central government directives, noting that law and order is a State matter.
NCP-SP MP Fauzia Khan pointed out that the Boilers Bill lacks sufficient environmental and sustainability requirements. In countries like the UK and South Africa, boiler-specific legislation has been repealed, she added.
In response to the debate around the Boilers Bill 2024, Piyush Goyal said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had said that national thinking was necessary for the nation to shift away from the colonial attitude and harness its skills for nation-building. He added that the government is looking to change all the laws that were instated before 1947. He assured the House that the bill would increase the safety of the nation.
The bill was adopted with a voice vote.
The House also took Special Mentions on the increase in contempt petitions, disinvestment in Vizag Steel plant, drinking water problems in Bangalore, request to increase the number of overbridges, the challenges in housing and living standards faced by students in Delhi, the implementation of legal provisions to increase accessibility for disabled persons, demand for special category status for Odisha, and the need for enhanced cancer screening facilities at the district-level.