Opposition had a pre planned agenda of disruption and had no interest in discussion in Parliament, claim Union Ministers

Outsiders were brought in to manhandle opposition MPs: Rahul Gandhi

New Delhi: Eight Union Ministers today held a press conference to say that “deplorable actions” by opposition Members of Parliament (MPs) have become a norm and that their actions in this session were not an exception but a continuation.

The Ministers who together addressed the Press Conference were Piyush Goyal, Dharmendra Pradhan, Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi, Prahlad Joshi, Bhupendra Yadav, Anurag Singh Thakur, Arjun Ram Meghwal and V Muraleedharan.

However, levelling serious charges against the Government, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi claimed today that “outsiders” were brought in to manhandle opposition MPs in Rajya Sabha. The Congress MP said, “For the first in the history of Rajya Sabha, outsiders were brought in to manhandle opposition MPs. It is the duty of the Chairman and Speaker to run the houses in Parliament.”

Rahul said this a day after  Rajya Sabha Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu lamented disruptions in the upper house during the monsoon session of Parliament.

The Ministers though claimed that from tearing of the rule book last year to the opposition indulging in most unparliamentary conducts ever witnessed by this House, “the conduct of opposition is becoming shameful day by day”. They pointed out that opposition had publicly stated that the session should be washed out and hence their intention was to not let the house conduct business.

“Infact, the Government had offered discussions on several occasions. However, appeals for discussions fell on deaf ears and they even took papers from the hands of the Hon’ble Minister and tore them. Even the Hon’ble Prime Minister was not allowed to introduce the Newly sworn In Council of Ministers,” they claimed.

Charging that some Opposition members desecrated the sanctity of the House by climbing the Sanctum Sanctorum (Garbhagriha), namely the table located at well of the House and threw the Rule Book at the Chair, they said the Member of Parliament who stood on the table in the Parliament was not only standing on the table but was trampling upon Parliamentary ethics. “He was not only throwing a book at the chair but was also throwing Parliamentary conduct out of the House. Such behaviour is unprecedented in our House and the opposition has done grievous harm to the reputation of the house,” they said.

The Ministers claimed that the Opposition’s behaviour was an assault on the dignity of the institution and could have grievously injured the Secretary General, the Ministers said that misbehaviour by the Opposition members was a “shameful disgrace” in the Parliamentary History of India.

“It is rather unfortunate that the opposition MPs are not even apologetic about their actions. Rather they are considering these shameful actions as acts of valour,” they said.

Piyush Goyal said that opposition had misbehaved throughout the session “only because they do not want issues of public welfare to be discussed”. He demanded that strict action should be taken on the shameful and obstructive behaviour of the Opposition. They wanted to create Opposition unity to foster national disunity. They owe answers to the nation.

He further referred to the Opposition questioning  over bills being passed in din, and said that it was only because of their refusal to allow parliamentary debate that had “left no choice”. He added: “From merely shouting, they have shifted to violence and manhandling staff to disrupt parliamentary process. Also, where was this concern about passage without discussion when numerous bills were passed in din during the UPA rule. Between 2006 and 2014, the United Progressive Alliance (UPA 1 & 2) government passed a total of 18 Bills in a hasty manner.”

Goyal pointed out that despite highest disruption since 2014, the number of bills passed per day during this session in Rajya Sabha was the 2nd highest since 2014 (i.e. 1.1 bills per day passed). The time lost due to interruptions / adjournments (till Aug 11) was 76 Hours 26 Minutes and the highest average time per day lost due to interruptions / adjournments since the 231st session of Rajya Sabha in 201 was 4 Hours 30 Minutes.

The Ministers said that despite all the chaos and disruption, 19 Bills passed in Rajya Sabha (incl. Constitutional Amendment on OBC reservation also passed), “which are in national interest and will benefit the poor, OBCs, workers, entrepreneurs, and all sections of our society”.

“This reflects the commitment, productivity and ability of the Govt to drive legislative agenda in the Parliament, which aims to fulfil the aspirations of its citizens. It will shape the future of our country. Government successfully carried out Government business during the session,”  they said.

Details of the Monsoon Session

1. The Monsoon Session, 2021 of Parliament which commenced on Monday, July 19, 2021 has been adjourned sine die on Wednesday,  August 11, 2021.  The Session provided 17 sittings spread over a period of 24 days.

2. The Session, which was originally scheduled to have 19 sittings from  July 19 till  August 13, 2021, was curtailed due to continuous disruptions in both the Houses and completion of essential government business.

3. During the Session,  22 Bills were passed by both the Houses of Parliament which includes two appropriation Bills relating to the Supplementary Demands for Grants for 2021-22 and the Demands for Excess Grants for 2017-2018 which were passed by Lok Sabha, transmitted to Rajya Sabha and are deemed to have been passed under Article 109(5).  

4. Four Bills replacing the Ordinances, namely, the Tribunals Reforms (Rationalisation and Conditions of Service) Ordinance, 2021, the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (Amendment) Ordinance, 2021, the Commission for Air Quality Management in National Capital Region and Adjoining Areas Ordinance, 2021 and the Essential Defence Services Ordinance, 2021 which were promulgated by the President before Monsoon Session, were considered and passed by the Houses.

5. Some important Bills, passed by Houses of Parliament are as under :-

1. ECONOMIC SECTOR/EASE OF DOING BUSINESS MEASURES

The Taxation Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2021 provide that no tax demand shall be raised in future on the basis of the said retrospective amendment for any indirect transfer of Indian assets if the transaction was undertaken before 28th May, 2012.

The General Insurance Business (Nationalisation) Amendment Bill, 2021 provides for greater private participation in the public sector insurance companies and to enhance insurance penetration and social protection and better secure the interests of policy holders and contribute to faster growth of the economy.

The Deposit Insurance and Credit Guarantee Corporation (Amendment) Bill, 2021 enables easy and time-bound access by depositors to their own money, even when there are restrictions on banks. It is proposed to provide that even if a bank is temporarily unable to fulfil its obligations due to restrictions such as moratorium imposed on it, depositors can access their deposits to the extent of deposit insurance cover through interim payments by the Corporation.

The Limited Liability Partnership (Amendment) Bill, 2021   converts certain offences into civil defaults and changes the nature of punishment for these offences.  It also defines small LLP, provides for appointment of certain adjudicating officers, and establishment of special courts.

The Factoring Regulation (Amendment) Bill, 2021 seeks to help micro, small and medium enterprises significantly, by providing added avenues for getting credit facility, especially through Trade Receivables Discounting System. Increase in the availability of working capital may lead to growth in the business of the micro, small and medium enterprises sector and also boost employment in the country.

2. TRANSPORT SECTOR REFORMS

The Marine Aids to Navigation Bill, 2021provides for the development, maintenance and management of aids to navigation in India; for training and certification of operator of aids to navigation, development of its historical, educational and cultural value; to ensure compliance with the obligation under the maritime treaties and international instruments to which India is a party.

The Inland Vessels Bill, 2021promotes economical and safe transportation and trade through inland waters, to bring uniformity in application of law relating to inland waterways and navigation within the country, to provide for safety of navigation, protection of life and cargo, and prevention of pollution that may be caused by the use or navigation of inland vessels, to ensure transparency and accountability of administration of inland water transportation, to strengthen procedures governing the inland vessels, their construction, survey, registration, manning, navigation.

The Airports Economic Regulatory Authority of India (Amendment) Bill, 2021 proposes to amend the definition of “major airport” so as extend its scope to determine the tariff for a group of airports also, which will encourage development of smaller airports.

3. EDUCATIONAL REFORMS

The National Institute of Food Technology Entrepreneurship and Management Bill, 2021 declares certain institutions of Food Technology, Entrepreneurship and Management to be the institutions of national importance and to provide for instructions and research in food technology, entrepreneurship and management.

The Central Universities (Amendment) Bill, 2021seeks to amend the Central Universities Act, 2009 inter alia to provide for the establishment of a University in the name of “Sindhu Central University” in the Union territory of Ladakh.

4. SOCIAL JUSTICE REFORMS

The Constitution (One Hundred and Twenty-Seventh Amendment) Bill, 2021seeks to adequately clarify that the State Government and Union territories are empowered to prepare and maintain their own State List/ Union territory List of socially and educationally backward classes.

The Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Amendment Bill, 2021provides that instead of the court, the district magistrate (including additional district magistrate) will issue such adoption orders.The Bill adds that serious offences will also include offences for which maximum punishment is imprisonment of more than seven years, and minimum punishment is not prescribed or is less than seven years.   

The Constitution (Scheduled Tribes) Order (Amendment) Bill, 2021 to modify the list of Scheduled Tribes in relation to the State of Arunachal Pradesh.

6. In the Rajya Sabha, two Short Duration Discussions under Rule 176 were held on “the management of COVID-19 pandemic, implementation of vaccination policy and challenges of the likely third wave” and on “the agricultural problems and solutions” (remained inconclusive)

7. Further, One Bill namely “The Tribunals Reforms (Rationalisation and Conditions of Service) Bill, 2021” and one old pending Bill namely “The Indecent Representation of Women (Prohibition) Amendment Bill, 2012” were withdrawn in Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha respectively.

LEGISLATIVE BUSINESS TRANSACTED DURING THE 6^th SESSION OF 17^TH LOK SABHA AND 254^th SESSION OF RAJYA SABHA (MONSOON SESSION, 2021)

I–22 BILLS PASSED BY BOTH HOUSES OF PARLIAMENT

1. The National Institute of Food Technology Entrepreneurship and Management Bill, 2021
2. The Marine Aids to Navigation Bill, 2021
3. The Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Amendment Bill, 2021
4. The Factoring Regulation (Amendment) Bill, 2021
5. The Inland Vessels Bill, 2021
6. The Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (Amendment) Bill,2021
7. The Coconut Development Board (Amendment) Bill, 2021
8. The Airports Economic Regulatory Authority of India (Amendment) Bill, 2021
9. The Commission for Air Quality Management in National Capital Region and Adjoining Areas Bill, 2021
10. The Essential Defence Services Bill, 2021
11. The Limited Liability Partnership (Amendment) Bill, 2021
12. The Deposit Insurance and Credit Guarantee Corporation (Amendment) Bill, 2021.
13. The Constitution (Scheduled Tribes) Order (Amendment) Bill, 2021.
14. The Tribunals Reforms Bill, 2021
15. The Taxation Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2021
16. The Central Universities (Amendment) Bill, 2021
17. The General Insurance Business (Nationalisation) Amendment Bill, 2021
18. The National Commission for Homoeopathy (Amendment) Bill, 2021
19. The National Commission for Indian System of Medicine (Amendment) Bill, 2021
20. The Constitution (One Hundred and Twenty-Seventh Amendment) Bill, 2021
21. *The Appropriation (No.3) Bill, 2021
22. *The Appropriation (No.4) Bill, 2021

II – 2 OLD BILLS THAT WERE WITHDRAWN

1. The Tribunals Reforms (Rationalisation and Conditions of Service) Bill, 2021
2. The Indecent Representation of Women (Prohibition) Amendment Bill, 2012        

The two Bills, as passed by Lok Sabha were transmitted to Rajya Sabha for its recommendation, are not likely to be returned to Lok Sabha within the period of fourteen days from the date of their receipt in Rajya Sabha. The Bills will be deemed to have been passed by both Houses at the expiration of the said period in the form in which they were passed by Lok Sabha under clause (5) of article 109 of the Constitution.

– global bihari bureau