RS : 80 Indian students still in coronavirus-hit Wuhan, says Jaishankar

17:57 February 07

House is adjourned till Feb 10

The House is adjourned till 11 a.m. on February 10.

17:53 February 07

80 Indian students still in coronavirus-hit Wuhan: Jaishankar

An estimated 80 Indian students are still living in the coronavirus-hit Chinese city of Wuhan, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar told the Rajya Sabha on Friday, adding that 70 of them chose to stay behind at the time of the evacuation operation.

"By our estimate, there are about 80 Indian students who are currently still in Wuhan," Jaishankar said, adding that a total of 10 among these 80 students had expressed willingness to return to India but could not board the special Air India flight after they failed the screening process at the airport.

17:37 February 07

India ready to evacuate Pakistani students from Wuhan: S Jaishankar

After Pakistan has refused to airlift and evacuate its citizens from Wuhan despite several appeals from families of those based in the epicentre of coronavirus outbreak citing “larger interests” of the region and the world, Minister of External Affairs Subrahmanyam Jaishankar has announced its willingness to reach out and evacuate them provided the Pakistani government requests so.

"At the time when our two flights were going to evacuate the citizens from China, we had told all the students and the larger community in Wuhan that we were prepared not only to bring our nationals but bring all the people from our neighbourhood who would like to come back. But, only seven Maldivion nationals were agreed to join us" said Jaishankar. 

17:03 February 07

Union Health Minister addresses government response to coronavirus outbreak

Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan today in Rajya Sabha has informed the country about the Government response to tackle the novel coronavirus outbreak in China. 
The Union Health Minister said that the government of India has taken all preventive measures in order to curb the diseases from spreading.

He has pointed out the following points while addressing the Rajya Sabha:

• Track the passengers who have a history of travelling to China
• Till now, three positive cases were reported from Kerala
• All the patients are clinically stable, as stated by the doctor
• GOI has issued a travel advisory on January 17
• Over one lakh passengers screened at the airports
• 654 citizens are evacuated including seven foreign nations from the Wuhan City of China
• States sharing a border with Nepal were also advised to take preventive measures
• Indian Embassy is in regular touch with the Chinese embassy

16:47 February 07

Country should grab the technology to boost entrepreneurship says, Congress

Congress leader from Karnataka Prof M. V Rajeev Gowda asserted in support of the bill and said the country should grab the opportunities which are technologically advanced.
The leader further said, "The country should accept the technological changes in the system in order to compete with others. It will also boost the spirit of entrepreneurship among the youth generation."

16:00 February 07

DMK leader demands restriction on payment apps

DMK leader T. K. S. Elangovann asserted to restrict the use of payment apps in the country. He says restrictions on foreign payment gateways and apps are necessary because an individual is forced to share his personal data to the apps, even to make a small purchase online.
 

14:56 February 07

Further discussions on Bill- The Foreign Investment in Financial Services, Critical Infrastructure and Technology Affecting National Security (Regulation) Bill, 2018.
This Bill was introduced by Narendra Jadhav (Nominated) on December 6, 2019.

14:56 February 07

Proceedings resume in Rajya Sabha. Deputy Chairman Harivansh Narayan Singh is in the Chair.

13:34 February 07

Stringent action will be taken against hackers: Piyush Goyal on IRCTC website hack

MDMK leader Vaiko raises the question on the increase in Railway fares to which Minister of Railways, Piyush Goyal replied, "Indian Railways is continuously upgrading its services and facilities, and for that we need funds." 

He further added, "Technology is keep getting upgraded. IRCTC along with the Centre for Railway Information Systems (CRIS) is monitoring and making effort to improvise the system and protect it from getting hacked.'
 

13:05 February 07

Rajya Sabha adjourned till 2:30 pm

Rajya Sabha adjourned till 2:30 pm

12:49 February 07

Old ration cards will remain valid throughout the nation: Ramvilas Paswan

Taking note of fake news that is doing the rounds on social media that new ration cards will be issued for the central government's ambitious initiative 'one nation, one ration card' scheme, Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, Ramvilas Paswan said that," Old ration cards will remain valid throughout the nation. No new ration cards are being made for the 'one nation, one ration card' scheme."

12:32 February 07

Anti-torture law is the need of the hour: Md. Nadimul Haque

Md. Nadimul Haque, Member of Parliament representing All India Trinamool Congress in the Rajya Sabha from West Bengal demanded anti-torture bill as many prisoners died in custody. In 2017-18, NHRC reported 144 death cases of Police custody and 1530 death in Judicial custody. Anti-torture law is the need of the hour.

12:17 February 07

Govt is not concerned about minority development policies: Javed Ali Khan

Javed Ali Khan of Samajwadi Party raised the issue of minority development policies. He said, "This government is not so concern towards the minority development policies."

12:06 February 07

Urgent need to widen the scope of the Sexual Harassment at Workplace Act : Prof. Rajeev Gowda

Congress Rajya Sabha member, Prof.M.V. Rajeev Gowda has given a Zero Hour Notice in Rajya Sabha over 'Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace Act'. He said, "Urgent need to widen the scope of the Sexual Harassment at Workplace Act. This Act should include Gender bias. This Act doesn't cover the range of other kinds of harassment which prevents their promotion." 

11:31 February 07

JDU MP gives notice in RS over demand for caste specific census

Delhi: Janata Dal (United) MP Ram Nath Thakur has given a Zero Hour Notice in Rajya Sabha over "demand for caste specific census in 2021".

Earlier, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has called for a caste-based census in 2021, citing that the population of the scheduled castes, scheduled tribes and other backward classes had gone up from the previous estimates recorded in the last census in 1931.

11:17 February 07

Rajya Sabha: CPI(M) gives Zero Hour notice in RS over JNU violence

Delhi:Communist Party of India (M) MP KK Ragesh on Friday gave Zero Hour Notice in Rajya Sabha over the "alleged criminal attack on Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) teachers and students". 

During Zero Hour, parliamentarians can raise matters of great importance without the mandatory ten days advance notice.

On January 5, more than 30 students of the university, including Jawaharlal Nehru University Students' Union (JNUSU) president Aishe Ghosh, were injured and taken to the AIIMS Trauma Centre after a masked mob entered the varsity and attacked them and professors with sticks and rods. 

The first phase of the Budget Session of the Parliament will conclude on February 11, while the second part of the session will begin from March 2 and end on April 3.