Lok Sabha passes Special Protection Group (Amendment) Bill

18:07 November 27

Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu Bill passed in Lok Sabha

Lok Sabha passes The Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu (Merger of Union Territories) Bill, 2019.

17:19 November 27

Lok Sabha passes SPG (Amendment) Bill, 2019

Lok Sabha passes the Special Protection Group (Amendment) Bill, 2019. Congress MPs had walked out of the house in protest.

17:16 November 27

We support all steps that are taken for the security of PM Modi

"We support all steps that are taken for the security of PM Modi. But your (Home Minister Amit Shah) speech has made it clear that there is a political vendetta. You are targeting a family that has sacrificed two lives for the nation," Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury said. 

16:57 November 27

Earlier, changes were made to the bill by keeping in mind a single-family

Union Home Minister Amit Shah said "I have no hesitation in saying on record that the changes that were made to the bill earlier were made keeping in mind a single-family. It is the first time it has been changed keeping in mind the security of PM."

16:02 November 27

Protection has not been withdrawn but only changed

"An effort is being made to paint a picture that govt isn't concerned about the security of Gandhi family & that their protection has been withdrawn. Their protection has not been withdrawn but only changed, based on threat assessment," says Home Minister Amit Shah on SPG Bill in Lok Sabha. 

15:15 November 27

Lok Sabha passes bill to ban e-cigarettes in country

The Lok Sabha Wednesday passed the Prohibition of Electronic Cigarettes (Production, Manufacture, Import, Export, Transport, Sale, Distribution, Storage and Advertisement) Bill, 2019.
 

15:15 November 27

SPG (Amendment) Bill will restore law to its original intent, says Amit Shah

Union Home Minister Amit Shah Wednesday said,  "SPG (Amendment) Bill will restore the law to its original intent. Earlier govts have diluted SPG law from time to time, said Home Minister Amit Shah in Lok Sabha."
 

14:28 November 27

SPG protection only for PM and his/her family: Amit Shah

Union Home Minister Amit Shah, in Lok Sabha, said that with the amendment in Special Protection Group (SPG) Act, SPG cover will be given only to the PM and members of his family who live officially with him at the PM's residence. SPG cover will also be given to a former Prime Minister and his family, living at a residence allotted by the government, for a period of 5 years."

14:22 November 27

No increase in expenditure on UT of J&K after abrogation of Art 370

The Centre on Wednesday said there has been no increase in expenditure on the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir ever since the abrogation of Article 370. Union Minister of State for Home G Kishan Reddy told the Rajya Sabha that the reorganisation of the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir into the UT of Jammu and Kashmir and the UT of Ladakh was done as per the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act, 2019. 

14:21 November 27

Govt defends ban on e-cigarettes

Health Minister Harsh Vardhan on Wednesday defended the ban on e-cigarettes, telling the Lok Sabha that vaping is harmful for the health of the people. "Less harmful does not mean it is not harmful," he said, replying to a discussion on the bill to ban e-cigarettes. He defended the ordinance, saying the government felt the need to nip in the bud the growing use of e-cigarettes and similar products.

14:20 November 27

Security forces fighting terrorism together in J&K: Rajnath Singh

Rajnath Singh said that the Army, paramilitary forces and the Jammu and Kashmir Police have been coordinating to fight terrorism in the state. "Terror incidents have been taking place in Jammu and Kashmir for the last 30-35 years. But I must compliment the forces that it has now come down to almost nil," he said. He was responding to an issue raised by a Congress member on the recent killings of a few people in a terror incident.

12:54 November 27

Terror incidents 'close to nil' in Kashmir now, says Rajnath Singh

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh while answering Congress MP S Kodikunnil's question on Jammu and Kashmir said, "Security forces and police are working in coordination and taking appropriate action. Terror incidents are close to nil in Kashmir after abrogation of Article 370. Normalcy is fast returning to J&K."

12:53 November 27

Congress MP S Kodikunnil: Where is normalcy in Jammu and Kashmir?

Congress MP S Kodikunnil in Lok Sabha said in Lok Sabha, "There are terrorist attacks in many parts of Jammu & Kashmir. Where is normalcy in J&K? Government is misleading the House. The government should make a statement."
 

12:39 November 27

Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla congratulates ISRO on successful launch of PSLV-C47

Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla congratulated the ISRO on the successful launch of PSLV-C47 carrying indigenous Cartosat-3 satellite. "The advanced Cartosat-3 will augment our high-resolution imaging capability", he added.

12:19 November 27

'Why is National Statistical Office not accountable to Parliament?', asks Shashi Tharoor

During the Question hour, Congress MP Shashi Tharoor questioned the government's decision to merge the two bodies National Sample Survey Office (NSSO) with the Central Statistics Office (CSO) to form the National Statistical Office (NSO) after receiving a written response by the Ministry of Communications.

"I have looked into the reply of the minister, he essentially links the decision to merge the two bodies National Sample Survey Office (NSSO) with the Central Statistics Office (CSO) to form the National Statistical Office (NSO), on a Union cabinet decision of 2005 and the resolution day to the same year. However, that intended to create an independent body that would be accountable Parliament, whereas what this government has created is a non-autonomous body that is directly accountable to the government and the ministry. Would the minister kindly clarify in what regards is this decision consistent with the one taken in 2005 and secondly why should this body not be accountable to Parliament."

He further raised the issue of data inconsistency being faced by the country,

"The fact is that we're facing a crisis in terms of statistical credibility worldwide. The constant revision of numbers by Govt-for eg, Govt's own Chief Economic Advisor questioning revision of GDP growth from 6.7% to 8.2%. 

He also asked, "Would the Govt agree to have a review by a committee of independent experts to look into the processes being followed & sources used in gathering data in our country?"

Rao Inderjit Singh, MoS (Ind.), Statistics and Programme Implementation, responded by saying,

"the government is aware of the shortcomings in the data in the data collection centre. It is a continuous process, we are trying to upgrade it. We will be happy to have inputs that the honourable member might want to give on this, but this is a decision that the government will have to take on its own after taking inputs from all that are concerned, whether national or international."

"So far as the Commission is concerned, the Commission is a constitutional body, not the NSSO, " added Singh.
 

11:28 November 27

J&L leader raises issue of internet suspension; MoS, Communications says move necessary for 'security reasons'

National Conference leader Hasnain Masoodi raises the issue of suspension internet connectivity in Jammu and Kashmir since August 5 and seeks a response from Sanjay Shamrao Dhotre, MoS, Communications on the matter.

"For the past four months, broadband and internet connectivity has been cut off in Jammu and Kashmir. Lakhs of students are suffering, " said Masoodi.

Responding to Masoodi's question, Dhotre said, "for security reasons, such measures were taken."

11:19 November 27

Indian Army's average annual recruitment around 60,000: Defence Minister

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said,

Approximately 60,000 citizens recruited every year in the Indian Army
 

11:14 November 27

Several important Bills lined up for today's session

The government will introduce a few important Bills in the Lok Sabha on Wednesday including:

Bill for withdrawal-

• The Jammu and Kashmir Reservation (Second Amendment) Bill, 2019.

Bills for consideration and passing-

• The Special Protection Group (Amendment) Bill, 2019.
• The Prohibition of Electronic Cigarettes (Production, Manufacture, Import, Export, Transport, Sale, Distribution, Storage and Advertisement) Bill, 2019.
• The Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu (Merger of Union Territories) Bill, 2019.
• The National Capital Territory of Delhi (Recognition of Property Rights of Residents in Unauthorised Colonies) Bill, 2019 *The Taxation Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2019.
   

10:59 November 27

20 questions listed for oral answers, 230 for written ones

 

10:28 November 27

Lok Sabha LIVE: Session to begin shortly

New Delhi: A day after 18 Opposition parties led by Congress boycotted the joint parliamentary sitting to commemorate the Constitution Day on Tuesday, another round of eventful session of Lok Sabha is expected today, with  20 questions listed for oral answers and 230 listed for written ones.

The protest was held against the attempt by the BJP to form the government in Maharashtra by poaching NCP MLAs.

A total of 18 parties participated in the event including Congress, Shiv Sena, Trinamool Congress, Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, Samajwadi Party, Rashtriya Janata Dal, Communist Party of India (Marxist), Communist Party of India, Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi and Indian Union Muslim League among others. This is the first Opposition event attended by the Shiv Sena. 

Addressing joint sitting of Parliament to mark Constitution Day, President Ram Nath Kovind said BR Ambedkar, while underlining the importance of constitutional morality, had emphasised that its essence was to regard the Constitution as supreme and to follow constitutionally-mandated procedures.

Amid all the chaos, the government introduced in the Lok Sabha a Bill to merge two Union Territories - Daman and Diu, and Dadra and Nagar Haveli into one. The bill was introduced in the Lok Sabha by Union Minister of State for Home G Kishan Reddy. The move comes three months after Jammu and Kashmir was divided into two UTs -- Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh.