LIVE: Rajya Sabha adjourned till 9 am tomorrow

22:27 September 14

Govt must take political parties in confidence: CPI(M) leader D Raja

CPI(M) leader D Raja said that the monsoon session of Parliament has been called in an extraordinary situation and the govt should take other parties in confidence on various issues.  

"PM Modi called all-party meeting only once but our suggestions were not taken into account," he added.

He said that PM Modi is keen to implement RSS ideology and make India 'Hindu Rashtra'. Our party is fighting to save India and its Constitution.

Talking about the Indo-China border clashes, CPI(M) leader said, "The govt should explain to us that what is happening at the border. We are not aware of it. Govt should take political parties into confidence. It must act with sensitivity on such issues."

Condemning the attack by Delhi Police on political leaders and social activists, he said, "Delhi Police is under MHA but it must act neutrally. Police should have filed FIR against BJP leaders Kapil Mishra and Anurag Thakur for making hate speeches during anti-CAA protests. No action has been taken on them. They are acting on the behest of BJP."

"Govt is careless, irresponsible and insensitive to give such a reply. There are many institutes who can collect data. There are a number of hungry people, suicide but govt says it has no data," he added.

20:35 September 14

Opposition cries foul over suspending 'Question Hour' in RS 

After an uproar in the Lok Sabha, the Opposition on Monday objected to cancellation of Question Hour in the upper house as well. Trinamool Congress Party's Derek O'Brien objected to the cancellation of question hour, while claiming that it is the heart of democracy. History shows that it has never happened before in a regular session, he added.

"It has only taken place during a war or the Emergency or during smaller sessions of 2-3 days. It is the Opposition's right and the government's move strikes at the very heart of parliamentary democracy," he remarked while moving an amendment to the motion proposed by Union Minister Pralhad Joshi.

In fact, Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad also raised a similar pitch when he said that people of India have been "deprived" by removing the Question Hour. The motion to carry the amendment was defeated.

Earlier, the government's decision to suspend Question Hour triggered widespread outrage among the opposition parties on the opening day of the Monsoon Session on Monday with lawmakers saying the move was an attempt to "strangulate democracy", in Lok Sabha as well.

The Opposition parties accused the government of using the Covid-19 pandemic as an excuse to do away with any form of accountability.

Raising the issue of Question Hour in the Lok Sabha, Congress leader of the House Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury had said: "scrapping of the Question Hour is equal to preventing legislators from raising matters of national importance."

19:15 September 14

Rajya Sabha adjourned till 9 am tomorrow

19:13 September 14

EIA anti-democratic, anti-public health: Jai Ram Ramesh

Veteran Congress leader Jai Ram Ramesh said that the draft of EIA is being held back due to its anti-democratic, anti-public health, anti-federalism and anti-jurisprudence. He urged the govt to put the draft into cold storage. 

19:12 September 14

Should allow question hour: Trinamool MP Derek O'Brien

Trinamool MP Derek O'Brien says question hour should be allowed as it is the only window where opposition can question the govt and ministers

19:02 September 14

RS adopts motion against  'private member business'

Rajya Sabha adopted motion against starred questions and introduction of 'private member business' in the house during this session, in view of COVID-19.

18:22 September 14

Harivansh Singh thanks political leaders for their support

Harivansh Narayan Singh thanked Bihar CM Nitish Kumar after being re-elected as Deputy Chairman of RS. He also thanked HM Amit Shah, JP Nadda and others for extending their support to him. 

Harivnash remembers former Finance Minister Arun Jaitley and former President Pranab Mukherjee for their valuable teachings and guidance.  

Singh added," I am also grateful to Vice-President Venaikah Naidu for his support. 

17:37 September 14

"This is the second time he has been elected as the deputy chairman of the House. I congratulate him. He has been just to members of all parties," said Congress Rajya Sabha MP Ghulam Nabi Azad on the election of NDA's Rajya Sabha deputy chairman candidate Harivansh.

17:27 September 14

PM Modi congratulates Harivansh Narayan Singh 

PM Modi greeted Harivansh Narayan Singh for his selection as the 2nd time deputy chairman. Modi praised Harivansh Singh in RS and he gained trust of every member.  

"The respect I hold for Harivansh ji, each member of the House shares. He has earned this respect. His unbiased role in the Parliament strengthens our democracy," he added. 

Modi said, "After becoming an MP, Harivanshi ji has always ensured how all MPs can become more dutiful. The journalist inside him has stayed alive."

17:26 September 14

NDA candidate Harivansh elected as Dy Chairman 

National Democratic Alliance nominee Harivansh Narayan Singh was re-elected Deputy Chairman of the Rajya Sabha on Monday, as the Opposition did not press for voting though a motion to name Manoj Jha as the opposition candidate was moved.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated him and said that he had "high regards for Harivanshji".

"I hope that the Deputy Chairperson will run the House well. I appeal to all to cooperate with the Chair," Modi said, adding that the Janata Dal-United leader will manage the Rajya Sabha proceedings without partiality.

Ghulam Nabi Azad, Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha, welcomed Harivansh's re-election and said "we hope that the Deputy Chairperson will see us as equals".

The opposition did not press for voting as many non-National Democratic Alliance parties did not commit support to Jha, while parties like YSR Congress and Biju Janata Dal announced support to the NDA nominee. The Telangana Rashtra Samiti had announced it will abstain.

The post fell vacant after Harivansh's term in the Upper House ended. He has since been re-elected from Bihar.

17:22 September 14

JP Nadda moves motion to elect NDA candidate Harivansh as Dy Chairman

BJP Rajya Sabha MP JP Nadda moved motion to elect NDA candidate Harivansh as the Deputy Chairman of the House. MP Thaawarchand Gehlot seconded the motion

16:48 September 14

Venkaiah Naidu addresses the house on 'Hindi Diwas'

Venkaiah Naidu hailed all the COVID warriors for their hardships amid the coronavirus crisis.

The Vice-President also talked about Hindi Diwas. He said, "There should be no imposition and no opposition regarding any language."

16:46 September 14

Vice President Venkaiah Naidu spoke about rains and landslides which took many lives in Idduki this year. The house paid condolences to the people who lost their lives due to natural calamity

16:42 September 14

Rajya Sabha convenes again

Rajya Sabha proceedings commence after an hour of adjournment

15:46 September 14

Rajya Sabha adjourned for one hour till 4:40 pm in the honour of the departed souls: Rajya Sabha Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu

15:29 September 14

Rajya Sabha MPs seated in the visitor's gallery

Rajya Sabha MPs seated in the visitor's gallery to ensure social distancing in view of COVID-19

15:27 September 14

Rajya Sabha Speaker Venkaiah Naidu remembers Pranab Mukherjee, Amar Singh, Beni Prasad Varma, Ajit Jogi and other former members who passed away recently.

Jharkhand Mukti Morcha veteran ShibuSoren, former Railway Minister and Trinamool Congress leader Dinesh Trivedi along with several others took oath as RajyaSabha members on Monday during the monsoon session of Parliament.

15:10 September 14

Newly elected members take oath wearing masks

New elected candidates took oaths, Vice-President Venkaiah Naidu asked every new member to wear masks. Pens used by MPs to sign being changed after every use, in view of COVID.

15:04 September 14

Rajya Sabha proceedings commences

Rajya Sabha proceedings began on the first day of Monsoon session. The session began with Lok Sabha assembling in the morning.

15:02 September 14

YSR to support NDA candidate Harivansh for Deputy Chairman post

"YSR Congress Party to support to NDA candidate Harivansh for the post of Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman," said YSR MP Vijay Sai Reddy

15:01 September 14

TRS to abstain from voting for Dy Chairman post, says MP K Keshava Rao

"Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) will abstain from voting during Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman election," said TRS MP K Keshava Rao

15:01 September 14

Deputy CM Manish Sisodia not to attend RS session

"Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia will not attend today's session as he has fever since last night," said Speaker Ram Niwas Goel

06:43 September 14

RAJYA SABHA LIVE: JD(U) MP Harivansh re-elected as Dy Chairman

New Delhi:The Rajya Sabha, on first day of the Monsoon session on Monday, will elect its Deputy Chairman, with NDA's Harivansh Narayan Singh and RJD's Manoj Jha in the fray for the post.

For the ruling National Democratic Alliance, BJP chief J.P. Nadda will move the first motion in support of Singh while Leader of Opposition Ghulam Nabi Azad will move the first motion from the opposition, and voting may take place, if required.

The upper house of Parliament will also pay condolence to former President Pranab Mukherjee and 18 sitting and former MPs, including Amar Singh.

The government will introduce four ordinances as bills. 

Health Minister Harsh Vardhan will explain the circumstances which had necessitated immediate legislation by the Epidemic Diseases (Amendment) Ordinance, 2020, while Home Minister Amit Shah will table a statement explaining the circumstances which had necessitated immediate legislation by the Salaries and Allowances of Ministers (Amendment) Ordinance, 2020, said the Rajya Sabha bulletin.

Ayush Minister Shripad Yesso Naik will table statements explaining the circumstances which had necessitated immediate legislation by the Homoeopathy Central Council (Amendment) Ordinance, 2020 and the Indian Medicine Central Council (Amendment) Ordinance, 2020. 

The three will also move the bills to replace the ordinances.

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi will move the motion on the curtailment of Question Hour, which reads: "Keeping in view that the current Session of Rajya Sabha is being held in extra-ordinary circumstances prevailing due to Covid-19 pandemic requiring maintenance of social distancing and keeping the movement of Government officials and others within the Parliament precincts to the bare minimum, this House resolves that Starred Questions and Private Members' Business may not be brought before the House for transaction during the Session, and all relevant Rules on these subjects in the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in Rajya Sabha may stand suspended to that extent". 

The opposition has questioned the government's move on Question Hour and reducing the time for the Zero hour.

(IANS Report)