Parliament’s Winter Session 2023: The government has 21 bills on its agenda for the session.
New Delhi:
The winter session of Parliament begins today. It is expected to be stormy with the opposition parties firm on opposing some bills on the agenda of the government including the Bill to regulate the appointments for the Chief Election Commission and Other Election Commissioners.
The government held an all-party meeting on Saturday for the smooth functioning of the session that will have 15 sittings between December 4 and December 22.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh chaired the meeting of floor leaders of political parties in both houses of Parliament.
Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi later told reporters that the government is always ready to discuss on the floor of the House, any issue as permitted under rules by respective presiding officers. He also requested all party leaders for active cooperation and support for the smooth functioning of the two Houses of Parliament.
The bills on the agenda of the government include The Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, The Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 and The Bhartiya Sakshya Adhiniyam, 2023.
This is the last full session ahead of next year’s general elections and the BJP would like to clear all pending legislations during the Winter Session.
Here are the LIVE Updates on Winter Session of Parliament:
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Union Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia on Monday said the safety and security of air passengers was the top priority of his government.
Replying to a question in Rajya Sabha during the Question Hour on the very first day of the winter session of Parliament, Mr Scindia said his ministry takes immediate action, including imposing penalty, as and when any airline or airport is found guilty.
“Safety and security is the priority of our ministry. For security, our institute BCAS (Bureau of Civil Aviation Security) keeps a keen watch on all airports and for safety DGCA issues CAR (Civil Aviation Rule) so that the safety of the passengers is kept in mind. Whenever any airline or airport is found guilty, a penalty is imposed on them by the ministry,’ the minister said speaking in Hindi.
The Union minister was responding to a question posed by his fellow parliamentarian Kartikeya Sharma. Sharma asked whether the ministry was considering taking any step to safeguard the rights and the interests of the passengers taking into consideration some of the reported incidents when passengers were mistreated.
Winter Session of Parliament| Former Jammu and Kashmir CM and National Conference (NC) President Farooq Abdullah says, “…Elections have not happened in J&K… It has been six-seven years; what is the reason?…Defeat and victory keep happening…We should learn from both…India is for everyone, and it is the work of everyone to strengthen it….”
#WATCH | Winter Session of Parliament| Former Jammu and Kashmir CM and National Conference (NC) President Farooq Abdullah says, “…Elections have not happened in J&K… It has been six-seven years; what is the reason?…Defeat and victory keep happening…We should learn from… pic.twitter.com/2skd9k26if
– ANI (@ANI) December 4, 2023
Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan says “In the PM Poshan Yojana (Mid-day meal scheme) they (West Bengal Govt) have misappropriated Rs 4000 crores and the Govt of India has given the inquiry to the CBI…Over half a dozen minister are in jail and they are scared that their leadership will also be sent to jail…”
Winter Session of Parliament
Rajya Sabha adjourned till 2 pm
Winter Session of Parliament
Rajya Sabha adjourned till 2 pm
#WATCH | AAP MP Raghav Chadha says “On 11th August, I was suspended from the Rajya Sabha. I went to the Supreme Court for the revocation of my suspension. Supreme Court took cognizance of this and now my suspension has been revoked after 115 days…I am happy that my suspension… https://t.co/y3Lx9d8tdHpic.twitter.com/QPMf8iKSyD
– ANI (@ANI) December 4, 2023
AAP MP Raghav Chadha’s suspension from Rajya Sabha over “breach of privilege” revoked after 115 days
#WATCH | AAP MP Raghav Chadha’s suspension revoked by Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar on the motion moved by BJP MP GVL Narasimha Rao. pic.twitter.com/I0UlbnORTe
– ANI (@ANI) December 4, 2023
Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury on Monday demanded that the government “exhausts every resource” to bring back the eight former naval personnel who were handed death sentences by a court in Qatar.
The Indian nationals were handed the death sentence by Qatar’s Court of First Instance on October 26. India described the ruling as “deeply” shocking and vowed to explore all legal options in the case.
Raising the issue during the Zero Hour in the Lok Sabha, Chowdhury said the government should exhaust every resource to get rid of the charges against the Indian nationals convicted by the Qatari court.
An appeal has already been filed against the death sentence and a higher court in Qatar has admitted the plea. The appeal has been filed by the legal team of the detained Indian nationals.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi met Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani on the sidelines of the COP28 summit in Dubai last week and discussed the well-being of the Indian community in that country.
The Central Universities (Amendment) Bill, 2023, was introduced in Lok Sabha on Monday, the first day of the Winter Session of Parliament.
In early October, the Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi gave its approval for the introduction of the Bill in Parliament, to amend the Central Universities Act, 2009, making way for the setting up of Sammakka Sarakka Central Tribal University in Telangana’s Mulugu district which is provided in the Thirteenth Schedule to the Andhra Pradesh Re-organisation Act, 2014 (no. 6 of 2014).
There would be the provision of funds of Rs 889.07 crore for the purpose, as per a statement by the Tribal Affairs ministry issued in October this year.
“The new university will not only increase access and improve the quality of higher education in the State but also promote avenues of higher education and advance knowledge by providing instructional and research facilities in tribal art, culture and traditional knowledge system for the benefit of the tribal population in the State,” the Tribal Affairs Ministry had said.
The Congress Parliamentary Strategy Group meeting will be held on Monday evening to chalk out the strategy for the winter session of Parliament.
The meeting is scheduled to be held at Congress Parliamentary Party chairperson Sonia Gandhi’s residence at 5 p.m.
Meanwhile, in the all-party meeting of the INDIA bloc, the leaders of the opposition parties decided to raise the issue related to the alleged leak of the ethics committee report to the media before it was tabled in parliament, sources said.
The all-party meeting of the parliamentary party leaders of the INDIA bloc took place at the office of the LoP in Rajya Sabha, Mallikarjun Kharge, ahead of the commencement of the Winter Session of Parliament on Monday.
A Privileges Committee meeting of the Rajya Sabha will be held in Parliament on Monday to discuss the suspension matter of Aam Adami Party (AAP) MP Raghav Chaddha.
The meeting was scheduled to take place at 12:30 p.m. and is about to begin shortly.
Mr Chadha was suspended from the Upper House on August 11 for “breach of privilege” during the Monsoon Session after complaints.
The MP was accused of not obtaining the consent of five Rajya Sabha MPs before including their names in a select committee.
He was suspended till the Privilege Committee submitted its findings on the allegation against him for forging the signatures of five MPs in a motion related to the Delhi Services Bill in the Rajya Sabha.
BSP MP Danish Ali stages protest inside the Parliament premises, demanding action against BJP MP Ramesh Bidhuri.
#WATCH | Winter Session of Parliament | BSP MP Danish Ali stages protest inside the Parliament premises, demanding action against BJP MP Ramesh Bidhuri. pic.twitter.com/dL36BVKKvI
– ANI (@ANI) December 4, 2023
Amid ruckus, Lok Sabha adjourned till noon
#WATCH | BJP MPs raise the slogan of “Teesri Baar Modi Sarkar” and “Baar Baar Modi Sarkar” in Lok Sabha in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, as the winter session of the Parliament commences. pic.twitter.com/nZp0YqkQMH
– ANI (@ANI) December 4, 2023
Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla addresses session
Winter Session Of Parliament Begins
On BJP’s victory in three state elections, CPI MP Binoy Viswam says, “The magic (PM Modi’s) is temporary. It happened because the INDIA alliance could not fight the battle unitedly. The spirit and the politics of the INDIA alliance have to be upheld. I am sure that if all the parties of the INDIA alliance learn the lessons from this election, they can win back in 2024. We will try for that. Congress as a main force brand in their ends has to relook into its own strategy. It has to learn the qualities of unity. That is the main lesson from this election. I’m sure that they will learn it.”
On Parliament session, AAP MP Sushil Gupta says, “…We will demand that Sanjay Singh and Manish Sisodia be released… Otherwise, we will protest…”
#WATCH | On Parliament session, AAP MP Sushil Gupta says, “…We will demand that Sanjay Singh and Manish Sisodia be released… Otherwise, we will protest…” pic.twitter.com/NBjyeKBD4Z
– ANI (@ANI) December 4, 2023
#WATCH | BJP MPs, including JP Nadda, Pralhad Joshi and Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, show a victory sign at the Parliament. pic.twitter.com/h0uYWyi9ko
– ANI (@ANI) December 4, 2023
All party meeting underway at the office of LoP in Rajya Sabha, Mallikarjun Kharge ahead of the commencement of the Winter Session of Parliament today.
On BJP’s victory in three state elections, CPI(M) MP Elamaram Kareem says, “I don’t think it is Modi magic. It is because of the disunity among secular opposition parties. It is a lesson to Congress who is the leader of opposition unity…”
Here are the highlights of his address:
- Winter is delayed but political temperatures rising
- Results of assembly polls encouraging for those committed to people’s welfare, country’s bright future
- Those who move on principle of empowerment of four ‘castes’ of women, youth, farmers, poor get overwhelming support
- When there is commitment to people’s welfare then the word anti-incumbency becomes irrelevant
- Country has rejected negativity; temple of democracy is important platform for strengthening people’s aspirations
- I urge all members to come prepared and thorough discussion should take place on bills brought in Parliament
MoS Parliamentary Affairs Arjun Ram Meghwal says, “This is the first day of the Winter Session. If Opposition wants discussion on something, they can give notice. Whatever issues the Lok Sabha Speaker and Rajya Sabha Chairman decide, Government is ready to discuss all of them.”
#WATCH | Winter Session of Parliament | MoS Parliamentary Affairs Arjun Ram Meghwal says, “This is the first day of the Winter Session. If Opposition wants discussion on something, they can give notice. Whatever issues the Lok Sabha Speaker and Rajya Sabha Chairman decide,… pic.twitter.com/wQzyEBjQMT
– ANI (@ANI) December 4, 2023
Congress MP Manickam Tagore gives Adjournment Motion Notice in Lok Sabha to discuss the arrest of an ED officer in Tamil Nadu and another ED officer in Rajasthan in alleged corruption matters.
Congress MP Manish Tewari gives Adjournment Motion Notice in Lok Sabha and demands discussion on the death penalty to 8 ex-Indian Navy personnel in Qatar.
CPI MP Binoy Viswam gives Suspension of Business Notice in Rajya Sabha under rule 267 and demands discussion on the “fragile ecology of the Himalayas and the severe threat it causes to workers who are at the forefront of development projects in the region, the concerning situation of workers came to light again in the recent collapse of the under-construction Silkyara tunnel in the Uttarkashi district of Uttarakhand.”
BJP MPs Brij Lal and Neeraj Shekhar are expected to present the 246th report on ‘The Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023’; 247th report on ‘The Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023’; and the 248th report on ‘The Bharatiya Sakshya Bill, 2023 of the Department-related Parliamentary Standing Committee on Home Affairs in the Rajya Sabha today on day one of the Winter Session.
- Buoyed by its victory in the assembly elections, an aggressive BJP will seek to corner the Congress-led Opposition in the Winter Session of Parliament beginning today when a report recommending TMC MP Mahua Moitra’s expulsion is expected to be tabled in the Lok Sabha.
- The leaders of the Opposition INDIA bloc are meeting on today morning ostensibly to redraw their strategies to take on Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led BJP both inside the Parliament and in the electoral arena.
- The Congress, which was hoping to score a big win in Madhya Pradesh and retain Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan, had to taste a resounding defeat. However, the grand old party did manage to oust the BRS from Telangana.
- “If the Opposition disrupts the Parliament, it will face worse results than what has come today (Sunday),” Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi told reporters here when asked about the Winter Session beginning today.
- The government has presented a heavy legislative agenda for the 15 sittings of the Winter Session with key bills to replace the colonial era criminal laws, a draft legislation to provide for a framework for appointment of the election commissioners.
- The report of the Lok Sabha Ethics Committee recommending Moitra’s expulsion from the Lower House over a “cash-for-query” complaint is also listed for tabling in the House on Monday.
- The government is also expected to move a motion in the Lok Sabha to adopt the recommendation of the Ethics Committee, which would lead to Moitra’s expulsion from the Lower House.
- The Trinamool Congress (TMC) insisted on a debate on the Ethics Committee report in the House at the meeting of the floor leaders of the political parties chaired by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh.
