The Lok Sabha on Wednesday passed the Direct Tax Vivad se Vishwas Bill. The Rajya Sabha was adjourned for the day after uproar over the issue of violence in Delhi.
Bills to be undertaken for consideration and passing in the Lok Sabha today:
The Mineral Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2020
The Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (Second Amendment) Bill, 2019
The Aircraft (Amendment) Bill, 2020
Bills for consideration and passage in the Rajya Sabha:
The National Commission for Indian System of Medicine Bill, 2019
The National Commission for Homoeopathy Bill, 2019
Here are the live updates:
Lok Sabha passed a motion suspending seven Congress members for the remaining period of the Budget session for their “gross misconduct” after they snatched papers from the Speaker’s table and “utter disregard” for House rules.
As soon as the House met at 3 pm following an adjournment, Meenakshi Lekhi, who was presiding the House, named Gaurav Gogoi, T.N. Prathapan, Dean Kuriakose, Manicka Tagore, Rajmohan Unnithan, Benny Behanan and Gurjeet Singh Aujla.
Once a member is named by the Chair, he or she cannot attend the House for that day.
Parliamentary Affairs Minister Prahlad Joshi then moved a motion to suspend these members from the House for the remaining period of the Budget session. The motion was passed by a voice vote amid protests by opposition members.
Ms. Lekhi then asked the seven members to leave Lok Sabha chambers immediately and then adjourned the House for the day.
Lok Sabha proceedings were adjourned for the third time on Thursday as Congress members demanded suspension of a Rajasthan MP over his controversial remarks against the Gandhi family.
As the House met at 2 pm, Congress members stormed the Well demanding suspension of Hanuman Beniwal (Rashtriya Loktantrik Party, a regional outfit from Rajasthan which is backed by the BJP), made the remarks against Congress President Sonia Gandhi and her family members..
As Rama Devi, who was in the chair, continued to run the proceedings of the House, Congress members intensified sloganeering saying, “Suspend the MP, Modi Sarkar shame shame’
As the process of passing the Mineral Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2020, was underway, Gaurav Gogoi of Congress was seen throwing papers kept on the Lok Sabha Speaker’s table.
Soon after, Rama Devi adjourned the House till 3 pm. - PTI
Lok Sabha reassembles. Rajendra Agrawal is in the Chair.
Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan reads out his statement on COVID-19, which he read in the Rajya Sabha earlier today.
He mentions the symptoms of the disease, adding that such patients must be treated in isolation.
The ever-increasing global magnitude of the outbreak calls for concerted effort, he says.
Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, INC, says fake news on COVID-19 needs to be prevented. Respiratory hygiene awareness needs to be spread, he says. Soap, water and sanitiser should be made available in villages. Panchayats should have thermal screening procedures, virology test centres should be initiated in every district and a helpline should be started, he suggests. "Massive campaigning should be undertaken in vulnerable areas, with special focus on children," he adds.
Kanimozhi Karunanidhi, DMK, says more virology institutes should be set up. Medical facilities should be closer to the airports; thermal screening is not available in most airports, she says.
There should be 15 second clips on television channels to prevent panic, Prof. Sougata Roy, AITC, suggests.
Akhilesh Yadav, SP, says extensive awareness programmes on COVID-19 should be undertaken.
Supriya Sule, NCP, asks if a daily briefing from the government can be undertaken on TV channels, as there are doctors doling out suggestions on every channel.
Jayadev Galla, TDP, discusses the economic impact of COVID-19.
N.K. Premachandran, RSP, says decentralised management with the help of local bodies would help in controlling the spread of the disease. In Kerala, 2400 suspected cases were quarantined in their respective homes, he states.
The House is adjourned till 2pm amid protests over a controversial remark, regarding checking Sonia Gandhi for the coronavirus, made by RLP MP Hanuman Beniwal.
Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan reads out a statement on the COVID-19 situation in India.
"The Ministry is constantly reviewing the evolving scenario," he says. Travel advisories are getting revised according to the evolving situation.
He speaks on how, in view of the continuing lockdown of China's Hubei province, a coordinated operation was conducted to evacuate Indian students and other professionals from Wuhan. He mentions the successful evacuation operations carried out so far.
He also reads out figures on the number of evacuees and those who have been screened.
A 24x7 control room is functional. The Govt. is constantly in touch with WHO headquarters. Our focus is on adherence to global standards on preparedness against disease, he says.
The government is taking all necessary measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in India, he says.
Ghulam Nabi Azad, Leader of Opposition, says the entire country is in panic. The Health Ministry should coordinate with WHO to prevent panic, by circulating Do's and Don'ts in regional languages.
Derek O' Brien, TMC, says those who died in the country recently "without having the coronavirus" should not be forgotten.
Sanjay Singh, AAP, says the cost of preventive masks has increased. Thermal scanning should be initiated at the Parliament, he suggests.
Sukhendu Sekhar Ray, AITC, says hand sanitizers and masks are being sold at exorbitant prices. He also refers to a message being circulated on social media showing Ayurvedic medicines, regarding which the AYUSH Ministry should issue clarification, he says.
Zero Hour begins. The Opposition immediately begins to protest.
"This is Rajya Sabha, not a bazaar," Mr. Naidu says.
The House is adjourned till 11 am tomorrow.
Bhartruhari Mahtab is in the Chair.
The Opposition continues to protest over Delhi violence. Mr. Mahtab urges that discussion on the COVID-19 situation be allowed.
"The Speaker is pained over the disruptions in the House," he says, as chants of 'we want justice' continue.
Mr. Mahtab requests MPs standing in the Well to resume their seats.
Pralhad Joshi, Parliamentary Affairs Minister, alleges that riots were rampant during the Congress regime.
The House is adjourned till 12 pm.
Chairman M. Venkaiah Naidu is in the Chair.
Ghulam Nabi Azad, Leader of Opposition in the House, says even though the Chair was requested to stall all discussion till March 11 when discussion on Delhi violence would be taken up, the Opposition would not hinder other discussions owing to the urgency of the COVID-19 situation in the country.
