On the first day of the second part of the Budget session, members of the Upper House saw took up a discussion on the working of the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region. In today’s session the House will take up responses to the same.
Union Ministers Rajnath Singh and S. Jaishankar are set to make statements on key issues of inadvertent missile firing, and the situation in Ukraine respectively.
Mr. Jaishankar, while making his address to the Upper House on the Ukraine situation, said: “Despite the challenges posed by the serious ongoing conflict, we have ensured that about 22,500 citizens have returned home safely.”
He stated that the Russia-Ukraine conflict has major economic implications in India and its impact on energy and commodity prices is already visible. He also said that the only way out of the volatile conflict is through diplomacy.
Here are the latest updates:
India is not facing power crisis: Power Minister
Power Minister R K Singh told the Rajya Sabha in a written reply that India is not facing any power crisis, adding that the installed electricity generation capacity stands at 395.6 gigawatts (GW), as against against the peak demand of 203 GW recorded in 2021-22.
In another reply, Mr. Singh told the House that according to information put together by the Central Electricity Authority (CEA), the import of coal came down to 22.7 MT (million tonnes) during 2021-22 (April-January), in comparison with 39 MT in the same duration last year, largely owing to the high imported coal price in the international market.
The shortfall in imported coal has been compensated through the increased supply of domestic coal which rose from 442.6 MT during 2020-21 to 547.2 MT during 2021-22.
House adjourned for the day
Rajya Sabha member in the chair, Sukhendu Shekhar Ray, adjourns the session till 11 am on Wednesday, March 16.
Over ₹53,000 crore GST compensation yet to be paid to states: FM
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said in the Rajya Sabha today that over Rs 53,600 crore of Goods and Services Tax (GST) compensation is yet to be released to the states for the current fiscal year.
Rs 96,576 crore has been released to the states in GST compensation so far in this fiscal year along with an additional Rs 1.59 lakh crore as back-to-back loan for recovery in terms of the revenue shortfall on account of Goods and Services Tax (GST) implementation.
Under the GST law, states were guaranteed a bi-monthly compensation for any loss of revenue incurred during the first five years of the implementation of GST from July 1, 2017.- PTI
No plans to introduce cryptocurrency, says MoS for Finance
Minister of State for Finance, Pankaj Chaudhary, informed the Rajya Sabha in a written reply that the government is not planning to introduce cryptocurrency, adding that cryptocurrencies are currently unregulated in India.
“RBI does not issue cryptocurrency. Traditional paper currency is a legal tender and is issued by RBI in terms of provisions of RBI Act, 1994. A digital version of traditional paper currency is called Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC),” Mr. Chaudhary said.
The Minister said in another reply that the RBI is currently working on a implementation strategy to introduce CBDC and determining use cases which could be implemented with little or no disruption. He mentioned that the Introduction of CBDC has the potential to provide significant benefits such as reduced dependency on cash, higher seigniorage (or profit made by a government by issuing currency) due to lower transaction costs and so on.- PTI
8.22 crore Indians paid taxes in FY 2020, says FM
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman told the Rajya Sabha in a written reply that had 8.22 crore taxpayers in the financial year 2019-20.
The number of taxpayers include those who pay income tax and corporate tax, aside from those who have either filed a return of Income or the people for whom tax was deducted at source.
Ms. Sitharaman also said in the reply that the government has implemented the Non-Filers Monitoring System (NMS), which collects and analyses in-house information and transactional data given by third-parties to identify people or firms who have made high value financial transactions having potential tax liabilities, but have not filed their returns.- PTI
Akhilesh Yadav lost because of EVMs, says SP MP
While participating in the discussion on the work of the Tribal Affairs Ministry, Vishambhar Prasad Nishad of Samajwadi Party said that during Uttar Pradesh Assembly Elections, SP chief Akhilesh Yadav got majority of the postal ballot votes and he was made to lose because of EVMs.
“I would request the Opposition to boycott EVM and move to ballot papers,” Mr. Nishad adds.
CPI(M) MP V. Sivadasan calls for increase in budget allocation for STs
Rajya Sabha member from Kerala, Dr. V Sivadasan says, STs constitute 8.6% of the total population, thus, 8.6% of the total budget allocation should be for STs.
“The government has allotted just 2.26% of the total expenditure for adivasis,” he says, referring to the Union Budget 2022-23.
DMK MP asks about education of children from ST communities during pandemic
DMK MP from Tamil Nadu, Dr. Kanimozhi NVM Somu, says many students from marginalised communities have been compelled to stay out of schools and support their parents in forest based and local livelihoods during the pandemic , asking if the situation was assessed by the Centre.
She points out that in the Union Budget for 2022-23, the National Scheme of Incentive to Girl Child for Secondary Education (NSIGSE), which was started in 2008 to promote the enrolment of SC/ST girls in secondary schools and reduce dropouts, has been discontinued.
Under the scheme each girl would get a direct transfer of Rs. 3000 upon enrolment in class 9 which she could withdraw after turning 18, provided she cleared class 10.
Ms. Somu asks the Ministry to state the reason why the scheme was discontinued.
We have failed to accommodate ST population, says TMC MP Abir Biswas
TMC MP from West Bengal Abir Ranjan Biswas says, “In the working population of the country, if you see the representation of the Scheduled Tribes (ST), it is only 6% in government offices.”
“Despite of the constitutional mandates and safeguards that have been provided, we have failed to deliver on that promises and we have failed to accommodate our ST population.”
According to the Tribal Affair’s ministry’s data on villages where the ST population is greater than 25%, he states, “you’ll be astonished to know that only 9% of these villages have a bank, only 24% of the villages have a health care centre, and even more alarming, only 50% of them have tap water and drainage facilities.”
“The parliament must not with urgency that the National Commission on Scheduled Tribes is short staffed and that the reports of the commission since 2018 are still under process in the Ministry of Tribal Affairs and have not been presented to the parliament till date,” he concludes, adding that in the 75th year of Indian independence, “any progress that does not include all its citizens is not progress.”
Rajya Sabha MP from BJP, Surendra Singh Nagar in the chair
Discussion about the workings of the Ministry of Tribal Affairs commence.
S. Jaishankar replies to the questions raised by the MPs
On the issues raised about India’s advisories to nationals in Ukraine, Mr. Jaishankar says, when an embassy tells nationals to go home it is serious. Students didn’t want to leave because universities threatened to cancel their degrees.
“I care about the students future, whether you do or not,” the External Affairs Minister adds.
Issue of confusing political being sent by the Ukrainian government, he says that the Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy had himself said that there was no need to panic. leaders in Ukraine were saying at the time that people leaving would contribute to creating a sense of panic.
“Sitting here It is very easy to pass judgements saying: we should have done this earlier or faster, but please understand what was the situation of the students...who do they listen to?”
“All that being said,” he adds, “let us also recognise that about 4,000 of them (Indian sutdents) actually returned due to our advisories.”
On the questions about the return of the Indian student Naveen Sekharappa’s mortal remains, he says that the government will ensure his body returns, adding that he would not be sharing details and that every effort was being made.
Regarding the matter of India’s stat tat the UNSC on the Russia-Ukraine conflict, he says that there is national consensus and most political parties agree with position taken by government that the only way out is to return to dialog and diplomacy. India’s voice for diplomacy is being heard, he states, adding that the ceasefire worked when Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke to President Putin and President Zelenskiy.
India’s focus at the time was naturally on the evacuation of students, he says, adding that now that the job is more or less done, “We can focus fully on diplomacy.”
Answering question about Indian national who may still be stuck in Ukraine, Mr. Jaishankar says there are some people in double digits who are in Ukraine and at this moment we have an operation to get out some students who are stuck in southern Ukraine, though the Russia route.
Talking about questions raised by MPs about Indian officers not being present in the conflict areas, he says: “I would like to correct you, we went....our officer actually went even into Sumy, there were people outside Sumy, the first people that Indian students saw when they came out of Sumy were our officers.”
About the concerns of several MPs on the future of students evacuated from the students, the External Affairs Ministers says: “I can assure you that the government will approach this matter with the fullest sense of responsibility.”
Opposition MPs seek clarity and raise questions on the evacuation efforts in Ukraine
Congress MP and Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha asks: “Why did we issue advisories to leave later than others, why did our students face danger that citizens of other countries didn’t?”
Mr. Kharge also asks about the return of the body of Naveen Sekharappa, the Indian student who lost his life in Kharkiv, Ukraine.
DMK MP from Tamil Nadu Tiruchi Siva says he appreciates work done by the External Affairs Minister and the calls that were made by PM Modi. He points out however, that the “main question” now is future of the education of students who were evacuated from Ukraine.
Trinamool Congress MP Sushmita Dev says the government should not use the term “evacuation”, as students had to walk to the border in the conflict region themselves, and officials did not go to the conflict area.
Multiple opposition members including Manoj Jha of the RJD, John Brittas of CPI(M), Jose Mani of the LDF ask about the late advisories and the lack of urgency in their wording. Mr. Mani raises the issue of reports on racism against Indian citizens in Ukraine.
Congress MP Anand Sharma appreciates MEA efforts in Op Ganga
The concern of our country was about our students and our citizens and one that is commendable is the work that has been done by the Ministry of External Affairs and by diplomats for the evacuation of our citizens, said Congress MP from Himachal Pradesh, Anand Sharma. I am proud as an Indian that our country as has once again reinforced our reputation for undertaking large scale evacuation operations, he adds.
Mr. Sharma asks about India’s position at the United Nations Security Council, also questioning about the kind of efforts being made for effective interventions.
He adds that there are also concerns about oil prices and defence supplies in India being impacted, asking about how the government plans to ensure that there are no disruptions in the supply chain.
S. Jaishankar gives Ukraine statement
Minister of External Affairs S. Jaishankar’s statement distributed to MPs, he rises to talk on the situation in Ukraine.
“Despite the challenges posed by the serious ongoing conflict, we have ensure that about 22,500 citizens have returned home safely.”
He adds that despite India’s effort a large number of students continued to stay in Ukraine, adding that 18,000 citizens were caught in the conflict.
Mr. Jaishankar states that the MEA situation room was ramped up to 100 personnel and strategies were formed to bring back citizens via neighbouring countries of Ukraine. Members of the House should appreciate the work of diplomats who went beyond call of duty to facilitate students and citizens. Under evacuation mission Operation Ganga, 90 flights were operated including 14 Indian air force flights.
The Prime Minister spoke directly to his counterparts to seek support for Indian nationals, the External Affairs Minister adds. PM Modi, Foreign Secretary Harsh Shringla and Myself, were all in touch with counterparts in Poland, Slovakia, Romania and Hungary.
He adds that the most challenging part was that of evacuating citizens from Kharkiv and Sumy.
Besides, he adds, India flew Ukrainian nationals from India to Poland and flew out 150 citizens from 18 countries during the evacuation operations.
At the United Nations, India has asked for urgent ceasefire and return to dialogue between Russia and Ukraine. We have emphasised that global order is anchored on international law, the UN charter and respect for territorial integrity and sovereignty of states, the Minister states.
Mr. Jaishankar says the Ukraine conflict has major economic implications, its impact on energy and commodity prices is already visible. The disruption of global supply chain is expected to be significant, India has substantial dealings with both Russia and Ukraine and assessment in this regard by the government is underway. However, he adds, that the house will appreciate that there is all the more need for an ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’.
Govt did everything to help NE during Covid- DONER Minister
G. Kishan Reddy says Centre has done everything to support North East states during the pandemic.
The government has spend Rs. 25,589 crore in NE health sector since 2014, including 548 crore by Ministry of DONER. The ministry has also supported 66 special health projects costing Rs. 125 crore.
On digital connectivity in the North East
G. Kishan Reddy continues his address by highlighting the issue of digital connectivity.
In the last seven years the government has spent ₹3,466 crore to increase digital connectivity. 4,404 new towers have been constructed to increase the mobile connectivity cover, he says.
“We will have to rise above politics to work for the North East region,” Mr. Reddy says.
The country’s National Sports University was decided to be opened in Manipur, he says, listing out the sporting achievements from the North East region.
Discussion under way on working of the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region
G. Kishan Reddy, Minister of Development for North Eastern region addresses the House.
“For development, most fundamental requirement is peace and statbility. Today when we look at the north east, we see infrastructure development at a large scale,” he says.
Calling it a new era of peace under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Mr. Reddy apprises the House of data from the region. “Post 2014, sharp drop in insurgency related incidents in North East,” he says. - Vijaita Singh
In 2014, 291 extremists surrendered, whereas in 2020, 2,696 extremists surrendered. Kidnapping has also decreased from 369 in 2014 to 69 in 2020, Mr. Reddy informs the House.
Today there is no blockade or curfew in North East region- Vijaita Singh
Mr. Reddy lists out the various schemes and funds extended towards the North East region since 2014.
He says connectivity is an issue in the region and informs the House that 121 tunnels are being constructed for railways in North East region.- Vijaita Singh
“We have also brought in political connectivity,” he adds.
Before 2014 train connectivity was only till Guwahati, post-2014, people saw trains in Tripura, Manipur, Arunachal Pradesh, Mr. Reddy says.- Vijaita Singh
Mr. Reddy further speaks on the importance of road connectivity with respect to tourism, and the projects undertaken by the Government for the same.
To increase air connectivity in the North East area, government are making efforts at a large scale, Mr. Reddy says.
Statement by Minister of External Affairs S. Jaishankar
Rajya Sabha proceedings begin. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar rises to make a statement on situation in Ukraine. Opposition protests as they did not receive a copy of the statement beforehand. TMC’s Derek O Brien says the statement was not circulated, requests that the House be adjourned for ten minutes.
Deputy Chairman Harivansh moves to discussion on working on DoNER ministry. Union Minister G Kishan Reddy replies on the discussion.- Vijaita Singh
Proceedings resume
Proceedings in the Rajya Sabha resume
House adjourned till 2.00 p.m.
Question Hour concludes in the Rajya Sabha, the House will reassemble at 2.00 p.m.
Finance Minister speaks on the ABG Shipyard case
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in response to the “ICICI may have been the lead bank of the consortium, but clearly there are 10 Public Sector Banks in this. There was a forensic audit report received by CBI, submitted in January 2019...that Fraud Identification Committee took five months over it. On June 19, 2019, they recognised it as fraud, and SBI has given the whole detail to CBI November 8, 2019.”
Till 2014, 8 times, if the restructuring happens and everytime there is also an enhancement of money being given, the MoS is only trying to highlight that between 2005-06 and early 2014 periodically increase in amount is happening. Last one which happened is 42.6%, she adds.
On the question of what the present government is doing to prevent such future crimes, Ms. Sitharaman says, “In this particular case, there has not been one credit enhancement after 2014, when 8 times money has been given to a company that is under restructuring. That in itself is the biggest fraud perpetrated. “
On the banking fraud by ABG Shipyard
Sukhram Singh Yadav (SP) raises questions regarding the banking fraud by ABG Shipyard.
Bhagwat Kishanrao Karad, MoS Finance, responds: “This company was given loan by 24 banks...the lead bank was ICICI bank. I want to inform that the loan given to this company was between 2005 and 2006, during which the UPA government was in power. Between 2006 and 2014 the company was given a loan of 18,800 crore, again during the time of UPA government.”
He says that the following this the government had to seek permission from individual State governments for investigation, in response to a question about reasons for delay in reporting of fraud.
On setting up of Siddha Medical Research Centre
Questions are raised on setting up of Siddha Medical Research Centre at Kollimalai hills, Tamil Nadu.
Sarbananda Sonowal, Minister of AYUSH says that considering the availability of the medicinal plants there, I would definitely visit, follwoing which a decision will be taken
On GST compensation to States
Y. S. Chowdary (BJP) asks a question on the issue of GST compensation yet to be paid to the States. In response, Pankaj Chaudhary, Minister of State for Finance informs the House of the status with respect to the States of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.
Vandana Chavan (NCP) in a supplementary question citing the lack of release of funds to the State of Maharashtra, says that the situation is similar for certain non-BJP States.
Finance Minister responds to this claim, “The council is a body which decides on how the disbursements happens...It is very well to point out that Maharashtra has a very big amount due, but in distribution as well, the share of Maharashtra been fairly higher comapred to other States.
“For a body like GST council, in which every Finance minister from every State sits in, I appeal through you, that we don’t need to politicise this. Its an insult to the GST council,” she adds.
Question Hour begins
Question Hour commences in the Rajya Sabha.
House informed of Bills passed by Lok Sabha on March 14, 2022
P.C. Mody, Secretary-General informs the House of the bills passed by the Lok Sabha on March 14, 2022, including The J&K appropriation Bill. He lays a copy of each bill on the table.
Special Mentions
Members are currently making Special mentions in the House.
On housing scheme and lack of medical teachers
Shaktisinh Gohil (INC) addresses the House on the incident of Gokulpuri blaze in which seven people were killed. Citing this incident, he urges the government to bring back the previous housing scheme of providing the slum dwellers with flats, free of cost.
D.P. Vats (BJP) raises the issue of lack of medical teachers in the country. He asks the government to think of ‘out of the box’ solutions to meet the demands of medical fraternity, especially in light of medical students returning from war-torn Ukraine
On bank fraud cases in the country
Sushil Kumar Modi speaks on the various bank fraud cases pending in the country. He alleges that the State governments are not allowing the investigation into these cases.
This statement causes an uproar in the House. Chairman Venkaiah Naidu urges the member not to defy the Chair.
On pending dues and substance addiction
P. Wilson (DMK) raises the issue of pending dues from the Union Government including GST compensations to the State of Tamil Nadu. He says the Union Government owes ₹20,287. 38 crore under 38 heads. He urges the government to release the funds soon.
Ajay Pratap Singh (BJP) speaks on the substance addiction, particularly in relation to consumption of Corex cough syrup. He urges the government to take notice of the same and take appropriate action to monitor the sale of such items.
Zero hour under way
Zero Hour is currently under way in the Upper House of the Parliament
Minister of Defence Rajnath Singh makes statement on ‘Inadvertent firing of Missile’
Defence minister Rajnath Singh addresses the House on the ‘Inadvertent firing of Missile’ that took place on March 9, 2022. He made the follwoing statement:
During routine maintenance and inspection, a missile was accidentally released at around 7 p.m. It was later learnt that the missile had landed inside the territory of Pakistan. While this incident is regretted, we are relieved that nobody was hurt due to the accident.
I would like to inform the august House that Government has taken serious note of the incident. A formal high level inquiry has been ordered. The inquiry would determine the exact cause of the said accident.
We attach highest priority to safety and security of our weapon systems. If any shortcoming is found, the same would be immediately rectified.
I would also like to state that a review of the Standard Operating Procedures for operations, maintenance and inspections is being conducted in the wake of this incident.
I can assure the House that the missile system is very reliable & safe. Moreover, our safety procedures and protocols are of the highest order and are reviewed from time to time. Our Armed Forces are well-trained and disciplined & are well experienced in handling such systems.
Rajya Sabha proceedings commence
Proceedings for the day begin in the Upper House.
Members currently lay on the Table, papers listed against their name.
List of Business
1. Reply to the discussion on the working of the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region, raised by Ripun Bora, on the March 14, 2022.
2. Minister of Defence Rajnath Singh to make a statement regarding ‘Inadvertent firing of Missile’ on March 9, 2022.
3. Minister of External Affairs S. Jaishankar to make a statement regarding ‘the situation in Ukraine’.
4. Arjun Munda to move the The Constitution (Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes) Orders (Amendment) Bill, 2022.
5. Papers and Reports to be laid on the Table
6. Question Hour
Day 1 recap
The House debated the work of the Union Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (DONER) in eight North Eastern states.
The Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs informed in a written reply that ₹418.70 crore had been spent on the Central Vista Project so far, adding that the first phase of the project was targeted to be completed by May this year.
