Parliament live: Logjam over Sadhvi's remarks ends after chairman reads out resolution

End of updates for 8 December

12.55 pm: Must maintain civility at all costs, says Rajya Sabha Chairman

After a week of repeated adjournments, Opposition parties in Rajya Sabha today accepted a resolution read out by Rajya Sabha chairperson Hamid Ansari calling all politicians to refrain from making controversial statements in public.

Following is the statement read out by RS Chairman Hamid Ansari:

This House, while acknowledging the statement made by the Prime Minister on 4 December, appeals to all members of Parliament, ministers and leaders of all political parties to maintain civility at all costs in public discourse for the successful functioning of Parliamentary democracy and to uphold our committment to constitutional values.

Post the statement, the House took up Zero Hour where several MPs raised issues.

11. 08 am: Anand Sharma tries to move resolution on hate speeches, Speaker says ‘No’

CPI leader D Raja condemns Sushma Swaraj’s remarks. He says, “I dissaprove of such comments being made by senior ministers. This damages the secular fabric of our democracy. The ideology that BJP is trying to implement is dangerous.”

Congress leader Anand Sharma says he has moved the resolution on hate speeches. However, speaker P Kurien responds by saying, “I have not given you any permission, sit down.”

8 December, 2014: Sushma Swaraj says Bhagwad Gita must be declared a national book, angers opposition

With the deadlock in Parliament over the hate speech of Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti persisting, the government on Sunday night appealed to opposition parties to leave the issue behind and enable smooth functioning of the House from Monday.

But that may not happen.

On Sunday, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj said Bhagwad Gita must be declared a national scripture, sparking a controversy with TMC and and Congress coming out with sharp responses.

Reacting to Swaraj’s remarks, the Trinamool Congress (TMC) said only the Constitution is the “Holy Book” in a democracy while Congress called her statement “frivolous”.

Swaraj made the remarks while speaking at ‘Gita Prerna Mahotsav’, organised to celebrate 5,151 years of religious book Gita at the Red Fort Maidan in New Delhi where VHP president Ashok Singhal said Prime Minister Narendra Modi should immediately declare the sacred text of Hindus as a national scripture.

End of updates for 5 December

3.10 pm: No question of resolution, matter ends with apology, says govt

Reacting to the opposition’s suggestions, MoS Parliamentary Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said the government was not interested in passing any resolution and the opposition should let the House run.

“I appreciate that you have helped pass five bills in two days but we believe in democratic process too. When they asked for the minister to come and apologise, she did on the same day. They asked for the PM to come and make a statement, he came and condemned it in strong words. Now the Opposition must rise and allow the House to function. How can this go on?” Naqvi said.

Unable to arrive at a consensus, deputy chairman PJ Kurien asked the Opposition and government to sort out the matter and come back on Monday.

“Sit together and sort the matter out. Come back on Monday. Chair cannot take a decision on this,” Kurien said, adding, “the House stands adjourned to meet again at 11 am on Monday, 8 December 2014.”

3.00 pm: Onus is on government to end impasse, says Oppn

“This (resolution) is the right thing for this House to do to restore democratic discourse. The government got back to us this morning and they rejected it. This is the unreasonableness of the government, They have forced continuation of disruptiveness. They have a reasonable and responsible opposition. We need not be told of what a reasonable opposition is. There are books published on how the Opposition was in the last session,” Congress’ Anand Sharma said.

“Our intention is clear… we have passed five bills in two days, this is unprecedented.. We are a responsible Opposition. When the minister made the statement, we had demanded her resignation. Now after the PM has spoken we have scaled down our protest and have asked that the House adopt a resolution. The government must not be adamant. They must support the resolution and end the impasse,” Trinamool Congress MP Derek O’Brien said in Rajya Sabha.

12.00 pm: Let the House move resolution condemning sensitive remarks, says Yechury

As we had stated earlier, CPI-M MP Sitaram Yechury today urged Rajya Sabha Chairman to have the House move a resolution on secularism and communal harmony in the country as done before in the House.

“Sir I am beseeching you to allow us to move a resolution on peace and communal harmony in the House as done earlier by previous generations,” Yechury said.

BJP’s Ravi Shankar Prasad hit out at Yechury saying there was no need for a resolution as the Prime Minister has come to the House and apologised for Sadhvi’s remarks. “Do they want this for amity or just for their own gains?” he asked.

11. 05 am: Let’s forgive and move ahead, says PM Modi

After his address in Rajya Sabha on Thursday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi today addressed Lok Sabha and urged the House to forgive his minister Sadhvi Niranjan for her remarks and resume work in Parliament.

“The Minister concerned apologised. She is a first time member and comes from a rural background. When a colleague in Parliament apologises, its upon our learned colleagues in Lok Sabha to be generous. We should move ahead with our work of taking the Nation ahead,” Modi said.

Opposition MPs, which were seen wearing black gags inside the House, walked out of Lok Sabha after the PM’s address.

Rajya Sabha, too, witnessed stormy scenes and has been adjourned till 12 pm.

10. 45 am: Our voice being silenced inside Parliament, says Rahul Gandhi

Congress and Trinamool Congress MPs were seen protesting outside Parliament today sporting black gags over what they termed was an attempt by those in power to curb their vioce inside the House.

“They are not allowing basic democratic processes inside the House. Attitude is they don’t want people to be heard inside House We are going to fight it, they, those at the helm of power, don’t want our voices heard inside the House,” Rahul Gandhi said.

Rahul Gandhi & other Opposition MPs tie black cloth around their mouth in protest aganst Min Niranjan Jyoti's comment pic.twitter.com/5VVxXFPXgz

— ANI (@ANI) December 5, 2014

10. 30 am: Govt, Opposition arrive at compromise?

After disrupting Parliament for three consecutive days, the Opposition has reportedly agreed to let the House function if the government agrees to pass a resolution in the House condemning the provocative statement made by Union Minister Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti.

According to NDTV,  the government, while refusing to have Sadhvi Niranjan tender her resignation, has agreed to pass a resolution in the House condemning communal and provocative statements made by politicians.

The resolution, however, will not name Sadhvi and will include ’leaders who in the past’ have also made such remarks.

Updates for 4 December end

2.3o pm: Opposition walks out of Lok Sabha

Opposition MPs in the Lok Sabha staged a walkout today claiming that they were not being allowed to speak and their microphones were being switched off.

Earlier in the day, the Trinamool Congress walked out of the House claiming that a Union Minister had used offensive language while addressing thier leader and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.

12.15 pm: Why is the PM not speaking in Lok Sabha? Asks Kharge

Leader of the Congress party in Lok Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge today demanded that the Prime Minister address the House over his minister’s remarks.

“They think now that they have a majority so they can do what they want to do. We want you to control this attitude. You are the custodian of the House. In this House the PM has always come ahead and made a statement. This is unacceptable,” Kharge said.

11. 25 am: Modi urges Opposition to let Rajya Sabha function

Giving in to the demands of the Opposition, Prime Minister Narendra Modi finally made a statement in Rajya Sabha urging the House to let proceedings continue.

“You are aware that the same day the comments were made, my party had a meeting.. at the meeting I disapproved of such remarks in very strong terms. I had also said that we should be careful about such things. Even in the heat of election campaigning we should be careful about such remarks. I made this clear with my party MPs even before the House brought up the issue. And as a result of which the minister, who is a first-time one and we are well aware of her background, she apologised and I think that after the apology this House which has senior MPs sitting… I urge the House and request them… and this is also a lesson for all of us here that we do not violate the dos and don’ts and I once again urge the House to keep the nation in mind and carry on with our work,” Modi said.

Congress leader in the House Anand Sharma however maintained that the remarks were unforgivable. “This is not the first time such language has been used. This should not be forgiven,” Sharma said.

CPI-M leader Sitaram Yechury, while accepting Modi’s statement, maintained that the Prime Minister should sack Sadhvi as the remarks were way too strong to be made by a Union minister.

“The minister has not apologised for what she said.. she has regretted it.”

Deputy Chairperson PJ Kurien urged the MPs to let the Question Hour be taken up and the matter be put to rest. “This is not a discussion, I cannot convert it into a debate.. We have to go for Question Hour.”

The House has been adjourned till 12 pm.

11. oo am: Rajya Sabha adjourned as Opposition demands Sadhvi’s resignation

The Rajya Sabha witnessed disruptions by the Opposition for the third consecutive day as MPs protested and demanded that the Prime Minister visit the House and make a statement on his minister - Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti’s controversial remarks.

Deputy Chairperson PJ Kurien then adjourned the House for 15 minutes.

In Lok Sabha, Speaker Sumitra Mahajan had a better time as the Opposition allowed the Treasury bench to make statements and place papers on the table of the House.

Railways Minister Suresh Prabhu also made a statement on the railway accident that took place earlier this morning saying the government was doing its best to reduce the number of unmanned crossings in the country.

Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge raised the issue of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s foreign trips demanding that the PM himself explain his visits to the House but the Speaker made it clear that all such statements are made only by the External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj.

While the House went ahead with the Question Hour, Opposition MPs shouted slogans demanding that the Prime Minister make a statement.

Updates for 3 December end

2.47 pm: Rajya Sabha adjourned for the day due to uproar over Jyoti’s remarks

As soon as the Rajya Sabha reconvened, Opposition MPs began protesting demanding an answer.

“If all of you stand up and shout, what can I do? I can’t understand anything,” said Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman PJ Kurien. Protesters stormed the Well of the House and refused to let it function. The Opposition did not even allow External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj to make an “important statement” in the House.

Opposition members continued shouting “Mantri ko barkhast karo!” as almost all the Opposition members entered the Well of the House. “Give me two minutes silence. When you don’t allow me to speak, that means you are agitating against the Chair also,” said Kurien.

Eventually, Kurien adjourned the House till 11.00 am on Thursday due to the uproar created.

2.10 pm: Rajya Sabha adjourned for 30 minutes as uproar over Jyoti’s remark continues

Uproar was created in the Rajya Sabha as soon as it resumed its session at 2.00 pm over Sadhvi Jyoti’s remarks.

“We are being called haramzada and you are looking the other way,” said Congress leader Ashwani Kumar, as Opposition leaders did not let Rajya Sabha function.

“If all of you stand up and shout, what do I do?” said the Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman PJ Kurien as the uproar continued.

SP’s Ram Gopal Yadav said, “If the word ‘secular’ is part of our Constitution, then are Sadhvi Jyoti’s remarks not a violation of the Constituion?”

Opposition members then proceeded to the Well to protest over the issue. “First the Opposition should look at all the things some of their members have earlier said,” said Ravi Shankar Prasad amid shouts of ‘Mantri ko barkhast karo!’ from the Rajya Sabha.

The Deputy Chairman had to finally adjourn the Rajya Sabha for 30 minutes.

1.50 pm: Naidu rules out resignation of Sadhvi Jyoti

After repeated demands made by the Opposition for Sadhvi Jyoti’s resignation, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Venkaiah Naidu said, “There is no question of resignation of Union Minister Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti.”

Meanwhile, PM Narendra Modi was seen in the Lok Sabha today. Modi was seen going through the listed business and signing certain papers. Leader of Congress Mallikarjun Kharge said in an apparent sarcasm that it is a privilege that the Prime Minister is present in the House today.

As the Prime Minister is himself present in the House, he was insisting on the resignation of Jyoti from the Council of Ministers for her controversial remarks.

12.54 pm: Why is PM afraid of his own Parliament? asks Brinda Karat

CPI(M) MP Brinda Karat lashed out at Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti and said criminal proceedings must start against her.

Karat also criticised PM Modi and asked why the Prime Minister was silent on this issue. “Why is PM afraid of his own Parliament? Parliament does not run on Twitter,” she said.

Why is PM afraid of his own Parliament? Parliament does not run on Twitter: Brinda Karat pic.twitter.com/8pi4oSUWR7

— ANI (@ANI) December 3, 2014

12.40 pm: PM’s foreign trips have boosted bilateral ties, says Sushma Swaraj

External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj talked about PM Narendra Modi’s foreign visits in the Lok Sabha, even as the Opposition staged a walkout in the Lok Sabha during her speech.

“PM’s foreign visits have helped boost bilateral ties,” said Swaraj, adding that Modi was also committed towards global cooperation.

“Modi called for global support to the probe against black money,” said Swaraj. She also that Modi’s decision to visit Bhutan for the first time since he became Prime Minister was a good decision.

She also said that after 17, an Indian Prime Minister visited Nepal. She also praised PM Modi for “India’s achievements” at the ASEAN meet.

“PM Modi also stressed on the negative impacts of the Islamic State and called for support from other nations against the group,” said the Foreign Minister. “The Prime Minister also said that terrorism should be kept away from religion.” She further said that Modi had also focused on maritime and cyber security during his international visits.

“During all of PM Modi’s visits abroad, the Indians staying abroad displayed great enthusiasm,” she said. “PM Modi’s speech in Hindi at the UN was a matter of national pride.”

11.55 am: If she has apologised, she should also resign, says Mayawati

BSP supremo Mayawati today reiterated her demand that Union Minister Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti resign on moral grounds. “Apologising means Niranjan Jyoti accepts she committed a mistake,her moral responsibility to resign,otherwise should be dismissed,” she said.

11. 45 am: Sadhvi has violated Constitution, cannot continue as minister, says Yechury

Taking a dig at Parliamentary Affairs Minister Venkaiah Naidu for his ‘arrogant’ remarks on MPs having no choice but to listen to him, Yechury said: “Like Naidu said he is a minister and we have to listen to him for 5 years, I agree. But he forgot one thing. As long as you are in Parliament you have to listen to us as well. You can’t function without us. Remember that.

“Nobody is saying conduct the investigations against Sadhvi inside the House. Let it go on outside the House. But can a person who has taken the oath on this Constitution continue as a minister? That is the issue. That minister, according to me, does not have the right to continue. Either she resigns or the PM comes here and makes her resign.”

11.35 am: PM is inside the complex but not attending the session, says Congress

Congress leader in Rajya Sabha Anand Sharma today said the matter was a cognizable offence which has 3-year prison term. This is what he said in his opening address.

“The government cannot end the matter by saying the minister has apologised for her remark outside the House. This is a very serious matter, every Union minister and the PM takes an oath during their swearing-in. Are they ministers only inside Parliament complex? They are ministers outside as well. You have violated the criminal code of this country. The matter is cognizable and non-compoundable, with a punishment of 3 years.

There has to be respect for this House. The Prime Minister was inside the Parliament complex but he did not come here and attend the session despite there being a serious issue being discussed.

11.05 am: Will not adjourn the House, you stand there, Dy Chairman Kurien tells Opposition

Expressing the sentiment of the Opposition, Naresh Agarwal of the Samajwadi Party today said several MPs do not have faith in what Sadhvi Niranjan has said despite her statement expressing regret.

"When a new minister has made a statement outside the House, has come here and expressed her regret… We accept the remarks made are objectionable and not acceptable.. mthe inister has realised it and has expressed her regret and has offered an apology,” Naidu said.

“She has made her statement with the permission of the chair, I can also ask her to make her statement again if it is not clear to some MPs. Leader of the House has cleared the stand of the government. That being the case, the matter should end there,” he said.

10.55 am: Sadhvi Niranjan must resign if House has to function, says Oppn

While Union Minister Sadhvi Niranjan has expressed her regret and apologised for her communal remarks, the Opposition has made it clear that they will not let the House function until she resigns from her post.

“Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti used inappropriate language, until she tenders her resignation Rajya Sabha will not function,” Trinamool Congress MP Derek O’Brien told reporters outside Parliament House.

BJP leader and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Venkaiah Naidu, however, said Sadhvi has already apologised and there was no need for her resignation. “The opposition is making an issue out of it, their demands are baseless.”

Sadhvi, however, refused to speak to reporters when asked if she would tender her resignation.

Har ek saansad se apeksha hain ki woh thik se bole : LK Advani

— ANI (@ANI) December 3, 2014

Updates for 2 December end

2.25 pm: RS adjourned after uproar over oppn demand for FIR against Sadhvi Jyoti

An angry Deputy Chairman of the Rajya Sabha tried to pacify MPs after an uproar in Rajya Sabha over Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti’s remark. However, because of the chaos he had to adjourn the house for the day.

PJ Kurien said, “Opposition members have the right to take their own view. But once the member has apologised what can the chair do?”

To which Sitaram Yechury said, “The chair should direct the government to file an FIR. When we get up to speak we only address the chair. We are asking the government to file an FIR.”

This was followed by much jeering after which Kurien adjourned the house till 11 am on Wednesday.

12. 15 pm: ‘Don’t address the nation out of turn,’ Modi tells BJP MPs

It seems Prime Minister Narendra Modi isn’t too happy with his minister Sadhvi’s remarks either.

At a meeting of all BJP law-makers in Parliament today, Modi urged them “not to address the nation” out of turn, reported NDTV.

He warned his party, “I will not compromise on this.”

I have said whatever I had to, in the House before the Speaker: Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti pic.twitter.com/GreUozb6cv

— ANI (@ANI) December 2, 2014

12.05 pm: ‘Sadhvi has accepted she made communal remarks, file an FIR against her’ 

CPI-M MP Sitaram Yechury today demanded that an FIR be filed against Sadhvi Niranjan for her communal remarks now that she has apologised and ’taken back’ her words.

“By taking back her words, she has admitted in this House that she did make those remarks. She is now guilty and only the law can decide what next. An FIR must be lodged against her, a criminal case must be filed and she must resign as a minister.”

JD(U)’s Sharad Yadav agreed with Yechury saying there has to be an end to these communal instances. “Today a church was burnt in Delhi. This has never happened before. We must put an end to this. She must resign. You are the custodian of this House you must take it forward.”

D Raja of CPI said this is a serious issue and as the custodian of the House the chair must take action against her and protect the Constitution.

Leader of the Rajya Sabha Arun Jaitley said the House has no authority to investigate. “The House must continue with its proceedings now that the minister has apologised.”

Having had enough of the Opposition’s protests, Rajya Sabha Chairman Hamid Ansari said: “Please, I think enough has been said, let’s get on with the Question Hour.”

11.49 am: Minister Sadhvi apologises for communal remark, Oppn demands resignation

Newly appointed Union Minister Sadhvi Niranjan apologised for her communal remark in Lok Sabha but Opposition MPs demanded her resignation from the Narendra Modi government.

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Venkaiah Naidu said the minister was ready to apologise in the House and wanted to know if it was just a ploy by the Opposition to disrupt proceedings.

“Please… she has apologised in the Lok Sabha.. the matter is over… if you want she is ready to apologise in Rajya Sabha as well… She will come here soon,” he said.

The House also saw a bitter exchange between Congress MP Digvijaya Singh and Naidu when Singh demanded that Naidu listen to what he says as it was the parliamentary thing to do.

“I am an MP, you have to listen to what I have to say… I am not here because of you,” Singh said, to which Naidu replied: “I am not here at your mercy People have rejected you, they will reject you once again.”

While Niranjan apologised in the Lok Sabha, the Rajya Sabha created an uproar as soon as she entered forcing her to stop short of completing her apology. “if anyone is hurt by what I said…”

Deputy RS chairperson PJ Kurien then adjourned the House till 12 pm.

11.25 am: Protests in both Houses of Parliament over Minister Sadhvi’s remarks

Both - Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha saw protests over remarks made by Union Minister Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti’s remarks demanding that Prime Minister Narendra Modi take action against her.

While the Lok Sabha was immediately adjourned following protests by the Opposition, the Rajya Sabha saw MPs from across parties unite to condemn the statement by the minister.

“This is a serious issue… all religions must be respected, the government owes the House an explanation… she must apologise and an FIR must be filed against her,” BSP chief Mayawati said.

BJP MP Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi however said chose to play politics over the issue saying both sides should refrain from using such language and that the Congress had done it in the past. “We do not support such language and it should not be used,” Naqvi said while stopping short of an apology.

Congress’ Anand Sharma demanded that Prime Minister Narendra Modi attend the Parliament session. “Where is he? We are worried!”

Trinamool Congress MP Derek O’Brien went a step ahead and asked the deputy Chairman “please provide the Prime Minister a visa and bring him to Rajya Sabha… Will the real BJP please stand up? they say one thing outside the House another inside.”

In a speech on Monday, Sadhvi had said: “Muslims, Christians are sons of Ram, if you don’t believe, you don’t belong to India.”

When pressed by reporters to elaborate what she meant, she denied having made any such statement saying the media was being irresponsible.

Deputy Rajya Sabha chairperson PJ Kurien said: “There are provisions in the rule under which you can take up such issues. You can do that. Please go by the rules and do that. I’m going to Zero Hour. "

The Rajya Sabha has been adjourned for 10 minutes.

Updates for 1 December end

11.00 am: ‘Shah linked to Sahara scam, PM should make statement in House’

A day after BJP chief Amit Shah held a rally in TMC chief Mamata Banerjee’s home turf of Kolkata, Trinamool Congress MPs today held a protest at the gates of Parliament demanding that Prime Minister Narendra Modi respond to Shah’s name being linked to CBI investigations in the alleged Sahara scam.

Holding posters at the entrance of Parliament House, TMC MPs led by Sudip Bandyopadhyay, demanded that PM Modi make a statement on the issue.

“In a raid by CBI at a Sahara office a red diary was recovered in which Amit Shah’s name is mentioned directly,” Bandyopadhyay told reporters, adding that his party has given notice for suspension of question hour, and wants a discussion over this issue in the House.

Updates for 28 November end

11.53 am: Anand Sharma brings up Hyderabad airport discussion, again

As soon as External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj concluded her statement on the Iraq crisis, Congress MP Anand Sharma stood up and asked for an assurance by the chair that a structured debate will take place on the renaming of a terminal in the Hyderabad airport.

“Sir, we have given an assurance to the chairperson for a structured debate. A large section of MPs have raised the issue and we want an assurance that a debate will take place,” Sharma said, much to the annoyance of Rajya Sabha deputy chairman PJ Kurien who said there was no need to repeatedly bring up the issue and if a notice has been issued, it will be decided upon.

Kurien then went on with the House proceedings - Question Hour.

11.35 am: Sushma addresses House over Iraq hostages

External Affaris Minister Sushma Swaraj today said that she has been in constant touch with the families of those who were stranded in Iraq and said there was only one source to get information from - a person who escaped from the factory.

She informed the House that the individual managed to escape after the IS militants took workers from the factory - Bangladeshis and Indians to Erbil, and they were killed in a forest.

“We had the choice of either believing him or not going with his version of the story. We decided not to go with his version,” Swaraj said, adding that the government decided to continue their efforts to search for the Indians.

“We don’t have direct contact with them, but we have contacts with sources in the country. They are telling us that the Indians are safe and have not been killed. Six sources from that country have told us that they are alive.” She however added that they have no information about their location.

“Our efforts are going on. We will not give up on the issue… Even last night I got a message saying they are still alive.”

She added: “I can assure this House that Harjeet is safe, he is in the protective care of the government. He is the main target of the IS as he managed to escape and many lives are therefore at risk.”

“I want to thank the MPs of this House for respecting the sensitivity of the House and ensuring we were not senasationalising the case.”

11.05 am: Govt didn’t act on hostages in Iraq, says Congress

Congress deputy leader in Rajya Sabha Anand Sharma today questioned the Modi government for not revealing to the House information pertaining to hostages stranded in Iraq.

“Seven days after they were reportedly killed, the government said they were safe. This is a clear case of misleading the House,” Sharma said in Rajya Sabha. “Prime Minister Narendra Modi has not responded or even made a statement,” he added.

Responding to Sharma, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj said she will clarify the government’s stand and will make a statement in both Houses of Parliament.

“Come clean with the facts, we are all concerned here, we are all united in this House,” Trinamool Congress MP Derek O’Brien said.

BSP supremo Mayawati urged the government to immediately bring back to safety those Indians who are currently stranded in Iraq and about whom information is unavailable.

Updates for 27 November end

6.30 pm: Rajya Sabha today passed the DSPE (Amendment) Bill paving the way for the appointment of a new chief before the incumbent Ranjit Sinha retires on 2 December. The passing of the Bill was the pertinent because as per earlier provisions the Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha was required to be a part of the panel to recruit a new chief.

With the present Lok Sabha not having a Leader of Opposition as the Congress failing to get the required numbers to claim stake for the post, today’s amendment would allow the leader of the largest party in the opposition to become part of the recruitment panel.

Once the Bill gets the ascent of the president Congress Parliamentary Party chief Mallikarjun Kharge will make his entry into the panel.

4.52 pm: It shouldn’t look like govt is obliging oppn, says Cong on DSPE bill

Anand Sharma speaks on the Delhi Special Police Establishment bill. Calling the role of the CBI sensitive and important, he says, “The role of the agency is always under public scrutiny and judicial scrutiny.”

“We know that the government has come with this amendment, but this impression should not be created that the government is obliging the opposition,” he says.

Disagreeing with Jaitley he says, “The fact that we don’t have a leader of opposition is because it was a political decision. The reason for that was malicious and frivolous.”

4.44 pm: Will include leader largest oppn party in choosing CBI chief, says Jaitley

Jaitley says “We want to include the leader of the largest opposition party in Parliament to be involved in the appointment of CBI chief.”

But he says, “We have to safeguard ourselves from contingencies. The system can’t working.”

“In this case, we need to get things done before 2 December and do it by consensus,” Jaitley says.

“Our intention is that the system benefits and the opposition is involved in the process,” says Jaitley.

4.41 pm: Arun Jaitley speaks on bill governing appointment of CBI director

The Delhi Special Police Establishment (DSPE) Act is being discussed in the Rajya Sabha. Arun Jaitley gives reply in the house on the Bill that would govern the appointment of CBI chief.

2:25 pm: All railway bridges are safe: Govt

All railway bridges in the country are safe and there should be no concern over them, government assured Lok Sabha today.

Minister of State for Railways Manoj Sinha said inspection of bridges on Indian Railways is a well established regular process and all bridges are inspected twice a year, one before the onset of monsoon and one detailed inspection after the monsoon.

“All railway bridges are fully safe and secure. There should be no concern,” he said during Question Hour.

Sinha said repair, strengthening, rehabilitation and rebuilding of bridges are undertaken whenever warranted by their physical condition as ascertained during inspections.

“If corrective and remedial measures are expected to take a long duration due to the complexity of the site situation, suitable safety measures like imposing speed restrictions and keeping such bridges under close watch are taken till the bridge is repaired, strengthened, rehabilitated or rebuilt,” he said.

The Minister said high level safety review committee has recommended certain items like uploading the photographs of bridges. - PTI

1:58 pm: SBI loan to Adani group figures in Rajya Sabha

SBI sanctioning $1 billion loan to Adani group’s coal project in Australia was raised in Rajya Sabha by Derek O’Brien (TMC), who said it smacks of crony capitalism.

Raising the issue during Zero Hour, he said SBI has signed an MoU pledging one of the single largest loans to a corporate house despite five international banks refusing to lend to the Adani project.

Five leading global banks - Citibank, Deutsche Bank, Royal Bank of Scotland, HSBC and Barclays - had declined to fund the project citing decline in coal mining in Australia, coal prices falling by 50 percent and environmental issues, he said.

“What prompted SBI to lend” to Adani when global banks had declined to do so, he asked.

He said while Coal Minister Piyush Goyal has stated that coal imports to India will end in 2-3 years, Adani’s Australia project is to export 2/3rd of its output to India.

Without naming Adani Group Chairman Gautam Adani, he said, “this gentleman was with the Prime Minister every day” during Modi’s visit to Australia.

SBI committed itself to sanction the loan over a breakfast meeting where Modi as well as Adani and the public sector bank’s chairman were present, he said.

Adani was in the business delegation when Prime Minister visited United States, Japan and Australia. “It gives bad impression,” he said.

The TMC leader said he had no problem with government being business-friendly but “we have problem regarding crony capitalism.”

Parliamentary Affairs Minister M Venkaiah Naidu said there were 20 people in the business delegation that went to Australia. “Adani is not Quattrochi (with whom business cannot be done),” he remarked.

O’Brien said Adani shares have gone up by 85 percent in last 10 months.

Members from Left, Congress and SP associated themselves with the issue raised by the TMC member.

Naidu said the member had every right to raise the issue about a loan extended by SBI to a corporate house but “taking name of Prime Minister is highly objectionable” - PTI

1:57 pm: Congress calls for dismissal of Chhattisgarh govt over botched surgeries

Congress targeted the Chhattisgarh government in the Rajya Sabha over the recent botched sterilisation surgeries in Bilaspur, in which 13 women died, and demanded its dismissal.

Raising the issue during Zero Hour, Pramod Tiwari said 83 tubectomy surgeries were performed by one doctor on a single day although medical norms provide for maximum of ten such operations per day.

The doctor in question was decorated by Chief Minister Raman Singh at Republic Day function this year, he said.

Tiwari also alleged that the facilities for carrying out the operation were not adequate.

He alleged that rat poison was administered to the operated tribal women instead of pain-killers and medicines for the camp were bought from black-listed pharma companies.

“It is not the doctor who is responsible but Chhattisgarh government that is responsible. Chhattisgarh government should be dismissed,” he said.

Associating with Tiwari, his party colleague Mohsina Kidwai said Prime Minister Narendra Modi had asked Raman Singh to take strict action but only some officials have been suspended.

The Health Minister should have been removed, she said, adding Chhattisgarh government had in three months revoked suspension of an official after an eye camp went wrong sometime back. - PTI

12:53 pm: Rajya Sabha adjourned after uproar

The Rajya Sabha was adjourned till 2 pm following uproar by Congress members over naming of Hyderabad airport.

Earlier, Congress members had forced two brief adjournments in Rajya Sabha over the naming issue, contending that Rajiv Gandhi’s name has been removed and should be restored.

When the House met for the day, V Hanumantha Rao (Congress) raised the issue of a section of the Hyderabad airport being renamed as NT Rama Rao Domestic Terminal.

“They want to take political mileage,” he said.

Deputy Chairman PJ Kurien told Rao that he wasn’t the only person with love for Rajiv Gandhi.

The matter, he said, was raised yesterday by Anand Sharma, Deputy Leader of the Congress party in Rajya Sabha, to which Finance Minister Arun Jaitley had responded.

“Now you can’t raise it again in Zero Hour. If you want to raise it again give proper notice,” he said as Congress members trooped into the Well shouting slogans as former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh kept watching from his seat.

“What you are doing is indiscipline. If you want discussion (on the issue), give proper notice,” Kurien said, adding, “Please go back to you seats.”

As the members did not relent, he adjourned the House for 10 minutes.

When the House reassembled, similar scenes were witnessed and it was again adjourned for 10 minutes. - PTI

12:00 PM, 27 November As Parliament is scheduled to resume the crucial debate on black money on Thursday, TMC MPs reached the Lok Sabha in  black shawls to continue their protest over the issue.

As soon as the Question Hour commenced, TMC members entered the House draped in black shawls. They raised slogans like ‘kala dhan wapas lao’ (bring back black money) before taking seats.

Unlike earlier occasions, they did not disrupt the proceedings today.

Anguished over display of slogan-written umbrellas inside Lok Sabha by TMC members, Speaker Sumitra Mahajan had yesterday warned them not to force her take action against erring parliamentarians.

Finance Minister Arun Jaitley had said in Rajya Sabha on Wednesday  that the government will pro-actively chase those having black money and will not rest till the last account is identified.

9 pm: Rajya Sabha passes Apprentices Bill

New Delhi: A bill seeking to remove imprisonment as punishment for violating the provisions of the Apprentices Act, 1961 and allowing employers to fix the hours of work and leave as per their discretion or policy was passed by Rajya Sabha today.

The Apprentices (Amendment) Bill, 2014 was passed by voice vote with a majority of speakers favouring the legislation, saying it is aimed at enhancing the skills of youth and make them employable.

It had been passed by the Lok Sabha in the last session.

Some members, however, had reservations saying certain provisions in the bill are “draconian” as employers have been given full powers to deal with apprentices in any manner.

Replying to the debate, Labour Minister Bandaru Dattatreya said the bill was being brought to implement the Apprenticeship Policy by March 2015 which will help provide skills to youths in the country and make them employable.

He said the government has brought the policy keeping transparency in view and it will involve all stakeholders.

PTI

7.01 pm: Govt committed, sincere in efforts to bring back black money, says Jaitley

Arun Jaitley says, “The SIT has been meeting and has made their first report to the SC.”

“We are committed and sincere in our efforts to identify each and every account holder. Wherever evidence is coming we are filing prosecutions.” says Jaitley.

Speaking of new arrangement with Switzerland, Jaitley says, “There will be an automatic exchange of information across the world and we want India to be a part of that mainstream.”

“We have done more than any other government in 100 days,” says Jaitley.

In the middle of all this D Raja and some other MPs walk out. After that Samajwadi Party too walks out.

Sharad Yadav gets up and says, “Ab sab chale gaye hum kya kare? Hum bhi ja rahen hain. (Now that everyone is leaving, what will I do, I am also leaving.”

6.55 pm: Govt won’t follow suicidal course on black money, says Arun Jaitley

Arun Jatiley puts his foot down says, “If you’re suggesting to me a suicidal course, the government will not follow it. "

Then Jaitley goes on to outline the laws that bind India from disclosing the names of those having accounts abroad.

6.48 pm: Congress, TMC walk out during Jaitley’s reply to Rajya Sabha

Anand Sharma gets up and declares that the opposition is not satisfied with the answers by Arun Jaitley and stages a walkout from the Rajya Sabha.

Getting an opportunity, Derek O’Brien says “None of the issues we brought to the fore, we are walking out.”

6.41 pm: Names will be disclosed when time is right, says Jaitley on black money

Sharad Yadav interrupts the Finance Minister, says, “The path you are taking, it will take 100 years to bring back black money.”

To which Arun Jaitley says, “When the time is right all the names will be disclosed to the public.”

“If we follow an adventurist course, it will be a one day thrill. The other countries will never co-operate with us. Also the account holders will also be vindicated,” says Jaitley.

Populism and sarcastic comments are not a response to black money: Jaitley http://t.co/eF9pgwIqb0

— Firstpost (@firstpost) November 26, 2014

6.38 pm: We have made required disclosure to SC, SIT, says Jaitley on black money

Arun Jaitley says that the issue is not whether or not to disclose names of black money holders, but when to disclose their names.

He says, “There is a prescribed, internationally accepted procedure. We have made the disclosure to SC and SIT.”

In black money case, money is Indian, but evidence is global, collecting such evidence will take time: Jaitley http://t.co/eF9pgwIqb0

— Firstpost (@firstpost) November 26, 2014

6.34 pm: 250 of 627 names have admitted to having overseas bank accounts, says Jaitley

Arun Jaitley says that out of the HSBC cases the government has been able to trace out more than 400 people.

“We have been able to identify most of them, we have given notices to most of them,” says Jaitley.

“Now 250 of the account holders have admitted to us of having overseas accounts,” he says.

6.26 pm: Constituting SIT on black money showed our resolve, says Arun Jaitley

Jaitley said that the fact that the NDA constituted an SIT showed their will to resolve the issue.

Calling the black money issue far more important than a UPA vs NDA debate, Jaitley says, “All assessments have been completed unlaful accounts, prosecution has been filed.

With regards to the HSBC accounts, Jaitley says, “Some 627 names were given to us by the French government. Out of these 627 tracing out and idenfying each name and getting information. You may get the name but not get any evidence.”

6.20 pm: Had to undo wrong decisions by UPA, says Arun Jaitley

Arun Jaitley speaks in Rajya Sabha. He says during the debate everyone was on the same page on the fact that black money should be brought back to India.

He tells opposition, “The UPA was moving in a particular direction, when we took over some of the processes were half way through.” He also said much wrong decisions taken by the previous government had to be undone by the NDA government.

5.48 pm: Sanjay Raut attacks govt on black money

In his speech, Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut linked the black money issue with Dawood Ibrahim.

“Dawood Ibrahim used black money to trigger blasts in the country but he is roaming around in Pakistan. When we can’t bring him back how can we bring back black money from abroad?” Raut asked.

He also wondered if the government has the courage to seize 90 percent of the black money which is lying in the country.

“Seize that first. Worry about the 10 percent that is stashed abroad later,” the Sena MP said.

“I can give you names of 15 builders from Mumbai who have black money. Do you have the courage to arrest them?” Raut dared the Centre.

5.40 pm: Keep your promise, bring black money back: D Raja to govt

Taking on the government, CPI member D Raja questioned the will of the government in ending the black money menace.

“It is not right to blame the salaried class for black money. It is the rich people who are to be blamed. I wonder if the government is sincere in their intention of bringing black money back,” Raja said.

BACK TO RAJYA SABHA

5.30 pm: Country planning time-bound equity for research, Irani in Lok Sabha

Union Human Resource Minister Smriti Irani in Lok Sabha took on an unnamed MP who raised doubts about governance structure of the IIIT Bill, 2014 and said every thing has been taken care of after a due thought process.

Disagreeing with another lawmaker that new education institutions should not be opened, Irani said, “Quality of education cannot be enhanced by preventing expansion of academic institutions.”

The minister assured that research in the country would get a fillip as the government is planning to invest more money and planning a time-bound equity for research.

“The pay structure in IIITs would be elevated to the four-tier level like the IIT so that brilliant professors can be brought in teach our children,” she said.

The ministry is also launching special schemes for the women students, the minister said.

“We are trying to assimilate humanities and social sciences into IITs. This would also be done in case of IIITs. We are trying to improve employability for all our students,” Irani said.

SMRITI IRANI TAKES THE FLOOR IN LOK SABHA

5.13 pm: Govt needs will to unearth black money in our country, says Yechury

Calling the issue of black money a very serious money, CPI(M)’s Sitaram Yechury says that no matter what the country has done, it has not been able to wipe out this malice.

Yechury says, “Why are we discussing the issue today? Because of the string of promises made during the election campaign.”

Outlining what the SC and BJP leaders said on the issue, Yechury says, “What needs to be done now is to revisit the DTAA agreements.”

He also says participatory notes should be banned immediately stashed.

“The black money stashed in our country is much bigger, but to bring that back we would need the will,” says Yechury.

4.49 pm: BJP’s promises are as empty as UPA, says Mayawati on black money

Mayawati speaks in Rajya Sabha. Says all the parties who had ruled in the years after independence are responsible for the accumulation of black money abroad.

“Since no concrete step has been taken by the UPA government over black money, the BJP has taken complete advantage of it,” she says.

She says, “the government had promised to bring back black money 100 days. But now it has been 6 months. BJP’s promises are as empty as that of the UPA when they said they would do away with poverty in the country.

She says that black money belongs to the industrialists with whose help the parties come to power.

“Like the Congress, the BJP is also not serious about black money,” says Mayawati and adds that, “Just constituting an SIT is not enough.”

4.31 pm: The way we used black money in polls, we have sold our democracy, says Sharad Yadav

Further criticising the government, Sharad Yadav says, “It has become difficult to live an honest life in this country.”

“The role black money played in polls we have in a way sold our Constitution and our democracy,” he says.

He tells Ravi Shankar Prasad, “you are no America, you are not China. Why aren’t you ready to realise this?”

Speaking of the unemployed in the country, he says, “More than 200 cr hands have no jobs, give them jobs. Don’t promise to bring black money.”

4.26 pm: Govt won’t even brink back a rabbit, says Sharad Yadav on black money

Sharad Yadav speaks in Rajya Sabha, says, “I am tired of this debate. I can confidently say you cannot even bring back a rabbit, not even one penny.”

“This is not Europe or US where they can bring back black money. In India black money won’t come back,” he says.

Taking a dig on Arun Jaitley he says, “Our finance minister is a also a strange man, as long as you have this debate, he will come up with answers.”

4.17 pm: Modi is not PM, but BM meaning bluff master, says Derek O’Brien

Derek O’Brien takes dig at the BJP over the promises the party made over black money. He says, “You are no longer a PM but a BM, that is bluff master.”

“Anyone who makes a promise and does not deliver is a bluff master,” says O’Brien.

He says, “The TMC is a small party with no time and no black money.”

4.11 pm: Modi should apologise for misguiding people, says TMC on black money

In Lok Sabha Sudip Bandyopadhyay outlines demands of the TMC in regards with the black money issue.

“Let Modiji put the names online. Let him deposit Rs 15-20 lakh in bank accounts of people,” he says.

He says, “Now Modiji is known as NRI PM. He should apologise to the Parliament because he made untrue statements about the issue.”

Meanwhile Bandyopadhyay gives it back to Anurag Thakur and says, “You should remember Saradha owner was not arrested by CBI, but by Mamata Banerjee from the Kashmir border.”

4.06 pm: BJP gave hope to people over black money, what is it doing? asks SP

Ram Gopal Yadav says, “The BJP before coming to power gave much hope to the people by saying they will bring back black money, but what is the government doing to bring it back?”

“Neither is the government interested in legally bringing back black money, nor is it allowing anyone to disclosed the names. It is eating up our economy,” says Yadav.

4.00 pm: Don’t play blame games, find out where black money is stashed, says SP

During the black money debate, SP’s Ram Gopal Yadav says the point is not playing a blame game, but to find information on how much black money is stashed outside and what investigative agencies are doing to get it back.

Yadav says “It is true that there is black money stashed away outside India, but there is also a lot of black money in India itself.”

He asks, “Has the government tried to know who has taken out all the black money from swiss bank accounts?”

“Has the government tried to find out how much black money is stashed outside?”

3.52 pm: TMC MPs funded terrorists, alleges BJP’s Anurag Thakur in Lok Sabha

Now Anurag Thakur says that TMC MPs used their black money to fund Bangladeshi terrorists. And in the background some MPs say “shame, shame.”

Without naming the TMC leader, Thakur said, “TMC people come with black umbrella’s here and fill their own pockets with black money. Not just that, they finance terrorists also with that money.”

3.49 pm: TMC MPs get agitated as Anurag Thakur takes dig at Mamata

TMC MPs get agitated in Lok Sabha after BJP MP Anurag Thakur speaks of Srinjoy Bose in connection with the Saradha Scam.

“Their MP Kunal Ghosh has said I am a small fish, the big benefits are going to someone else,” said Thakur in a veiled attack on West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee.

He also said that people involved in the Saradha scam bought Mamata Banerjee’s painting for Rs 1.86 cr. “How come the first time the WB CM’s painting sold for such a huge amount was bought by Saradha people?” asks Anurag Thakur.

3.41 pm: Anurag Thakur takes on Congress in Lok Sabha

Meanwhile in the Lok Sabha BJP MP Anurag Thakur takes on Congress saying, “UPA had offered amnesty to around 100 individuals on the black money list.”

PM #Modi was the first person to bring up black money issue in other nations: BJP's Anurag Thakur in #LokSabha http://t.co/oyhgYe2A8M

— Firstpost (@firstpost) November 26, 2014

UPA had offered amnesty to around 100 individuals on the black money list: #BJP's Anurag Thakur in #LokSabha http://t.co/oyhgYe2A8M

— Firstpost (@firstpost) November 26, 2014

Now that we have set up SIT on black money and Finance Ministry is investigating issue, #Congress is worried: #BJP http://t.co/oyhgYe2A8M

— Firstpost (@firstpost) November 26, 2014

3.34 pm: Have the courage to tell people that you lied, says Anand Sharma

Speaking of the black money present in India, Anand Sharma asked, “What is the finance minister doing about it? There are so many people who have black money in India.”

“The government, the prime minister must get out of the earlier mindset of pre-election of agitation and propaganda and false hopes sold to the people,” says Sharma.

Launching a scathing attack on the government he said, “If you can’t bring back black money then have the courage to tell the people that you sold them lies,”

3.05 pm: ‘BJP accused our govt of promoting black money, what has it done now?’

Taking on the government in the Rajya Sabha, Congress MP Anand Sharma questioned what steps the present BJP government was taking to immediately bring back illegal money stashed abroad.

“When we were in power, the BJP and its supporters accused our government (UPA) of promoting black money. They created a perception that we were not doing anything to bring back the money laundered abroad.  Has the nation now forgotten the protests by Anna Hazare? Even a baba much protected by the BJP had accused us of shielding those who had money stashed abroad,” Sharma said.

The most well-known tax haven is Switzerland, a lot of money is kept there: Anand Sharma in #RajyaSabha

— Firstpost (@firstpost) November 26, 2014

Taking on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Sharma said: “Besides the agitations, this country was misled and a perception was brought about that one man will suddenly bring about change.”

“They had promised that if voted to power, they will bring back all illegal money stashed in foreign banks back to the country.”

“Your achche din has begun, please bring back the money and help the poor. You promised to put money in their accounts, please do so,” Sharma sarcastically added.

“Six month after the PM took oath to office, this is a complete 360 degree turn. A complete turn. Nobody knows where the money is,” Sharma said.

“Those who were victims of the malicious campaign must stand up and admit that all the information that the finance minister has was brought in by our government,” he said.

2.47 pm: Congress takes on govt, asks why black money hasn’t been brought back

Leader of the Congress in Lok Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge initiated the debate on bringing back black money targetting the BJP-led government over Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s promise of bringing it back in 100 days.

“Where is my 15 lakh you promised to deposit in my account? I haven’t got it and it has been 150 days. You have not kept up to your promise,” Kharge said, adding that “I just want to remind you of your promise.”

“You also said we must honour the patriotism of our salaried class and we will give them the money,” Kharge added.

“You have taken an about-turn on 17 September 2014 in an affidavit to the SC, saying it was bound by double taxation agreements,” with members in the House chanting ‘U-turn, U-turn.’

Kharge also questioned why the BJP was creating a delusion among the youth that it will bring back illegal money stashed abroad when it was unable to do so. “Talk about ideology, pull us up for our mistakes when we were in power, but why these false promises?”

“Baba Ramdev said he had 50,000 names. But you have indulged in selective leaks,” Kharge added.

“In the last six months that you have been in power, have you brought back even a single rupee and returned it back to the people? This black money issue, and the steps taken by the previous government by Pranab Mukherjee, P Chidambaram or G20 nations, all these steps taken are known to MPs sitting here,” he said.

“Advaniji had said that if the money comes back, 6 lakh villages will have power supply and there will be development. He is not here so I can’t ask him, but Jaitleyji and Naiduji can respond with why the money is not yet here to provide development in these villages.”

1.45 pm: Lok Sabha passes Delhi Special Police Establishment (Amendment) Bill, 2014

The BJP-led NDA government this afternoon successfully passed the amended DSPE Act in the Lok Sabha where it has a clear majority.

The Congress warned against it saying it was a move to scuttle the Opposition and suppress its voice, but the government said it was in democratic spirit that despite not having a leader of opposition, they were considering the post of leader of the largest party in opposition.

The House has now been adjourned till 2 pm.

1.25 pm: Lok Sabha puts Delhi Special Police Establishment (Amendment) Bill, 2014 to vote

The Lower House of Parliament is currently considering for passage the Delhi Special Police Establishment (Amendment) Bill, 2014.

The amendment to the bill will see a change in the panel to appoint the next CBI chief of the country, whose office comes under the Delhi Special Police Act.

With the Opposition not having an official leader of opposition, the government has proposed an amendment to include ’leader of the largest opposition party’ in place of Leader of the Opposition.

1.05 pm: You want to suppress the voice of the Opposition, says Kharge

Speaking during a discussion on the consideration and passing of the Delhi Special Police Act (Amendment), Congress leader in the Lok Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge today said the Speaker should overrule a previous ruling by a Speaker and “in a right democratic spirit and in respect of democracy and opposition” allow the setting up of the Leader of Opposition.

The discussion is centered around an amendment to include ’leader of the largest opposition party’ as a member in the panel to select the CBI chief.

“You have a majority, you can go ahead and suppress the voice of the opposition if you want to. I know Venkaiahji is in a hurry… go ahead and do it.”

Kharge also said that the government should either amend the salaries act or recognise the post.

Responding to Kharge, Venkaiah Naidu said it was the people who will decide how strong an Opposition they want and not the government. “If you are talking about democractic spirit, then it is in that spirit that we are amending laws to include your presence.”

“From 2 we have come to 282. It is the people’s mandate. Our government is ready to take any suggestion that you have into consideration. In the true spirit of democracy, we are bringing in this amendment. You should not have any objection,” Naidu said.

In his response, Kharge said during the previous years, there was no mandatory post for the Leader of Opposition in various laws, now there is and therefore the post should be recognised.

11.15 am: Digvijaya you know the rules better than me, please let House function, says Kurien

Deputy Chairperson in the Rajya Sabha PJ Kurien attempting to ask Congress MP Digvijaya Singh to refuse from interrupting proceedings said: “Digvijaya Singh, you are a very senior leader, you know the rules much better than me… for raising such matter you must give notice and get permission of Chair. The minister has responded, but if you want more you must give notice and the Chair will consider it.”

Kurien further said that the Zero Hour is meant to raise important issues and it needs to function.

11.00 am: Speaker refuses to hold immediate debate on black money

Stating that the issue of black money was an old issue being discussed for the last two years, Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan said the discussion would be allowed but won’t suspend Question Hour and treat the issue as a matter of national importance.

This, despite Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge issuing a notice to the Secretary General early in the day.

“You cannot say the issue is old and two or three years old. If the PM promised to bring back  money in 100 days and he has not it is an important issue. The government must respond,” Kharge said in response to the Speaker’s ruling.

The Lok Sabha then continued with the Question Hour.

Congress should ask themselves why they did nothing for last 10 years,Govt has started process(on black money)-Jagdambika Pal,BJP

— ANI (@ANI) November 26, 2014

10.45 am: Ready for discussion on black money, says Congress

Informing reporters that they have served a notice for an adjournment motion, Congress leader in the Lok Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge this morning said they were ready for a discussion if the government was ready. “We have given notice for adjournment motion, ready for immediate discussion,” Kharge said.

Earlier in the day, MoS Parliamentary Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said the government was determined for a positive functioning of Parliament, adding that the government was “ready for discussion over any issue.”

BJD’s Jay Panda added, “now that the government has expressed they are ready for a discussion over black money issue, it should be listed and discussed in detail in Parliament.”

9.30 am: Govt to initiate debate on black money today

After day-long protests in both Houses of Parliament on Tuesday, the government has agreed to have a discussion on illegal money deposited in off-shore bank accounts.

Opposition parties - Trinamool Congress, JD(U) and Samajwadi Party - had on Tuesday led continuous protests both inside and outside Parliament demanding that the Prime Minister apologise for being unable to fulfill his promise of returning back money  within 100 days of forming government.

Parliamentary Affairs Minister M Venkaiah Naidu on Tuesday informed the House that the government was ready for any discussion on the matter whenever the Opposition wanted to, but the protests continued.

Updates for 25 November end

6 pm: Lok Sabha takes up CBI bill amid uproar

Amid uproar and Congress walkout, Lok Sabha today took up a bill under which absence of any of the three members of the selection committee to choose CBI chief will not hinder the exercise, with the government saying there was no deliberate design in this.

Minister of State for Department of Personnel and Training Jitendra Singh moved the Delhi Special Police Establishment (Amendment) Bill, 2014, for consideration.

Singh said the change in the Act was being made to ensure that the crucial decision on selection of CBI director does not remain in “suspension” or is delayed just because one of three members is not present.

“There is nothing deliberate by the government in it,” he said.

The Amendment Bill was moved amid resistance by opposition parties, which questioned the “hurry” in which it was brought. Members of Congress, TMC and SP staged a walk out.

Leader of Congress in Lok Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge demanded that a discussion on black money be taken up first as he accused the ruling BJP of using the issue to “defame” UPA-II dispensation and sought its apology.

Rejecting the opposition contention that the bill was being pushed in haste, Singh said the current CBI was going to retire soon and a successor had to be chosen at the earliest.

CBI Director Ranjit Sinha will be retiring on 2 December.

PTI

5.40 pm: Rijiju denies enhancement of compensation to anti-Sikh riot victims

New Delhi: The Centre has not enhanced the compensation to the victims of anti-Sikh riots in 1984, Lok Sabha was informed today.

Minister of State for Home Kiren Rijiju, however, said the government has provided ex-gratia to the victims of the riots through a ‘rehabilitation package’ in 2006 and Rs 532.20 crore has already been disbursed till date by the concerned states and Union Territories under this package.

Rijiju said Central government administers a scheme titled ‘Central Assistance to the Civilian Victims of Terrorist/Communal/ Naxal Violence’ for the sustenance and maintenance of the families of the civil victims of terrorist/communal/Naxal violence.

Under this scheme, Rs 3 lakh is given to the next of kin of the victims in case of death of incapacitation/disability with 50 percent or more, he said.

PTI

3.30 pm: Smriti Irani introduces IIIT Bill, 2014 for consideration and passing

Union HRD Minister Smriti Irani introduced the Indian Institutes of Information Technology Bill, 2014 in Lok Sabha, announcing the government’s plans to upgrade IIIT institutes in cities of Gwalior, Jabalpur, Kancheepuram and Allahabad and also grant them the status of ‘institutes of national importance’. The bill also aims to empower the institutes to grant degrees.

The four institutes are IIIT Allahabad, IIIT Gwalior, IIIT Design and Manufacturing Jabalpur and IIIT Design and Manufacturing Kancheepuram.

The bill was originally introduced during the UPA regime by her predecessor M M Pallam Raju. But it had lapsed with the completion of the term of the last Lok Sabha.

2.50 pm: Lok Sabha discusses Delhi Police Act (Amendment)

Opposition MPs walked out of the Lok Sabha this afternoon after the House took up the Delhi Special Police Establishment (Amendment) Bill 2014.

Through the amendment, the government seeks to add a position of ’leader of the single largest party in opposition’ in the selection committee of the CBI chief. The amendment comes after the current Lok Sabha does not have a Leader of the Opposition.

The bill was to be taken up on Monday but both Houses were adjourned after the passing away of Congress MP Murli Deora.

12.10 pm: Ready for a discussion on black money, tell us when, says govt

“We are ready for a debate, for 10 years you did not do anything… in six months we have taken many important steps. We are ready for a discussion on the black money matter,” Parliamentary Affairs Minister Venkaiah Naidu said, following which Speaker Mahajan said: “You only want to shout, and don’t want a discussion.”

NDTV reports that the government has even written to the Speaker saying it was ready for a discussion on black money.

We are committed and sincere to bring back black money from abroad. Government is fully prepared for a discussion on black money. We are fully prepared to present the facts on the efforts to bring back black money,” Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Rajiv Pratap Rudy told reporters after the meeting of the BJP Parliamentary Party in New Delhi.

The Opposition, though was in no mood to give in and continued with its vocal protests chanting “Modiji jawab do!”

Meanwhile, Rajya Sabha has been further adjourned till 1 pm, while Lok Sabha has been adjourned till 2 pm.

12.00 pm: Lok Sabha resumes, congratulates ISRO, Satyarthi

Lok Sabha resumed at 12 pm with congratulatory messages for India’s successful Mars Orbiter Mission as well as India’s Nobel laureate Kailash Satyarthi.

“Isro successfully entered the Mars Orbit. India has now entered a league of nations having the potential to launch interplanetary probe. The House also conveys its congratulations to Isro scientists and technologists for making this a success and making every Indian proud.”

“It also gives me immense pride on Satyarthi winning the Nobel Peace Prize along with Pakistan’s Yousafzai Malala.”

The House also congratulated sports persons who have brought laurels to the country in various fields.

11.55 am: Congress rakes up name change of Hyderabad airport, says won’t allow House to run

Congress MP Anand Sharma demanded answers from the government on how the Hyderabad Airport was renamed from Rajiv Gandhi international airport. “The aribitary change of the name of Hyderabad Airport… It was Rajiv Gandhi airport. This is unacceptable. We will not allow the House run,” Sharma said, following which Kurien adjourned the House.

11.52 am: Rajya Sabha extends submission date for Select Committee report on Insurance Bill

After much discussion, which can be read below, the Rajya Sabha approved an extension to a Select Committee on the Insurance Amendment Bill 2008. The report will now be submitted on 12 December.

11.35 am: Rajya Sabha discusses granting extension to committee on Insurance bill

Deputy Chairman of Rajya Sabha PJ Kurien is currently discussing a technical query on the Rajya Sabha Select Committee constituted to discuss the Insurance Bill (Amendments) 2008.

The query is whether the Rajya Sabha can discuss a procedural lapse by the Chairperson of the select committee. The chairperson had approached the House seeking an extension to submit its report but MPs have said that the chairperson did not follow certain procedures.

Intervening, Leader of the Rajya Sabha Arun Jaitley has suggested to the Deputy Chairperson to either dissolve the committee or extend the committee. The final ruling will be given by the Rajya Sabha chairperson.

Kurien has provided two options - either the Chairman of the committee postpones the decision or the House decides what to do next with the committee given that it is supreme.

MP Najma said there exists a third option - the Chair is supreme and he can dissolve any rule as  a special case. Kurien, however, did not seem to pay much attention to the suggestion.

Kurien said he was willing to accept CPI-M leader Sitaram Yechury suggestion - “Common sense tells you the members of the committee are present, have a meeting and decide what to do next,” - to which Jaitley said let’s put it to vote.

Congress MP Anand Sharma however reminded Kurien that he should make clear his ruling else the ambiguity will be used as a precedent.

11.22 am: Lok Sabha adjourned till 12 pm following Opposition protests

“The manner in which you are shouting is unacceptable, the House stands adjourned till 12 pm,” a visibly annoyed Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan told Opposition MPs who were demanding the suspension of Question Hour in the House.

The protests led by Trinamool Congress were supported by the JD(U) and the Samajwadi Party.

11.10 am: Opposition takes on govt  in Lok Sabha, wants answers on black money

“Modi_ji jawab do! jawab do!_” chants resounded in Lok Sabha as it convened this morning with the Opposition demanding that the government official answer what their position was on recovering black money stashed in bank accounts abroad. The Trinamool Congress, JD(U) and Samajwadi Party want that the Question Hour be suspended and a discussion on black money be held.

Earlier in the day, Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav also joined the protests, clearly indicating that a united opposition will take on the clear majority BJP government.

Mulayam Singh Yadav joins TMC's protest outside Parliament over black money issue pic.twitter.com/QkvtpkPNRK

— ANI (@ANI) November 25, 2014

For now though, Speaker Sumitra Mahajan is in no mood to give the opposition any voice and is continuing with the Question Hour.

10.55 am: After Monday’s adjournment, Parliament to begin session today

After both Houses of Parliament were adjourned on Monday - the first day of the Winter Session - following the death of Congress MP Murli Deora, both Houses will meet today in what is expected to be a stormy beginning to the Winter session.

For the BJP, despite having a clear majority in the Lok Sabha, it is set to be difficult, even as the Shiv Sena has said that strained ties in Maharashtra would not prevent it from supporting the government at the Centre.

But while the Shiv Sena can be placated with promises of power in Maharashtra, getting other parties on board is going to prove the BJP bugbear this session.

According to reports, the government is worried about the fate of some of the Bills because the SP, the BSP, the JD(U) and the CPM, along with the TMC, the Indian National Lok Dal (INLD), the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and the Janata Dal (Secular) together have 60 members of Parliament (MPs) in the Rajya Sabha out of a total 245.

And if the all party meeting held on Sunday is any indication, then they have reason to be worried. The TMC, led by Mamata Banerjee who is seething over the arrest of some prominent party MPs, boycotted the meeting along with the Samajwadi Party.

The insurance bill, which seeks to increase FDI in the sector to 49 percent from 26 percent, is the most at risk. While the Congress, which has 68 MPs has indicated that it will support the bill, Janata Dal-United (JD(U) leader KC Tyagi said after the meeting that his party plans to oppose it, along with the Samajwadi Party, Communist Party of India-Marxist, and the TMC. They are also trying to convince the Congress to join in the name of ’larger opposition unity’.

Leader of the Congress in Lok Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge, has so far been ambivalent on supporting the opposition move, however, saying the party would first see what amendments the government brings.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, addressing the all party meeting on the eve of the session, assured them that collectively all important issues can be taken up and hoped that the month-long session would go “very well” like the last budget session.

At this point, that seems very much like wishful thinking.