From the gallery: It was PM Narendra Modi’s question day

SPEAKER OF THE DAY

Gaurav Gogoi, Congress

MPs from BJP only see Bangladeshis at the time of elections. BJP is not thinking about the drivers. Giving licence will provide relief to one extent that these drivers face innumerable harassment… They come from poor rural background… are afraid and intimidated.

said during debate on the Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Bill, which enables licences for operators of e-rickshaws and e-carts.

INTERJECTION

Arun Jaitley, Finance Minister

The PM hasn’t announced any policy decision in the party meeting. I have a point of order, which is, in the name of a point of order can Mr. Naresh Agrawal everyday raise a point of disorder?

said after Samajwadi Party MP raised a point of order in the Rajya Sabha saying the Prime Minister had spoken about policy decisions at the BJP Parliamentary Party meeting while the session was on.

Watching

PRIME MINISTER

Present: It was PM’s question day. He was seated in his place at 11 am. Looked amused as AUDF member Badruddin Ajmal said that it was his good fortune that PM was there.

RAHUL GANDHI

Not Present: In Jharkhand. Addressed rallies in Dumka and Mahagama in Godda.

SONIA GANDHI

Not Present

MANMOHAN SINGH

Present

DEBATE

For the third consecutive day, the Rajya Sabha saw a complete washout with the Opposition demanding the PM to reply to a debate on religious conversions. The Lok Sabha saw the passing of the amendments to the Companies Act while the Bill to enable licences to drivers of e-rickshaws was introduced and debated.

5 Questions | K C Venugopal, Congress whip in Lok Sabha

Why have you given a notice for moving a privilege motion against Parliamentary Affairs Minister M Venkaiah Naidu?

The Minister had given a statement in Lok Sabha on December 15 that there will be no compulsory programmes in schools on December 25. He had said there will only be an online essay competition which would also be voluntary. But I am in possession of three circulars. The first one by the joint secretary, school education in the HRD Ministry issued on December 9 in which the ministry has asked schools to organise events on the 25th. Then there is a circular by Navodaya Vidyalaya samiti. And then the department of higher education has now issued a circular for central universities.

But the government is saying that schools will remain shut on Christmas?

The circulars clearly direct the schools to conduct essay competitions either online or offline. And schools have been asked to submit photographs and videos recordings. How is it possible without opening the schools. It requires students to be present.

So are you suggesting that the Parliamentary Affairs Minister did not have the right information?

He said that he had a discussion with HRD Minister and HRD Secretary. It is the duty of the HRD minister to clear the air.

She was present in Lok Sabha today. You could have demanded that she make a statement.

She has not given a statement in both the Houses. In Rajya Sabha, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley gave a statement. In Lok Sabha, Naidu and MoS Parliamentary Affairs Rajiv Pratap Rudy spoke on this issue. Today, she was there. She was there during the Question Hour.

When the issue was raised, she went out.

BJP is alleging that Cong does not have issues to take on the government. That is why such issues are being raised.

This cannot be viewed as an isolated development. First there was an attempt to make Sanskrit as the third language in Kendriya Vidyalayas. Then there is this direction to organise such celebrations. You cannot blame us if we suspect a hidden agenda by the government.