Parliament LIVE: Govt schemes should be named as sit-down India, shutdown India & shut-up India, says Tharoor

Lip service was paid to Skill India, Digital India & Startup India but no mention of Standup India as you are so busy banning stand-up comedians. Government schemes should really be named as sit-down India, shutdown India & shut-up India, Shashi Tharoor, Congress in Lok Sabha

BJP MP Dilip Ghosh on Tuesday used 'Shikhandi' barb in Lok Sabha against the Trinamool Congress government in West Bengal as he alleged lack of action against violent anti-CAA protesters in the state.

While Prime Minister Narendra Modi is shown banners like "go back" when he visits the state, Rohingya Muslims from neighbouring countries are given "welcome" because they are seen as voters by the ruling party in West Bengal, he said.

Participating in the discussion on the Motion of Thanks on the President's address, Ghosh hit out at protests, including at Shaheen Bagh in the national capital, against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act.

He claimed that protesters there were enjoying themselves feeding on "foreign biryani bought from foreign money".

The Culture Ministry on Tuesday informed Parliament that there is no record of the mercy petitions by V D Savarkar to the British available with the Department of Art and Culture of Andaman and Nicobar.

Replying to a question on the display of the petitions to the British by the Hindu nationalist leader at the Cellular Jail Museum in the archipelago union territory, Union Culture Minister Prahlad Patel said no such record was available with the Andaman and Nicobar administration.

The Centre on Tuesday said the term 'Love Jihad' is not defined under the extant of laws and no case of 'Love Jihad' has been reported by any of the central agencies.

Union Minister of State for Home G Kishan Reddy said the Article 25 of the Constitution provides for the freedom to profess, practice and propagate religion subject to public order, morality and health.

Various courts, including the Kerala High Court, have upheld this view.

"The term 'Love Jihad' is not defined under the extant laws. No such case of 'Love Jihad' has been reported by any of the central agencies," he said in reply to a written question.

The minister, however, said two cases from Kerala involving inter-faith marriage have been probed by the National Investigation Agency (NIA).

Incidents of violence, unlawful gathering, stone pelting, and damage to public and personal property were reported during the protests against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) in Delhi, the Lok Sabha was informed on Tuesday.

Union Minister of State for Home Nityanand Rai also said the central government has received resolutions adopted by the legislative assemblies of certain states such as Rajasthan against the CAA and the Kerala government has also filed a suit in the Supreme Court under Article 131 of the Constitution.

"The Delhi police has reported incidents of violence, unlawful gathering, stone pelting, damage to public/personal property and number of persons arrested during protest against Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019," he said replying a written question.

Rai said the Delhi Police has also informed that so far, 66 anti-CAA protests have been held in the national capital, 11 cases have been registered following the violence and 99 people have been arrested.

Replying to another question, the minister said public order and police are state subjects as per Schedule VII of the Constitution and the state government concerned is primarily responsible for maintenance of law and order in the state and to take action against the culprits as per law.

The central government monitors the law and order situation in the states and assists the state governments in case of major law and order problem by deploying Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) on the request of the state governments.

Rai also said the CAA has come into force from January 10, 2020.

'Citizenship' is a central subject under entry number 17 of List I- Union List under Seventh Schedule of the Constitution and the Parliament has legislative competence to enact laws for all central subjects under List I as provided under Article 246(1) of the Constitution, he said.

As many as 62 police personnel and 127 others were injured during protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act at Jamia Millia Islamia, Lok Sabha was informed on Tuesday.

Minister of State for Home G Kishan Reddy also said as reported by the Delhi Police, they entered the university campus chasing the violent congregation of students/mob, to nab/disperse the offenders, control the situation and to protect the government property as well as saving the lives of innocent students residing in the area.

"As reported by the Delhi Police, three cases were registered against the mob, who were found involved in unlawful activities and defacing the public property while protesting against the amended law.

"Fifteen persons have been arrested by the Delhi Police. Sixty-two police personnel and 127 persons, including 36 students, were injured," he said replying to a written question.

The government on Tuesday introduced a bill in the Lok Sabha to amend the Aircraft Act whereby the fine amount for violations will be hiked from Rs 10 lakh to up to Rs 1 crore.

The Aircraft (Amendment) Bill, 2020 also provides for keeping "aircraft belonging to any armed forces of the Union, other than naval, from military or air force outside the purview" of the Aircraft Act, 1934.

Once the amendments are passed, the government would also have the power to issue directions to review, if necessary in public interest, any order passed by Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) and Aircraft Accidents Investigation Bureau, as per the bill's Statement of Objects and Reasons.

The bill was introduced by Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Arjun Ram Meghwal as Minister of State for Civil Aviation Hardeep Singh Puri was not present in the House.

The proposed amendments to the Act were approved by the Union Cabinet in December.

The Act pertains to control of the manufacture, possession, use, operation, sale, import and export of aircraft.

The Health Ministry has released Rs 3,520 crore in last two years to states under the Ayushman Bharat scheme, Health Minister Harsh Vardhan informed Parliament on Tuesday.

Replying to a question in Rajya Sabha, Vardhan said the reasons for slow utilization of funds allocated under the health insurance scheme was because four states — West Bengal, Telangana, Odisha and Delhi — which account for 20 per cent of the eligible beneficiary population, were not implementing the scheme.

"Two big states (Punjab & Rajasthan) have joined AB-PMJAY only in late 2019. Large states (UP, MP and Bihar) which account for 30 per cent of the beneficiary population are implementing the scheme for the first time and hence, their demand is still picking up," he said, explaining the reasons for the slow utilization of funds.

The government on Tuesday made it clear that no document will be collected during the updation of the National Population Register (NPR) and providing Aadhaar number during the exercise is only voluntary.

The government is in discussion with the states having concerns with regard to the preparation of the NPR. The demographic and other particulars of each family and individual are to be updated/collected during the exercise of updation of NPR.

Union Minister of State for Home Nityanand Rai also said an instruction manual for updation of NPR 2020 for enumerators and supervisors has been prepared and the people will have to provide information for the NPR to the best of their knowledge and belief.

The Health Ministry has released Rs 3,520 crore in last two years to states under the Ayushman Bharat scheme, Health Minister Harsh Vardhan informed Parliament on Tuesday.

Replying to a question in Rajya Sabha, Vardhan said the reasons for slow utilization of funds allocated under the health insurance scheme was because four states — West Bengal, Telangana, Odisha and Delhi — which account for 20 per cent of the eligible beneficiary population, were not implementing the scheme.

"Two big states (Punjab & Rajasthan) have joined AB-PMJAY only in late 2019. Large states (UP, MP and Bihar) which account for 30 per cent of the beneficiary population are implementing the scheme for the first time and hence, their demand is still picking up," he said, explaining the reasons for the slow utilization of funds.

The issue of delay in hanging of convicts in the Nirbhaya gangrape case figured in Rajya Sabha on Tuesday, with the Aam Adami Party demanding intervention of the President or the CJI in the matter.

Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu said the matter was "very sensitive and serious" and the court judgement must be implemented at the earliest.

Raising the issued during the morning session of the House, AAP MP Sanjay Singh said despite the punishment awarded to the four convicts, their hanging is being postponed.

He also said that political remarks were being made regarding the case.

The 23-year-old physiotherapy intern, who came to be known as 'Nirbhaya' (fearless), was gangraped and savagely assaulted on the night of December 16, 2012, in a moving bus in South Delhi. She died of her injuries a fortnight later in a Singapore hospital.

The brutality of the crime shook the nation, leading to country-wide protests and a change in India's rape laws.

The situation in West Bengal is such that people are not allowed to celebrate Saraswati Puja. It is similar to Pakistan where Hindus are not allowed to conduct their pujas. Mamata Banerjee is doing politics of appeasement, says Locket Chatterjee, BJP MP in Lok Sabha

Today, they abuse Mahatma Gandhi. These are the children of Ravana. They are insulting Rama's priest

Opposition MPs raise slogans against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and National Register of Citizens (NRC) in Rajya Sabha

The Centre has, till now, not taken any decision to "prepare" a National Register of Indian Citizens at the national level, Lok Sabha was informed on Tuesday.

In a written reply, Minister of State for Home Nityanand Rai said "Till now, the government has not taken any decision to prepare National Register of Indian Citizens (NRIC) at the national level.

I request for intervention of the President and Supreme Court for speedy execution of death sentence awarded to the convicts in Nirbhaya gang-rape case, says AAP's Sanjay Singh in Rajya Sabha

Uproar in Rajya Sabha over recent incidents of firing in Delhi. Opposition raises 'Goli chalana band karo' slogan in the House.

Lok Sabha proceedings were adjourned till noon on Tuesday following uproar by Opposition members over BJP leader Anant Hegde's controversial remarks on Mahatma Gandhi.

Mostly members from the Congress, DMK and NCP sought to raise the issue of Hegde's remarks but Speaker Om Birla did not allow them.

The House also observed silence as a mark of respect for the departed souls, including Sultan of Oman Majesty Sultan Qaboos Bin Said Al Said.

Soon after the House condoled the death of former members, protests began. Some Congress members displayed placards saying 'BJP Party Godse Party' and 'Mahatma Gandhi, Amar Rahe'.

Amid the uproar, the Speaker adjourned proceedings till noon.

At an event in Bengaluru recently, Hegdge had said that freedom fighters, who did not sacrifice anything, made the country believe that it attained Independence through 'Upavas Satyagrah', Gandhi's preferred mode of agitation, and became Mahapurush (great person).

The former MP had said, "There were two types of freedom fighters, one which believed in Shastra (arms) and another in Shaastra (intellectual motivators).

BJP MP Saroj Pandey has given zero hour notice in Rajya Sabha over "need for One Nation, One Election"

BJP MP RK Sinha has given zero hour notice in Rajya Sabha, over 'anti-India propaganda under the guise of protests against Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA)'

AAP MP Sanjay Singh has given zero hour notice in Rajya Sabha, over 'demand to expedite the death sentence of 2012 Delhi gang-rape convicts.'

The Tuesday List of Business in the Lok Sabha will see the continuation of the motion of thanks on the President's address, introduction of a Bill to amend the aircraft act,1934 and obituary references.

Union Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri will introduce the Bill -- Aircraft (Amendment) Bill, 2020 -- to amend the Aircraft Act, 1934.

Congress's Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury and BJP's Satyapal Singh will present various reports of the Public Account Committee.

Agriculture and Farmers Welfare and Minister of Rural Development Narendra Singh Tomar will make a statement regarding the status of implementation of the recommendations/ observations contained in the 51 Report of the Standing Committee on Agriculture on Variance in cost and quality of agricultural tools and implements being provided to the farmers under Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY) and problems being faced by the farmers due to imported Power Tillers.

The obituary references to the passing away of eight dignitaries will be made. These include : Sultan Qaboos Bin Said Al Said (Sultan of Oman), N. Selvaraju (Member, 7th Lok Sabha), Rampal Singh (Member, 10th, 12th and 13th Lok Sabhas), Y.V. Rao (Member, 13th Lok Sabha), Chander Pal Singh (Member of 6th and 7th Lok Sabha), Chunni Lal Bhau Thakur (Member of 13th Lok Sabha, P.H. Pandian (Member, 13th Lok Sabha), and Kamal Singh (Member, 1st and 2nd Lok Sabha).

The Trinamool and DMK has given suspension notice under rule 267 in the Rajya Sabha on prevailing situation against the Citizenship Amendment Act across the country.

The DMK notice was given by Trichi Siva and the Trinamool's by Derek O'Brien. The opposition has kept the pressure on the government to roll back the Citizenship Act which was passed by Parliament in the winter session.

On Monday, the opposition leaders gave the suspension of business in both the houses but it was not accepted by the Chair.

The Supreme Court is hearing a batch of petitions filed against CAA challenging it on the ground of discrimination.

In the Lok Sabha controversial Bharatiya Janata Party MP Pravesh Verma had categorically said that CAA will not be rolled back, while participating in the Motion of Thanks to the President of India.