After two days of pursuance, Opposition managed to get permission to have a discussion on situation in Kashmir, which is under curfew for more than a month following the killings of militant Burhan Wani.
The Rajya Sabha has suspended Question Hour to discuss Kashmir. It will be a four-hour discussion.
In the Lok Sabha, three important Bills will be moved today. The Factories (Amendment) Bill, 2016, The Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Bill, 2016, and The Taxation Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2016.
Live updates:
7.27 pm: Lok Sabha adjourned till 11 am tomorrow.
7.27 pm: LS passes Factories (Amendment) Bill.
7.26 pm: Some of the MPs ask the chair to withdraw this Bill.
7.17 pm: Lok Sabha votes on Factories Bill
6.59 pm: I strongly oppose the bill on behalf of TMC because many contract labourers are being subjected to injustice. Workers rights should not be infringed: Aparupa Poddar
6.50 pm: Factories Bill is anti-labour and against the federal principles: Kerala MP Anto Antony
6.40 pm: E.T. Mohd Basheer of IUML says that you are removing labourers out of the protection of Factories Act. We can understand your economical reforms but you’re trying to undermine the working class in the country.
6.33 pm: Regarding Factories Bill, there is no provision to increase wages proportionately. It is limited to organised sector, says Dushyant Chautala in LS.
6.20 pm: Rajya Sabha adjourned till 11 am tomorrow.
6.19 pm: Rajya Sabha adopts the government resolution in Kashmir.
6.17 pm: RJD’s Rajesh Ranjan (Pappu Yadav) talks in LS about ending ‘corporate terrorism’.
6.15 pm: 14,500 scholarships have been distributed, 10 seats in colleges have been given to Kashmiri youth: Rajnath
6.06 pm: There will be an all-party meeting on August 12 as session ends. PM Modi will attend with us: Rajnath
6.04 pm: Let us join hands to make Kashmir a heaven: Rajnath
6.00 pm: At the time of Kashmir’s curfew, 95% of PDS foodgrain distribution was done, along with sugar, gas cylinder amd milk: Rajnath Singh
5.56 pm: Muthamsetti Srinivasa Rao of TDP says in LS, “The Factory (Amendment) Bill is necessary. All employees should be provided with lunch rooms, rest rooms and drinking water. The AP govt allowed women to work in night shifts. Andhra Pradesh has striked a right balance between gender equality and safety. AP govt has set a trend for others to follow.”
5.50 pm: Minister of Home Affairs Rajnath Singh says, “I’ve never seen such a long discussion over Jammu & Kashmir in Rajya Sabha or Lok Sabha. Today’s debate shows the meaning of a healthy democracy.”
5.49 pm: Gulam Nabi Azad says in RS, “Home Minister should clear the fact about Kashmir’s situation. I ask the Home Minister, whether he’ll start talks with mainstream political parties.”
5.40 pm: Shiv Sena MP Anil Desai from Maharashtra says in RS, how Kashmiri Pandits were removed from the state was wrong. Kashmiris are our brothers.
5.30 pm: If overtime is being allowed, it will adversely affect the health conditions of the workers. No trade union has demanded this. More employment can be created instead of people working overtime: AITC MP from West Bengal, Kalyan Banerjee
5.20 pm: There should be a law that if a company pays its employees lesser than minimum wages, then action should be taken on them: Ramesh Bidhuri, BJP, South Delhi.
5.10 pm: Bihar RJD MP Ram Jethmalani of RJD says that the solution offered by Kashmir CM yesterday is not a solution at all. My appeal to this House is, the Kashmir problem has been solved more than three times.
5.00 pm: Mallikarjun Kharge requests for withdrawing this Bill. Give it more thought and reintroduce it later. We should understand the labourers concerns.”
4.51 pm: Tamil Nadu MP D. Raja of CPI talks about the spirit of Kashmir. “I think it is time to de-escalate and initiate a dialogue with Kashmiris, it is time to stop the use of pellet guns. The Armed Forces Special Powers Act has to be reviewed.”
4.44 pm: Lok Sabha MPs discuss Factories (Amendment) Bill.
4.38 pm: Taxation Laws (Amendment) Bill passed by Lok Sabha.
4.34 pm: INC MP Madhya Pradesh Vivek K. Tankha says that every Pandit wants to go live in Kashmir with their brothers. The issue could even be solved if Kashmiri Pandits were led back into Kashmir.
4.26 pm: For Customs Tariff Act, currently, we have transient measures like quantitative restrictions and we have the minimum import price. When global crisis took place recently, we’ve imposed a minimum import price on certain categories of steel. These are various mechanisms that are available. People who buy imported marble shouldn’t be bothered by a slight price rise: Jaitley.
4.20 pm: In response to the arguments, Finance Minister Jaitley says in LS, “Our tax books are not clean. The corporate tax rate is effectively 22-23%. Corporate tax rate has come down to 25%. Optically we’re a high rate taxing economy. This is in relation to the income tax act.”
4.06 pm: Maharashtra BJP MP Dr. Vinay P. Sahasrabuddhe talks about PDP-BJP govt has done well with the Jammu & Kashmir. Even the tourism was always been good until the violence now. We will have to discuss amongst ourselves about what all can be done for the state.
3.56 pm: Punjab INC MP Pratap Singh Bajwa talks about Chittisinghpura massacre in RS, “We lost 36 Sikhs on 20 March 2000, in Jammu and Kashmir.”
3.47 pm: The Indian economy is under fastrack with PM Narendra Modi. It has a fast growth rate. The present tax amendment would benefit apparel industry: South Goa MP Narendra Keshav Sawalkar
3.39 pm: Dr. Jitendra Singh: “Again and again its been told that with BJP’s entry, nothing has been right. What I’m trying to say is, let us not get into the job of matching figures. We’ve to rise above party politics.”
3.30 pm: Dr. Jitendra Singh: “Till July 7, tourism was doing well. If BJP has to be blamed, why didn’t we have any issue in the last 1.5 yrs?”
3.28 pm: Dr. Jitendra Singh, MoS, Prime Minister’s Office says in RS that J&K has a legacy, “A state with a majority Muslim community chose to be a part of India.”
3.18 pm: We really need to encourage apparel sectors to provide more employment. Overall we will find that the garments industry has employed a lot of women, who have been empowered. The govt should create a safe working environment for women. The govt needs to focus on labour and provide employment. These changes will make a lot of difference to this Bill: Sugata Bose.
3.13 pm: Regarding this tax legislation, Sugata Bose says, “China moved up the scale of manufacturing industries, but we’re losing the opportunity. Bangladeshi exports are breaking into the world’s markets. PM’s Make in India slogan remains a slogan and not a reality.”
3.10 pm: AITC MP Sugata Bose talks in Lok Sabha with respect to Taxation Laws Bill, “We should not be encouraging protectionist tendencies towards our industries.”
3.08 pm: INC Delhi MP Dr. Karan Singh says, “The govt has to be more effective in running the administration. The state govt has not come out with any action and once a society starts unravelling, we’ll never know when it will stop.”
2.58 pm: Nazir Ahmad Laway of PDP, Jammu & Kashmir talks about the girl whose life was under threat and is admitted in AIIMS hospital, due to Kashmir violence. “Why do we remember this issue only when Kashmir is under fire? Why do we forget it before and after all the violence?”
2.53 pm: In RS, AITC MP Derek O’Brien asks Standing/Select Committee meetings to not be held during Parliament session.
2.49 pm: In LS, INC MP Deepender Singh Hooda says, “Textile products have registered a negative growth. The govt is not addressing this issue. Textile sector accounts for 22% of unorganised labour in the country.”
2.40 pm: BJP MP Nishikant Dubey says in Lok Sabha, “Indian marble market was high end before. We used to export to China. Indian govt did a great job in increasing exports.”
2.30 pm: “What I fail to understand that why the govt is not convening the all-party meeting? What is so wrong and dangerous about this? This is essential,” says D.P. Tripathi, NCP, Maharashtra in Rajya Sabha.
2:23 pm: Dilip Kumar Tirkey of BJD speaks. He says anti-India is Pakistan’s politics. Whatever Pakistan wanted to happen in Kashmir, exactly that is happening now. Kashmiris need healing touch, he says.
2:20 pm: He reiterates to stop use of pellet guns and allow an all-party delegation to visit Kashmir. Vulture dives down to carcass only when blood is spilt. Blood has been spilt in Kashmir, vultures coming down now, says Mr. Yechury.
If there is a trust deficit, you have to create an atmosphere of trust. I urge Govt to discuss this issue (Kashmir unrest) with open mind, listen to all ideas, confidence building is required: Yechury in Rajya Sabha.
2:00 pm: Rajya Sabha reconvenes. Sitaram Yechury speaks. He says this government is not following Vajpayee.
Vajpayee declared unilateral ceasefire in 1990, famously called Ramzan ceasefire. He spoke with Hizbul people. Deputy PM Advani in 2004 called a Round Table on Kashmir with Hizbul and other separatists. What is preventing govt to begin a political process?
1:15 pm: In Lok Sabha, Mallikarjun Kharge says the Prime Minister should speak on Kashmir in the House and not let situation in the Valley slip out of hands. He says PM should inform us what steps the govt is taking to restore normality there.
12:59 pm: It is 12:59 pm and Kurien doesn’t want to waste that one minute! He suggests Sitaram Yechury to start his speech and continue after 2 pm. They deliberate for a minute and then the Deputy Chairman adjourns the House.
12:55 pm: We have to win their (Kashmiris’) hearts the way Sardar Patel worked for India. He understood the grassroots, says Sharad Yadav. Let us not forget Kashmiris voted a year back. We must work to win their hearts. Think of an alternative to pellet guns. It is worse than killing them, says Mr. Yadav. Jawans are also suffering. India’s sons are fighting one another. We should send a message of peace, he adds.
12:45 pm: Sharad Yadav begins speech with a warning that he his having sore throat today. He recalls how the nation has witnessed several uprisings and agitations in various parts of the nations. He cites Periyar’s rationalist movement in Tamil Nadu, Khalistan movement in Punjab.
12:40 pm: Burhan Wani was more dangerous in Internet than on street. He seems to be more dangerous now than he was alive. This is the challenging situation in Kashmir.
12:35 pm: O’Brein praises M.J, Akbar’s speech on Kashmir in Lok Sabha. He gently reminds some BJP leaders wanted a ban on Mr. Akbar’s book Kashmir Behind the Veil.
12:30 pm: Don’t meddle with our internal affairs, Derek O’Brien tells Pakistan. Don’t shed crocodile tears. Your Generals need not tell us on pluralism. “Do not make the distinction between Kashmir, the land and Kashmir, the people,” he says.
12:28 pm: Incidently, MGR, his movies and songs featured in Tamil Nadu Assembly too. Read more
12:25 pm: Time for some lighter moments in Rajya Sabha now. AIADMK MP Navaneethakrishnan narrates how Tamil cinema has picturised Kashmir. He sings Tamil song ‘Kashmir beautiful Kashmir’, a song from MGR’s movie. Deputy Chairman Kurien encourages him to sing more. As usual, he ends the speech thanking ‘Amma’. Mr. Kurien says that was a patriotic speech.
12:25 pm: To save the nation, one must add… Force has to be used. But I agree we should ban pellet guns. Though I know force has to be used sometimes. You have to control terrorist activities and use force inside if Kashmir has to be kept in India, says Yadav.
12:18 pm: One terrorist was killed in Kashmir and look at the incredible reaction! Such poison has been injected. You have to treat the source of poison. Demand our Kashmir under Pakistan occupation, says Yadav. You never talk about getting back our PoK. It has been given part of it to China… Aksai chin. They have made roads there, he says.
12:15 pm: ISI incites Kashmiris. Till we don’t control Pakistan, we can’t solve the problem. Pak public wants good terms with Indians, but Pakistan Army wants to destroy relations. Pak PM have to speak what army, ISI want. Common people suffer in Pak and Army enjoys. Whatever Pakistan says, it will try to create discord in India, says Yadav.
12:07 pm: Ram Gopal Yadav of Samajwadi Party speaks. Incentives alone will not help any longer in Kashmir. Too much poison injected in minds there. Partition became a thorn in the nation’s flesh. Kashmir alone looked upon by Nehru and MEA when Sardar Patel annexed every Princely State. This was a huge mistake to take it in UN, says Yadav.
12:05 pm: The issue is not unemployment but militancy. I feel sad for Kashmir. I feel sorry for those who have been injured, says Manhas.
12:00 noon: Only some people are playing in the hands of separatists. Who are the people getting stones and arming kids? Ask those separatists — kids should have books and laptops in hands, says Mr. Manhas. Two AIIMS have been given to Kashmir, an IIT too. If youth are indulging in stone pelting due to unemployment, why aren’t youth from Ladakh and Jammu doing it? he asks.
11:56 am: Manhas narrates the rule of Raja Hari Singh, the ruler of erstwhile Kashmir kingdom. Try to see the finer points. Raja Hari Singh tried to harmonise society there. He got a Dalit to pray with him despite priest’s objections. No untouchability there. It is a society with good values. Manhas’ father Capt. Janak Singh was the Army Minister of Raja Hari Singh.
11:55 am: We feel sad for Kashmiris. People have voted there. They have joined democratic mainstream. The entire society of India feels for Jammu and Kashmir. But separatists, Hizbul Mujahideen, LeT take inspiration elsewhere, says Manhas.
11:50 am: Next to talk is S.S. Manhas of BJP. Without talking of Jammu, we can’t talk of Kashmir. The State of Jammu and Kashmir comprises of Jammu, Ladakh and Kashmir. They are three different regions with different cultures. Jammu shares 500 km border with Pakistan. Fifty-five per cent of State’s population lives in Jammu. Their unemployed youth could also have taken up guns. Ladakh asked for Union Territory Status. They did not get and yet feel for India, says Manhas. “That is the difference between nationalism and separatism.”
11:45 am: The districts are under curfew for 32-33 days. Thousands are injured. We are sorry for civilians. And we are also very sorry for security forces. They are also someone’s children. Both are suffering. It is our duty as political parties to share their grief and appeal for calm on behalf of Parliament. This appeal should go from Parliament. There should be an all party delegation. We should announce the dates today or tomorrow, says Azad ending his speech.
11:34 am: Law and order of Kashmir is not same as Madhya Pradesh or Rajasthan. Law and order is taken of there by police and paramilitary. Kashmiri leaders alone can’t do it. We don’t have resources. You say Kashmir is integral part of India. It should not be on paper but it should come from the heart. Had it come from heart, the Prime Miniter would have spoken about it in Parliament, not in Madhya Pradesh after 32 days of curfew, says Azad.
11:30 am: A militant is a militant. He has no religion. Over 95 per cent civilians killed in Kashmir militancy are Muslims. Kashmir is a secular place, says Azad.
11:26 am: Sharad Yadav suggests all should speak when our turns come. Azad continues. Let us not discuss past. What Prime Minister said — Kashmiriyat, Insaniyat, Jamuriyat. He echoed Mr. Vajpayee’s words. Such words are nice only when Mr. Vajpayee speaks because he meant what he spoke. The character of a person also matters, says Mr. Azad.
11:25 am: Leader of the House Arun Jaitley responds. Kashmir is in a sensitive State today. It is better if parliament speaks in one house on it. This is not the apt time to discuss our disagreements on Kashmir, he says.
11:21 am: The Prime Minister tweets about Africa, Pakistan but what about Kashmir, asks Azad. Please love people of Kashmir, love those children who lost their eyes. You keep speaking and fueling discontent in Kashmir, says Mr. Azad, tragetting the ruling party. (Interruptions)
11:15 am: Every day from 10 to 6, the Prime Minister stays in his chamber here in Parliament. But he didn’t answer in Parliament when we discussed Dalits or Kashmir. But he is addressing Dalits from Telangana, and he talks about Kashmir from Madhya Pradesh. The Prime Minister is near, yet far from the Parliament, says Azad. BJP MPs object to Mr. Azad’s remarks.
11:12 am: Ghulam Nabi Azad starts the debate on Kashmir. He thanks the Chairman for suspending Question Hour and take up the issue. For the first time, the same issue is being debated in Upper House for the fourth time.
11:11 am: This is for the first time since 2003, that the PMO has answered a starred question. A Starred Question is one to which a member desires an oral answer in the House and which is distinguished by an asterisk mark. When a question is answered orally, supplementary questions can be asked thereon.
11:10 am: Meanwhile in Lok Sabha, MoS Jitender Singh says that Indian civil service has ranked 76th internationally which is a remarkable improvement. Shashi Tharoor responds saying that he’s surprised to hear it because the rank should never be a benchmark. He says Indian bureaucracy must follow the best practices seen worldwide and improve the delivery. He suggests a committee should be formed which can work toward its reform.
Jitendera Singh says that a decade ago a committee was formed, which had submitted a report but the previous government sat on it. He says the current government is looking at the report.
11:07 am: Before the discussion starts, an MP raises the issue of Dalits beaten up in Andhra Pradesh.
11:05 am: Rajya Sabha discusses Kashmir situation.
11:00 am: Both Houses of Parliament begin proceedings
[Source: The Hindu]
