Nirmala Sitharaman moves Finance Bill, discussion underway in Rajya Sabha.

Here are the latest updates

2-25

Gujarat MP raises objection to tax provisions, custom duties

INC MP Shaktisinh Gohil made an impassioned speech about the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the middle class, and questioned tax provisions under the Bill. He also questioned retrospective application of these provisions.

He raised objections about proposed increase in excise duty on petrol and diesel. He also pointed out that custom duties for solar are proposed to be raised to 40 percent and asked how that is beneficial for the development of Green Energy in the country. He raised a final point about how the public sector was dying and asked that BSNL be allowed to remain competitive.

2-05 pm

Nirmala Sitharaman moves Finance Bill

Proceedings resume in the Rajya Sabha. Nirmala Sitharam moves to discuss the Bill to authorise payment and appropriation of certain sums from and out of the Consolidated Fund of India for the services of the financial year 2022-23

1-00

House adjourned till 2 pm

Question hour concludes as Minister of Minority Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi addresses question about measures to combat the issue of a diminishing Parsi population.

Proceedings will resume at 2 pm.

12-30

Affordable housing discussion underway.

All India Trinamool Congress MP Derek O’Brien poses a question about whether every Indian will have housing by 2022, as promised by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2018. Minister of Housing and Urban Affairs Hardeep Singh Puri said that the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana had started haltingly and despite the pandemic, all sanctions will be completed by March 2022. He shared that the time taken after grounding of an Awas is between 18 to 24 months, and that the scheme will be completed in the near foreseeable future.

 Dr. Narendra Jadhav also prompted discussion centered on affordable housing and why solutions proposed for metropolitan cities and other spaces are not different.

12-10

Question Hour commences

Rajya Sabha proceedings resume with deputy chairman Harivansh Narayan Singh. Question Hour is underway. 

Hardeep Singh Puri, Minister of Petroleum & Natural Gas, highlighted market fluctuations due to the ongoing Ukraine war while addressing questions about the increased prices for private vehicles as contrasted with state transport undertaking vehicles.

Jose K. Mani also raised questions pertaining to conversion of STU fleet into CNG and LNG vehicles. 

Questions about LPG connections and LPG stations along highways were also raised. Puri indicated that 1000 LPG stations along highways may be planned in the future.

11-06

House proceedings adjourned 6 minutes after start

Chairman Venkaiah Naidu refused 267 notices given by various members to suspend the business of the day to debate fuel price hike and call for labour union strike. In the ensuing commotion, Naidu adjourned proceedings for an hour. 

Proceedings to recommence at 12 PM.

10-15

List of Business

1. Papers, Reports on Parliamentary Standing Committees to be laid on the table

2. Bhanu Pratap Singh Verma to make a Statement regarding Status of implementation of recommendations contained in the Three Hundred and Eighth Report of the Department-related Parliamentary Standing Committee on Industry on “Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on MSME Sector and Mitigation Strategy Adopted to Counter it” pertaining to the Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises.

3. V. Muraleedharan to move the motion for election to the committee on welfare of other backward classes.

4. Question Hour

5. Nirmala Sitharaman to move the Bill to authorise payment and appropriation of certain sums from and out of the Consolidated Fund of India for the services of the financial year 2022-23, as passed by Lok Sabha, be taken into consideration.

6. Nirmala Sitharaman to move the Bill to give effect to the financial proposals of the Central Government for the financial year 2022-23, as passed by Lok Sabha, be taken into consideration. 

7. Discussion on the working of the Ministry of Labour and Employment

10 AM

Day 9 recap

Rajya Sabha was adjourned briefly amid protest by TMC MPs. The vociferous protest erupted after BJP’s Roopa Ganguly raised the Rampurhat killings in the House.

Minister of State for Communications Devusinh Chauhan says 5G services will be implemented in India by the end of this year and BSNL will soon have 4G services.

Several questions regarding the Ministry of Railways and the Ministry of Communications were raised during the Question Hour.