Parliament Updates: Opposition MPs Walk Out From RS As Govt Refuses Clarifications on Rajnath's Statement on 'Sensitive' Tawang Clash Matter

Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Tuesday called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the Parliament House and apprised him about steps being taken by the state government to build a “strong Uttarakhand” by 2025. He informed Modi that a Chintan Shivir was organised recently at the Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration, Mussoorie, on the theme ‘Strong Uttarakhand @ 25’.

Several parliamentarians on Tuesday demanded in Lok Sabha that the pre-matric scholarship and Maulana Azad Fellowship for minority students be restored, saying how will the country progress if the minority communities are left behind.

The Maulana Azad Fellowship for minority students pursuing higher education has been scrapped while the government’s pre-matric scholarship for them will no longer apply to students from Class 1 to Class 8.

Chinese troops tried to “unilaterally” change the status quo along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in the Yangtse area of Arunachal Pradesh’s Tawang sector last week but the Indian Army compelled them to retreat by its “firm and resolute” response, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said in Parliament on Tuesday.

In similar statements in Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, Singh said there were “no fatalities” or serious injuries to the Indian soldiers and that the clash led to injuries to a few personnel on both sides. With the opposition questioning the government’s handling of the border issue with China, Home Minister Amit Shah told reporters that no one can capture an inch of India’s land till the Narendra Modi government is in power.

Parliamentary Standing Committee on Transport, Tourism and Culture has summoned the CEO of Delhi International Airport Ltd (DIAL) and others on December 15 in connection with passengers facing crowding at the airport. This came as passengers have been complaining about long waiting hours at the airport and some also shared pictures of the crowd at the airport on social media over the past few days. READ MORE

With enhanced use of cyber space, the number of cyber crime including frauds is also increasing, Minister of State for Home Ajay Kumar Mishra told the Lok Sabha on Tuesday. The MoS shared the input in a written reply to a query of the Lower House members Nishikant Dubey, Jual Oram and Aparupa Poddar.

A parliamentary committee has raised concerns over the decrease in membership of the Delhi Public Library and recommended that the government form a virtual library through large-scale digitization of texts. The parliamentary Standing Committee on Transport, Tourism and Culture’s 328th report, ‘Action Taken by the Government on the Recommendations/ Observations of the Committee contained in its Three Hundred Tenth Report on the subject Functioning of Central Libraries in the Country,’ has stated that the Delhi Public Library has witnessed a decrease in membership in recent times, one of the reasons being the COVID-19 pandemic. (PTI)

According to data furnished by the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), no increase in custodial deaths in Kerala has been noticed in 2018-19, Minister of State for Home Affairs Nityanand Rai informed the Lok Sabha on Tuesday. The minister replied in writing to a query of Congress MP Kumbakudi Sudhakaran on “whether the government has taken note that custodial deaths in Kerala have increased by 100 per cent in 2018-19, as per the records of NHRC”.

The Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act (FCRA registration certificates of 1,811 associations have been cancelled from 2019 to 2021, the Ministry of Home Affairs told the Lok Sabha on Tuesday. Union Minister of State for Home Nityanand Rai (/topic/nityanand-rai) shared the input in a written reply to a query of Trinamool Congress MP Sougata Ray.

The Rajya Sabha on Tuesday remembered the valour and bravery of the martyrs of the 2001 Parliament attack while paying rich tributes to them. The members also stood in silence in their places for a moment as a mark of respect to those who lost their lives in the attack. Soon after the proceedings of the House started, Deputy Chairman Harivansh said December 13 will always be remembered as the grimmest day in the history of independent India.

Two parliamentarians demanded in Lok Sabha that the pre-matric scholarship and Maulana Azad Fellowship for minority students be restored, saying how will the country progress if the minority community is left behind. The Maulana Azad Fellowship for minority students pursuing higher education has been scrapped while the government’s pre-matric scholarship for them will no longer apply to students from Class I to Class VIII.

Raising the demand during a discussion on the supplementary demands for grants, BSP MP Danish Ali said the pre-matric scholarship and Maulana Azad Fellowship must be restored. “For prosperity of the country everyone needs to be taken along. How can you leave minorities behind and prosper,” he said.

AIMIM MP Syed Imitiaz Jaleel also raised the demand. “How will minority students study, how will they progress if this fellowship is stopped,” he said.

Briefing the Lok Sabha on the clash between Indian and Chinese troops in Arunchal Pradesh’s Tawang on December 9, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said that the attempt to “unilaterally” change the status quo by PLA troops who transgressed the LAC was thwarted by Indian troops in a “firm and resolute manner”.

In a suo moto statement in the House, Singh said that “the ensuing face-off led to a physical scuffle in which the Indian Army bravely prevented the PLA from transgressing into our territory and compelled them to return to their posts.” READ MORE

PM is failing in showing political leadership. Clash happened on Dec 9 and you’re making statement today. Had media not reported, you wouldn’t have spoken. Take all parties to site of clash. PM scared of taking China’s name, his govt scared of speaking about China: A Owaisi, AIMIM

Deputy Chairman Harivansh said since the matter was sensitive in nature, no clarifications would be allowed. He also cited several instances in the past when no clarifications were allowed in the House on sensitive issues.

“The opposition repeatedly asked for a debate on the Chinese transgression, but the government refused to allow it. The defence minister left without giving any clarification to the House. This is not good for the nation,” Leader of opposition in Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge told reporters after staging the walkout.

He said there was no point sitting inside the House if the government refuses to give any clarifications.

He, however, said his party stood united with the armed forces.

The Congress on Tuesday staged a walkout from the Rajya Sabha after it was denied permission to seek clarifications on Defence Minister Rajnath Singh’s statement on the clash between Indian and Chinese troops in Tawang sector.

Congress members said there was no point in sitting inside the House if they are not given clarifications. Members of the CPI, CPI-M, Shiv Sena, RJD, SP and JMM joined the Congress members in staging a walkout from the House.

“When they did not give us clarification, all leaders of the opposition parties decided to stage a walkout. We stand together for the unity and integrity of our country, we are with our soldiers,” Congress President and Rajya Sabha LoP Mallikarjun Kharge

“We were told by the Leader of the House and Deputy Rajya Sabha Chairman that we would be given a chance for clarification but they did not give it and were not ready to listen to us. This is not good for the country,” Congress President and Rajya Sabha LoP Mallikarjun Kharge on Tawang faceoff

No one can capture one inch of land till the Narendra Modi government is in power, Union Home Minister Amit Shah said on Tuesday as the opposition demanded a discussion on clashes between Indian and Chinese forces along the LAC in Arunachal Pradesh. Addressing reporters outside Parliament House, Shah also said the Congress had raised the border issue in Parliament to avoid questions on the Rajiv Gandhi Foundation’s FCRA [Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act] cancellation.

The Rajiv Gandhi Foundation (RGF), he alleged, had got Rs 1.35 crore from the Chinese Embassy. Its registration was cancelled as this was not according to FCRA rules, he said.

“India’s permanent seat in the UN Security Council was sacrificed because of Nehru’s love for China,” Shah said.

He applauded Indian soldiers for their valour. “I want to say it clearly… till the time the BJP government led by Prime Minister Modi is in power, no one can capture an inch of our land,” Shah said.

He (Defence Minister) read out his statement and went out. He was not ready for any clarification or discussion. There is no relation to it (Rajiv Gandhi Foundation FCRA licence cancellation issue). If it’s our fault then hang us: Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge