India is strongly against the Ukraine-Russia conflict, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Wednesday said if New Delhi has chosen a side, it is the side of peace. He further added that India supports the call for an independent investigation into reports of civilian killings, like in Bucha.
Replying to the discussion in Lok Sabha on the situation in Ukraine, Jaishankar said India was the first country to evacuate its citizens and "served as an inspiration" to others. "India's approach will be to promote dialogue to end the conflict," he said.
Elaborating on what India is advocating in Ukraine, he said, "We are, first and foremost, strongly against the conflict, we believe that no solution can be arrived at by shedding blood and at the cost of innocent lives. In this day and age, dialogue and diplomacy are the right answers to any disputes."
To specific concerns raised by the Opposition, especially the Trinamool Congress, the Congress and others, on the future of the students who are completing their studies in the war-torn country, Jaishankar said that India is in talks with Poland, Romania, Kazakhstan, and Hungary for the completion of medical education of Ukraine returnees.
He said the Ukrainian government has decided there would be a relaxation for students with respect to promotion from the third to the fourth year.
Meanwhile, the Lower House on Wednesday passed the Weapons of Mass Destruction and their Delivery Systems (Prohibition of Unlawful Activities) Amendment Bill, 2022, that seeks to prohibit the financing of weapons of mass destruction (WMD) and gives the government the powers to freeze and seize assets of people involved in such activity.
Here are the updates:
Lok Sabha adjourned
The House will resume proceedings on Thursday, April 7 at 11.00 a.m.
House passes bill to prohibit financing of weapons of mass destruction
The Lok Sabha on Wednesday passed the Weapons of Mass Destruction and their Delivery Systems (Prohibition of Unlawful Activities) Amendment Bill, 2022, that seeks to prohibit the financing of weapons of mass destruction (WMD) and gives the government the powers to freeze and seize assets of people involved in such activity.
Central govt is very focused on diplomacy, says External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar
“It was a satisfying day to see unanimity in the House. I am so glad that people are moving in that direction. We have received the support from 21 speakers today, it is also natural that there will be questions and clarifications. Our government is very focused on diplomacy. Today, there are big challenges, especially in the proliferation of nuclear weapons. Our role in global arms control regime is very strong. I firmly believe that with the passage of this Bill, national security and our global reputation will be ensured,” says External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on Weapons of Mass Massacre and their Delivery System (Prohibition of Unlawful Activities) Amendment Bill, 2022.
Roll back over 10% price hike on essential drugs, says Congress MP Dean Kuriakose
Congress member Dean Kuriakose on Wednesday asked the government to roll back the price hike of over 10 per cent effected on some life-saving essential medicines.
Over 800 drugs, including paracetamol and azithromycin, under the National List of Essential Medicines (NLEM) have become expensive, he said in the Lok Sabha during the Zero Hour.
Prices have been increased by a steep 10.7 per cent, he said, adding, these medicines have profound impact on the lives of people. "I urge upon the government to reverse this decision and ensure that life-saving drugs stay affordable to people of India," he said. - PTI
Opposition MPs support Bill seeking to ban financing of weapons of mass destruction
Supporting the Weapons of Mass Massacre and their Delivery System (Prohibition of Unlawful Activities) Amendment Bill, 2022, the Opposition MPs also urged the Centre to broaden the way how India will go about non-proliferation of nuclear, biological and chemical war weapons.
India must take a proactive role in Russia-Ukraine crisis, says Saugata Roy
Speaking on India’s role in Russia-Ukraine crisis, TMC MP Saugata Roy says, “The foreign minister must take a proactive role in dealing with the crisis in Ukraine. No word from the prime minister on matter relating to one country invading another.
Quoting John Donne on the Russia-Ukraine war, the TMC MP adds, "Each man's death diminishes me, for I am involved in mankind. Therefore, send not to know for whom the bell tolls, it tolls for thee."
What is the Bill to prohibit financing of weapons of mass destruction
The Weapons of Mass Destruction and their Delivery Systems (Prohibition of Unlawful Activities) Amendment Bill, seeks to ban funding of weapons of mass destruction (WMD) and empowers the Centre to freeze and seize financial assets of people involved in such activities.
On Tuesday Mr. Jaishankar introduced the Bill, which also fulfils India’s international obligations pertaining to WMDs.
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar proposes the Weapons of Mass Destruction and their Delivery Systems (Prohibition of Unlawful Activities) Amendment Bill, 2022
TMC MP Saugata Roy raises issue of hike in fuel prices
TMC MP Saugata Roy raised the issue of hike in petrol and diesel prices under Rule 377, which were increased by 80 paise a litre each on Wednesday. “The price of essential comodities like fuel is on an astronomical rise. Today the middle class is in genuine distress. I urge the Central govt to control the prices immediately,” said the TMC MP.
House commences post adjournment. It is taking up matters under Rule 377. Ahmedabad West MP Kriti Premjibhai Solanki in the chair.
House adjourned till 2:30 p.m.
Way to deal with new world order is Aatmanirbhar Bharat: External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar
He concluded his statement by saying the way to deal with the new world order is Aatmanirbhar Bharat.
“We have to be stronger, reduce our dependency on the external world. It can never be total but the way to deal with the new world order is Aatmanirbhar Bharat,” he said. He added that Aatmanirbhar Bharat is not just an economic policy, it is a policy that looks after its people and is capable of running Operation Ganga.
Separately, Leader of opposition Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury asked the Minister to clarify on the impact of Ruble transactions with respect to India in light of the economic sanctions imposed on Russia. Mr Jaishankar responded that the Govt is working on stabilising economic transactions between Russia and India. He said the members must acknowledge that Russia is an important partner in a variety of areas. The Minister apprised the house that there is a inter-ministerial group led by Finance Minister on how the transactions issue can be best addressed.
External Affairs Ministers apprises the house about the completion of education of returning students
Minister Jaishankar apprised the house that the Ukrainian Govt has decided there would be a relaxation for students with respect to promotion from the third to the fourth year. The mandatory CROC exam has been postponed to the next academic year. As for the students in the sixth year, the degrees would be accorded without taking the mandatory CROC-2 examination. The criterion would solely be academic performance.
“We have been in touch with Hungary, Romania, Kazakhstan and Poland about continuing education for the students evacuated from Ukraine. Because these countries have similar education system,” he stated.
External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on Operation Ganga
He told the house that no country has carried out an evacuation like that of India. “Other countries were inspired by our example. They see India taking the initiative and feel they too should make similar moves,” he stated. The Minister added that Foreign Minister of a country said his Govt flew 2 aircrafts from Ukraine, who he apprised that India flew out 90 flights under Operation Ganga.
“Speaking from my experience of 45 years, I can say that the challenges of Operation Ganga were unprecedented,” he stated. He told the house that during Operation Rahat (2015), the Prime Minister had asked for a ceasefire in phone call with the Saudis. This time around in Ukraine, war was underway and ceasefire was not in place. The Foreign Affairs Minister stated that Russians helped us in evacuation from Kharkiv and Sumy. He told the house Prime Minister Modi’s interactions with both Vladimir Putin and Zelensky made the evacuations possible.
“Operation Ganga is over. We should get together and think ahead of the lessons like we do after all such operations,” he stated asserting that the evacuation was a collective effort.
Mr Jaishankar also apprised the students about the confusion among students in Ukraine on online classes.
In response to Kollam MP N.K. Premachandran drawing contrast between advisories by the Indian embassy with that of other countries, the Minister responded saying the Western countries had a political approach. “Their advisories did not have have the same intent as ours- welfare of community concerns,” he stated. He told the house that nobody did an evacuation from Ukraine before India.
“When we left Sumi, along with us more non-Indian came out because of a ceasefire that we had arranged,” he told the house.
India’s approach is to promote dialogue to end the conflict, mitigate economic distress for itself and others, and work with partners for the same: External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar
He told the house that India is strongly against the conflict and in the age of dialogue and diplomacy, India has chosen the side of peace. India’s approach is guided by its national beliefs and value systems as well as its national strategy, Mr Jaishankar stated. The Minister stated he supports conducting an independent investigation with respect to the killings that took place in Bucha.
The External Affairs apprised the house that energy flows continue to flow in the European market and measures were taken to insulate fertilisers market. According to Mr Jaishankar, Govt believes it should adhere to four elements. First, in terms of diplomacy India advocates an immediate cessation of violence. He added that Prime Minister Modi spoke to both countries in this regard. “If India can be of any assistance in this matter, we would be glad to contribute,” he stated.
On humanitarian assistance, Mr Jaishankar told the house 90 tonnes of relief material in underway. India will work with the international community to soften the economic impact.
Food security is another matter of concern, he stated. India’s export with respect to basmati, non-basmati, sugar and wheat have gone up, according to him. He told the house that India would step up for global demand for food. On the issue pertaining to supply of edible oil, Mr Jaishankar stated that India’s commercial diplomacy is trying to help the common people of the country.
“India’s approach will be to promote dialogue to end the conflict, mitigate economic distress for itself and the world, and work with partners on this front,” he stated.
Nawgong MP Pradyut Bordoloi asks Govt to consider a separate time zone for the Northeast
The Congress MP informed the house that there is a difference of 30 degree longitude between Jairampur in Arunachal Pradesh to Jaisalmer and subsequently, Gujarat. This translates to a time lag of two hours. According to the MP, this results in Assam losing previous hours in daytime and thereby, productivity. He pointed to countries as the United States which has 11 timezones and United States which has 11 timezones.
Mr Bordoloi informed the house that the British had carved a separate time zone for Assam which was later integrated into the Indian Standard Time (IST) post independence.
Question Hour concludes
Communications Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw urge members to work and reduce the cost of ROWs to expand availability of fibre network
Chennai Central MP Dayanidhi Maran asked the Communications Minister on the absence of a uniform and viable policy to facilitate laying of fibre cables by internet providers. In response, Mr Vaishnaw urged the house to reduce the cost of ROW, which is as high as ₹ 25 lakh for every kilometre in some states.
The Communications Minster pointed to state-owned operator BSNL’s program of providing resources to local entrepreneurs willing to lay fibre networks in their areas. According to him, the program has been able to introduce 1 lakh new connections, on an average, each month.
Proliferation of 5G services in the country would facilitate introduction on internet on trains: Communications Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw
In response to a question of introducing internet in trains, Communications Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, who is also the Rail Minister, said for plying with a speed of greater than 100 km/h 5G is essential. He told the house that 4G would cause network disruptions. The Communications Minister told the house that as and when 5G is introduced and proliferates in the country, it would subsequently be made available in trains too.
House has taken up discussion on use of Geospatial information
Anandpur Sahib MP Manish Tewari pointing to the increased use of geospatial applications such as Google Maps and Earth bearing minutest information about streets and locations of the country, asked if the existing guidelines are compatible with the present use case. Further, he asked the Science & Technology Minister to clarify if the Govt of India is considering to bring about additional guidelines to validate or invalidate the use of such applications.
In response, Minister of State for Science & Technology Jitendra Singh stated that the use of geospatial data has been restricted to domestic users. Additionally, a restricted scientific resolution is made available to non-Indian companies. On the question of policy, the Minister of State informed the house that the Govt is working on a new holistic policy outlining the approach and strategy on the use of geospatial data, keeping in mind the evolving technology. The policy work in progress would replace the existing policy formulated in 2005.
Proceedings commence at Lok Sabha. In the ongoing question hour, Minister of Railways is taking questions with respect to ROBs/RUBs/LHSs
List of Business
- Question Hour
- Papers, statements, reports of the parliamentary standing committee to be laid on the table
- Secretary-General to report two messages from Rajya Sabha regarding the Chartered Accountants, the Cost and Works Accountants and the Company Secretaries (Amendment) Bill, 2022 and the Delhi Municipal Corporation (Amendment) Bill, 2022
- Dr S. Jaishankar to move the Weapons of Mass Destruction and their Delivery Systems (Prohibition of Unlawful Activities) Amendment Bill, 2022
- Further discussion on the situation in Ukraine raised by N.K. Premachandran on April 5, 2022
- Further discussion on the need to promote sports in India and steps taken by the Government in this regard raised by Gaurav Gogoi on the March 31, 2022
Day 16 recap
Amid sloganeering by opposition benches over rising fuel prices, the House was adjourned for a brief period.
Minutes after the House reconvened, it got adjourned again following recurrent sloganeering and display of banners by members of the opposition.
The situation in Ukraine was discussed after the House resumed. RSP MP N.K. Premchandran, whilst congratulating the Govt for Operation Ganga stated to make the entire evacuation process better, it should have taken “early cautious steps”.
On the rising fuel prices, the Union Petroleum Minister said, “India has not increased petrol prices as much as other countries. While the U.S. and others have increased by 50%, we have increased only by 5%.”
Information and Broadcasting Minister Anurag Thakur told the Lok Sabha that over 600 social media accounts of the central government were hacked in the last five years.
Tribal Affairs Minister Arjun Munda moved The Constitution (Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes) Orders (Amendment) Bill, 2022, for consideration and passing
