The seventh day of the second part of the Budget session in the Lower House saw Opposition members protesting against the fuel price hike.
Following a short adjournment, the House resumed to take up discussion on Demands for Grants under the control of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry for 2022-23.
Today, the Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman is set to introduce The Appropriation Bill 2022, and The Finance Bill 2022.
Here are the latest updates:
Lok Sabha adjourned till 11 a.m. on March 25, 2021
Lok Sabha passes Appropriation Bill, 2022.
Leaders point out the need to improve India’s ports to boost trade
Various leaders pointed out the need to restructure Indian ports and upgrade them to world class facilities to boost trade. Congress MP Shashi Tharoor pointed out that most of Indian exports are carried out from Colombo port, which is a threat to national security with the increasing imprint of China in Sri Lanka. He further said that the despite long coastline of the country, exports suffer due to export to Colombo.
2.40 lakh seafarers following formal training and certification are being employed in sea domestically and outside the country: Minister Mansukh Mandviya
Kendrapara M.P. Anubhav Mohanty requests Govt to rename the Paradip Port after the late Biju Patnaik.
Mr Mohanty told the house that the Paradip port was late Mr. Patnaik’s brainchild who envisioned it as a “gateway to Odisha’s prosperity”.
“He braved immense struggles such as non-availability of road communications, electricity and rejection of proposals by (the then) Planning Commission for building express highway connecting mining areas of Keujhar and Sukinda,” he elaborated. The Kendrapara MP added that the late leader held an impelling faith that once the construction of port and expressway was completed, he could influence the centre to convert them into central projects.
He elaborated that the late Mr Patnaik contributed to India’s freedom struggle, ushered new developmental projects through industrialisation and as the Chief Architect of Modern Odisha founded many projects, including the Paradip Port.
N.K. Premchandran in the chair. Zero Hour in progress.
Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi alleged that Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury was barred from entering violence-hit Rampurhat in West Bengal
Mr Gogoi added Mr. Chowdhury was stationed 90 kilometres away from Rampurhat at Bolpur by the State Police.
In response, TMC MP Sudip Bandhopadhyay said he spoke to Home Minister Amit Shah in this regard. According to Mr Bandhopadhyay, there is no politicisation in the matter and the guilty should be arrested and accorded firm punishment.
21 people have been arrested in relation to the matter, Mr Bandopadhyay informed the house.
Aatmanirbhar Bharat is not aimed at closing doors to India, it is about endowing priority to goods that can be best manufactured in India and create a global competitiveness: Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal
India ranks third among global eco-systems: Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal
Mr. Goyal informed the house that there are more than 65,000 startups registered with the Ministry and lakhs who are yet to register. He stated 90 startups in India have attained ‘unicorn’ status, that is, an overall valuation exceeding $1 billion.
Congress MP K. Suresh alleges being “manhandled and assaulted” by Delhi Police whilst protesting against K-Rail-Silverlive Project
Mavelikkara MP K. Suresh told the house that he was “assaulted, manhandled and brutally attacked” by the Delhi Police and was further denied entry to the Parliament premises. He told the house that the police had asked him to refrain from raising slogans. As per Mr Suresh, 12 MPs in solidarity with the ongoing protests pertaining to the Govt of Kerala project initiated the march from Vijay Chowk to Gandhi Status in the parliament premises, from 10:45 A.M.
Question hour concludes
Have not been able to established shale in India so far, but there is shale: Petroleum Minister Hardeep Singh Puri
On being asked by Anandpur Sahib MP Manish Tewari about the specific steps being taken to incentivise shale gas and exploration as well as recent significant discoveries, Petroleum Minister Hardeep Singh Puri informed the house shale has not been established as yet in India. However, he assured about existence of shale in India, which needs to be addressed.
Additionally, he assured Mr Tewari that there are policies in policy for the same. Separately, Mr Puri informed the Lok Sabha that the Ministry expects domestic production of gas would go up by 18% in the present calendar year.
No preference accorded on community-basis: Minister for Minority Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi
Mr. Naqvi was responding to Kollam MP N.K. Premchandaran if the Govt would endow due preference and priority on commencing and starting Kendriya Vidyalayas and Navodaya Vidyalayas in minority-concentrated blocks, as identified by the Govt.
The Minister said the Govt endowed priority to ensuring the progress of the poor, eligible and the backward.
Scholarships disbursed to 5.20 crore students in the last seven years: Minister for Minority Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi
In comparison, Mr Naqvi stated, that 3.03 crore scholarships were disbursed by the previous Govt.
Mr Naqvi informed the house that 50% of the current disbursements were made to female students. This has led to increased enrolments and lowered drop-outs.
DMK MP Kanimuzhi asks Minister For New and Renewable Energy about the use of artificial intelligence/deep tech for biomass gasification and conversion into fuels
Minister for New & Renewable Energy Raj Kumar Singh responded saying it was being used in transportation and distribution system and not with regards to biomass, as yet. He added that it has not been made into what aspect AI or deep tech could be applied to. Only after ascertaining the same, would they be able to speak to experts about energy production from biomass.
Proceedings resume at Lok Sabha.
List of Business
1. Further discussion and voting on:
- Demands for Grants under the control of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry for 2022-23.
- Demands for Grants under the control of the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways for 2022-23.
- Demands for Grants under the control of the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying for 2022-23.
2. Submission to the vote of the House of the Outstanding Demands for Grants in respect of the Union Budget for 2022-23.
3. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman to move the The Appropriation Bill, 2022.
4. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman to move the The Finance Bill, 2022.
5. Papers and Reports to be laid on the Table
6. Question Hour
Day 7 recap
In the Lower House, Opposition members protested against the rise in fuel prices, prompting an early adjournment by Speaker Om Birla.
Congress leader Sonia Gandhi spoke in the House on the issue of nutrition among children in the wake of COVID-19. She asked the government to restart mid-day meals for students in the government schools.
The House also held Discussion and voting on demands for grants under the control of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry for 2022-23.
