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A civic engagement initiative. Keeping a critical eye on Parliament. Bringing citizens closer to policy making.

Aug 9, 2021, 24 tweets

Chairperson announced in #RajyaSabha today morning that he has admitted notice for discussion on #FarmersProtests
[even though he mentioned that he received notices on other issues also]

But as soon as MPs demanded, '#Pegasus, Pegasus', the House was adjourned till 12pm.

#RajyaSabha resumes at 12pm, only to be adjourned again immediately till 2pm.
Doesn't work for even a minute.

#SansadNothingToWatch

#RajyaSabha resumes
Minister for Parliamentary Affairs announces that Supplementary List of Business is issued, Taxation amendment Bill listed

Derek O'Brien objects, states that 30 Bills passed at 10 minutes per Bill, only 11% of Bill scrutinized by Committees, PM answered 0 Qs

Bhupender Yadav, Minister intervenes
Rules also provide that some things shouldn't be said, MPs shouldn't be interrupted, placards shouldn't be raised etc.

Leader of Opposition, Mallikarjun Kharge objects to sudden list brought, being suddenly asked to discuss Bills
#SansadWatch

Kharge continues that Govt lists whichever Bill whenever it wants to but doesn't list discussion on #Pegasus, #FarmersProtest

Presiding Officer rules that any business can be taken up once approved by Chair, so reorder of business is fine

Protests start in #RajyaSabha

Then #Tribunal Reforms (Amendment) Bill is moved, along with Statutory Resolution against Ordinance

Shakti Sinh Gohil while moving resolution claims that SC had ordered some provisions of Ordinance unconstitutional

Tiruchi Siva also moves motion to send Bill to Committee

Sujeet Kumar, BJD speaks on #Tribunal Reforms Amendment Bill:
- Supports intent of Bill to bring Tribunals to ease burden on courts etc.
- But highlights that Supreme Court had held provisions related to fixed tenure as unconstitutional
- raises concerns on vacancies in tribunals

N. R. Elango, DMK on Tribunal Reforms Bill:
- Oppose Bill
- Through this, Govt shutting down some Tribunals
- Instead demands that a Tribunal be set up to inquire issue of #pegasus.
Protesting MPs cheer.

#SansadWatch

Dr. Banda Prakash, TRS on Tribunals Reform Bill:
- Quotes some stats on vacancies in courts, pendency of cases
- Demands increase in budget for judiciary
His speech gets drowned in protests.

Meanwhile, MPs trying to insert placards and camera moves away quickly.

M. Thambidurai, AIADMK supports #Tribunal Reforms Bill
Venkataraman Rao Mopidevi, YSRCP speaks, states about Judicial Impact Assessment
Their speeches get drowned in slogans and protests
'Jai Jawaan, Jai Kisaan'
Meanwhile, placards keep popping up, even as camera quickly shifts.

Jaya Bachchan, SP opposes #Tribunal Reforms Bill
But says that more than that she opposes the fact that opposition isn't being allowed to speak
States that it's not possible to make out which side is the opposition here.

#SansadWatch

Prof. Manoj Jha, RJD speaks on #Tribunal Reforms Bill
Claims that we are entering 75th year of Independence, but does 'Azaadi' mean that opposition, farmers be treated this way?
Lays rest of his speech on table.
Presiding officer moves to next MP

#SansadWatch

Sanjay Singh, AAP speaks on #tribunal Reforms Bill
Asks govt why it was harming farmers by 'Adani ki naukri karke' [working for Adani]
Gets cut off, Presiding Officer moves to next MP

#SansadWatch

Kanakamedala Ravindra Kumar, TDP on #Tribunal Reforms Bill, supports
Makes suggestion to increase budget for judiciary since after this Bill, burden on judiciary will increase

Binoy Viswam, CPI speaks
States that we come here to raise people's issues, Govt snoops on us, cuts off

Shakti Sinh Gohil, INC, speaks on his statutory resolution
Claims that Tribunal Reforms Ordinance was unconstitutional
Govt should instead set up Tribunal to inquire into #pegasus
Gets cut off

Now, Finance Minister responds.

Nirmala Sitharaman, responds to a point made by INC MP that Ordinance attacks indepence of judiciary [which SC had also said]

Sitharaman says that Congress had suppressed judiciary during emergency, so how can they make that point?

Loud noises from both sides!

Sitharaman argues that we respect independence of judiciary, but House is supreme, our powers can't be curtailed
[In context of reviving a provision which SC had struck down recently in July]
Also claims that SC didn't struck it down on constitutionality, so we are clarifying it.

She concludes her speech.

Statutory Resolution is put to vote, defeated
Motion to send Bill to Standing Committee for review is put to vote.
Then motion to put Bill to vote is called, one MP calls for division, Presiding Officer asks for order.

Division will now happen.

Though it isn't exactly clear which motion is being voted on, but the process of division has started (recorded votes)

This will be the first division of #MonsoonSession

There is order in the House, MPs back on their seats. #Tribunal Reforms Bill is under discussion.

The motion to send #Tribunal Reforms Bill to select Committee was defeated by division (recorded vote)

Ayes- 44
Nos- 79

Then #Tribunal Reforms Bill was passed with roughly 1 hour of discussion (including division)

#SansadWatch

On the issue of bringing supplementary list of business and listing Bills suddenly with no prior notice to MPs, Opposition MPs had walked out

In an almost half empty House, Bills are being cleared quickly, with limited discussion & scrutiny

#SansadWatch

The #Taxation (Amendment) Bill was passed in 33 minutes, of which the Minister herself spoke for 20 minutes. 4 other MPs made short speeches.

#SansadWatch

The Central University (Amendment) Bill, to set up a central university was passed in 24 minutes, of which Minister himself spoke for 11 minutes. 4 other MPs made short speeches.

#SansadWatch

Then #RajyaSabha also adjourned for the day.

#SansadWatch

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