Thread by @_maadhyam_

#RajyaSabha starts with Chairperson making a statement condemning y'day incident of some MPs climbing on table.
While making the statement, the Chairperson also got emotional and cried.

However, protests resume and he quickly adjourned the House till 12pm!

#SansadWatch

#LokSabha started at 11am & adjourned sine die within 7 mins.

In valedictory speech, Speaker said that House couldn't function as expected due to disruptions.
And yet, he claimed that 20 Bills were cleared in LS!

PM finally shows up on last day!

#MonsoonSession
#SansadWatch

Today, on last day, during playing of Vande Matram, an MP (possibly Harsimrat Badal) making a final point by carrying a placard.

Despite intense protests by Opposition demanding a discussion on #FarmLaws & #FarmersProtest since beginning of #MonsoonSession, it didn't happen.

#RajyaSabha resumes.

Deputy Chair announces that a Supplementary List is issued & 3 Bills have been added to today's agenda including the #Constitution 127th Amendment (#OBCReservationBill).

Since Bills are being suddenly listed, MPs are given just 1 hour to propose amendments.

#RajyaSabha starts discussion on #Constitution Amendment (#OBCReservationBill)

Dr. Virendra Kumar, Minister of Social Justice & Empowerment speaks on the Bill.
Claims that it is meant to restore rights of States to notify #OBC lists for their states.

#SansadWatch

Minister claims that had this #Constitution Amendment not brought, 671 #OBC communities would've been adversely impacted & not gotten benefits.
Claims that it restores federalism.
State lists can maintain their own lists even if different from central list of.
#OBCReservationBill

Minister concludes his speech on #OBCBill

Prof. Manoj Jha & Leader of Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge demand that more time be allotted for discussion on this Bill as its a crucial Bill.

Leads to some discussion & exchange of words.

A full House can be seen.
#SansadWatch

Abhishek Manu Singhvi, INC on Constitution Amendment (#OBCReservationBill):
- 'Der aaye durust aaye'
- Due to Constitution amendment made in 2018, Supreme Court ruled that States rights to notify #OBC lists taken away
- We are correcting this wrong interpretation

#SansadWatch

Singhvi on #OBCBill:
- Govt first made this mistake in 2018 & now congratulating itself
- Bills no longer being sent to Committee, but in 2018 it was. At that time many MPs warned that states rights being taken away
- Even in House this was raised, an amendment was also proposed

Singhvi on #OBCReservationBill:
- Because the language was unclear, SC also interpreted it the way we feared, though SC was also mistaken in this interpretation
- But won't be of much use. You haven't said anything abut 50% cap on #reservation. Mentions #MarathaReservation case.

Singhvi on #OBCReservationBill:
-Some states already breach 50% cap on #reservation, claims that Nagaland & Mizoram have 80%, Tamil Nadu has 69%, Chhattisgarh 82%
- Can't stick to 50% as a rule
- Supreme Court won't reconsider
- So, Govt needs to make this change
#SansadWatch

Singhvi on #OBCReservationBill:
- In Govt jobs, many #OBC seats vacant, most seats filled in Group C, Group A, B vacant
- Why running away from #CasteCensus? Your own MP asked for it y'day in LS
- We did it in 2011, but it had some flaws
- Its 2021, why don't you do?
#SansadWatch

Singhvi on #OBCReservationBill:
- Though this amendment is clarificatory, but it needs to apply retrospectively, otherwise, it will be considered that between 2018 and 2021, no state #OBC list was valid
- Bring this small amendment, dont make this mistake again

#SansadWatch

Sushil Kumar Modi, BJP on Constitution Amendment (#OBCReservationBill):
- Claims that Govt brought this Bill as soon as they could after SC rejected their review petition
- Also that Govt argued before the Court also that states rights are intact, 2 of 5 judges also accepted this

Modi continues on #OBCReservationBill:
- Govt never had the intention of taking away rights of states, SC misinterpreted
- Our Govt supported VP Singh which gave #OBCReservation, we gave constitutional status to Scheduled Tribe Commission, #OBC Commission, what did Congress do?

Sushil Modi continues his speech on #OBCReservationBill on largely two themes:
- Congress bashing
- Achievements of PM Modi's govt

[Gets repeatedly heckled by Opposition MPs]
Leader of Opposition clams that some false claims were made

Shouting match breaks out!
#SansadWatch

Derek O'Brien, AITC on Constitution Amendment (#OBCReservationBill):
- Supports Bill, but such an important Bill, why PM not in House?
- Govt has a poor record on legislations, it is incompetent
- Example #GST, we warned Govt to go slow, and then in 10 months 376 changes made

Derek continues on #OBCReservationBill:
- We also warned on #CAA, #FarmLaws, govt didn't listen, continued making mistakes, but good that in this Bill correcting your mistakes
- Out of 98 Bills passed, 29 Bills are anti-federal
- Rs.6,90,000 promised to states, not given

Derek continues on #OBCReservationBill:
- Why shying away from #CasteCensus?
- You took away reservation of Anglo-Indians saying that as per census only 200 of them
- No implementation, 48% #OBC students dropping out of IITs

#SansadWatch

Prasanna Acharya, BJD on Constitution Amendment (#OBCReservationBill):
- Supports Bill
[Mostly speaks in Odia]
- All other powers taken away from states should also be restored to strengthen federalism
- Suggests that #CasteCensus be done during #Census2021
- Reconsider 50% cap

Tiruchi Siva, DMK on Constitution Amendment (#OBCReservationBill):
- Supports Bill
- First Bill to advance federalism
- Tamil Nadu leads in social justice, gave 69% reservation
- Govt was compelled to bring this Bill as 671 #OBC Committees affected
- Do #CasteCensus
#SansadWatch

Dr. Banda Prakash, TRS on Constitution Amendment (#OBCReservationBill):
- Do #CasteCensus, we dont even know how many backward class MPs, MLAs
- Govt had ensured that #Caste data will be collected in #Census2021
- Govt itself breached 50% cap by giving #reservation to EWS

Banda concludes on #OBCReservationBill:
- Judiciary given many judgments against backward classes, what scientific basis for 50% cap
- Bring a Ministry for Backward classes

#SansadWatch
#OBCBill

A Navneethakrishnan, AIADMK supports Constitution Amendment (#OBCReservationBill)

Subhashchandra Bose Pillai, YSRCP speaks in Telugu
[their speech will get translated for MPs isnide the House, but no translation is available for viewers of live telecast]

#SansadWatch

Elamaram Kareem, CPI(M) on Constitution Amendment (#OBCReservationBill):
- SC reduced powers of states, Union govt didn't went for review petition, wasted time
- EWS not applicable to #Kerala because of criterion specified
- Dalit Christians not entitled to #reservation

Kareem concludes his speech on #OBCReservationBill by asking for sub-categorization of #OBC and to protect federal structure

#SansadWatch

Prof. Ram Gopal Yadav, SP on Constitution Amendment (#OBCReservationBill):
- #CasteCensus only solution for real empowerment
- You say you are doing so much, but nothing is happening on the ground
- Poor representation of #OBC in Higher Education Institutions

#SansadWatch

Ram Nath Thakur, JD(U) on Constitution Amendment (#OBCReservationBill):
- Supports Bill
- Demands #CasteCensus

#SansadWatch

Prof. Manoj Jha, RJD on Constitution Amendment (#OBCReservationBill):
- Y'day in LS, lead speaker from BJP also demanded #CasteCensus
- Govt says #Caste data is corrupt, but is data corrupt, or mindset?
- Representation of #OBC still poor, increasing Cabinet Ministers wont help

Jha concludes on #OBCReservationBill:
- States will be able to make list but 50% cap is a hurdle in realisation of goal
- Need to change mindset to remove #Caste from society
- On 15th August, when singing National Anthem, remember who these 'Jan, Gan, Man' are

#SansadWatch

Sanjay Raut, Shiv Sena on Constitution Amendment (#OBCReservationBill):
- Govt claiming that Bill is historic, credit goes to #MarathaReservation struggle
- Till 50% cap there, #Maratha won't get relief
- Where does Govt get confidence to congratulate itself for making mistake?

Vandana Chavan, NCP on Constitution Amendment (#OBCReservationBill):
- Adamant attitude of Govt, didn't listen in 2018 when we pointed out the error
- We are highest law making body, should make clear, sound laws, in 2018 also people struggled understanding the law

#SansadWatch

Chavan supports #OBCBill:
- Was it incompetent drafting in 2018, or Govt deliberately drafted confusing language to take attention away from real issues
- Need to bring clarity on criteria of geographic difficulties and social exclusion
- Address real issues of community

Sanjay Singh, AAP on Constitution Amendment (#OBCReservationBill):
- #UttarPradesh Backward classes commission noted that only 3% jobs given to #OBC
- BJP responded to #Mandal Commission report with 'Kamandal'
- Mentions incidents of attacks on Dalits, OBCs in UP, Gujarat etc

Singh continues on #OBCBill:
- Increase 50% cap on #reservation
- BJP opposed a Private Member Bill in #RajyaSabha to provide reservation to #OBC in Parliament and assemblies

#SansadWatch

Binoy Viswam, CPI on Constitution Amendment (#OBCReservationBill):
- Supports Bill, but it should be called 'Election Urgent Bill'
- You raised ' Mandal vs. Kamandal' slogan, countered Mandal with Mandir
- Govt killing public sector, need #reservation in private sector

Dr. Amar Patnaik, BJD on Constitution Amendment (#OBCReservationBill):
- Odisha CM demanded that #CasteCensus be done, bit since GoI denied, Odisha has initiated the process, appointed a Commission and is enumerating #OBC in state
- Also demanded that 50% cap be removed

Abdul Wahab, IUML on Constitution Amendment (#OBCReservationBill):
- According to UGC data, many central universities didn't have even a single #OBC professors, many seats vacant
- None of IITs follow #reservation in faculty
- Backward Commission urged Govt to gather #Caste data

H.D. Dewegowda, JD(S) on Constitution Amendment (#OBCReservationBill):
- Supports Bill
- In my short tenure, I had moved #WomenReservation Bill, what happened to that? Govt should provide it.
- Demands clarification- if it will be left to states to decide what % #reservation

Kanakamedala Ravindra Kumar, TDP on Constitution Amendment (#OBCReservationBill):
- Supports Bill
- Need #CasteCensus
- Today, Govt said that it wont do so, that is unfortunate

#SansadWatch

Sardar Balwinder Singh Bhunder, SAD on Constitution Amendment Bill (#OBCReservationBill):
- Supports Bill
- First time centre is giving more powers to states, we have been demanding strong #federalism
- Similarly repeal #FarmLaws
- many landless in #OBC, not getting benefits

Ramji, BSP on Constitution Amendment (#OBCReservationBill):
- Supports Bill
- Gives examples of how #reservation not being implemented in Uttar Pradesh
- upliftment of backward castes can't happen simply by putting up photos of Dr. Ambedkar, bring #reservation in pvt sector

Mallikarjun Kharge, INC on Constitution Amendment (#OBCBill):
- Why govt cannot add a line in Bill to allow states to provide #reservation even beyond 50%
- Since Govt is privatizing everything, start working towards applying reservation in private sector
- fill backlog vacancies

Minister of Social Justice & Empowerment starts responding to more than 4.5 hours of debate on Constitution Amendment (#OBCBill)

We understand the sentiment behind asking for 50% #reservation cap to be removed, should be studied

Claims that 2011 Census didn't have #OBC data

Voting on #Constitution Amendment Bill (#OBCBill) starts.
Since it is a Constitution amendment bill, it requires special majority and can only be voted through division (recorded vote)

Lobbies are being cleared for vote to happen

#SansadWatch

As voting on Constitution Amendment (#OBCBill) is underway, some MPs move amendments

Some amendments to allow states to increase #reservation beyond 50% ceiling are put to voice vote and defeated

#SansadWatch

The Constitution Amendment (#OBCBill) is passed by #RajyaSabha by

187 Ayes
0 Nay
[subject to correction]

#SansadWatch

#RajyaSabha quickly moves to General #Insurance Business Nationalization (Amedment) Bill, 2021

Some MPs object

But Finance Minister quickly moves the motion

A motion to send the Bill to Select Committee is also moved

Protests resume

#SansadWatch

Sukhendu Shekhar Ray, AITC opposes the Bill
Argues that after 49 yrs of nationalization of general #insurance, Govt is denationalizing it to appease its cronies

#SansadWatch

As protests continue, #RajyaSabha adjourned for 15 minutes

#SansadWatch

#RajyaSabha resumes

Unusual scenes in House
Marshalls have been called in who have made a wall around the table in well
MPs surround them and continue protesting

Some MPs make quick speeches opposing the Bill asking for it to be sent to sent to Select Committee

#SansadWatch

As govt tries to push General #Insurance Business Nationalization Amendment Bill to vote, papers can be seen being thrown in the air before the Presiding officer

Amid intense chaos, the motion to send Bill Select Committee is defeated by voice vote

#SansadWatch

Immediately clause by clause voting happens on the Bill

There is intense din and chaos in House

And just like that, without any discussion, the General #Insurance Business Nationalization (Amendment) Bill is passed.

Then #RajyaSabha adjourns for 30 mins

#SansadWatch

#RajyaSabha resumes and takes up National Commission for Homeopathy (Amendment) Bill

Within 10 minutes the Bill is passed.

Then it moves to National Commission for Indian Systems of Medicine (Amendment) Bill

Within 9 minutes the Bill is passed.

#SansadWatch

#RajyaSabha draws towards end of session.

Leader of House, Piyush Goyal, in absence of opposition, gives a long sermon on how opposition didn't let House function, came prepared to disrupt, though Govt was ready for debate.

The picture from House shows the divide is absolute.

Piyush Goyal concludes his speech by recommending that a special committee be set up to look at events which happened in the Houses, where MPs lowered the dignity of the House and strict action be taken.

He doesn't mention about Govt's role in stalemate.

And then, after playing Vande Matram and chants of 'Bharat Mata Ki Jai', #RajyaSabha is also adjourned sine die.

This marks the close of the #MonsoonSession2021 two days ahead of schedule.

#SansadWatch