And the Constitutional Amendment 124th Bill, 2019, is passed with 323 votes in favour and three against. India celebrates

Lok Sabha discusses Bill to provide reservation to economically backward people

The Lok Sabha takes up discussion on the Constitutional Amendment to provide reservation to the economically backward.

On the last day of the Winter Session of the Parliament,  the Lok Sabha passed the DNA Technology (Use and Application) Regulation Bill, 2018; and Citizenship Act (Amendment) Bill, 2016.

The  Rajya Sabha was adjourned without taking up any business. The Upper House to work tomorrow.

Here are the latest updates:

LOK SABHA | 10:00 P.M.

Speaker Sumitra Mahajan makes concluding remarks. She lists out the Bills passed by the lower House.

LOK SABHA | 10:00 P.M.

And the Constitutional Amendment 124th Bill, 2019,  is passed with 323 votes in favour and three against.

LOK SABHA | 9:55 P.M.

Clause 2 and 3 stand part of the quota Bill.  

Voting for Clause 2 and 3. They are voted in favour. It stays part of the Bill.

Clause 1 as amended stays part of the Bill.

The enacting formula and long titles are part of the Bill.

The Bill goes to voting.

LOK SABHA | 9:44 P.M.

Mr. Thambi Durai seeks clarification. He seeks to know when the government will give constitutional status for 69 per cent reservation being followed in Tamill Nadu. He reiterates that his party opposes the Bill and walks out.

The Bill goes for voting. The voting will be held by division. Since it is a constitutional amendment, the Bill must be passed with two-third majority.

Most members of the AIADMK have been suspended and they won’t be able to participate in the voting. As many as 323 members are present in the House.

The voting system in Lok Sabha.  

LOK SABHA | 9:28 P.M.

Minister of Social Justice Thawar Chand Gehlot responds. He says the Prime Minister said his government was for the poor and today, we are fulfilling our promise.

The Bill proposes to amend Article 15 with a subsection Article 15 (6) to include the economically backward under the ambit of reservation. This Bill will stand the test of Supreme Court because we are amending the Constitution to provide reservation, he says.

There was a delay in bringing this Bill. We have brought it with good intent. He also says he discussed with the stakeholders before bringing the Bill.

He says the Bill will bridge the gap between the rich and the poor. On the definition of poor, Mr. Gehlot says it will be reviewed periodically and changed.

Mr. Gehlot says the Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana has generated over four crore employment.

LOK SABHA | 9:22 P.M.

Shashi Tharoor raises a Point of Order. He asks if the government can bring any Bill at any point of time?

Minister of Social Justice Thawar Chand Gehlot responds. His speech is paused to allow Ballari member Ugrappa to make his maiden speech.

Mr. Ugrappa says the government was sleeping like a Kumbakarna and has brought this Bill in the last minute. He points out there is no provision for economically backward in the Constitution. He also points out that the existing laws doesn’t mention about unaided institution. There is no adequate representation for women, he adds.

LOK SABHA | 9:15 P.M.

Hukmdev Narayan Yadav (BJP) says his long-pending dream will be fulfilled. A veteran socialist, Mr. Yadav recalls his interaction with socialist leaders who belonged to the Forward Classes but fought for the rights of the backward. He says these leaders would say, one day you must take care of the poor people in the savarnas.

Mr. Yadav targets Congress, says the party was against the backwards and downtrodden. Congress members object to it.

LOK SABHA | 9:05 P.M.

Kaushaendra Kumar (JD-U) says his party supports the Bill.

Prem Das Rai (SDF) say his party supports the Bill. He says social justice has been meted out to all people in Sikkim and that is why Pawan Kumar Chamling was won five constitutive times. He takes the opportunity to remind the government that Sikkim can become a tribal State and the right enjoyed by it prior to 1965 must be restored.

Rajesh Ranjan, the rebel RJD member, wonders what is the definition of poverty line. The beneficiary of this proposed Bill is anyone who earns less than Rs. eight lakh.

LOK SABHA | 9:00 P.M.

Asaduddin Owaisi (AIMIM) opposes the Bill for eight reasons: This is a fraud on Constitution and insult to Babasaheb Amedkar. Our Constitution doesn’t recognise economically-backward.

Have the savarnas ever faced untouchability, he asks. There is no empirical data to show the savarna people are backward. This is a burden to the States, he adds.

What will happen to the recently passed reservation in Telangana and Maharashtra, he asks.

This will be struck down by the court, he asserts.

LOK SABHA | 8:50 P.M.

Anupriya Patel wants to know if the there is a cap on the reservation, so that the law is not misused. Ms. Patel, a minister in the Narendra Modi government, speaks about rising unemployment.

Dushyant Chautala (INLD) says reservations are a lollipop, when the youth are searching for jobs. He asks the government to make the caste census data public.

Ramdas Athawale recites a poetry praising the Bill and Narendra Modi.

LOK SABHA | 8:40 P.M.

N.K. Premachandran (RSP) says he supports the Bill. He however claims the Bill is brought for electoral purposes. Why the House is not taken into confidence before bringing in such an historic Bill, he asks. He points out that every Constitutional Amendment Bill was passed after thorough scrutiny.

After the neo-liberal economic policy, the job opportunities has been coming down. What is the point of reservation when there is no jobs, he asks.

LOK SABHA | 8:35 P.M.

E.T. Mohammad Basheer (IUML) says the real objective of the Bill to fish in the troubled waters. The purpose of reservation is to bridge the gap between upper and lower castes. Poverty alleviation is the work of the government. You are reducing the merit quota with this Bill. He seeks the Ministry to withdraw the Bill.

LOK SABHA | 8:29 P.M.

Nand Kumar Singh Chauhan (BJP) says the children of poor parents would ask their parents if it was their mistake for being born in a savarna caste. In response to Mr. Hooda, Mr. Chauhan says you may have the idea but didn’t have the intent to help the poor.

LOK SABHA | 8:20 P.M.

Deepender Hooda (Congress) questions the way the Bill was brought in the House. He doubts if there will be any beneficiary of the scheme as there will be little time in implement it. He says the Congress government in Haryana brought a similar Bill in the state in 2013. It was BJP who opposed it, he claims.

Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, Mr. Hooda says and adds BJP has only copied their idea.

LOK SABHA | 8:10 P.M.

Upendra Kushwaha (RLSP) says it is his maiden speech. Mr. Kushwaha was a former Minister of State. He quit the NDA recently and gave up his ministership. He says the poor farm labourers would blame me for supporting reservation. He says now those poor farmers wouldn’t blame him now. He also adds now the unemployed will blame the government for not providing jobs.

He also seeks an all India Judicial Services and reservation in judiciary too. He suggests the Winter Session be extended for two more days, so that amendments can be moved in the Bill.

LOK SABHA | 8 P.M.

Bhagwant Mann of the AAP says that if the BJP is serious about the poor, they would have brought this Bill in the first day of the first session, and not in the last day of the last session. He also says that the Prime Minister will, in a rally very soon, say that he got the Bill passed.

Mr. Mann warns the Bill will dilute the existing reservation norms.

LOK SABHA | 7.35 P.M.

Dharmendra Yadav of the SP says that there existing vacancies which need to be filled, and urges the government to fill those first. He also wants the reservation to extend to 100%.

Mahendra Nath Pandey of the BJP supports the Bill. Jay Prakash Narayan Yadav of the RJD also raises the issues of people under already reserved categories not getting jobs.

Slogans become louder in the House as Nishikant Dubey of the BJP rises to speak. He says our culture is above caste.

LOK SABHA | 7.25 P.M.

Supriya Sule (NCP) says she welcomes the Bill, but asks why it has been hurried through the House. She says the Bill supports the poor. She expresses surprise at Ram Vilas Paswan’s remark.

She also seeks clarification from Mr. Jaitley too. He had said that approval of States are not needed for Articles related to fundamental rights.

She says she hopes this is not a political gimmick to bring the Prime Minister back to power. She asks about the existing reservation present in States. She also asks where jobs will be created.

LOK SABHA | 7.15 P.M.

Jitendra Choudhury (CPI-M) says the Left is in-principle not opposing the Bill, but opposes the way the Bill was introduced in the last minute.

In the past, if these kind of Bills are taken up, the party in power discusses with all stakeholders. But this has been done hastily, he says.

Mr. Choudhury poses some questions. Where are the jobs? He cites the demographics of Tripura, stating that OBCs could not get reservation because of the 50% cap as given by the Supreme Court. He says the Bill needs to be made more comprehensive. He says it needs to be deferred to the JPC.

LOK SABHA | 7.00 P.M.

BJD supports the Bill

Bhartruhari Mahtab (BJD) says this House is bereft of moving any amendments to the Bill, by the manner in which the Bill was introduced today. He says this shouldn’t be the practice. Here is something to be done in posterity. Similar efforts were being considered since the seventies, he says.

Reservation is not new in this country. Since 1932, four main instances of having affirmative action happened. The Poona Pact was the first of it. He points out that the Brahmin members constituted 45 per cent in the Constituent Assembly, while the SC were only four per cent. Mr Mahtab takes the House through the various steps taken for reservation.

Mr. Mahtab says the Bill must be supported in full measure. The poor people are in need of education, services and employment, irrespective of their caste. He recalls how the Congress tried to introduce such a reservation, but couldn’t pass the test of law.

The economic criteria will not be the same as it is today. A family may progress or come down in the economic strata. How will you identify the person, the Bill doesn’t mention these. Does the poor have a caste, Mr. Mahtab says quoting Biju Patnaik’s famous retort.

LOK SABHA | 6.40 P.M.

Union Minister Ram Vilas Paswan (LJP) welcomes the Bill. He lauds the government for bringing amendments to the SC/ST Act to safeguard the rights of the community. He lists out the initiatives of the government on social justice, and claims the opposition is unnecessarily terming the government is anti-Dalit.

Mr. Paswan says the Bill will help the “upper caste” people who are economically backward. He says the country is more important than caste. V.P. Singh was a Rajput, but he brought social justice by implementing the Mandal Commission report. Similarly everyone must support the economically downtrodden, he adds.

He says it is possible that people who were rich during the British Rule are poor now and they must not be left behind in development.

People who were opposing reservation are now part of this 10 per cent reservation. So now, they won’t oppose reservation, he adds. Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas is complete now, he declares.

He also suggests the reservation must be brought under Ninth Schedule. He also suggests there must be reservation in private sector and Indian Judicial Services too. He says he is confident that when Narendra Modi becomes PM again, his demands will be fulfilled.

LOK SABHA | 6.30 P.M.

TRS member Jithender Reddy says his party supports the Bill. This Bill proves that caste-based and economic exploitations are different and not linked. He blames the present and erstwhile governments for the economic backwardness. He says the Congress and BJP were only thinking about settling scores between them and not about the people.

Taking the example of Telangana, whose demography changed after bifurcation, Mr. Reddy says the TRS government wanted to bring reservation for economically backward Muslims. The union government is opposing it, he says. Rights of reservation must be be given to the State, he adds.

He suggests some amendments.

LOK SABHA | 6.20 P.M.

Anandrao Adsul (Shiv Sena) says his party supports the Bill. He says a large number of people (excluding the SC, ST and OBC) are backward educationally, socially and economically. This Bill is just a beginning. Many caste groups are demanding reservation. The rationale behind these demands was that reservation will bring development to their community.

Mr. Adsul wonders why the Bill was brought at the fag end of the term. Better late than never, he adds. He lauds Mr. Jaitley’s response on the Bill. He also agrees with K.V. Thomas on demonetisation. He says many people lost their jobs due to demonetisation. Those who were employed also lost employment due to government’s policies, he adds.

LOK SABHA | 6.10 P.M.

How will you bring reservation when there are no jobs, asks Sudip Bandyopadhyay

Sudip Bandyopadhyay (TMC) says the Bill was not discussed during the Business Advisory Committee meet.

Will the Bill actually solve the problem of unemployment or this is just a political gimmick, he wonders. There over 85,000 vacancies in the Railways. Over 25 millions have applied for these jobs, Mr. Bandyopadhyay says to highlight the unemployment scenario.

He also wonders why the Women’s Reservation Bill was not taken up in the same priority. He demands a White Paper on unemployment. We are hesitantly supporting the Bill with an expectation that the government will take care of the unemployed youth, he says ending his speech.

LOK SABHA | 6.00 P.M.

Reservation can be only based on caste and not on economy, says Thambi Durai in Lok Sabha

Thambi Durai, Deputy Speaker, speaks. He says he is the lone person to speak on behalf of AIADMK. (Most AIADMK members have been suspended for unruly behaviour)

“Why do we need reservation? Our party believes in social justice. I am a Shudra. As a Shudra, we suffered a lot and this is why the Dravidian movement fought for reservation.”

The economically weaker section are already getting the benefits of several programmes. He lists out several schemes available for the economically deprived. Why do need a separate reservation? Does this mean your existing programmes are not properly implemented, he says.

He takes the example of B.R. Ambedkar. Ambedkar was highly-educated. Still he was still humiliated based on his caste. That is why the forefathers of our Constitution took social justice as a criteria and not economy as a criteria, he says.

You enhance reservation to 70 per cent, if you want. He cites the Tamil Nadu example where 69 per cent reservation is being implemented.

Untouchability is still practiced here. Two-tumbler policy is still practiced in villages. Reservation should continue till castiesm exists.

The PM promised Rs. 15 lakh in each account. Had he implemented it, there would be no need for this Bill, Mr. Thambi Durai says.

A person who is poor today, may earn money and become rich. How will you implement this. This is only going to increase corruption. People may pay bribe and get a certificate that he/she is poor, he says.

LOK SABHA | 5.35 P.M.

Finance Minister Arun Jaitley says most political parties in their election manifesto mentioned about giving reservation to unreserved poor. But they are hiding behind the law, he says.

Mr. Jaitley says the approval of States are not needed for Articles related to fundamental rights. He also says the phraseology is the same as caste-based reservation. He says we must think above politics in this issue.

“Just as equals cannot be treated unequally, unequals cannot be treated equally,” Mr. Jaitley says. The reservation or affirmative action was brought in to uplift those who were denied equality on the basis of birth, Mr. Jaitley says. He also points out the same way people who are economically deprived are also lagging behind and the government wants to uplift them.

Quoting the Supreme Court judgment, Mr. Jaitley says caste is the best determinant of backwardness. Similarly the 50 per cent cap on reservation was also based on Article 16(4). We want to amend Articles 15 and 16 so that the legal hurdles in providing economic-based reservation is taken care of.

“If you are supporting the Bill, don’t be grudging about it,” he says. He reads the election manifesto of Congress promising reservation for the poor. Some members object to it.

LOK SABHA | 5.20 P.M.

K.V. Thomas (Congress) says the Cabinet approved the Bill only yesterday and today, the Bill is being discussed. It is an important decision and I think the government is hasty in bringing the Bill. Quoting media reports, Mr. Thomas says this appears to be a pre-poll jumla. It shouldn’t be a tamasha, he says.

In 1991, when the Narasimha Rao government tried to bring a similar legislation, it was legally curtailed by the Supreme Court. Mr. Thomas points out the parliamentary process to pass a Constitutional Amendment and says it cannot be passed in a hurry.

The government is making one mistakes after another, he says pointing out the demonetisation and GST amendments.

When the social reservations are limited to aided institution, this one includes unaided ones too. The Bill comes at a time when the unemployment rate is at 27-month high, he says.

Do you call those earning Rs. 63,000 per month as poor? he asks. The food security Bill has a different criteria to define the poor, he points out.

You are butchering Indian democracy, he says and adds there is no time even to read the Bill in full. I am not against the Bill, but the way you are doing it, your sincerity is being questioned, he says and suggests the Bill must be sent to JPC.

LOK SABHA | 5.10 P.M.

The House takes up The Constitution (One Hundred and Twenty-Fourth Amendment) Bill, 2019 for discussion. This amendment is to bring in 10% reservation for economically weaker sections of people in educational institutions and jobs.

Minister Thaawarchand Gehlot says the move is historic. Elaborating the need for this Bill, the minister points out that Private Members’ Bills were brought 21 times seeking such a reservation. He says former Prime Minister P.V. Narasimha Rao also was in favour of such a reservation.

While the Ministry tries to help the economically deprived through several schemes and scholarship, they are not adequate. He says Brahmins, Thakurs, Baniyas, Patels… and others  who donot come under the benefits of existing reservation will be benifitted. Members mention other castes, the Minister says, “Yes, all are included.”

Some members object to the introduction of the Bill, since it was not part of the Business Advisory Council meet. Speaker says she gave the permission to include it.

LOK SABHA | 5 P.M.

Rajnath Singh also quotes Dr. Manmohan Singh, who in his speech as Prime Minister in the Rajya Sabha on the persecution of religious minorities in the subcontinent, said that India should be more liberal in granting citizenship to those that seek refuge in India.

He ensures the people of Assam that the country will share in the State’s burden in the citizenship process. He says the Centre is open to talks with the State. He reiterates that Assam’s culture and liguistic identity will be protected.

He asks that the Bill be taken into consideration and passed.

The motion for consideration of the Bill is adopted. Clause-by-clause consideration is up now.

The Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2016, is passed by the Lok Sabha.

LOK SABHA | 4.40 P.M.

Meenakshi Lekhi of the BJP says the demographics of eastern India is changing because of illegal immigrants.

Sunil Kumar Singh, a Jharkhand BJP MP, asks what Communist origins are in India. He mentions the Nehru-Liaquat pact and asks the Opposition if they do not wish to protect it. He says India should protect religious minorities in Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh.

Home Minister Rajnath Singh rises to reply to Members’ comments. He appeals to the people of Assam and says that the customs, traditions, linguistics and culture will be protected by the Centre. He says that the burden of the Citizenship Bill will not fall only on Assam, but the entire country. The politicians of any country do not want religious persecution, he says. He also cites the Nehru-Liaquat pact, and the agreement between Indira Gandhi and Sheikh Mujibur Rehman.

Mr. Singh answers Saugata Roy’s question about majorities who have fled to India from persecution. He says India grants long-term visas to those belonging to religious majorities. He quotes Nehru: “We think also of our brothers and sisters who have been cut off from us by political boundaries and who unhappily cannot share at present in the freedom that has come. They are of us and will remain of us whatever may happen, and we shall be sharers in their good and ill fortune alike.”

He then answers Bhatruhari Mahtab’s question about why Bangladesh is included in this Bill. Mr. Singh says religious minorities are percuted in Bangladesh too. He says those who get citizenship can live and work anywhere in India, not just Assam.

He also answers Badruddin Ajmal, who said that this bill discriminates based on religion. Mr. Singh replies that this is in keeping with the fundamental right to practise religion as given in the Constitution. Mr. Singh says that Christians living in Afghanistan, Pakistan and Bangladesh will also be granted citizenship.

LOK SABHA | 4.25 PM

Jay Prakash Narayan Yadav (RJD) opposes the Bill, saying people cannot be discriminated in the name of religion. On one hand you claim those not mentioned in the NRC are migrants and want them to leave the country, but now you are granting them citizenship, he says. He uses the opportunity to insist on an JPC probe into the Rafale deal.

Asaduddin Owaisi (AIMIM) says that the govt’s ideology and dog whistle politics has led them to bring the Bill. “You are giving citizenship on the basis of the religion. You can’t run India like Israel. This Govt is making a mistake and will have to pay for it.”

Pappu Yadav (RJD) says the Bill sends very dangerous signals. “Are Muslims citizens of India?”

LOK SABHA | 4.15 PM

Bijoya Chakravarty (BJP) says Assam witnessed large scale migration. Even today, we are not able to find out who these illegal migrants are. Ms. Bijoya claims the indigenous people are worst affected due to migration and infiltration. She claims the demography of Assam has changed over the years due to infiltration. She claims the immigrants have money and are able to buy land, but poor indigenous  population is losing out. At this rate it will be difficult to find Assamese in Assam, she says.

She also claims the population control is dwindling the Hindu population in Assam. But the illegal migrants bear many children, she adds. When a member objects to it, she says she can even take names.

This Bill is a must for Assamese people. Congress never did anything in 34 years to implement the Assam Accord, she says. She accuses the Congress of indulging in vote bank politics.

LOK SABHA | 4.10 PM

P.K. Kunhalikutty (IUML) says while the Home Ministry is saying people are persecuted in neighbouring countries in the name of religion, the Ministry is doing the same in India through this Bill. Any opportunity to divide the people, you are bringing it, Mr. Kunhalikutty accuses the government.

He also take potshots over the recently introduced Bill to give reservation to economically-backward people.

The Bill will not pass legal scrutiny, he opines. The Assam Accord mentions that people of undivided India, won’t be granted citizenship after Partition. This is clearly a violation, he says.

Your jumlas won’t work, he tells BJP.

LOK SABHA | 4.00 PM

Badruddin Ajmal (AIDUF) says he rejects the Bill. He demands the government to withdraw the Bill. The AIDUF is an Assam-based political party. The Bill has evoked strong protests in Assam. The AGP, another Assam party is also opposing the Bill.

He says the Bill is unconstitutional since we don’t discriminate on the basis of religion.

You should feel the pain of the Assamese People. Assam is in turmoil. Both Assamese and Bengalis are my brothers. Their sentiments have to be respected, Mr. Ajmal says.

You may have the majority to pass the Bill. Have you delivered the basic facilities to all Indians that you want to grant citizenship to foreign nationals, Mr. Ajmal asks.

The NRC exercise was the Supreme Court’s decision, not the BJP. The NRC has in fact, made it clear that claims of Bangladeshi Muslim infiltration were all false. We are grateful to the Supreme Court for the NRC, Mr. Ajmal says.

This Bill is against the Constitution and the Assam accord, and hence we are opposing it, he says.

LOK SABHA | 3.55 PM

Mulayam Singh Yadav (SP) is the next Speaker. He says we should learn how to develop the nation from the United States. He talks about how to develop the nation and rein in unemployment.

LOK SABHA | 3.45 PM

CPI member Mohammed Salim speaks about the contribution of Bengal community in India’s freedom struggle, how Bengalis are living in several parts of the country and not just in West Bengal. He comes down heavily on comments that Bengalis in Assam could be Bangladeshis. He claims the RSS and the BJP were not part of the freedom struggle. Treasury Bench oppose to it.

Mr. Salim continues to speak in Bengali. He says the BJP’s manifesto doesn’t speak about other minorities in the neighbouring countries, but is concerned only on Hindus. He says if the country is being divided on the basis of language and religion, it will only tear the country apart.

He claims the government is continuing the RSS’ unfinished agenda of Partition. You want to victimise the Bengali Muslim, says Mr. Salim.

Don’t create another Israel, warns Mr. Salim.

LOK SABHA | 3.10 PM

Bhartruhari Mahtab, BJD, Cuttack, speaks, “According to our law, citizenship is got by birth, by application. I am of the opinion that minorities of other countries. Where would they go other than India? There are no options for minorities.” 

LOK SABHA | 2:10 PM

Rajnath Singh discusses Citizenship Amendment Bill, 2019, as reported  by the Joint Committee, says, “A lot of misconception is being created regarding the Bill in Assam and in other parts of north-east region. We all know about the problems Assam has been facing due to illegal migrants and the Bill addresses that.” He ensures that no one will face discrimination under the Bill.

LOK SABHA | 2:05 PM

The Lok Sabha passes The DNA Technology (Use and Application) Regulations Bill, 2018 as amended.

The Speaker congratulates everyone for letting the House function without disruption.

RAJYA SABHA | 2:00 PM

Rajya Sabha resumes ,however uproar continues;. House is adjourned till 2:21 pm.

LOK SABHA | 1:50 PM

Harsh Vardhan clarifies his stands on the privacy issue raised by the Opposition regarding the Bill.

He says: “For 10 years your government was in power and various ministers in charge, no one ever thought of addressing these issues. It’s the not the responsibility of the Bill to set up laboratory. The money mentioned in the Bill is meant for isn’t for infrastructure.

“We ensure to take care of the issues even missed in the Bill, he adds. I thank all members who paid attention and discussed the Bill but I assure you the government’s attention is pure and the idea is to regulate the procedure as anyway DNA has been tested.”

The Bill is being considered.

LOK SABHA | 1:15 PM

Kalyan Banerjee of AITC speaks:

For a long time unsecured system has been in function to collect DNA. People have been insecure and this Bill should have been introduced long ago.

LOK SABHA | 12:50 PM

Dr. Shashi Tharoor discusses the DNA Bill, raises 13 objections.

“In the name of helping people, the devil lies in details. I have 13 objections. It’s against right to privacy. We need a robust Data Protection Law to begin with, so that we have a foundation. This government is going on passing one bill after another with the basic and main law in place.

“There are serious concern, the government has not thought it through. They have already pushed people to connect Aadhhar to phone and private banks, until Supreme Court stops them. Now they have created another Bill of the similar kind which will invoke surveillance. The Bill fails to provide effective consent; the consent is not even defined in the Bill. It doesn’t provide details on how can DNA sample be stored in the bank for lifetime.

There is no regulation of how DNA laboratory will collect and store the data. The money allotted is irresponsible, needs revision. The Minister should reconsider the objections raised by us and should send it to a standing committee. Now you are in power tomorrow someone else will be, who might misuse the data stored.”

LOK SABHA | 12:35 PM

Harsh Vardhan, Science and Technology Minister, speaks about the DNA Technology Regulation Bill :

This has been long awaited Bill. The inception of it took place in 2003, during the time of Murli Manohar Joshi. Even when the Opposition was in power, this has been discussed and importance of it has been recognised by everyone.

“For many agencies and departments this Bill will ensure easy and smooth work. We have ensured data privacy and security because it deals with DNA and data bank. The information stored in the bank will not reveal any facial feature, racial data.”

The minister mentions different other countries who already have a law in process mentions how even Bangladesh has a law in place. Concludes saying, “let’s discuss if you want to. It’s been 15 years and country awaits it.”

LOK SABHA | 12:25 PM

Shashi Tharoor, opposes the Bill says it’s “undemocratic act”.

“Member of Parliament should be given a Bill way ahead but with this (Bill) it has been surreptitiously introduced here, as pointed out by other members. Where is the two-day notice and where is the special reason for such act? 10 Central Union Trade Unions have written to the ministry , can we please send the Bill to standing committee.” 

The Minister inroduces the Bill and says “six unions are in favour of the Bill and the on-going strike mentioned by the Opposition I believe has no affect.”

LOK SABHA | 12:15 PM

The Trade Union (Amendment) Bill is being introduced.

Premachandran of RSP opposes the Bill, asks the government how can the trade union be recognised. The criteria and rules are mentioned in the Parliament. He further mentions how the trade unions has called for the on-going strike.

A Sampath of CPI-M says “you are killing the public sector. The government has introduced the Bill only on the last day of session. What is your responsibility towards the working class?”  N.B. Rajesh of CPI-M also opposes the Bill.

Thawarchand Gehlot introduces the 124th Constitution Amendment to provide 10 per cent reservation for economically weaker sections.

LOK SABHA | 12: 05 PM

“There have been complaints against members of DDA and there have been chargesheet against people associated with such complaints,” says Hardeep Singh of Housing and Urban Affairs. “The DDA needs digitisation to know the number of acres of land under control.”

The question hour gets over. Now members to lay down papers.

LOK SABHA | 11:55 AM

BJP’s Kiron Anupam Kher raises the issue of deployment of excess armed forces in the area.

MoS Kiren Rijiju replies: “The deployment is done according to the demand sought by the State government.”

What is the number of suicide taken place in armed force becuase of lack of leave?, asks Farooq Abdullah.

“There are number of cases have different reasons. However teh basic needs have been taken care of by the government. I would like to point out that the satisfaction level of the jawans have increased over the years,” Mr. Rijiju replies.

LOK SABHA | 11:45 AM

“Food precessing sector needs further development,” says Harsimrat Kaur Badal. Mention open ended scheme created by the government which helps farmers to set up storage also.

“Special 500 crore has been allocated for processing to vegetables that includes – tomatto, onion and potato. We want to focus the farmers to concentrate on further processing rotten begetablesto enusre minimal wastage,: she adds.

How many of these (40) food processing units are functioning right now? Asks a member.

15 units are operational and three more going to operational in a month, she replies. These parks will create 5 lakh jobs and lakh of

We are having problem with West Bengal. The Jangipur unit is pretty much dead because there is no support of teh government. Please do help your farmers avail the benefits, she asks the State government.

LOK SABHA | 11:15 AM

Five national sports centre have been created for handicapped children.

Aparupa Poddar of AITC asks the sports minister if the government has plan to create better facilities for handicaped sports enthusiasts in Bengal.

The minister of Social Justice and Empowerment says “we have been doing many important things, you should praise us, given nothing has been done for them before.”

Lok Sabha begins with question hours.