Parliament highlights: SPG Bill, UT merger, FM's views on economy, and more

Parliament Winter Session 2019: In the Rajya Sabha, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said that growth in India may have come down, but the country is not facing recession

2:23 PM

Prohibition of Electronic Cigarettes Bill, 2019 passed by Lok Sabha

The Prohibition of Electronic Cigarettes (Production, Manufacture, Import, Export, Transport, Sale, Distribution, Storage and Advertisement) Bill, 2019 has been passed by Lok Sabha.

1:54 PM

Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MOSPI) tells Lok Sabha that a total of 1608 projects are being monitored by MOSPI as of July 1

1:52 PM

Attempts are being made by Pakistan based terrorists to reactivate their camp in Balakot: MoS Home GK Reddy

MoS Home GK Reddy in Rajya Sabha: Inputs indicate that attempts are being made by Pakistan based terrorists to reactivate their camp in Balakot and restart their religious and Jihadi indoctrination courses against India. Indian govt committed to take steps to protect borders.

1:39 PM

Union Minister for Housing & Urban Affairs Hardeep Singh Puri in Rajya Sabha: So far as slums are concerned, figures that are being made available are those for which we don't bear any responsibility because land is state subject and each state government will have those figures.

1:39 PM

Aim to build 6 million individual household toilets in urban areas: Hardeep Singh Puri

Union Minister for Housing & Urban Affairs Hardeep Singh Puri in Rajya Sabha: We had a target to build 6 million individual household toilets in urban areas. As against the target we have already built more than 6.7 million toilets.

1:37 PM

Union Civil Aviation Minister HS Puri: If we don't privatise Air India, where will we get the money from to operate it? Right now, Air India is a first class asset & we will get bidders if we sell it. And if we take ideological positions then it will be difficult to run it.

1:37 PM

1:09 PM

Aviation Minister speaks on Air India in the Parliament

Aviation Minister in Parliament: Alternative mechanism on Air India has taken some decisions. Issue of inviting bids to arise only after process completion

1:01 PM

Terrorist incidents are close to nil in Kashmir after abrogation of Article 370, says Rajnath Singh

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh answering to Congress MP S Kodikunnil on J&K: Security forces and police are working in coordination and taking appropriate action. Terrorist incidents are close to nil in Kashmir after abrogation of Article 370. Normalcy is fast returning to J&K

12:49 PM

Govt is aware of the shortcomings: Rao Inderjit Singh responds to Tharoor on GDP data

Rao Inderjit Singh, MoS(Ind), Statistics and Programme Implementation in Lok Sabha replying to Congress MP Shashi Tharoor: Govt is aware of the shortcomings. It is a continuous process and we are trying to upgrade it. We will be happy to have any inputs.

12:47 PM

Congress raises issue of delayed GST compensation payment to states

The Congress on Wednesday raised in Rajya Sabha the issue of the Centre delaying payment of compensation to states for revenue shortfall in the Goods and Services Tax (GST) since August, saying this may lead to stoppage of development work and payments to employees.

 

Raising the issue through a Zero Hour mention, Pratap Singh Bajwa (Cong) said states gave up the right to levy taxes in the interest of 'one-nation-one-tax' regime of GST.

 

When the GST subsumed 17 different central and state levies in July 2017, states were assured that they will be compensated for any loss of revenue vis a vis pre-GST position, for the first five years of the introduction of GST.

 

Bajwa said initially the compensation was to be paid on a monthly basis and later once in two months.

 

But the compensation for August, September and October has been pending and it is end November with no sight of when it will be paid, he said.

 

Punjab, he said, is to receive Rs 2,100 crore in GST compensation and together with Rs 2,000 crore arrears its total dues are Rs 4,100 crore.

 

Delays in payment is "grossly unfair" for small states as it may "stall development work and payment of pensions," he said.

12:29 PM

There are terrorist attacks in many parts of Kashmir. Where is normalcy is J&K?: Congress MP in Lok Sabha

Congress MP S Kodikunnil in Lok Sabha: There are terrorist attacks in many parts of Jammu & Kashmir. Where is normalcy is J&K? Government is misleading the House. 

Government should make a statement.

 

12:28 PM

Govt must bring white paper on status of Indian economy: Sitaram Yechury

12:18 PM

The fact is that we're facing a crisis in terms of statistical credibility worldwide, says Tharoor

Congress MP Shashi Tharoor during Question Hour in Lok Sabha: The fact is that we're facing a crisis in terms of statistical credibility worldwide. The constant revision of numbers by govt. For eg, - govt's own Chief Economic Advisor questioning revision of GDP growth from 6.7% to 8.2%

12:08 PM

Our economic success depends on credible numbers: Tharoor in Lok Sabha

Congress MP Shashi Tharoor in Lok Sabha: Would the Govt agree to having a review by a committee of independent experts to look into the processes being followed & sources used in gathering data in our country? Our economic success depends on credible numbers.