The Budget Session of the Parliament of India resumes on Wednesday after a break for Holi. In today’s agenda are discussions on Demands for Grants for various ministries, and a discussion on Delhi violence.
Rajya Sabha witnessed hardly any business as Opposition insisted on debate on Delhi violence, while Treasury Bench wanted to take up the Vivad Se Vishwas Bill.
Here are the latest updates:
Lok Sabha | 5.20 pm
Lok Sabha | 5.10 pm
₹25,000 crore economic loss in Delhi riots, says BSP MP
Ritesh Pandey (BSP) points out that an economic loss worth ₹25,000 crore was estimated in Delhi riots. The Central government could have taken necessary steps to prevent the riots but they failed.
Lok Sabha | 5.00 pm
The govt. must take steps to raise the morale of the minorities, says Pinaki Mishra
Pinaki Mishra (BJD) says lots of damages taking place in terms of livelihood. Minority areas are getting affected. We do support CAA but the Home Minister should also understand there is some sort of problem with this country, since octogenarian women are staging protest in Shaheen Bagh.
The government must take steps to raise the morale of the minorities, he adds.
Lok Sabha | 4.45 pm
De-hyphenate CAA and NRC, says JD-U
Rajiv Ranjan Singh (JD-U) says it is the responsibility of India to take care of minorities facing persecution in Pakistan and Bangladesh. There is a fear among Indian minorities over the Act and it must be stopped instead of flaring up.
The Prime Minister had clearly said there is no plan for NRC.
Mr. Singh targets the Congress, accuses the party of changing its stance often.
Lok Sabha | 4.30 pm
Was Delhi riots a conspiracy, asks Vinayak Raut
Vinayak Raut (Shiv Sena) says rioters burnt the northeast Delhi at a time when U.S. President was in India.
He wonders if all intelligence and enforcement agencies failed in controlling the situation.
After the CAA was enacted, several protests came up. Even in Maharashtra such protests erupted, but the State Chief Minister spoke with the minority members and assured them NRC would not be implemented. Maharashtra is peaceful. Why this wasn’t possible in Delhi, he wonders.
Mr. Raut claims it could be a conspiracy to dent the image of India at a time when US President was in India.
Lok Sabha | 4.25 pm
V. Gita Vishwanath (YSRCP) says she condemns the incident. Our party strongly believes that there is no place for religious intolerance in a large democracy like India. She seeks compensation for victims. People who have lost precious documents should be given back to them, she says.
Ms. Gita emphasises the need for preserving the secular fabric of India. We haven’t invaded any country. This is the only country where Jews were never discriminated. We are sheltering the Dalai Lama. Gautam Buddha, Mahavira, Ramanujar, Kabirdas or Sufi saints, all preached unity and harmony, she says.
Lok Sabha | 4.15 pm
Sougata Roy calls Meenakshi Lekhi ‘Devil’s Advocate’ for supporting Kapil Mishra
Sougata Roy (AITC) says Ms. Lekhi’s speech can be termed as hate speech. He despises her for supporting Kapil Mishra. She is a Devil’s Advocate, he says.
Repeating what Mamata Banerjee said, he says Delhi riots were a planned genocide. He lists the events, which he claims led to the riots. First students were attacked, BJP leaders made provocative remarks, women protesting in Shaheen Bagh were abused, Anurag Thakur chanted Goli Maro, Home Minister spoke about “current in Shaheen Bagh”, Kapil Mishra gave ultimatum, then riot started, he says.
Mr. Shah was in Motera Stadium welcoming U.S. President Donald Trump, when five people were killed in Delhi, he says.
Mr. Roy points out the first meeting with Home Minister and Delhi CM happened the next day, not on the day riots began. Ajit Doval should be in Kashmir, why is he looking after simple law and order situation, he asks.
We haven’t forgotten Naroda Patiya. I feel bad standing face to face with Amit Shah. You are still young. If you acknowledge your failure and seek remedy otherwise you will remain as the man who could control riots barely 10 km from your home, he says.
Lok Sabha | 4.10 pm
DMK seeks judicial inquiry into Delhi riots
T.R. Baalu explains why they are opposed to CAA-NPR-NRC. Where is personal liberty, he asks reading out the new questions in National Population Register. He says people in his constituency are also protesting against it.
Why don’t you meet the anti-CAA protestors? They are our kith and kin, he says.
The Union government should compensate the families of the deceased. All the accused should be booked. There should be a judicial inquiry, he says.
Lok Sabha | 4.00 pm
Paradoxical situation prevails in Delhi: Baalu
DMK leader T.R. Baalu points out that Delhi violence was discussed in U.K. Parliament, Iran, Indonesia, Turkey and Malaysia.
A paradoxical situation prevails in Delhi. Shaheen Bagh is observing dharna for the 88th day peacefully without any violence. But elsewhere, in