Parliament Live Updates: Lok Sabha passes Data Protection Bill, Rajya Sabha takes up Delhi Services Bill for discussion

Minister of State for Science and Technology, Dr Jitendra Singh, on Friday introduced the Anusandhan National Research Foundation Bill, 2023, for consideration in the Lok Sabha.

Introducing the Bill in the House, Singh said, 'Those who have planned to skip the proceedings today will regret it later since this Bill is being brought in to the Parliament for discussion for the first time in 75 years, and I don't think this kind of Bill will be tabled in the next 75 years. It is history in making.'

Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Raghav Chadha, while addressing the Rajya Sabha, as the House took up a discussion on the Delhi services bill, called it 'unconstitutional' and 'illegal'.

The Lok Sabha on Monday passed The Digital Personal Data Protection Bill, 2023.

With the Rajya Sabha taking up a discussion on the Delhi services bill, Congress leader Abhishek Manu Singhvi called the Bill “completely undemocratic”. He stated that the Bill does not offer even a “token diarchy of powers between the chief minister and the lieutenant governor”. He added that the Bill turns civil services into “dictatorial civil services”.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) launched a scathing attack on the Congress on Monday for 'defending' the online news portal NewsClick.

The ruling party called the website a “dangerous tool of the Communist Party of China (CPC)” that aims to promote China’s political agenda across the world. This follows an investigation by the US daily The New York Times, which linked NewsClick to an individual named Neville Roy Singham. Singham, the investigation said, had received funding from the Communist Party of China to promote its political agenda across the world.

The BJP raised the matter in Parliament on Monday with party MP Nishikant Dubey saying, “Money from China came into NewsClick. An environment was created against the government using Chinese funds.”

Posting a clip of his speech in Lok Sabha on social media, Dubey said, “The Congress party's policy is to break India… the Election Commission should investigate the Chinese funding of the Congress party and close the Congress's shop.”

Reacting to Rahul Gandhi's reinstatement as a Lok Sabha MP, BJP leader and Rajya Sabha Member Sushil Modi said that the Congress leader is still not “blame-free”. 

“He (Rahul Gandhi) is still not 'blame free', only his conviction has been stayed. His appeal is still pending in court…This is a common procedure…The Supreme Court has also said that 'it (Rahul Gandhi's comment) was not in good taste'. The court has made such strong remarks about Rahul Gandhi…The restoration of membership will not affect the health of Congress,” he said.

The Lok Sabha was adjourned till 2 pm on Monday, shortly after reconvening at noon. The House saw ruckus as BJP discussed the NewsClick controversy.

The noon session also saw the return of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi as MP from Wayanad, hours after the Lok Sabha Secretariat reinstated him, following a stay on his conviction in a criminal defamation case by the Supreme Court.

Leader of Congress in Lok Sabha, Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury has written a letter to LS Speaker Om Birla regarding BJP MP Nishikant Dubey's comments in Lok Sabha today

“We demand under Rule 380 that his remarks be expunged in full and that an inquiry be conducted into how such an allegation was permitted to be raised on the record,” writes Chowdhury.

The proceedings of the Lok Sabha has been adjourned till 2 pm.

Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar revoked the suspension of Congress MP Rajani Patil from House after a motion in the House.

The Rajya Sabha has been adjourned till 2 pm amid ruckus.

The Lok Sabha has been adjourned till 12 noon.

The Lok Sabha Speaker, Om Birla, on Monday, restored Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's membership as an MP in the Parliament. The move comes a few days after the Supreme Court stayed his conviction in the 'Modi surname' defamation case.

On Delhi Services Bill, which is likely to be tabled in Rajya Sabha today, Shiv Sena (UBT) faction MP Sanjay Raut said, “This bill is an attack on the federal structure of India. During the elections, they (BJP) had said that they will give statehood to Delhi but lost the election to Arvind Kejriwal. Kejriwal's govt is doing good work in various fields including education and health. They are jealous… We will oppose it in the Rajya Sabha.” (ANI)

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has issued a three-line whip for all its Rajya Sabha MPs to be present in the House on August 7 and August 8.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah will move the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (Amendment) Bill, 2023, in Rajya Sabha today, August 7.

As the Supreme Court paused Rahul Gandhi's conviction in a defamation case last week, all eyes will be on the Lok Sabha secretariat that will formally begin the process to restore the Congress leader's MP status, which will pave his return to Parliament.

The controversial Delhi Services Bill will be in Rajya Sabha today for discussion and vote. Though bitterly resisted by the Opposition, it is expected to have a smooth sailing, given the support from Naveen Patnaik's BJD and Andhra's YSR Congress.