Parliament special session Highlights: The five-day-long special session of Parliament began on Monday amid intense speculation about whether the government will make any surprise moves. The government has listed eight bills to consider during this session, including a bill to bring changes in the selection of Election Commissioners.
On the first day, the session saw a discussion on the ‘Parliamentary Journey’ spanning 75 years. The discussion on 75 years of Parliament was opened by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the Lok Sabha and BJP’s senior leader Piyush Goyal in the Rajya Sabha. Additionally, the session will witness the relocation of Parliament proceedings to the new building on Tuesday.
Parliament Special Session Live Updates: Eight bills to be listed; 'India@75' special Parliament session begins. Stay tuned to financialexpress.com for all the latest updates
Speaking at the special session of the Parliament which started today, Union Minister and Leader of the House in Rajya Sabha Piyush Goyal called for making India a "corruption-free and developed nation".
He also recalled the contributions of various Members of the House over the years. Goyal further urged everyone to take steps to advance women's empowerment in the country.
(With PTI inputs)
The All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF) MP Badruddin Ajmal on Monday said that his party will support the women's reservation bill, and that "it should definitely be brought".
Speaking about leaving the old Parliament building, Congress MP Shashi Tharoor said it is full of memories and history.
"It will be a sad moment. Let's hope that the new building has better facilities, new technology and more convenience for the members of the Parliament...But still, it is always an emotional moment to leave an institution that is so full of history and memories... We were all a bit confused as to why it was necessary because, many many ways, a lot of bills they have been talking about could have been introduced later. But it is now becoming clear the government wanted to make a special moment out of shifting from one building to another. They have tried to do it in a special way. We can understand the objective there," Tharoor said.
Congress's Mallikarjun Kharge brought up the Manipur issue in his speech in Rajya Sabha during the special session of Parliament, criticizing the Prime Minister for his foreign trips but not visiting Manipur. He alleged that the opposition wanted a debate during the last session, but the Deputy Chairperson intervened, expressing support for the debate, yet claiming that the opposition did not allow it to take place.
Prime Minister Modi said that the old Parliament building has witnessed history in the making and has the soul of India and democracy in it, as he recalled the iconic speeches by Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru and Atal Bihari Vajpayee. "Pandit Nehru's "stroke of the midnight hour" (speech) and Atal Bihari Vajpayee's statement -- "Sarkaare aayengi jayengi, lekin desh rehna chahiye" -- will reverberate here forever. When this Parliament lost three serving PMs -- Nehru ji, Shastri ji and Indira ji -- they were given fitting tribute here," the PM said.
During his address in the Lok Sabha during the special session of Parliament, Prime Minister Narendra Modi talked about the historic moments that defined the old building of the Parliament and recalled how it was here that Jawaharlal Nehru, the first PM of the country, gave his 'stroke of midnight' speech which laid the foundation for India as an independent country.
During the hour-long speech, Prime Minister Narendra Modi reminisced about all the major decisions the Parliament has seen, including the abrogation of Article 370, the introduction and implementation of One Rank One Pension, and the implementation of the Goods and Services Tax (GST).
As the special session of Parliament today marks the last session to be held in the old Parliament building, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that leaving the place would be an emotional moment for everyone, including the journalists of the country.
"There are journalists who have spent more time than us at this building, I am sure several journalists would feel bad leaving this building too.... But this place, even after years, will sustain the soul of India and democracy...," the PM said.
When I first entered this building as a member, I never imagined that I would get so much love from people.
"Emotional moment to bid goodbye to this building; many bitter-sweet memories have been associated with it," the PM said.
During his address in the Lok Sabha during the special session of Parliament, Prime Minister Narendra Modi lauded the success of the G20 Summit and said that it belonged to the "140 crore citizens of the country and not exclusively to one person or party."
During his address in the Lok Sabha during the special session of Parliament, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said it was India's power that ensured consensus on the G20 Declaration, which contained paragraphs on the Ukraine crisis.
During his Lok Sabha address, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that leaving the old Parliament building is an "emotional" moment and likened it to leaving an old home for a new one.
Earlier, he had called the old building a symbol of British colonialism and said that the sweat and hard work of Indians had gone into constructing it.
The House proceedings will move into the New Parliament building tomorrow.
Prime Minister Modi said that the last session in the old Parliament building will be a historic one.
"Before we shift to the new building (of Parliament), we are holding a historic session here. The decision to build this building was made by the British, but it was my countrymen whose blood and sweat was used to build it. In the past 75 years, everyone in this building has preserved the Indian culture. Even if we go to the new Parliament building, this building will continue to inspire upcoming generations," PM Modi said.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the Lok Sabha on the first day of the Special Session of Parliament.
"All members of the Aam Aadmi Party in the Rajya Sabha are hereby, informed that some very important issues will be taken up in the Rajya Sabha in the upcoming special session. In view of this, all members of the Aam Aadmi Party are requested to be positively present in the house from 11 am onwards until the adjournment of the House from September 18 to 22 and support the stand of the party," the three-line whip stated.
Union Ministers Amit Shah, Rajnath Singh and Pralhad Joshi reached the Parliament ahead of the special session. The Prime Minister is currently holding a meeting with these ministers as the session is set to commence with PM Modi's opening speech at 11 am.
Commenting on the shifting on Parliamentary procedures to new building, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla said this session marks the beginning of a new "journey to make democracy more prosperous".
"The 13th session of the Lok Sabha starting today is important. In this session, we will take inspiration from the glorious democratic history and start a new journey to make democracy more prosperous with new energy and confidence in the new Parliament House. The participation of 140 crore countrymen will make it more special," he said.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed mediapersons outside Parliament on Monday, ahead of the Special Session scheduled to begin at 11 am. He talked about the successful Moon mission, Chandrayaan-3, and the G20 Summit which concluded in the national capital earlier this month.
He emphasised India's role in becoming a leading voice for the Global South, particularly through the inclusion of the African Union in the G20.
PM Modi also called the Special Session "short but a session for historic decisions".
He will later begin the special session with an address in the Lok Sabha at 11 am.
This is a brief session but the timing is very crucial, it is a moment for 'historic decisions,' says PM Modi at Parliament. He also said that the G20 success put India has the voice of south in the world.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed media ahead of the Special Session of Parliament.
Union Minister of Parliamentary Affairs Pralhad Joshi said the agenda of the special session of parliament was made clear in the all-party meeting held on Sunday.
"Their (Opposition) request for clarification (of agenda) has been made clear in the all-party meeting yesterday. We have already announced our agenda... I request them to attend the Parliament's journey of 75 years that will be discussed today as PM Modi has taken the oath to make India a developed country before 2047," the minister said.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is likely to speak today in Lok Sabha at the special session of Parliament, according to ANI news agency.
At an all-party meeting convened by the government on the eve of the session on Sunday, several political parties made a strong pitch for the passage of the women's reservation bill during the five-day Parliament. The government said that an "appropriate decision will be taken at an appropriate time".
Praful Patel, the working president of NCP and loyalist of Ajit Pawar, put forward a resolution in this regard in the all-party meeting.
In a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Congress leader Sonia Gandhi urged the government to allow discussion on nine points in the special session.
These are:
1. Current economic situation with focus on increasing price rise of essential commodities, growing unemployment, rise in inequalities and distress of MSMEs.
2. Commitment made by the Government of India to farmers and farmer organisations in regard to MSP and other demands raised by them.
3. Demand for a JPC to investigate the transactions of the Adani business group in light of all revelations.
4. The continued agony faced by people of Manipur and breakdown of Constitutional machinery and social harmony in the State.
5. Rise in communal tension in different States like Haryana.
6. Continued occupation of Indian Territory by China and challenges to our sovereignty on our borders in Ladakh and Arunachal Pradesh.
7. Urgent need for a Caste Census.
8. Damages being inflicted on Centre-State relations.
9. Impact of natural disasters caused by extreme floods in some States and drought in others.