Parliament Winter Session Live Updates

The 17-day session has 25 Bills, including two financial Bills, listed on the agenda.
| Photo Credit: The Hindu File

Parliament has reconvened today for the 2022 Winter Session, which will see 17 sittings over 23 days. The session begins a day before the counting of votes of Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh assembly elections, along with those of six assembly and one Lok Sabha bypolls.

As per the notified schedules, the government plans to introduce 16 new Bills during the session. These include a draft law to increase accountability and reform the electoral process in multi-state cooperative societies. The Cantonment Bill deals with the administration of cantonments to impart democratisation and increase efficiency. The session is all set to be stormy as the Opposition prepares to corner the Centre on issues such as the border situation with China, price rise, unemployment and the alleged misuse of government agencies. At a meeting called by the Centre to discuss the legislative agenda, the Opposition listed over a dozen issues for raising during the session. The women’s reservation bill is also back in the spotlight after several opposition parties demanded that it be introduced and passed in this session.

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Proceedings resume in Lok Sabha

Give smaller parties time to talk: MP Sukhendu Sekhar Ray

AITC MP Sukendhu Ray says that smaller parties should be given more time to speak. He also stresses that scrutiny of bills is important.

He also recommends that Section 267 matter should be taken up for discussion.

Leader of Opposition congratulates Chair, addresses House

Leader of Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge says that Jawaharlal Nehru always respected the Parliament. He says that while the opposition is less in number, members have a lot of experience. But numbers are listened to over this, he says.

Due to less sittings, the House does not get time to discuss important issues, and bills are also passed in a hurry, he says, quoting statistics about previous sessions. He hopes that bills are also reviewed by select, joint parliamentary committees.

Prime Minister congratulates new RS chairman Jagdeep Dhankar

Prime Minister Narendra Modi welcomes Jagdeep Dhankar, who is chairing his first session of Parliament. He hails him as “son of a farmer and a student of Sainik School” identifying with both communities

He refers to the Sanskrit saying “Nayati, iti nayaka” and says that taking the people forward is leadership. He says that the House is lucky to have such a chair. He congratulates Mr. Jagdeep Dhankar and concludes his address.

Lok Sabha reconvenes, adjourned till noon

The Lower House has reconvened with the Speaker paying tributes to MPs of the two Houses who passed away this year. Speaker Om Birla later adjourned the Lower House till 12 noon after the reading of the obituaries.

Prime Minister Modi addresses Rajya Sabha

Prime Minister Narendra Modi wishes everyone on the occasion of Armed Forces Flag Day. He mentions that India has assumed two important positions, including the G20 leadership. India is going to play an important role in deciding the direction of the world, he says. 

Proceedings commence in Rajya Sabha

The Winter session kicks off in the Rajya Sabha with the Chairman Jagdeep Dhankar proceeding, Prime Minister Narendra Modi addresses the House. Felicitations to the new chairman underway.

Mallikarjun Kharge chairs meeting of Opposition

Congress’ Malikarjun Kharge chaired a meeting of the Opposition to discuss the strategy for the Winter Session. AAP’s Sanjay Singh and TMC’s Sudip Bandyopadhyay attended the meeting hosted by the Congress President.

PM Modi urges MPs to make Winter Session productive

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has urged all political parties to make collective efforts to make Winter Session more productive. The PM has also urged political parties to give young members a chance to participate in debates.

List of business in Lok Sabha

After obituary references, Union ministers to lay papers on the Table of the House. The list of business for today also includes:

1. Report on ‘action taken by the Government on the recommendations/observations contained in the 315th Report on Demands for Grants (2022-23)‘ of the Standing Committee on Industry pertaining to the Ministry of Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises to be tabled.

2. Minister of Extrenal Affairs Dr. S Jaishankar to make a statement on developments in the country’s foreign policy.

3. Dr. Jitendra Singh to follow with a statement regarding the status of implementation of the recommendations in the Parliamentary Standing Committee on demands for grants (2022-2023) pertaining to the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research, Ministry of Science and Technology.

4. The Multi-State Co-operative Societies (Amendment) Bill, 2022 to be introduced. And Dr. S. Jaishankar to move that the Anti-Maritime Piracy Bill, 2019 which seeks provisions for repression of piracy on the high seas.