Parliament Proceedings live | Parliament pays homage to those who died in the chopper crash

The Union Cabinet on Wednesday approved the funding and implementation of the Ken-Betwa river interlinking project at a cost of ₹44,605 crore at the 2020-21 price level. The Centre would fund ₹39,317 crore for the project, with ₹36,290 crore as a grant and ₹3,027 crore as a loan.

After the repeal of the farm laws in the ongoing Winter Session of the Parliament, thousands of farmers who have been protesting on the outskirts of Delhi for over a year are likely to end their agitation at noon on Thursday, as their leaders have decided to accept the Centre’s revised proposal to resolve their pending demands if it is sent in an official format.

Here are the updates:

Rajya Sabha | 11:42 am

During the Zero Hour

RJD Manoj K. Jha raises point of order against Mr Yadav’s Zero Hour mention on “Places of Worship Act”. “This opens a pandora’s box,” he says.

S. Selvaganabathy, Puducherry MP says that Puducherry has been battered by heavy rains over the last one month. “Life has become miserable for Puducherry residents,” the MP says. He says agriculture has been the most affected sector.  He appeals to the union govt. to send a team to estimate damages in Puducherry since the UT is reeling under the pressure of financial crisis.

Lok Sabha | 11:34 am

On Haj pilgrimage

Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi, Minister of Minority Affairs, in response to a question, says that Haj 2020 and Haj 2021 did not happen. But, under the leadership of Narendra Modi, ease of doing Haj reforms have been brought in.

Muslim women are allowed to go to Haj, and even this year if Haj happens, we will make sure to send Muslim women, and the whole process has become digital, he says.

Mr. Naqvi adds that India is the only country in the world where the whole process of Haj has become digitalized.

Lok Sabha | 11:26 am

Question Hour begins in Lok Sabha

Questions are being asked on Ken-Batwa river linking project.

Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Minster of Jal Shakti, says that Ken-Batwa linking project is very ambitious, and there will be no adverse impact because of the linkage. “Everything has been done after a thorough study,” Mr. Shekhawat says.

Rajya Sabha | 11:20 am

Zero Hour begins in Rajya Sabha

Matters of urgent importance are being heard, including malnutrition, mid-day meal programme in States across the country.

Harnath Singh Yadav, BJP MP from Uttar Pradesh during the Zero Hour demands repeal of Places of Worship Act. The law freezes the status of places of worship as they were on August 15, 1947.

Rajya Sabha | 11:11 am

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh is now presenting the statement in the Rajya Sabha

Leader of Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge urges the chair to allow all floor leaders to speak on the tragic incident of Conoor, but  Deputy Chairman Harivansh disallows it.

Lok Sabha | 11:09 am

Lok Sabha hopes that group captain Varun Singh recovers soon

Lok Sabha observes silence in honour of those who died in the crash

Rajya Sabha | 11:04 am

Deputy Chairman Harivansh reads obituary of General Bipin Rawat

Rajya Sabha observes two minutes silence as a mark of respect for General Bipin Rawat, his wife Madhulika Rawat and 11 others.

Lok Sabha | 11:03 am

Lok Sabha proceedings begin

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh informs the Lok Sabha that Gen Rawat was on a scheduled visit to Defence Staff college in Wellington. At 12.18 Sulur Air Base lost contact with the helicopter he was on. Locals rushed to the spot and saw that the helicopter was aflame. Local authorities recovered who they could and rushed them to a nearby hospital in Wellington.

He says that, 13 out of 14 people on board had died. “All their bodies to be brought to Delhi by this evening. Group Captain Varun Singh is under hospital care. Gen Rawat to be cremated under full military honours. Others too to be accorded appropriate military honours.”

Inquiry has started into helicopter crash in which CDS Gen Bipin Rawat, 12 others died, he adds.

Rajnath Singh Reads out names of those who perished.

Speaker Birla also pays homage, reads out a eulogy on Gen Rawat’s “unmatched service”.

Pays homage to all others who perished too. Reads out all their names.

10:50 am

Protest suspended

Opposition decides to suspend its sit-in protest for a day to pay tribute to the Chief of Defence Staff Bipin Rawat and other soldiers who died in the tragic helicopter crash. Today is the 9th day of their protest against the government for suspending 12 Rajya Sabha MPs.

Scene outside the Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat’s residence in New Delhi, who died in a chopper crash on December 9, 2021
 
| Photo Credit: SHIV KUMAR PUSHPAKAR

10:40 am

Legislative Business for December 9, 2021 is as follows:

Lok Sabha:

1. Question Hour

2. Consideration of any item of Government Business entered in the List of Business for Wednesday, the 8th December, 2021 and not concluded on that day.

Rajya Sabha:

1. Papers to be laid on the table.

2. Reports to be presented.

3. The National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (Amendment) Bill, 2021 to be passed.

10:30 am

Day 8 recap

The eighth day of the winter session saw its first adjournment in the Rajya Sabha, within 30 minutes after members of the Opposition parties protested the suspension of the 12 MPs.

During the Zero Hour, Members of the House brought to the notice of the House issues concerning Climate Change.

The Assisted Reproductive Technology (Regulation) Bill, 2021 and The Surrogacy (Regulation) Bill, 2020 were discussed and passed in the Rajya Sabha later in the day.

The Lok Sabha passed The High Court and Supreme Court Judges (Salaries and Conditions of Service) Amendment Bill, 2021. The Lower House also agreed to the changes made to the Dam Safety Bill, 2019 by the Rajya Sabha.