Parliament

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will make a statement in the Parliament on Tuesday over inadvertently firing a missile that landed in Pakistan. The Defence Ministry had stated that an unarmed supersonic missile "accidently" took off from Sirsa and landed at a place 124 km within the Pakistani territory on last Wednesday. Last Friday, the DefenceA Ministry "regretfully" explained it as "a technical malfunction".

A report submitted by amicus curiae, senior advocate Vijay Hansaria said: "Some of these cases were pending for more than three decades. 2,324 cases were against sitting legislators, and 1,675 cases were against former legislators. In 1,991 cases, even charges were not framed. 264 cases were pending due to stay granted by the High Courts."

Minister of State for Home Nityanand Rai, in a written reply to a question by Rajya Sabha member A. Vijayakumar, said that 42 terrorist organisations have been listed in the first schedule under the Act, while 31 individuals have been listed as terrorists under the fourth schedule.

Talking to IANS, Viswam said that he has submitted the notice following the revelation made by the New York Times. "We were raising this issue in the House in last session and the government is trying to mislead the House to hide the truth. We believe that its our duty and right to raise this issue and using the Parliamentary opportunity to give the Privilege Motion on this matter."

Addressing the media at Parliament before the Budget Session, PM said that the budget session is important for the nation as, after two years of the pandemic, all will have to work together to make the life of the common man easier. "The budget session sketches the one-year expenditure of the government which is important as it prepares the roadmap of development of the nation and its people, therefore the good and detailed discussion will pave the way for the nation's economic growth to newer heights," PM Modi said.

On the first day on Monday, the President will address the Members of both the Houses after which copies of his address will be laid on the Table. For this purpose, Rajya Sabha will meet at 2.30 p.m. On February 1, the General Budget for 2022-23 will be presented in the Lok Sabha by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and its copy will be laid on the Table of Rajya Sabha soon thereafter.

According to a gazette notification published on Friday, the President gave his assent on January 12. The Act authorises the expenditure of Rs 3,737,035,100,000 as voted by the Parliament, Rs 574,900,000 charged on the Consolidated Fund totalling to Rs 3,737,610,000,000 from and out of the Consolidated Fund of India towards defraying the several charges which will come in course of payment during the financial year 2021-22 in respect of the services specified.

The Budget is to be presented on February 1. The President is likely to address the joint sitting on January 31 and the same day the economic survey will be tabled in the House.The session will be conducted in two parts -- the first part will end on February 11 and after that the House will resume again on March 14 after a break. The session proceedings will fall in between the elections in five states, and the notification for the first phase of polls in Uttar Pradesh has been issued by the EC.

The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Personnel, Public, Grievances, Law and Justice headed by BJP's Sushil Kumar Modi on Tuesday held a scheduled meeting on the ‘Status of Common Electoral Roll for conducting elections in the country'. It should be recalled that the issue of the common electoral roll was first discussed in 2002 when Justice M N Venkatachaliah,  who headed the National Commission to review the working of the Constitution, recommended a common electoral roll for elections to Panchayati raj institutions, state assembly, and Parliament.

The Rajya Sabha was adjourned sine die on Wednesday, a day ahead of the schedule. Naidu expressed his concern and unhappiness over the functioning of the House. In his brief valedictory remarks, Naidu urged the MPs to collectively reflect and individually introspect on the way the session has gone by.