- No-Trust Motion Waiting, LS Passes 3 Bills in 30 Minutes; ‘Unconstitutional,’ says Opposition.
- The National Nursing and Midwifery Commission Bill, 2023, The National Dental Commission Bill, 2023, and The Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2023 were all passed quickly.
- Opposition continues to demand the PM’s statement on Manipur.
- The opposition has said that while a no-confidence motion has been accepted, no other legislative business should be conducted.
- Congress MP Manish Tewari had said that it is “unfortunate” that Bill after Bill is being passed in the Lok Sabha while the no-trust motion awaits.
The Lok Sabha passed three bills in a span of less than 30 minutes as opposition members continued to raise slogans demanding Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s statement on Manipur, calling the swift passage of the bills “unconstitutional.”
The House was initially adjourned within minutes of the day commencing. It reconvened at noon, and the Modi government introduced and passed three bills. The session was then adjourned for the week.
The three bills that were introduced and passed are The National Nursing and Midwifery Commission Bill, of 2023, The National Dental Commission Bill, of 2023, and The Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Bill, of 2023.
When the House opened this morning, opposition MPs raised slogans demanding a statement from Modi. They also put forth the argument that considering the notice for a no-confidence motion had already been accepted, no other business should be conducted till the motion is discussed in the house.
Leader of Congress in the Lok Sabha Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury said that in May 1978, when a no-confidence motion was moved, a discussion was held “on the same day.” Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla in response said that he will give a date for the discussion on the no-confidence motion and asked the opposition members to allow the Question Hour to continue. “The rules state that we have 10 days’ time,” said Minister of Parliamentary Affairs, Pralhad Joshi. “Whenever you (Speaker) decide, we are ready for the discussion,” he added.
the Minister for Education Dharmendra Pradhan introduced The Indian Institutes of Management (Amendment) Bill, 2023. This Bill was not passed and will be taken up next week for consideration and passing.
The Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2023 was taken up for consideration and passed as opposition members were seen next to the Speaker’s chair holding banners on Manipur.
The Bill introduces an exploration licence, which will authorize either reconnaissance or prospecting, or both activities for specified minerals. The exploration licence will be issued for 29 minerals specified in the Seventh Schedule. These include gold, silver, copper, cobalt, nickel, lead, potash, and rock phosphate.
MP said that the amendment will allow India to become ‘atmarnirbhar’. Minister Joshi gave his closing statement, calling the bill “revolutionary”. “Once passed, it will boost exploration for critical/deep-seated minerals helping indigenous technologies in the space industry, electronics, energy sector, and EVs,” Minister Joshi said. it was passed by a voice vote amid sloganeering from opposition MPs.
The National Nursing and Midwifery Commission Bill, 2023 repeals the Indian Nursing Council Act, 1947, and provides for the regulation and maintenance of standards of education and services for nursing and midwifery.
The National Dental Commission Bill, of 2023 repeals the Dentists Act, of 1948, and constitutes the National Dental Commission, the Dental Advisory Council, and three autonomous Boards for regulating dental education and standards of dentistry.
While the Modi government has said that the Speaker will give a date for the no-confidence motion and the parliament’s legislative business should continue in the meantime, the opposition has said that while a no-confidence motion has been accepted, no other legislative business should be conducted.
A day ago, Congress MP Manish Tewari said that it is “unfortunate” that Bill after Bill is being passed in the Lok Sabha while the no-trust motion awaits.
(With the inputs from agencies)
