Parliament Session Highlights: Congress moves Privilege Motion notice against Amit Shah over Wayanad comments

Congress MP Gowaal Kagada Padavi on Friday urged the Centre to reconsider 18 per cent GST on mental health services while flagging unspent amount of over Rs 8,600 crores in the health sector during the last financial year.

Participating in a debate on demands for grants for the Health Ministry in the Lok Sabha, the Lok Sabha MP from Nandurbar in Maharashtra alleged the unspent amount shows there is inability in fund allocation and utilisation.

"Mental health issues are very important issues and there is 18 per cent GST on mental health services. I would request the government to reconsider this and remove the GST from this head," Padavi said.

“He has just become the Union Agriculture Minister...He does not know about the history of agriculture...According to him (Shivraj Singh Chouhan), development work only happened after 2014...”

More than 4.43 crore MGNREGS job cards have been deleted since the 2019-20 fiscal, the government said on Friday.

Union Minister of State for Rural Development Kamlesh Paswan provided the information in a written reply to the Rajya Sabha.

A total of 4,43,04,661 (4.43 crore) Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) job cards were deleted between the 2019-20 and 2024-25 financial years, Paswan said.

Congress MP Jairam Ramesh moves a Privilege Motion notice in Rajya Sabha, against Union Home Minister Amit Shah for his claims regarding the Wayanad Landslide that has reportedly claimed over 300 lives.

Opposition members on Friday slammed the healthcare facilities in rural parts of the country, alleged irregularities in the Ayushman Bharat initiative and demanded the government increase expenditure in the health sector.

Initiating a discussion on the Demand for Grants of the Health Ministry, Congress member Tariq Anwar said the National Health Policy-2017 had set a target to increase spending on healthcare to up to 2.5% of the GDP.

He said the government spending on healthcare, however, is on a decline and the number of AIIMS opened in different states were lacking in infrastructure and personnel, forcing patients to come to AIIMS-Delhi.

The Congress leader also alleged that the inadequacies of the healthcare sector were exposed during the Covid-19 pandemic, when the government tried to under-report deaths across the country.

The Centre is best suited to determine whether a particular fact related to it is correct or wrong, Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said on Friday while making the government's stand clear on the PIB's Fact Check Unit.

He was replying to a supplementary query during the Question Hour in the Rajya Sabha related to the Supreme Court's stay on the Centre's notification on setting up a fact-checking unit.

"The amendment in the IT Intermediary Rules which has been stayed by the Supreme Court, that is still under contest but the fundamental principle is, our point is, anything related to the government of India, only the government can say whether it is a correct fact or a wrong fact. That is our stand," Vaishnaw, the Union Information and Broadcasting Minister, said.

The Indian Railways has introduced services of new Vande Bharat trains without replacing the existing trains, Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha on Friday.

Vaishnaw responded to the questions raised by AIADMK MP C. Ve. Shanmugam who wanted to know if Vande Bharat trains will replace all Super Fast Trains like Rajdhani and others.

“As on July 29, 2024, 102 Vande Bharat train services are running across the Indian Railways, connecting states having Broad Gauge (B.G.) electrified network. These Chair Car variants are presently being operated up to a distance of 760 km,” Vaishnaw said.

The Indian Railways provided two baby berths in Lucknow Mail on trial basis to facilitate ease of travel for mothers travelling with babies, Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw informed the Rajya Sabha on Friday.

Vaishnaw was responding to questions raised by BJP MP Sumer Singh Solanki, who wanted to know if the government is considering installing baby berth seats in train coaches.

"To facilitate ease of travel for mothers travelling with their babies, two baby berths were provided as attachment to two lower berths in one coach of Train No. 12229/30 Lucknow Mail on trial basis," the minister said in a written reply.

Over 29,000 hospitals, including 12,625 private ones, have been empanelled under the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana as of June 30, Union Health Minister J P Nadda told the Lok Sabha on Friday.

All empanelled hospitals have signed MoUs with their respective State Health Agencies (SHAs).

Beneficiaries can seek redressal of their grievances by filing their grievances related to denial of treatment by the empanelled hospitals or regarding any other issue related to the scheme, using different media, including web-based portal Centralised Grievance Redressal Management System (CGRMS), Central and State call centres, letters to SHAs etc.

Invoking the Mahabharat in the Lok Sabha is in vogue, Speaker Om Birla said on Friday while telling an MP not to narrate stories but ask to-the-point questions.

While asking a question to the Union Ayush minister, BJP member from Odisha's Bargarh Pradip Purohit referred to an ayurvedic college and traced back the history of the herbs found in the area to ancient times. "Do not tell stories, ask the question (aap Mahabharat mat sunao, aap prashna poocho)," Birla told the member during the Question Hour.

The speaker then said invoking the Mahabharat is in vogue these days. "Aaj kal, Mahabharat sunane ka kissa zyada chala hai yahan par," Birla said.

“I will be waiting for ED with 'open arms' as an ED raid is being planned against me.... Rahul Gandhi and the Congress have perfected this strategy but whenever they are confronted with a tough set of questions or issues that they have no answers for, they try and wriggle out of it by creating a new narrative. Unfortunately or fortunately some media play along with that.”

Rajahmundry MP Daggubati Purandheshwari has called for a significant enhancement in the country’s health infrastructure. Highlighting the importance of wellness centres introduced by the Centre, she emphasized their role in primary health screening and referral to tertiary health facilities. However, Ms. Purandheshwari noted that Community Health Centres (CHCs) and Primary Health Centres (PHCs) often suffer from inadequate infrastructure and unreliable electricity. She also stressed that the 2.5% of the budget allocated to health should be a shared responsibility, with both the Centre and states contributing adequately—a commitment that has not been consistently met by the states so far.

In a Lok Sabha speech, Union Health Minister JP Nadda outlined the vision for AIIMS, aiming to decentralize healthcare across India. “Our vision for AIIMS is that people from every corner of the country should not need to come to Delhi for treatment,” Nadda stated. He emphasized that AIIMS should offer the same quality of care nationwide as it does in Delhi. Highlighting Prime Minister Modi’s efforts, Nadda noted, “PM Modi has worked to establish over 17 AIIMS across the country with world-class healthcare systems. In the 1960s and 70s, our top doctors had to go abroad for advanced care. Today, PM Modi has created 22 world-class institutions in India.”

TMC MP Samirul Islam has criticized Bengal BJP president Sukanta Majumdar for proposing the division of the state in Rajya Sabha. Islam defended Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's efforts for north Bengal and accused the BJP of seeking revenge after their repeated electoral defeats in the state. “The BJP will never be able to divide Bengal,” Islam asserted.

Congress MP from Kerala, Jebi Mather Hisham, has voiced concerns over the State being overlooked in railway allocations. “There are only two Vande Bharat trains for Kerala whereas other States have at least five,” Hisham stated. She emphasized the need for adequate services from Thiruvananthapuram to Ernakulam, highlighting the disparity in allocation.

Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla extended warm congratulations to Swapnil Kusale for his remarkable achievement at the Paris Olympics 2024. Kusale clinched the Bronze medal in the Men's 50m Rifle event, showcasing exceptional skill and dedication.

Congress MP Manickam Tagore has given an adjournment motion notice in the Lok Sabha, condemning the BJP government's alleged misuse of agencies like the ED, CBI, and Income Tax for political harassment. The notice states, "Despite their reduced number from 303 to 240 seats and the reliance on alliances with TDP and JDU, the government continues to deploy these agencies to intimidate opposition leaders and force compliance, undermining democratic principles."

Congress MP Manickam Tagore has submitted an adjournment notice in the Lok Sabha concerning water leakage in the Parliament lobby. Tagore highlighted that the leaks, occurring just a year after the building's completion, raise concerns about its weather resilience.

In his notice, Tagore pointed out that recent heavy rains exposed the issue along a path used by the President of India. He proposed the formation of a specialized committee, including all party MPs, to investigate the leaks, assess the building's design and materials, and recommend repairs. The committee would also establish a maintenance protocol and ensure transparency by publicly sharing its findings. Tagore urged support from all members to ensure the safety and integrity of the Parliament.

On Friday, Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi alleged that the government is planning an Enforcement Directorate (ED) raid against him following his recent 'Chakravyuh speech' in Parliament during the Union Budget discussion. Gandhi stated he is prepared to welcome the central probing agency, citing information from ED 'insiders' about the planned raid.

AIMIM MP Asaduddin Owaisi criticized the government in the Lok Sabha for removing references to the Babri Masjid and the 2002 Gujarat riots from NCERT textbooks. He questioned why students should be deprived of learning from historical events, including the Gujarat pogrom and the massacre of minority Muslims, arguing that such omissions prevent an understanding of past mistakes.

The new Parliament building’s leaking roof, following Wednesday’s downpour, sparked controversy as Congress MP Manickam Tagore posted a video showing water dripping in the lobby area. The government dismissed the concern as a “small issue” that has been addressed.

Union Minister for Railways Ashwini Vaishnaw addressed criticism following the Mumbai-Howrah train derailment that resulted in two fatalities. Vaishnaw emphasized the ministry's commitment to hard work, contrasting it with those who "make reels for show off." He highlighted improvements for loco pilots, including air-conditioned running rooms and loco cabs, stating these advancements were absent during previous administrations.

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