Parliament Winter Session live updates Day 2: Report on Mahua Moitra to be tabled; talks on J-K bills

During a discussion on J&K bills in Lok Sabha, Union Home Minister Amit Shah said, "How can a country have two PMs, two constitutions and two flags? Those who did this, they did wrong. PM Modi corrected it. We have been saying since 1950 that there should be 'Ek Pradhan, Ek Nishan, Ek Vidhan' (One Prime Minister, one flag and one Constitution) in the country, and we did it."

'Action is being taken on wilful defaulters... Banks are taking steps to get money back from these defaulters. Till March 31st March 2023, Rs 33,801 crores aggregate amount was recovered.

Around more than Rs 15,000 crores was returned to the banks from defaulters on whom PMLA action was taken. As of 1st December, assets amounting to Rs 15,186 crores have been confiscated by the ED.'

-Finance Minister said in Rajya Sabha

An interim Central assistance of Rs 5,000 crore has been sought by the Tamil Nadu government to provide relief to people and rebuild infrastructure damaged by incessant rains in Chennai and some other districts of the state.

Raising the issue through a zero-hour mention in the Rajya Sabha, Tiruchi Siva, a leader of the DMK which rules the state, said heavy rains due to severe Cyclone Michaung have submerged Chennai and other districts.

At least nine people, including a child, were killed in the flooding and the havoc caused hours before the cyclone was due to make landfall. Cars were swept and airport operations shut down as the streets of Chennai got inundated.

The J & K Reorganisation Act provides for the reorganisation of the state of Jammu and Kashmir into the union territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh. 

It increases the total number of seats in the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly from 83 to 90.

It also reserves 7 seats for the Scheduled Castes and 9 seats for Scheduled Tribes.

The Bill provides for reservation in appointment in state government posts, and admission to professional institutions, for certain reserved categories. The Bill provides for reservations in professional institutions for economically weaker sections.

Minister of Rural Development Giriraj Singh who was replying to INC MP Shashi Tharoor question about unemployment allowance for MNREGA workers who do not receive work within 100 days of their application for the same was disrupted with slogans which led Singh to say, "Chillane se kuch nahi hoga... humein bhi chillana aata hai (Nothing will be accomplished by shouting... we also know how to shout)".

The members of the Rajya Sabha would likely hold discussions on the prevailing economic situation of the country.

Talks on 'bolstering the economy to boost equitable growth' are slated to begin from 2 pm today.

The following Bills will be presented by Amit Shah for consideration and passing in Lower House today:

The Jammu and Kashmir Reservation (Amendment) Bill, 2023
The Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation (Amendment) Bill, 2023

The Ethics Committee is expected to table its report recommending the expulsion of Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP Mahua Moitra, over the cash-for-query allegations against her, today. 

At a meeting of the Business Advisory Committee on Monday chaired by Speaker Om Birla to finalise the week’s agenda, Opposition MPs demanded that the report be discussed before any decision is taken on the matter. 

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