Parliament Winter Session Live Updates: 'We want Made in India aircraft' - Aviation minister in Lok Sabha; hails Udan scheme

NEW DELHI: Union civil aviation minister Ram Mohan Naidu told the Lok Sabha on Friday that while India’s aviation sector operates in a deregulated environment, the government retains the authority to cap airfares during extraordinary circumstances under the Aircraft Act.

Addressing concerns triggered by recent disruptions, the minister said, "While India’s aviation market is deregulated, the govt retains powers under the Aircraft Act to cap fares in extraordinary situations. Examples include COVID-19, Mahakumbh, Pahalgam-Srinagar crises, and the recent Indigo disruption."

He added that the government intervenes only to protect passenger interests while ensuring that competition in the market remains unaffected. The minister also said Alliance Air continues to play a vital role in regional connectivity. "Alliance Air continues to operate critical routes, especially in the Northeast, ensuring connectivity to underserved areas," he noted.

Govt to bring Pujya Bapu Gramin Rozgar Gurantee Bill for MNREGA, which will guarantee 125 days work to rural poor in a year. Rs 1.51 lakh crore to be allocated.

"The govt has formed the 'Dalhan Mission' for this purpose....The govt will buy Toor, Masur, and Urad pulses. Karnataka govt's request to the govt to buy Toor has also been approved. We have taken many measures to ensure that farmers get a fair price for their produce. One of them is - increasing import duty to 10% on Masoor Dal and Channa...We will always protect the interests of our farmers," says agriculture minister Shivraj Chouhan.

"The government, from day one, had made our position very clear that on all important matters, the government is ready to discuss and also to find a solution, taking along the suggestions from all the members, including the principal opposition party led by Rahul Gandhi ji...Under the various laws and rules, we will see how we will take up this discussion," says Union minister Kiren Rijiju.

"I think we should make it a discussion where we are participating, we are showing the country that on this fundamental issue, there is agreement, and the best minds are going to be put into place to solve this issue. I think it would be good if we have a detailed discussion and then the Prime Minister puts in place a plan for each city methodical systematic plan on how, within the next five or ten years, maybe we cannot resolve the problem, but how we are going to address the problem and make life for our people easier," says Rahul Gandhi.

"Most of our major cities are living under a blanket of poisonous air. Millions of children are getting lung disease. Their future is being destroyed. People are getting cancer. Older people are struggling to breathe. This is an interesting issue because I'm certain that there will be full agreement between the government and us on this issue. This is not an ideological issue. Everybody in this house would agree that air pollution, the damage it is doing to our people, is something that we would like to cooperate on," says Congress MP and LoP Rahul Gandhi in Lok Sabha.

"A Member of Parliament belonging to the All India Trinamool Congress was seen openly using an electronic cigarette while seated in the House during the sittings... The open use of a banned substance and a prohibited device inside the sanctum sanctorum of Indian democracy, the Lok Sabha chamber, constitutes not only a blatant violation of parliamentary decorum and discipline but also a cognizable offence under the laws enacted by this very House," said BJP MP Anurag Thakur in his complaint to Speaker Om Birla.

In a rare instance, Rajya Sabha had to be adjourned for 10 minutes as no Cabinet minister was present when proceedings started. Congress demanded adjournment saying this was insult to the House.

"There is no allegation. Smoking cigarettes inside the House is prohibited, but there is no objection to smoking cigarettes in the open space outside the House. Pollution in Delhi is at its highest during the BJP government. They should focus on this instead of making such allegations," says TMC MP Saugata Roy.

Lok Sabha proceedings adjourned till 12 noon after paying tributes to former Speaker and ex-Union minister Shivraj Patil, who passed away on Friday. (PTI)

Lok Sabha LoP Rahul Gandhi is chairing a review meeting of Congress Lok Sabha MPs. The Congress has 99 MPs in the Lower House. The meeting is expected to discuss the ongoing proceedings in the house and the Congress response to various issues. (ANI)

Congress MP Rajiv Shukla strongly criticised Union home minister Amit Shah's remarks made during his address in Parliament on electoral reforms, alleging that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) remains fixated on the Nehru-Gandhi family even after more than a decade in power.

Shukla claimed that the ruling party "dreams of Nehrus and Gandhis even in sleep" and questioned why the government continues to invoke history instead of presenting its achievements from the past 11 years.

Shukla added, "I dont understand how long BJP will keep talking about history... They bring in Nehru in everything... I bet they dream about Nehrus and Gandhis in their sleep... What are you doing sitting in the government for the last 11 years?" He added that the Home Minister's speech failed to address the core issues raised by the Opposition during the debate. (ANI)

AITC member Samirul Islam on Thursday urged the Centre to include Kurmali, Rajbanshi, and Kamtapuri languages in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution and accord recognition to Sarna and Shari religions practised by tribal communities.

Raising the issue during Zero Hour in the Rajya Sabha, the West Bengal MP said Kurmali is spoken by the majority of the Kurmi community in Jangalmahal districts, especially Purulia, Jhargram, Bankura, and West Midnapore.

"Apart from West Bengal, the Kurmi community is present in Assam, Jharkhand, and Odisha. Our Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee approved the Kurmali language in the Legislative Assembly in 2018," Islam said.

He said the state government also created the Kurmi Development Board and inaugurated the Kurmali Language Literature Academy in Purulia during a World Congress. (PTI)

The Lok Sabha on Thursday extended the tenure of the parliamentary committee examining bills that seek to introduce simultaneous polls to the Lok Sabha and state legislative assemblies.

Committee Chairman P P Chaudhary moved the motion seeking extension of the tenure of the Joint Committee on the Constitution (129th Amendment) Bill, 2024, and the Union Territories Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2024, up to the first day of the last week of the 2026 Budget session.

The Lok Sabha adopted the motion by a voice vote.

The committee has met constitutional experts, economists, Law Commission Chairman Dinesh Maheshwari, among others, since it was constituted last December. (PTI)

More than 5.49 crore cases are pending across courts, including nearly 90,000 with the Supreme Court, the Rajya Sabha was informed on Thursday.
In a written reply, Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal said a little over 5.49 crore cases are pending ranging from the top court to the lower judiciary.

While 90,897 cases were pending disposal before the apex court, 63,63,406 were pending with the 25 high courts.

The lower courts had a massive pendency of 4,84,57,343 cases as on December 8.

Meghwal said pendency of cases in courts arise due to several factors which include complexity of the facts involved, nature of evidence, cooperation of stakeholders -- bar, investigation agencies, witness and litigants -- besides the availability of physical infrastructure and supporting court staff. (PTI)

The poll refroms debate in Rajya Sabha will resume on Friday after parliamentary affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju requested the Chair to allow members to attend a prayer meeting. Deputy chairman Harivansh said the ongoing debate on the election reforms will continue when the House meets on Friday at 11 am. PTI

More than 5.49 crore cases are pending across courts, including nearly 90,000 with the Supreme Court, the Rajya Sabha was informed on Thursday.
In a written reply, Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal said a little over 5.49 crore cases are pending ranging from the top court to the lower judiciary.

While 90,897 cases were pending disposal before the apex court, 63,63,406 were pending with the 25 high courts.

The lower courts had a massive pendency of 4,84,57,343 cases as on December 8.

Meghwal said pendency of cases in courts arise due to several factors which include complexity of the facts involved, nature of evidence, cooperation of stakeholders -- bar, investigation agencies, witness and litigants -- besides the availability of physical infrastructure and supporting court staff. (PTI)