Parliament Winter Session LIVE: 2,015 lost their lives due to potholes in 2018, says Govt

A total of 22,656 pedestrians were killed in various incidents including 2015 people who lost their lives on the roads due to potholes across India in 2018, the Ministry of Transport and Highways said on Monday.

In a reply to a query about pedestrian deaths across India in the Rajya Sabha, the ministry said in 2018 a total of 22,656 were killed while in 2017 the figure of pedestrians' death was 20457. In 2016, a total of 15,746 pedestrians lost their lives and in 2015, the figure of the number of pedestrians killed was 13,894.

The figures clearly show that despite Central and state governments' awareness programmes pedestrian deaths have increased across the country.

High absenteeism among Rajya Sabha members despite listing of starred questions invited the ire of Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu on Monday, who described it as a "sorry state of affairs".

In a rare instance, Rajya Sabha during Question Hour was adjourned for lunch five minutes before schedule at 12.55 pm.

This was on account of absence of seven members whose starred questions were listed for today.

All the seven belonged to opposition parties.

Union minister G Kishan Reddy on Monday informed Lok Sabha that the government is ready to amend the Indian Penal Code and CrPC to ensure swift justice in cases of heinous crimes like the Hyderabad rape and murder case.

Reddy's statement in the House came as one member after another mentioned the ghastly crime, in which a veterinary doctor was raped, killed and then set on fire, while raising various issues during the Zero Hour.

Nama Nageswar Rao of the TRS, which is in power in Telangana, said the state government had given highest priority to cases of crime against women and noted that accused in this case were arrested within six hours.

Expressing dismay over the apathy shown by the government, police and civil society, Rajya Sabha MP Sonal Mansingh raised questions about why incidents like the Hyderabad rape and murder continue to occur.

Sonal Mansingh, RS MP on Veterinarian's rape & murder said While I'm ashamed & shocked, I'm also disappointed that such incidents are reported from across country. Why there is govt, Police, civil society apathy? Each time there're candle marches & rallies then, why is it continuing?

Human Resource Development Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal 'Nishank' on Monday said it will not be possible to have a uniform education syllabus in the country.

"The National Curriculum Framework (NCF), developed by the National Council of Education Research and Training (NCERT), sets guidelines and direction for development of syllabi and textbooks at all school stages," he told Lok Sabha.

“Chief Minister took three days to set up a fast track court to start proceedings in this matter. The message going out is that state and central government are proving ineffective in keeping women safe,” said Anupriya Patel.

Death penalty for rapists, lynching of convicts in public and castration of those convicted were among demands made in Rajya Sabha on Monday as MPs expressed outrage over the Hyderabad rape and murder case and other such incidents in the country.

Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu rejected adjournment motions on the gang-rape and murder of a young woman veterinarian in Hyderabad but allowed members to make brief mentions on the same and other such incidents elsewhere in the country.

Members cutting across party lines condemned the recent spurt in crime against women and demanded stringent laws that punishes the guilty within a fixed time-frame.

While Naidu described the Hyderabad incident as a disgrace to humanity, Leader of the Opposition Ghulam Nabi Azad said the society will have to tackle this problem at its root.

Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on Monday asked members to improve the quality of their questions, soon after a query was raised about renovation and construction of an approach road to a local temple in Madhya Pradesh.

During the Question Hour, BJP member Guman Singh Damor asked about restoration of old temples in Ratlam in Madhya Pradesh.

After Culture Minister Prahlad Singh Patel tabled the written reply, Domar expressed his dissatisfaction with the reply saying he felt like a bride who goes to her in-laws house and finds there is no toilet.

Subsequently, Damor also asked a supplementary question about renovation and construction of an approach road to a local temple in the state.

After the minister's response, Birla said the quality of questions should be improved and mentioned that if a member wants a tap in a local temple, it cannot be done by the central government.

Patel said conservation work of protected monuments, including old temples is attended to regularly by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) as per requirements of different sites and availability of resources.

To a query on whether the government is likely to include more than hundred-year old temples numbering more than 500 in Ratlam for restoration, the minister said presently there is no such proposal.

Rajya Sabha Chairman Venkaiah Naidu said that only forming laws is not the solution. “Even after giving punishment, look at what is happening. They file appeals for mercy, but should such people be shown mercy?” he asked.

“We have to look at a change in the legal, judicial system. This is not being discussed only because of Hyderabad. It is happening in various parts of the country,” he said, calling crimes against women a societal disease.

Those who commit such acts should not be seen on the age spectrum, Naidu said seeking a review of juvenile laws. “What is required is not a new bill. What is required is political will, administrative skill, change of mindset and then go for kill of the social evil,” he said.

Lok Sabha on Monday will discuss the gangrape and murder case of a young veterinarian in Hyderabad after members cutting across party lines raised the issue as well as similar happenings in other parts of the country.

As soon as proceedings began, Congress members displayed posters and raised the Hyderabad rape case. They were also joined by members from the DMK and BSP, among others.

Noting that the House is also concerned, Speaker Om Birla told members that the matter can be discussed during the Zero Hour and decided to continue with the Question Hour.

"Is vishay par charcha karenge (We will discuss this matter)," he said.

Birla also cautioned that members should not carry posters inside the House and break traditions.

Congress members were seen holding posters demanding justice for the Hyderabad rape victim.

On November 29, four men, aged between 20 and 24, were arrested on charges of raping and killing the young woman veterinarian in Hyderabad.

People now want Govt to give a definite answer. These type of people (the accused in rape case) need to be brought out in public and lynched," says Rajya Sabha MP Jaya Bachchan on rape & murder of woman veterinary doctor in Telangana

The AIADMK lawmaker in the Rajya Sabha sought death penalty to the four accused in the Hyderabad rape and murder case before 31 December. She expressed anguish over the spate of such crimes in the recent crimes, including those reported in Tamil Nadu recently.

Citing the example of the time taken to deliver justice in the Nirbhaya gangrape case, AAP's Sanjay Singh sought that cases as gruesome as these be tried only by fast-track courts.

Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha and senior Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad condemned the Hyderabad rape and murder case in the Upper House. He said that only laws are not enough to put a stop to such heinous crimes, but there is also a press need to spread awareness

The issue of rape and murder of Telangana woman veterinarian raised in Lok Sabha; Speaker Om Birla says,"Desh mein jo ghatnayein ghat rahi hain uspe Sansad bhi chintit hai. I have given permission for discussion on this after Question Hour"

The Legislative Business in the Lok Sabha on Monday will have two important Bills for consideration and passing.

The Taxation Laws (Amendment) Bill 2019 will be moved by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman. The Bill is to further amend the Income-Tax Act, 1961 and to amend the Finance (No.2) Act, 2019.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah will move the Arms (Amendment) Bill 2019 to amend the Arms Act, 1959

The government in the Lok Sabha on Friday had moved the Bill for rationalising and facilitating the licensing procedures for use of firearms by individuals as well as to curb crimes committed by using illegal firearms and provide effective deterrence against violation of law.

The Monday Listed Business in the Rajya Sabha includes bills banning the production and sale of electronic cigarettes, amending the the Special Protection Group Act 1988, and providing for the merger of Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu. The Upper House will also see the tabling of the CAG report on Railway Finances.

The Prohibition of Electronic Cigarettes (Production, Manufacture, Import, Export, Transport, Sale, Distribution, Storage and Advertisement) Bill, 2019 passed by the Lok Sabha will be taken into consideration for passing. The motion was moved by Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan on November 28. The bill has been moved in the interest of public health to protect the people from harm and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto.

This Bill is currently under discussion in the Rajya Sabha. K.K. Ragesh of the CPI-M had moved a resolution on November 28, 2019: "That this House disapproves the Prohibition of Electronic Cigarettes (Production, Manufacture, Import, Export, Transport, Sale, Distribution, Storage and Advertisement) Ordinance, 2019 (No.14 of 2019) promulgated by the President of India on 18th September, 2019."

Union Home MInister Amit Shah will move the Special Protection Group (Amendment)
Bill, 2019 for consideration and passing. The bill is to amend the Special Protection Group Act, 1988 and has been passed by the Lok Sabha.

Also to move is the Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu (Merger of Union Territories) Bill, 2019. Amit Shah will move the Bill to provide for merger of the Union Territories of Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu. The bill has been passed by the Lok Sabha.

Union Minister Anurag Singh Thakur is to table, under clause (1) of article 151 of the Constitution, a copy of the report of the Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) for the year ended March 2018 on the Railway Finances (Report No. 10 of 2019)

Besides this, seven ministers will table papers -- Pralhad Joshi for Ministry of Coal and Ministry of Mines, Shripad Yesso Naik for Ministry of Defence, Kiren Rijiju for Ministry of Minority Affairs, Mansukh Mandaviya for Ministry of Shipping, Arjun Ram Meghwal for Ministry of Heavy Industries and Public Enterprises, V.K. Singh for Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, and Rattan Lal Kataria for Ministry of Jal Shakti.

Senior CPI leader in Rajya Sabha Binoy Viswam has demanded a discussion on the rising prices of onion and pulses in recent times.

He has served a notice under rule 267 for suspending the business of the House and take up the issue of spiralling price of essential food items.

In his letter addressed to House Chairman M. Venkaiah Naidu, Viswam said that it was a matter of great concern and urgency to the whole nation that there has been an exponential rise in the price of essential commodities such as onions and pulses that have made it difficult for the common citizen to survive.

"With the reduction in purchasing power, the actual effect of the ongoing economic crisis is being felt in the daily food of the common person," Viswam said.

He also cited incidents of onion thefts and looting that have been reported from various parts of the country and numerous protests against the price rise have taken place as well.

"The political apathy that is displayed towards the struggles of the common Indian is a matter of shame. The Government's inability to address this growing crisis and its impact on the lives of each and every person living in India, has made it imperative that today we discuss this issue on the floor of the House," the Rajya Sabha member stated.