Parliament's Winter Session: Day 5 Highlights and Key Discussions
Overview of Day 5 Proceedings
Today marks the fifth day of the winter session of Parliament. Both houses conducted their business, although opposition members raised significant questions on various issues, leading to disruptions that resulted in the suspension of proceedings. The cancellation of Indigo flights was a prominent topic of discussion in Parliament. Despite these challenges, normal operations were observed in both houses. Additionally, there were calls in the Lok Sabha for the return of awards given to actors who promote pan masala. A BJP member in the Rajya Sabha demanded enhanced security for the ancient Adinath Hindu temple in Malda, while a BJD MP requested special 'darshan' arrangements at the Jagannath temple for residents of Puri.
Lok Sabha Proceedings
The Lok Sabha approved a bill imposing a levy on pan masala on Friday. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman responded to discussions on the 'Health Security to National Security Levy Bill, 2025', after which the house rejected various amendments and passed the bill by voice vote. In her response, the Finance Minister emphasized the responsibility of any finance minister to increase revenue to meet demands across sectors, highlighting that the current government has reduced the tax base.
BJP MP Jagdambika Pal raised concerns in the Lok Sabha regarding the cancellation of hundreds of Indigo flights, stating that many MPs would face difficulties returning to their constituencies over the weekend, urging government intervention.
The government reported significant progress in improving the sex ratio in Haryana, with a 52-point increase according to the 2022-23 Sample Registration System (SRS) data. Union Health Minister JP Nadda addressed a supplementary question from Congress member Deepender Hooda, noting that such changes take time.
Senior DMK leader T.R. Balu brought up an issue related to 'Karthigai Deepam' at a temple near a dargah in Tamil Nadu, which led to sharp objections from the ruling party. During zero hour, he alleged that a particular party was inciting communal tensions without naming the BJP, which sparked a commotion in the house. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju stated that Balu could not use unparliamentary language.
Rajya Sabha Proceedings
In the Rajya Sabha, members discussed farmers' issues due to crop damage from rain, the lack of district-level hospitals for trauma care, and the alleged decline in the quality of higher education. During zero hour, Congress's Shakti Singh Gohil highlighted the plight of farmers in Gujarat following rainfall in late October, noting that many were in distress and resorting to suicide. BJP's Dr. Anil Sukdev Rao Bonde expressed concerns about complications arising from trauma and emphasized the need for trauma centers and better hospitals at the district level.
Nominated member Sudha Murthy urged the central government to establish clear guidelines for the portrayal of children on social media platforms to ensure the new generation receives proper values and social education.
Raghav Chadha from the Aam Aadmi Party raised issues faced by delivery personnel, stating that the silence of these 'invisible wheels' of the Indian economy is driven by job insecurity, forcing them to risk their lives.
The cancellation of nearly 500 Indigo flights over the past two days was also raised in the Rajya Sabha, with Congress member Pramod Tiwari expressing concerns about the airline's monopoly and its impact on MPs and the general public. He noted that the cancellations disrupted many MPs' travel plans for the weekend.
Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw informed the Rajya Sabha that work on the automatic train protection system 'Kavach' is progressing rapidly, a project that should have been completed in the 1980s or 1990s. In response to supplementary questions, he noted that many countries had already implemented this system, while previous Indian governments had failed to take action.
Concerns Over Child Protection
Members from various parties in the Rajya Sabha emphasized the need for protecting children from sexual crimes, stating that such offenses haunt victims for life and hinder their natural development. They also stressed the importance of maintaining traditional family structures and social systems, urging parents to remain vigilant regarding children's safety. Concerns were raised about excessive mobile phone usage among children.