Parliament Diary

Parliament met for the 21^st Sitting of the Budget Session today.
 
The Securities Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2014 was passed in Lok Sabha today. Changes between the 2013 Bill and the 2014 Bill can be found here.
 
Lok Sabha was adjourned during the Question Hour as Opposition Parties
demanded a discussion on communal violence in the country. When it met
again during the Zero Hour, Mallikarjun Kharge stated that his party
wanted to raise the rising incidents of communal riots, violence, and
polarisation which is affecting the life and security of people in
various parts of the country as an Adjournment Motion. The Speaker
stated that she would consult with the Government and inform the House.
This resulted in further disruptions and adjournment of the House during
Zero Hour. 
 
In both Houses Sushma Swaraj made a statement regarding the Prime
Minister's visit to Nepal. Dr. Harsh Vardhan also made a statement
regarding the Ebola Virus Disease outbreak in West Africa and the steps
being taken by Government of India to protect its citizens.

Lok Sabha also undertook a discussion under Rule 193 on the need to have
stringent legislation to check increasing atrocities against women and
children in the country.

In Rajya Sabha, MPs sought clarifications on the statement made by
Nirmala Sitharaman yesterday on India’s Stand in the WTO. Also in Rajya
Sabha, Piyush Goyal replied to the discussion on the working of the
Ministry of Power.