Recording abysmal productivity this year, the Winter Session of Parliament witnessed multiple rounds of disruption, but saw the passage of the The Muslim Women Bill (Protection of Rights on Marriage) 2018, or Triple Talaq Bill, in the Lok Sabha.
Political tempers ran high in Parliament as both the houses – Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha – saw roars and crippling disruption from opposition parties over the Triple Talaq Bill, the probe into the Rafale jet deal, and reservation for women in legislature, among several other heated debates.
In session for nearly a month, the Winter Session began on 11 December 2018 and will end on 8 January 2019.
- The Triple Talaq Bill was passed in Lok Sabha with 245 in favour and 11 against in a division after rejection of all opposition amendments
- Opposition Parties will meet on 31 December in Parliament for a meeting on the Triple Talaq Bill
- Several other bills like Jallianwala Bagh National Memorial (Amendments) Bill 2018, The Indian Medical Council (Amendment) Bill; 2018 Private Members’ Legislative Business were also taken for consideration
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Govt Ready to Hold Assembly Polls in J&K, Says Rajnath Singh in LS
The Centre said in the Lok Sabha that there was no other option left with the Governor but to recommend President's Rule in Jammu and Kashmir as no party or alliance staked claim to form government and asserted that it was ready to hold assembly polls in the state.
Replying to a discussion on the resolution on a presidential proclamation about imposition of President's Rule in the state, Home Minister Rajnath Singh also rejected claims of some opposition parties that the BJP was propping up a regional party to form government.
Rajnath Singh Hits Back at Congress,
Union Minister Rajnath Singh on Friday, 28 December, hit back at Congress saying, “Then J-K Governor N N Vohra had sent report in June that no party willing to form govt in state.”
“Had BJP wanted to form govt in J-K, it would have tried it in six months of governor's rule,” he added.
Congress, TMC Term Governor’s Rule in J&K Unconstitutional
Opposition parties Friday, 28 December, termed the imposition of Governor's rule in Jammu and Kashmir as "unconstitutional" during a discussion in the Lok Sabha on a statutory resolution that approved President's rule in the state.
President's rule in Jammu and Kashmir follows if the Governor's rule extends beyond six months.
Initiating the debate, Shashi Tharoor of the Congress said Governor Satya Mal Malik acted in "gross violation" of a Supreme Court order in the S R Bommai case that had stated that whether an alliance has a majority or not can be decided only on the floor of the assembly.
Introduce Women's Reservation Bill Immediately: CPI-M to Govt
The government should immediately come up with the Women's Reservation Bill to reserve 33 per cent seats for women in Parliament and state assemblies, demanded CPI-M member P K S Teacher during the zero hour in the Lok Sabha on Friday, 28 December.
According to PTI, members cutting across party lines associated themselves with the demand raised by Teacher.
The CPI-M member accused the BJP-led NDA government of not fulfilling its commitment of pursuing the Women's Reservation Bill.