Parliament Session Highlights: SPG (Amendment) Bill passed in Rajya Sabha

Rajya Sabha passes The Special Protection Group (Amendment) Bill 2019 restricting use of elite SPG reported news agency PTI.

BJP's Neeraj Shekhar, son of former prime minister Chandra Shekhar and himself a former SPG protectee, says Special Protection Group should only be for the prime minister. Says there should be security check even for those under SPG cover.

Adds, today's youth doesn't like the VIP culture. Says, the BJP government wants to discontinue the VIP culture.

Adds, when the SPG cover for former PMs like VP Singh, Devegowda and others was removed, it wasn't questioned.

Vivek K Tankha of Congress speaking on the bill. Gives history of how the Act came into existence. Questions government's intention in bringing the amendment.

Mentions the security lapse at Priyanka Gandhi Vadra's residence. Asks the government to 'rise above party politics', says this is not a topic for politics.

The Special Protection Group (Amendment) Bill is tabled in the Rajya Sabha by Minister of State for Home G Kishan Reddy. Says there is no politics in this; the only consideration is that there should be no diversion from the security of the prime minister.

BJP's Mathura Member of Parliament Hema Malini, raised the issue of quality of education in Lok Sabha. She said, "At many places (rural) in my constituency, schools are being operated in open. Children in villages are not receiving quality education. I demand that public-private partnership model be implemented in school education.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday told the Lok Sabha that no pardon has been given to Balwant Singh Rajoana, who was convicted for the assassination of the then Punjab Chief Minister Beant Singh in 1995.

Shah made the announcement in the Lok Sabha while responding to Congress MP Ravneet Singh Bittu, Beant Singh's grandson, during Question Hour.

BJP MP Poonam Mahajan said in Lok Sabha, "Yesterday all MPs stood together on issue of rape and murder of Telangana doctor. But after some time, for someone whose name has 'patience' in it (referring to Congress MP Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury), he lost patience. What he said about finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman was very bad."

She further said, "It is you who is weak ( to Congress MP Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury) because you are standing for the safety and prestige of the woman of one particular family."

BJP MP Poonam Mahajan in Lok Sabha: Nirbal toh aap hain dada (Congress MP Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury) ki ek hi parivaar ki mahila ke liye aap khade hain and usi ke samaan aur suraksha ke liye lad rahe hain https://t.co/fr87XMTAo7

— ANI (@ANI) 3 December 2019

There was uproar in the Lok Sabha. The Bharatiya Janata Party MPs asked for an apology from Congress MP Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury over his statements on PM Modi, HM Amit Shah and FM Nirmala Sitharaman.

GK Reddy, Minister of State, Home, said in Lok Sabha, "I appeal to people of the nation to download '112' emergency helpline app. It's being implemented across the country. GRP and police at railway stations and CISF are providing security at airports. Money has been sanctioned to the states to implement '112' helpline."

BJP MP from Mathura, Hema Malini, speaking in Parliament premises on the incident of rape and murder of woman veterinarian in Telangana, said, "Everyday we are hearing these things happening to women, women being harassed. My suggestion is to keep the culprits in jail permanently, once they go in jail they should not be released at all."

Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MPs Sanjay Singh and Sushil Gupta held protest in Parliament premises against rise in onion prices. MP Sanjay Singh said, "32,000 tonnes onions rotted away, why didn't Centre take action? You can let onions rot away but cannot sell it at lower prices?"

Congress, IUML give adjournment motion notice in Lok Sabha over 'rising prices of onions'

Congress MP Kodikunnil Suresh says the party will raise the issue of security breach at Priyanka Gandhi Vadra's residence in Parliament today. "Congress party will raise this issue in Rajya Sabha today. In Lok Sabha our leaders will raise this issue today during the Zero Hour and we will move Adjournment Motion on this issue tomorrow," Suresh told ANI.

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Surendra Singh Nagar has given Zero Hour Notice in Rajya Sabha over 'mushrooming fake call centres in the country'.

Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha sessions begin