After two adjournments today, the lower house discussed the situation in Ukraine under Rule 193 after the opposition benches raised slogans over the recent hike in fuel prices. Congress MP Manish Tewari and Kollam RSP MP NK Premachandran expressed their concern regarding the evacuation. The operational and management of foreign policy from both a diplomatic and economic point of view.
Here are the latest updates:
3:55 pm
Congress’s Shashi Tharoor says there is only one foreign policy and it belongs to India, not any political party
On the human condition and evacuationThere is no doubt that we are all incredibly grateful for the success of Operation Ganga and the return of 23,000 Indians, says Thiruvananthapuram MP. “But it should be noted that while we commend the embassy for starting to register students in Ukraine early in the process, it is also true that some other embassies were quick to evacuate people, and I think there is no harm in admitting it.”
“For example, we did not have adequate domestic transport system in Ukraine, many students had to travel very long distances to eventually reach the border points and this is something that we need to keep in mind for future situations. ,” says the Congress member.
Talking about the positive side, Mr. Tharoor says that the government was very quick to make excellent arrangements in Ukraine’s neighboring countries so that our people can be evacuated once they reach there, “but in bringing them to those countries, I’m afraid, we were probably missing something.”
He also pointed out that India’s “propaganda” to neighboring countries was unfortunate, and appreciated India’s aid efforts for Ukraine.
On India’s stand in the United Nations: At the United Nations, we could have been stronger in language against Russia’s actions. We have a special partnership with Russia, we respect that, but in this instance Russia has resorted to the use of force. We can be indebted to the Soviet Union for its support, but that includes both Russia and Ukraine. In terms of India’s defense imports and reliance on Russia, he says the seller needs the buyer, as well as the other side.
“Refusing to condemn Russia is not the same as supporting Russia’s actions. We must also remember that Russia, a junior partner of China, will be of great concern to India.
3:42 pm
BJD’s Pinaki Mishra praised the Non-Aligned Movement
“There is no doubt that non-alignment, which has been the cornerstone of our policy for the last 75 years, has put us in a good position,” says Puri, the Odisha MP.
“I am glad that the government stood up to the hectoring by the US, officials and even US President Biden, who described India’s situation as unstable. Their own policies have been unstable.”
On India’s stand on the situation, Mr Mishra says India should look at Russia-China axis Which will be stronger now. “There is also an increased expectation that India should play peacemakerThe Prime Minister should play an active role in the ceasefire in the war. ,
3:38 pm
Union Petroleum Minister on hike in fuel prices says: “India has not increased petrol prices like other countries..While US and others have increased y 50%, we have increased only 5% ”
3:30 pm
Petroleum Minister Hardeep Puri talks on Russia-Ukraine situation
Mr Puri says he was one of the special envoys deputed to Ukraine’s neighboring countries after Russia’s military operation began.
“Anyone who is familiar with foreign and security policy issues and who sees global hotspots will know that when tensions are escalating, determination is needed. Time is of the essence.”
On questions raised by opposition lawmakers about the evacuation mission, he says: “We made preparations for the evacuation in early January. Some criticized our advice for not being strong enough. The truth is that 4,000 people left on advice, the rest stayed for a variety of reasons, including those who were worried about their colleges canceling attendance.
Mr Puri defended against the central government’s allegations that it did not evacuate students directly from Ukraine but from neighboring countries. He says many students were brought in buses organized by the government, adding that the PM was talking to other leaders at every point.
Appreciating the evacuation mission, he says: “Op Ganga was one of the best, most efficient evacuations done anywhere, anytime.
3:15 pm
DMK’s Sumati Thangapandian says India should be the negotiator between Russia and Ukraine
The MP from Chennai South says: “The West may criticize us but India has taken a tough stand on its policy. We must play the role of negotiator between Russia and Ukraine.”
He argues that while members appreciate Operation Ganga, they should point out that the students had to reach the border on their own, and thus it was not an evacuation operation, but a “transport operation”.
On the education of medical students who returned from Ukraine, she says: “We oppose the NEET rules that make it difficult for students to study in India and force them to go abroad.”
Emphasizing that India must make a choice, Ms. Thangapandian says that Russia is targeting civilians, hospitals etc and India must take moral responsibility for the crisis.
“India cannot be Hamletian, thinking of being or not. PM is talking of Vasudhaiv Kutumbakam (world is one family) but then India should speak truth to power.
MP asks how can Russia say it is de-nazifying Ukraine?
“How is this possible when Zelensky belongs to a holocaust-victim family? Russia has also violated its BRICS obligation, as reported in The Hindu last month.
2:50 pm
BJP MP Brijendra Singh lauds India’s evacuation efforts
“The efforts made by the government and the Ministry of External Affairs in coordination with Russia, Ukraine and neighboring countries are commendable,” says Mr. Singh.
He says the government needs to work on a medium to ensure students from Ukraine complete their education.
On India’s stand on the crisis, he says: “India has taken the same stance in past conflicts with Russia. We are also in a good position with Quad Partners. Despite CAATSA sanctions, India went ahead with the S-400..Our policy has been consistent.
2:35 pm
Congress MP Manish Tewari says government’s actions with students in flight dilute the goodwill generated by operations
Complimenting the government for the evacuation, Congress MP Manish Tewari pointed out that the government has a long tradition of evacuation including those done in Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya etc. However, he expressed regret over the “chest thumping” with the students on the ship. The evacuation for raising the slogan praises the government. The MP said it undermines the goodwill generated by the operation.
2:05 pm
Need introspection and critical analysis whether we acted immediately: RSP MP NK Premachandran on evacuation of students from Ukraine
The Kollam MP congratulated the government for Operation Ganga, saying that in order to improve the entire evacuation process, it should have taken “quick and cautious steps”. He said the first advisory issued on February 15 by the Indian government and the embassy in Ukraine lacked clarity and direction. He compared the advisory issued to the United States on February 11, which explicitly asked its citizens to travel to the country and to forbid American citizens in Ukraine to leave immediately. What he referred to as a strategic loophole of the evacuation process.
He told the House that the Donbass, Kyiv and Sumy, instead of those in western Ukraine, where, he said, there was no conflict or fighting.
Mr Premachandran asked the Health Ministry to take the initiative to address the issues related to the future of the evacuated medical students. He also praised Naveen Shekhappa’s parents, who donated their late son’s body for medical purposes.
On the diplomatic front, Mr Premachandran said he agreed with the External Affairs Minister’s stand on Ukraine. However, he pointed to US President Joe Biden’s criticism of India’s stance as unstable and cautioned efforts to circumvent the financial sanctions imposed on Russia. He said India’s absence from voting in the UN Security Council and the UN General Assembly on Russia’s aggression has the potential to upset the anti-Russian camp as India is losing its democratic credentials. He said India’s statements lacked condemnation of the attack.
2:00 pm
Lower house proceedings begin after adjournment
The House discussed Ukraine. MPs NK Premchandaran and Manish Tewari will speak on this issue.
12:14 pm
House proceedings adjourned till 2 pm, second adjournment in the same day
Speaker Rajendra Agrawal adjourned the house till 2 pm after members of the opposition repeatedly raised slogans and displayed banners. They were protesting the recent hike in fuel prices.
Before the adjournment, Srinagar MP Farooq Abdullah was raising his concerns regarding the Jammu and Kashmir Public Service Commission (JK PSC). He said the commission gave seven days’ notice to conduct the main examination instead of thirty. The Srinagar MP said while 37 and 42 years was an eligible age criterion in many states, the decision to lower the age would affect many applicants in the state from taking the exam.
12:00 pm
After the adjournment of the house, started under the chairmanship of MP Rajendra Agrawal.
The lower house resumed after Meerut MP Rajendra Agarwal took the chair. The opposition is raising slogans and showing banners against the recent hike in fuel prices.
11:25 am
House adjourned till 12 noon amid sloganeering by opposition benches
The opposition benches, since the beginning of the session, have been raising slogans and demanding a discussion regarding the recent hike in fuel prices. Telangana MPs are also demanding the central government to start procurement of rice from the state.
The lower house was raising questions related to food processing and rural development in the country.
The opposition members reached the Speaker’s chair before the adjournment was called.
11:05 am
Telangana MPs put up banners demanding the central government to start the process of rice procurement
Several MPs from Telangana displayed banners demanding the purchase of rice by the central government. The Telangana Rashtra Samithi-led state government in Telangana has been insisting that 90% of the paddy produced in the state should be procured by the central government, along with meeting the remaining procurement of rice for the last rabi season.
The Center has said that it has sufficient stock of boiled paddy which will last for four more years. Therefore, they will not be able to procure more than what is promised by the Central Procurement Agency, the Food Corporation of India (FCI).
11:00 am
Proceedings begin with Question Hour in Lok Sabha
The proceedings begin with opposition benches raising slogans and demanding withdrawal of the recent hike in fuel prices. Leader of the Opposition and Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury asked the chair to discuss it.
10.30 am
business list
1. Union External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar will introduce the Weapons of Mass Destruction and their Delivery System (Prohibition of Unlawful Activities) Amendment Bill, 2022.
2. Arjun Munda will move the Constitution (Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes) Order (Amendment) Bill, 2022 for consideration and passing.
3. The MPs will discuss the situation in Ukraine.
4. Papers and reports to be laid on the Table
5. Question Hour
at 10.00 am
Day 15 Recap
After being introduced and debated in the session, the House passed the Criminal Procedure (Identity) Bill, 2022. Union Home Minister Amit Shah addressed the House on the bill, after which many opposition MPs opposed it raising questions and concerns.
Responding to the discussion on the Bill, Mr Shah said, “I request those concerned about the human rights of prisoners to also worry about the human rights of those who are affected by criminals. You are worried about robbers, rapists…but this is the Narendra Modi government; It is our duty to care about the rights of law-abiding people.”