Parliament highlights: The Rajya Sabha will today debate on electoral reforms, including ‘One Nation, One Election’ bid, electoral bonds and Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs). On Tuesday, the government introduced in the Lok Sabha a bill providing for the supersession of Medical Council of India for a period of two years.

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3:09 pm IST Government has the right to proceed against corrupt officials on the basis of available evidence: Jitendra Singh Union Minister, Jitendra Singh in Lok Sabha, today: As per the applicable Disciplinary Rules, Government has the right to proceed against corrupt officials on the basis of available evidence. Government has absolute right to retire government officials prematurely on ground of lack of integrity. Union Min, Jitendra Singh in Lok Sabha, today: As per the applicable Disciplinary Rules, Government has the right to proceed against corrupt officials on the basis of available evidence. Govt has absolute right to retire Govt officials prematurely on ground of lack of integrity. pic.twitter.com/gHqcBG1VEV — ANI (@ANI) July 3, 2019





2:51 pm IST Uproar in Lok Sabha as DMK member objects to Kiran Bedi’s tweet Opposition members in the Lok Sabha on Wednesday rushed to the Well of the House after DMK member T R Baalu raised objections over a tweet by Puducherry Lt Governor Kiran Bedi, reports PTI. This is for the first time that opposition members have entered the well of the House in the new Lok Sabha. Leader of the DMK in Lok Sabha Baalu cited a tweet by Bedi and said it “belittled” state MPs. He also sought government’s reply on this.





2:30 pm IST I have already submitted my resignation and I am no longer the party president: Rahul Gandhi Rahul Gandhi: Party should decide on the new president quickly without further delay, I am nowhere in this process. I have already submitted my resignation and I am no longer the party president. CWC should convene a meeting at the earliest and decide, reports news agency ANI.





2:27 pm IST Demand made in Rajya Sabha to increase size of ‘pucca’ homes under PMAY A demand was made in the Rajya Sabha on Wednesday to increase the size of ‘pucca’ homes being constructed under the flagship housing scheme Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY), reports news agency PTI. The government said the scheme is being implemented in consultation with state governments. “Under the scheme, the prescribed size is 30 square metre pucca home with a toilet and kitchen, etc. If there are suggestions, the state government can provide,” Housing and Urban Affairs Minister Hardeep Singh Puri said during the Question Hour in the Upper House. The demand was made by BJP MP from Gujarat C K Gohel.





2:26 pm IST Televisions worth Rs 7,224 crore imported in 2018-19: Ravi Shankar Prasad Televisions worth Rs 7,224 crore were imported in 2018-19, with more than half of such imports coming from China, according to government data, reports PTI. The value of total television imports last financial year was higher than Rs 4,962 crore recorded in 2017-18. Minister of Electronics and Information Technology Ravi Shankar Prasad told the Lok Sabha that government has taken several steps for promotion of domestic manufacturing of televisions, including rationalisation of tariff structure and exclusion of flat panel (LCD/ LED/ Plasma) televisions from duty free allowance under baggage rules.





2:17 pm IST RJD MP Manoj Kumar Jha raises the issue of discrimination in educational institutions RJD MP Manoj Kumar Jha raises the issue of discrimination in educational institutions.





1:59 pm IST International Arbitration Centre Bill introduced in Lok Sabha A bill to set up an independent and autonomous regime for institutionalised domestic and international arbitration was introduced in Lok Sabha on Wednesday, reports PTI. The New Delhi International Arbitration Centre (NDIAC) Bill, 2019, seeks to replace an ordinance issued in March this year by the previous government. It provides for setting up of an independent and autonomous body for institutional arbitration and to acquire and transfer undertakings of the International Centre For Alternative Dispute Resolution (ICADR) to the New Delhi International Arbitration Centre (NDIAC) with effect from March 2 this year.





1:58 pm IST I will go and vote if I receive a whip: Alpesh Thakor Alpesh Thakor, Rebel Congress MLA from Radhanpur (Gujarat) on reports that Gujarat Congress has issued a whip to its MLAs ahead of Rajya Sabha elections: I haven’t received the whip yet, I will go and vote if I receive a whip. Alpesh Thakor, Rebel Congress MLA from Radhanpur (Gujarat) on reports that Gujarat Congress has issued a whip to its MLAs ahead of Rajya Sabha elections: I haven't received the whip yet, I will go and vote if I receive a whip. pic.twitter.com/zYpQszImfN — ANI (@ANI) July 3, 2019





1:39 pm IST Need few lakh crores to eliminate level crossings: Piyush Goyal The Railways need a few lakh crore rupees and a few years to eliminate all 21,000 manned level crossing across the country, Railway Minister Piyush Goyal said in Lok Sabha on Wednesday, reports PTI. Goyal said there were 21,340 Manned Level Crossings (MLCs) and 1,048 Unmanned Level Crossings (UMLCs) in the country as on April 1, 2019. “We need a few lakh crores rupees and a few years to completely eliminate all 21,000 manned level crossings,” he said during Question Hour.





1:18 pm IST Our government is taking steps to solve the water issue soon: SP Velumani SP Velumani,Tamil Nadu Water Minister in assembly to DMK on water crisis: We have seen protests in some areas. How do they have new pots in their hands? Protesters should not disturb public. Our government is taking steps to solve the water issue soon. SP Velumani,Tamil Nadu Water Minister in assembly to DMK on water crisis: We have seen protests in some areas. How do they have new pots in their hands? Protesters should not disturb public. Our government is taking steps to solve the water issue soon (file pic) pic.twitter.com/dxNz97rGeZ — ANI (@ANI) July 3, 2019





1:09 pm IST 87 ‘aspirational districts’ connected with rly network: Piyush Goyal As many as 87 of the 115 ‘aspirational districts’ in the country have been connected with the rail network, Railway Minister Piyush Goyal said in Lok Sabha on Wednesday, reports PTI. His remarks came in response to a question on whether the government has any proposal to revamp all railway stations of aspirational districts in the near future. “Out of 115 aspirational districts, so far 87 districts have been connected with Indian Railways network,” he said during the Question Hour.





1:08 pm IST 1,253 railway stations identified for upgradation: Piyush Goyal As many as 1,253 railway stations have so far been identified for upgradation under the ‘Adarsh’ station scheme, Railway Minister Piyush Goyal said in Lok Sabha on Wednesday, reports PTI. Goyal said during 2018-19, additionally, 68 stations have been substantially upgraded through zonal railways under the work of ‘Soft upgradation of stations’. “Presently, upgradation of stations is done under ‘Adarsh’ station scheme. 1,253 stations have so far been identified for upgradation under the ‘Adarsh’ station scheme,” he said during the Question Hour.





1:06 pm IST From Lalu ji’s time till today there has been no improvement in condition of medical colleges in Bihar: Gopal Narayan Singh Gopal Narayan Singh,BJP MP: From Lalu ji’s time till today there has been no improvement in condition of medical colleges in Bihar.There is shortage of doctors since then,neither has Govt paid attention.Filing affidavit in SC doesn’t solve anything,it is weakness of Bihar government. Gopal Narayan Singh,BJP MP: From Lalu ji's time till today there has been no improvement in condition of medical colleges in Bihar.There is shortage of doctors since then,neither has Govt paid attention.Filing affidavit in SC doesn't solve anything,it is weakness of Bihar Govt pic.twitter.com/HruBqEbX8J — ANI (@ANI) July 3, 2019





1:03 pm IST All governments make ministries, but for women and children: Jaya Bachchan Jaya Bachchan, Samajwadi Party MP, on her zero hour notice in Rajya Sabha today over safety of women and children: There is apathy. All the governments make ministries, but for women and children, no development takes place. There is a lot of difference in saying and doing. Jaya Bachchan, Samajwadi Party MP, on her zero hour notice in Rajya Sabha today over safety of women and children: There is apathy. All the governments make ministries, but for women & children, no development takes place. There is a lot of difference in saying and doing. pic.twitter.com/GYXT49oUr3 — ANI (@ANI) July 3, 2019





12:58 pm IST Piyush Goyal slams Congress over Rae Bareli coach factory issue Railway Minister Piyush Goyal Wednesday hit back at the Congress over the issue of corporatisation of the Rae Bareli rail coach factory, saying the party only made announcements and not a single coach was made till 2014. A day after UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi opposed corporatisation of the rail coach factory, Congress leader in the Lok Sabha Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury raised the issue during the Question Hour.





12:54 pm IST More effective steps needed to deal with obscene ads: Prakash Javadekar Information and Broadcasting Minister Prakash Javadekar Wednesday said “more effective steps” are needed to deal with obscenity and vulgarity in advertisements in the media. Responding to concerns raised by SP member Ram Gopal Yadav in the Rajya Sabha during the Zero Hour, the minister said as many as 6,700 complaints have been dealt with, reports PTI.





12:53 pm IST MoS Home Nityanand Rai in Rajya Sabha denies that Government has cleared the name ‘Bangla’ for West Bengal MoS Home Nityanand Rai in Rajya Sabha denies that Government has cleared the name ‘Bangla’ for West Bengal as proposed by West Bengal Government. The question was asked by Rajya Sabha MP Ritabrata Banerjee. MoS Home Nityanand Rai (file pic) in Rajya Sabha denies that Government has cleared the name 'Bangla' for West Bengal as proposed by West Bengal Government. The question was asked by Rajya Sabha MP Ritabrata Banerjee. pic.twitter.com/m053FtSpj0 — ANI (@ANI) July 3, 2019





12:12 pm IST There is no proposal to scrap the provision under the IPC dealing with the offence of sedition: Nityanand Rai MoS Home Nityanand Rai in Rajya Sabha on being asked if Government is mulling to scrap sedition law: There is no proposal to scrap the provision under the IPC dealing with the offence of sedition. MoS Home Nityanand Rai in Rajya Sabha on being asked if Government is mulling to scrap sedition law: There is no proposal to scrap the provision under the IPC dealing with the offence of sedition. (File pic) pic.twitter.com/QW2yvlHARQ — ANI (@ANI) July 3, 2019





11:55 am IST Congress’s Madhusudan Mistry talks about the judicial custody deaths. Congress’s Madhusudan Mistry talks about the judicial custody deaths. He calls for police reforms.





11:50 am IST MPs from other Left parties also protest demanding withdrawal of GST on job works Delhi: MPs from other Left parties also present at the protest in front of Mahatma Gandhi statue at the Parliament demanding withdrawal of GST on job works, reports news agency ANI.





11:33 am IST Congress’ Pratap Singh Bajwa raises the issue of narco-terrorism in Punjab. Congress’ Pratap Singh Bajwa raises the issue of narco-terrorism in Punjab.





11:16 am IST TR Baalu has given adjournment motion notice in Lok Sabha over “derogatory and insulting remarks by Puducherry LG” DMK MP TR Baalu has given an adjournment motion notice in the Lok Sabha over “derogatory and insulting remarks by Puducherry LG”, reports news agency ANI.





11:15 am IST SP MP Jaya Bachchan cites data regarding crimes against women and children and calls for action Samajwadi Party MP Jaya Bachchan in her zero-hour address cites data regarding crimes against women and children and calls for action.





10:57 am IST Anto Antony Punnathaniyil has given Adjournment Motion Notice in LS, to stop depicting Mahatma Gandhi picture on beer bottle in Israel Congress MP Anto Antony Punnathaniyil has given Adjournment Motion Notice in Lok Sabha, to stop depicting Mahatma Gandhi picture on beer bottle in Israel, reports news agency ANI.





10:45 am IST CPI(M) MPs hold protest in front of Mahatma Gandhi statue at Parliament demanding withdrawal of GST on job works CPI(M) MPs hold protest in front of Mahatma Gandhi statue at the Parliament demanding withdrawal of GST on job works. CPI(M) MPs hold protest in front of Mahatma Gandhi statue at the Parliament demanding withdrawal of GST on job works pic.twitter.com/tS3Loj5zZF — ANI (@ANI) July 3, 2019





10:30 am IST Suresh Kodikunnil has given Adjournment Motion Notice in LS over matter of issuing SC Certificate to 17 OBC communities in UP Congress MP Suresh Kodikunnil has given Adjournment Motion Notice in Lok Sabha over matter of issuing SC Certificate to 17 OBC communities in Uttar Pradesh, reports news agency ANI.





10:20 am IST Congress MP Pratap Singh Bajwa has given Zero Hour Notice in Rajya Sabha over ‘Narco terrorism’ in Punjab Congress MP Pratap Singh Bajwa has given Zero Hour Notice in Rajya Sabha over ‘Narco terrorism’ in Punjab. Congress MP Pratap Singh Bajwa has given Zero Hour Notice in Rajya Sabha over 'Narco terrorism' in Punjab. (File pic) pic.twitter.com/DlzVQYc5QD — ANI (@ANI) July 3, 2019





10:10 am IST Jaya Bachchan has given zero hour Notice in Rajya Sabha over safety of women and Children Jaya Bachchan, Samajwadi Party MP, has given zero hour Notice in Rajya Sabha over safety of women and Children, reports news agency ANI.



