Parliament Diary

Rajya Sabha adjourned in the first half of the day due to disruptions. Proceedings resumed in the afternoon and the Jallianwala Bagh National Memorial Amendment Bill was passed. 

The Act provides for the construction of a National Memorial in memory of those killed or wounded in the Jallianwala Bagh massacre in Amritsar in 1919. In addition, it creates a Trust to manage the National Memorial.

The Bill amends the composition of the trust to remove the President of the Indian National Congress as a Trustee.  Further, it clarifies that when there is no Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha, then the leader of the single largest opposition party will be the Trustee.

Then, the House took up the Surrogacy Regulation Bill. The Bill prohibits commercial surrogacy, and allows altruistic surrogacy. Altruistic surrogacy involves no monetary compensation to the surrogate mother other than the medical expenses and insurance coverage during the pregnancy. The Bill also provides the eligibility criteria for the intending couple and the surrogate mother. Discussions ensued and Rajya Sabha adjourned without passing the Bill.  

In the Lok Sabha, opposition Members initiated a discussion on air pollution and climate change. Members raised issues such as vehicular pollution, the effectiveness of odd-even rule, and stubble burning and proposed solutions including installation of air purifying towers. MPs also made references to the Paris Climate Agreement and steps India has taken towards its commitments.