Farmers Movement Archive

New normal? Parliament does business amid din

NEW DELHI: Amid din, Lok Sabha passed two bills on Thursday within a few minutes before being adjourned for the day as opposition members continued their protests on multiple issues, including Pegasus spyware row and farm laws. Rajya Sabha too passed the Factoring Regulation (Amendment) Bill, 2021, aimed at helping the MSME sector, in the midst of disruptions. The bill has already been passed by Lok Sabha. While the Airports Economic Regulatory Authority of India (Amendment) Bill, 2021, moved by Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia, took 13 minutes to be passed, the second one, Inland Vessels Bill, 2021, moved by Shipping and Waterways Minister Sarbananda Sonowal, got the House’s nod with a voice vote in six minutes. RSP member N K Premachandran condemned the move of passing the legislations in that manner when House was not in order. Premchandran wanted to move an amendment to the Inland Vessels Bill. In Rajya Sabha, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman moved the bill to amend laws to help the MSME sector soon after the Lunch recess. As the Opposition MPs crowded the Well and shouted slogans, she sought to underline how the bill would provide relief to the sector with a smoother capital cycle and healthier cash flow. “It is a very important bill which will benefit the MSMEs of this country because a difficulty is constantly expressed by the MSME that their receivables are getting delayed. As a result there is a provision of selling their receivables to a third party. If the third party is going to make an immediate availability of funds, they shall be able to move their business smoothly,” said Sitharaman. The bill was passed after a mere 15-minute discussion, during which TRS MP K R Suresh Reddy, while supporting the legislation, said it should have been more comprehensive in benefiting the MSMEs. AIADMK MP M Thambi Durai pointed out the delayed payment woes of MSMEs.

The Times of India

2021-07-30

India