New Delhi:
Marshals, the well-built men who are often seen with the chairpersons of Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, made a stunning debut in new military-inspired uniforms on the first day of the Winter Session of Parliament on Monday. The new uniform was radically different from the previous attire, which was very traditional. Earlier, the Marshals used to wear turbans and bandhgalas. This is third such change of Marshals; uniform. Previously, during then Speaker Meira Kumar’s time, the attire underwent a design change. The new look has some military essence with a cap, however the colour is a bit changed with the olive green. The Rajya Sabha is completing its 250th session this year. The house has 245 members and was constituted in 1952. On November 26, the Constitution will complete 70 years. A joint session has been summoned for the occasion.
The Winter Session of Lok Sabha on Monday began on a stormy note, with protests by the Congress and other Opposition members over various issues. Soon after oath-taking of four members and paying condolences to members of Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha who died in recent months, Opposition members sought to raise various issues. Within minutes of commencement of the Question Hour, around 30 members from the Congress trooped into the Well, shouting slogans and demanding that the government stop attacking the Opposition as well as foisting false cases. The members along with those from the National Conference also raised the issue of detention of former J-K Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah.
Besides the passage of the Citizenship (amendment) bill, the government also plans to convert two crucial ordinances into law during the session. One ordinance reducing corporate tax rate for new and domestic manufacturing companies to arrest slowdown in the economy and boost growth was issued in September to give effect to amendments in the Income Tax Act, 1961 and Finance Act, 2019. The second ordinance, also issued in September, banned sale, manufacture and storage of e-cigarettes and similar products.
This is the second Parliament session of the BJP-led NDA government which returned to power with a greater mandate in the Lok Sabha elections. This session is historic as the 250th Parliament session of the Rajya Sabha.
Meanwhile, to mark 70 years of the adoption of Indian Constitution, a joint sitting of the both houses of Parliament will be held on November 26 and is likely to be addressed both by President Ram Nath Kovind and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, sources said. Vice-president Venkaiah Naidu, who is also the Rajya Sabha chairman and Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla will also be present and may make intervention on the event, said sources. Besides the members of both houses of the Parliament, former presidents and prime ministers too are expected to attend the event, which will be held in the Central Hall of the Parliament, they said.
The joint sitting will start on November 26 forenoon and and is likely to last for more than two hours. The function will be similar to the midnight session of the both houses of Parliament, held in June 2017 to launch the new indirect tax regime GST.
The Constitution was adopted by the Constituent Assembly of India on November 26, 1949 and became effective from 26 January 1950. It became the country's fundamental governing document. An original copy of the Constitution is kept in the Parliament library.
