Kashmir issue dominates Rajya Sabha on first day of monsoon session: As it happened

CM Mufti and I discussed on how to start dialogue with civilians of Kashmir: Rajnath

It's name is Pakistan but its actions are 'napaak', says Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh

What happened in Kashmir is extremely condemnable. We communicated to J&K CM to show maximum restraint: Rajnath 

Forces have been told to use non-lethal weapons in Kashmir: Rajnath Singh in Rajya Sabha

We are ready to send medical specialists to Kashmir: Rajnath

We will use force on militants and sympathy on civilians: Rajnath Singh 

Kehne ko to woh Pakistan hai, lekin uski har harkat na-pak hai: Rajnath 

We will do everything to normalise situation in Jammu and Kashmir: Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh in Rajya Sabha

Everything which is happening is Pakistan sponsored: Rajnath

Pakistan is playing a dirty game in Kashmir: Rajnath

I told CM Mehbooba Mufti that I wanted to come and talk to people of Kashmir: Rajnath

I will talk to J&K CM about providing ration to all those people who arent able to leave their houses due to curfew: Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh

I am constantly in touch with J&K CM and whatever needs to be done to stabilise the state we will do it: Rajnath Singh

PM Modi's first meeting after arriving in India was a review meeting on J&K situation: Rajnath 

1744 injured civilians treated and have been discharged. 1671 security force personnel were injured and one jawan died: Rajnath

When PM Modi was on foreign tour, I didn't call him but he did. He inquired about Kashmir situation and steps to be taken: Rajnath Singh

We had asked forces to not use fatal weapons. 1948 civilians were injured, many already discharged: Rajnath

I want to inform everyone that I called the Govt in J&K asking everyone to exercise as much restraint as possible: Rajnath Singh

We are surer than ever that all political parties stand together to talk about the Kashmir issue, against terrorism: Rajnath Singh in Rajya Sabha.

Excessive force has been used in J&K, action should be taken over that - Yechury

On what basis do you talk about winning hearts when bullets are being fired in J&K, says CPM leader Sitaram Yechury.

In a faux pax, Samajwadi Party leader Naresh Agrawal refers to Pakistan-occupied Kashmir as Azad Kashmir in Parliament.

No nation would allow itself to just sit and watch when its unity and integrity is attacked - Jaitley

When mobs having thousands of people start attacking police stations and set them on fire, it is obvious that there would be some action from the security forces - Jaitley

It is important to unanimously appeal to youth in Kashmir to not join any protests so that security personnel aren't forced to take action - Jaitley

We would also expect the security forces to exercise maximum restrains while dealing with civilians and innocent people - Jaitley

How does one deal with civilians when protests turn violent and each person throws dozens of stones at the security forces - Jaitley

We also feel bad when innocents are hurt in such operations and in such situations. But security forces also can't keep silent when they are attacked - Jaitley

People were protesting against security forces, not the government - Jaitley  

Protests broke out in Kashmir following the death of Burhan Wani in an encounter - Jaitley

Thinking that everything is wrong only since the formation of the PDP-BJP government is incorrect - Jaitley

Security forces are attacked in Kashmir - Jaitley

The battle in J&K is not between parties but the country and separatists - Jaitley

The situation in Kashmir has not deteriorated either because of BJP-PDP coming together or because of some debate on TV over Kashmir - Jaitley

There are times when we should rise above political differences for the nation - Jaitley

Pakistan never reconciled to the idea of J&K being part of India - Jaitley

BJP and PDP joined hands for the sake of the nation, like the Congress and the PDP had formed government together in the past - Jaitley

The only option of government formation in J&K after polls was for the BJP and the PDP to come together - Jaitley

Don't need to recall here Congress' history in Kashmir - Jaitley

To think that it (the unrest) is in response to the formation of BJP-PDP government in Jammu and Kashmir would be politicising the issue - Jaitley

Finance Minister Arun Jaitley is now speaking in the Rajya Sabha.

I agree the situation is serious in Kashmir. But we must show statesmanship and rise above party politics - Jaitley

What is the reason behind the existing volatile situation despite there being curfew for 10 days? This means the wounds are so deep that a simple treatment is not healing - Azad

I am not saying that Kashmiri people had complete faith when Congress was in power, but there was a sense of trust in some corner - Azad

Governments are run on trust and faith, but the people of J&K have a sense of mistrust towards the current government - Azad

But we don't want to be with you in this, considering how the common man in Kashmir is being treated - Azad

We stand with the government in ending militancy but we don't support this kind of treatment with civilians - Azad

We are with you to end militancy: Azad in Rajya Sabha to government

Militancy ko khatam karne ke liye hum aapke sath hain: Ghulam Nabi Azad in Rajya Sabha to Government pic.twitter.com/gYP1tOX1w4

— ANI (@ANI_news) July 18, 2016

Shouldn't there be a difference between militants and the common public, asks Azad.

Should locals be treated in the same way as we treat militants? Should same bullets that are used on militants be used on innocents people of J&K? asks Azad in Rajya Sabha.

People have been killed in all 10 districts of J&K, maximum damage was done in four districts of South Kashmir - Azad

Starting a discussion in the Rajya Sabha on the Kashmir unrest issue, Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad said the prevailing situation in J&K has many aspects - internal situation, role of the State and Central government and external forces.

Parliament's Business Advisor Council allocates 5 hours for discussion GST Bill. No consensus has emerged yet.

Ghulam Nabi Azad and Anand Sharma have held talks with Finance Minister Arun Jaitley who has promised to come back with some concrete proposals, says Congress leader and Rajya Sabha MP P Chidambaram.

Let us see the draft which they bring, and we will respond: P Chidambaram,Congress #GST pic.twitter.com/E8bXS0y8Wm

— ANI (@ANI_news) July 18, 2016

Rajya Sabha adjourned till 2 pm.

Will speak in Parliament about the situation in Jammu and Kashmir, says MoS Home Kiren Rijiju

Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad has given notice in Rajya Sabha to discuss Kashmir unrest issue. Discussion likely at 2 pm today.

Meanwhile, TV news channel quoted sources as saying that the Goods and Services Tax (GST) Bill is unlikely to be taken up in Parliament soon.

This is because the Congress has told the government that it is busy for some time with preparations for the next year's polls in Uttar Pradesh. Also, MPs from the Trinamool Congress will be away from Parliament in Kolkata for three days starting July 20.

Rajya Sabha has been adjourned till 12:13 pm. The Business Advisory Committee of Rajya Sabha will meet today at 1 pm.

Lok Sabha has been adjourned till tomorrow by Speaker Sumitra Mahajan after the House paid tributes Dalpat Singh Paraste, Lok Sabha MP from Shahdol (Madhya Pradesh), who passed away recently.

In the Rajya Sabha, newly-elected members are taking oath.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is introducing his newly-inducted ministers as well as those who have been elevated, in the Lok Sabha.

Parliament's Monsoon Session begins.

The mood all around is to take good decisions and move towards the path of progress: PM at the start of Parliament session

— PMO India (@PMOIndia) July 18, 2016

Delhi: TMC leaders protest against price rise at Gandhi Statue in Parliament premises #MonsoonSession pic.twitter.com/rXAl3rwDrH

— ANI (@ANI_news) July 18, 2016

#WATCH: PM Modi briefs the media as he arrives at the Parliament for #MonsoonSessionhttps://t.co/q5NlVsodQv

— ANI (@ANI_news) July 18, 2016

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ananth Kumar seeks cooperation of Opposition for smooth functioning of Parliament, says government is ready for discussion on Goods and Services Tax Bill.

Hope #MonsoonSession observes high standards of discussions and important decisions are made: PM Modi pic.twitter.com/jrG4W9PDIs

— ANI (@ANI_news) July 18, 2016

Ahead of the start of Parliament's Monsoon Session on Monday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has expressed hope that "everyone will work shoulder to shoulder to give the nation a direction".

"I spoke to all parties over the past few days. Everyone is in the mood to work shoulder to shoulder to give the nation a direction.

"I believe everyone wants to take good decisions in the upcoming session," PM Modi told reporters after reaching Parliament complex.

Delhi: PM Narendra Modi arrives at the Parliament for #MonsoonSession pic.twitter.com/2WgdaR1vYd

— ANI (@ANI_news) July 18, 2016

TMC gives notices to discuss price rise in Parliament. TMC MPs will also stage dharna on price rise at the Parliament entrance today.

On its part, the Congress said that it will support in Parliament any legislation that is in the nation's interest but offered no assurance.

Congress leader Jyotiraditya Scindia, who is the party chief whip in Lok Sabha, said, "GST issue was not discussed in the all-party meeting. With regard to GST, the government has still to revert to us on the three demands (raised by the party). There have been intermittent discussions, but no solution has come."

The three demands are one percent additional levy to be implemented by states, 18 percent cap on GST and setting up of a dispute resolution mechanism.

"We are still awaiting a concrete response from the government on these issues. It is very clear to the people of the country that this government is adamant," he added.

He said the Congress would raise in Parliament issues like inflation, unemployment, interference of the central government in state affairs and incidents like Kairana.

Another Congress MP and Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha, Ghulam Nabi Azad, said there should be a discussion in Parliament on the tense situation in Kashmir and that government should provide an answer.

Azad accused the government of using every trick to de-stabilise states ruled run by other parties and referred to Arunachal developments and various CMs targeting the Centre at the Inter-State Council meeting yesterday.

Though he did not refer to GST directly, he said the Congress will offer support to bills on merit.

"We have not taken any decision that we have to stop a bill. We will support on merit. We will support any bill which is in support of people, progress and growth," he said, as per PTI.

As many as 45 leaders from 30 parties attended Sunday's meeting where Home Minister Rajnath Singh, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, and Ministers of State for Parliamentary Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi and S.S. Ahluwalia were also present.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday reached out to the Opposition to seek its cooperation over the GST Bill observing that the issue was not about which government would get the 'credit' even as the Congress offered no assurance, saying it will support bills based on 'merit'.

He also urged all the political parties to keep national interest above all considerations and also welcomed suggestions for extending the sittings of parliament.

"Important bills, including the GST Bill, are to be taken up during the Monsoon Session beginning Monday and I hope that there would be meaningful discussions and outcomes during the session," PM Modi said at an all-party meeting convened by the government ahead of Parliament's session.

"We represent both the people and parties and there is a need to keep national interest above anything else," he added.

The contentious Constitution (122nd Amendment) Bill, 2014, known as the GST Bill was moved in the Upper House in August last year after being passed by Lok Sabha.

Sparks are set to fly as Parliament meets for the Monsoon Session beginning Monday, with the Opposition seeking to corner the treasury benches over a host of issues, including India's failure to secure NSG membership, the Supreme Court verdict on the Arunachal Pradesh and the tensions prevailing in Kashmir.

Also, BJP-led NDA government's decision to seek a report from the Law Commission on the proposal for introducing a Uniform Civil Code are likely to make the session a tempestuous affair.

On the other hand, the government is hopeful of a breakthrough on the key GST Bill, which it wants passed during the session, following a recent meeting between senior ministers and top Congress leaders.

On Friday, Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley and Information and Broadcasting Minister M Venkaiah Naidu had met Congress leaders Ghulam Nabi Azad and Anand Sharma to iron out differences on key clauses of the GST bill.

Besides the GST, another key legislation pending passage is the Whistle Blowers Protection (Amendment) Bill, 2015, which was moved in December last year but the discussion on it had remained inconclusive. In the Budget Session this year, this bill could not be taken up for debate.

In the Lok Sabha, important pending bills include the Consumer Protection Bill 2015 and the Benami Transactions (Prohibition) Amendment Bill, 2015.

The last few sessions of Parliament have seen frequent face-offs between the ruling and the opposition benches but the second part of the Budget Session saw a relative improvement as far the completion of government business was concerned.

The session comes at a time when the ruling BJP's morale is high after its maiden victory in Assam Assembly polls and its performance in Kerala and West Bengal elections.