New Delhi:

Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on Thursday said that TMC MP Kalyan Banerjee has submitted a written apology for his remarks against Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia besides apologising in the House.

As soon as the House met, some members belonging to the ruling alliance stood up to raise the issue of the remarks made by Banerjee.

However, Birla intervened and said whatever happened on Wednesday was unfortunate and no member should make any personal remark against any fellow member.

Without taking the name of Banerjee, he said any remark against women is in bad taste and it hurts their dignity and honour.

The speaker said agreements and disagreements are part of the democratic process but no member should make any personal remark against anyone.

“The member concerned had apologised (in the House). He has also given me in writing too,” he said and started with the day’s proceedings.

On Wednesday, there were verbal clashes when Banerjee was speaking in the House during a discussion on the amendments to the Disaster Management Act.

The TMC member had alleged non-cooperation by the central government during the COVID-19 pandemic, but Minister of State for Home Nityanand Rai countered it, saying it was Prime Minister Narendra Modi who helped all the states and successfully handled the crisis by taking everyone along.

Rai also alleged that the West Bengal government tried to put hurdles in the transportation of the Covid vaccines through the state.

Scindia stood up to support Rai, saying that India had emerged as a “Vishwa Bandhu” during the pandemic and helped all the needy countries across the world.

Following this, Banerjee attacked Scindia and made certain remarks against the minister which were expunged by the Speaker after an uproar.

The verbal spat between the treasury and opposition benches led to adjournment.

When the House reconvened, Banerjee apologised for his remarks, but Scindia refused to accept it, saying the opposition members should desist from making personal attacks.

“Mr Kalyan Banerjee rose in this House and said sorry. But I will say that we all come to this House with the spirit of contributing to the nation’s development… but we also come with a sense of self-respect.

“Any individual in their lives will not stand compromising with their self-respect. Attack us on our policies, on our views, but if you will get personal, certainly be prepared for the response,” the Union minister said.

“He has apologised… I do not accept his apology for the personal attack that he had made on me and on the women of India,” he said.

Banerjee apologised again but protests from treasury benches continued leading to two more adjournments of the House. 

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

Jyotiraditya Scindia. File

Union Steel Minister Jyotiraditya M. Scindia held a meeting with five task forces and discussed a range of issues, including incentivising green steel production and financing options for decarbonising the industry.

“Key stakeholders, industry experts and government officials attended the meeting to discuss ways to achieve sustainability and decarbonisation in steel production on Thursday,” the Ministry of Steel said in a statement on September 29.

The meeting was also attended by Steel Secretary Nagendra Nath Sinha, chairpersons of the five task forces and other senior officials.

“Held a fruitful discussion with 5 of our 13 task forces. Defined a roadmap to tackle inevitable challenges through a multi-pronged approach, including renewable energy uptake, skill development, incentives, and potential pathways for decarbonisation,” the Minister said.

“The task force on Finance, led by Sunil Mehta, the Chief Executive of Indian Banks’ Association, provided valuable insights into financing options for decarbonising the Indian steel industry,” the Ministry said.

The Renewable Energy Transition Task Force, under Aniruddha Kumar, proposed policy drivers to incentivise the adoption of renewable power and measures to attract industries to set up captive renewable power facilities.

Skill Development Task Force focussed on identifying the skilling, upskilling and re-skilling of manpower for the steel industry for ensuring the just transition.

The task force on energy efficiency led by Ashok Kumar Tripathy, an Independent Director of SAIL, gave recommendations for boosting energy efficiency solutions for integrated steel plants and secondary steel industries.

The process transition task force deliberated on ways to promote the use of natural gas and syngas in direct reduced iron plants, aiming to reduce carbon emissions from these facilities by moving away from coal-based feedstock.

The Ministry of Steel had earlier constituted 13 task forces with the engagement of the industry, academia, think tanks, various Ministries and other stakeholders to discuss, deliberate and recommend ways to decarbonise the steel sector and promote green steel production.