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SYNOPSIS OF DEBATES (Proceedings other than Questions & Answers) ______

Tuesday, June 10, 2014 / Jyaishtha 20, 1936 (Saka) ______

OATH BY MEMBER

The following member took the oath, signed the Roll of member and took his seat in the House:-

Sl. Name of Member Constituency State Oath/ Language No. Affirmation

1 2 3 4 5 6 1. Shri Shibu Soren Dumka Jharkhand Oath Hindi

OBITUARY REFERENCES

HON. SPEAKER: Hon. Members, I have to inform the House about the sad demise of eleven of our former Members Shri G. Bhuvarahan, Shri S.

Mallikarjuniah, Shri Ram Dhari Shastri, Shri Shrish Chandra Dikshit, Shri

Ramnihore Rai, Shri Umakant Mishra, Dr. N. Janardhana Reddy, Shri Madan

Tiwary, Shri Jayarama I.M. Shetty, Shri R. Umanath and Shri Tapan Sikdar.

Shri G. Bhuvarahan was a Member of Fifth and Sixth Lok Sabha representing the Mettur and Cuddalore Parliamentary Constituencies respectively of Tamil Nadu. He was also a Member of Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly and served as Minister in the Government of Tamil Nadu. He was also the Leader of

Opposition in the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly during the period from 1967 to 1971.

Shri Bhuvarahan passed away on 23rd February, 2014 at Chennai at the age of 81.

Shri S. Mallikarjuniah was a Member of Tenth, Twelfth and Fourteenth Lok

Sabha representing Tumkur Parliamentary Constituency of Karnataka and served as Deputy Speaker during Tenth Lok Sabha from 1991 to 1996. Shri

Mallikarjuniah was also a Member of the Karnataka Legislative Council for four terms from 1971 to 1991 and served as Deputy Chairman of Karnataka Legislative

Council from 1985 to 1991. An able parliamentarian, Shri Mallikarjuniah served as Chairman and member of several Parliamentary Committees. A widely travelled person, Shri Mallikarjuniah was the leader of Indian Parliamentary

Delegation to Cameroon in 1992 and represented as a member in various

International Conferences.

Shri S. Mallikarjuniah passed away on 13th March, 2014 at Tumkur,

Karnataka at the age of 82.

Shri Ram Dhari Shastri was a Member of the Sixth Lok Sabha representing

Padrauna Parliamentary Constituency of Uttar Pradesh. Shri Shastri was a

Member of Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly from 1969 to 1974. He also served as Minister of State for Public Works in the Government of Uttar Pradesh. A veteran freedom fighter, Shri Shastri participated in the freedom struggle of the country and was incarcerated.

Shri Ram Dhari Shastri passed away on 2nd April, 2014 at Kushinagar, Uttar

Pradesh at the age of 88.

Shri Shrish Chandra Dikshit was a Member of Tenth Lok Sabha representing

Varanasi Parliamentary Constituency of Uttar Pradesh. He served as a Member of Joint Committee on Salaries and Allowances of Members of Parliament.

Shri Shrish Chandra Dikshit passed away on 8th April, 2014 at Rai Bareli,

Uttar Pradesh at the age of 88.

Shri Ramnihore Rai was a Member of Tenth Lok Sabha representing the

Robertsganj Parliamentary Constituency of Uttar Pradesh. Shri Rai served as

Member of the Committee on Welfare of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes during the Tenth Lok Sabha. He was also a Member of the Consultative

Committee in the Ministry of External Affairs. Shri Rai was also a Member of

Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly from 1969 to 1974.

Shri Ramnihore Rai passed away on 5th May, 2014 at Mirzapur, Uttar

Pradesh at the age of 80.

Shri Umakant Mishra was a Member of the Seventh and Eight Lok Sabha representing Mirzapur Parliamentary Constituency of Uttar Pradesh. Shri Mishra served as a Member of Committee on Estimates and the Library Committee during the Eight Lok Sabha. Shri Mishra also served as a Member of the Uttar Pradesh

Legislative Council from 1974 to 1981. Shri Umakant Mishra passed away on 7th May, 2014 at Lalganj, Uttar

Pradesh at the age of 87.

Dr. N. Janardhana Reddy was a sitting Member of Rajya Sabha and served as a Member of Rajya Sabha from 1972 to 1978 and 2009 to 2010. Dr. Reddy was also a Member of Twelfth, Thirteenth and Fourteenth Lok Sabha representing,

Bapatla, Narasaraopet and Visakhapatnam Parliamentary Constituencies of Andhra

Pradesh, respectively. A distinguished parliamentarian, Dr. Reddy served as

Chairman and Member of several Parliamentary Committees. He served as a

Member of Andhra Pradesh Legislative Council and Legislative Assembly from

1978 to 1984 and 1989 to 1994 respectively and served as the Chief Minister of

Andhra Pradesh from 1990 to 1992. He was also a Cabinet Minister in various capacities in the Government of Andhra Pradesh. A widely travelled person, Dr.

Reddy was the leader of Indian Parliamentary Delegation to International Human

Rights Conference held in Geneva in 1993 and also led the Farmers’ Delegation to the Royal Agricultural Exhibition organised in London in 1990.

Dr. N. Janardhana Reddy passed away on 9th May, 2014 in Hyderabad at the age of 79.

Shri Madan Tiwary was a Member of Sixth Lok Sabha representing

Rajnandgaon Parliamentary Constituency of Madhya Pradesh which now fall under Chhattisgarh. Shri Tiwary also served as a Member of Madhya Pradesh

Legislative Assembly from 1962 to 1972. A veteran freedom fighter and active social and political worker, Shri Tiwary worked relentlessly for the welfare of downtrodden, backward and other marginalized sections of the society. He has actively involved in different capacities on various labour welfare organizations.

Shri Madan Tiwary passed away on 14th May, 2014 in Nagpur, Maharashtra at the age of 91.

Shri Jayarama I.M. Shetty was a Member of the Twelfth Lok Sabha representing Udupi Parliamentary Constituency of Karnataka. Shri Shetty served as Member of Committee on Urban and Rural Development during the Twelfth

Lok Sabha. Shri Shetty was also a Member of Karnataka Legislative Assembly from 1994 to 1998.

Shri Jayarama Shetty passed away on 15th May, 2014 in Bengaluru,

Karnataka at the age of 63.

Shri R. Umanath was a Member of Third and Fourth Lok Sabha representing

Pudukkottai Parliamentary Constituency of the erstwhile State of Madras. Shri

Umanath served as a Member of the Committee on Private Members’ Bills and

Resolutions during the Third Lok Sabha and as a Member of the Rules Committee during the Fourth Lok Sabha.

Shri R. Umanath passed away on 21st May, 2014 at Tiruchirappalli at the age of 93.

Shri Tapan Sikdar was a Member of Twelfth and Thirteenth Lok Sabha representing Dum Dum Parliamentary Constituency of . Shri Sikdar was a Member of Committee on External Affairs and Committee on Finance during Twelfth Lok Sabha. An able administrator, Shri Sikdar served as Union Minister of State in the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology,

Chemicals and Fertilizers, Small Scale Industries and Development of North

Eastern Region during Thirteenth Lok Sabha.

Shri Tapan Sikdar passed away on 2nd June, 2014 in New Delhi at the age of

69.

We deeply mourn the loss of our colleagues and I am sure the House would join me in conveying our condolences to the bereaved families.

Hon. Members, in a tragic accident, twenty four students of an engineering college of Hyderabad are reported to have drowned in river Beas near Thalot village in Mandi district of Himachal Pradesh on 8 June, 2014. These youth were engineering students and future hope of our country. Their untimely deaths have really dealt a blow to the future of the youth of the country.

The House expresses its profound sorrow on this tragic accident which has brought pain and suffering to the bereaved families and also to all citizens of the country and wishes the injured a speedy recovery because they are also the future of this country.

The Members then stood in silence for a short while.

*MATTERS UNDER RULE 377

(i) DR. KIRIT SOMAIYA laid a statement regarding need to reduce the

gap between the platform and coaches and take other safety measures to

prevent train mishaps in Mumbai.

(ii) SHRI RATTAN LAL KATARIA laid a statement regarding need to

take steps to prevent incidents of rape and murder in different parts of the

country.

(iii) SHRI THUPSTAN CHHEWANG laid a statement regarding need to

upgrade the capacity of mobile telecommunication equipment in Leh &

Kargil districts of Jammu and Kashmir.

(iv) SHRIMTI JAYSHREEBEN PATEL laid a statement regarding need to

take steps to promote the use of Hindi in Government Offices and

Departments in the country.

(v) SHRI NISHIKANT DUBEY laid a statement regarding need to include

all the naxal affected districts of Santhal Pargana in Integrated Action

Plan.

(vi) SHRI RAVINDRA KUMAR PANDEY laid a statement regarding

need to provide adequate compensation as per the laid down norms to

people displaced due to acquisition of their land by CCL and BCCL and

Bokaro Steel Plant in Jharkhand.

* Laid on the Table as directed by the Speaker. (vii) SHRIMATI KAMLA PATLE laid a statement regarding need to

resume the Korba-Raipur Intercity train service and stoppage of various

trains at Akaltara, Baradwar and Sakti railway stations in Janjgir-Champa

Parliamentary Constituency in Chhattisgarh and also expedite

construction of over bridges and level crossing in the constituency.

(viii) SADHVI NIRANJAN JYOTI laid a statement regarding need to

expedite construction of roads under Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana

in Fatehpur district of Uttar Pradesh.

(ix) SHRI PASHUPATI NATH SINGH laid a statement regarding need to

accord the status of I.I.T. to Indian School of Mines, Dhanbad,

Jharkhand.

(x) KM. SUSHMITA DEV laid a statement regarding need to expedite

pending rail and road projects in Assam.

(xi) SHRI R. DHRUVANARAYANA laid a statement regarding need to set

up ECHS Polyclinics in Chamarajanagar Parliamentary Constituency in

Karnataka.

(xii) SHRI K. PARASURAMAN laid a statement regarding need to set up

Food Processing Business Incubation Centres in all Talkus in Tanjavur

district, Tamil Nadu

(xiii) PROF. SAUGATA ROY laid a statement regarding need for a

moratorium on payment of interest by debt stressed West Bengal. (xiv) DR. KULMANI SAMAL laid a statement regarding need to reinstate

contract-degree and diploma engineers in Paradip Port.

(xv) PROF. RAVINDRA VISHWANATH GAIKWAD laid a statement

regarding need to provide compensation to farmers who suffered

damaged to their crops due to untimely rains in Osmanabad district of

Maharashtra.

(xvi) SHRI P. KARUNAKARAN laid a statement regarding need to provide

a special financial package to Kerala for rehabilitation and treatment of

Endosulfan affected people in Kasargod district and other parts of the

State.

(xvii) SHRI JAI PRAKASH NARAYAN YADAV laid a statement regarding

need to take necessary steps to arrange land for Kendriya Vidyalaya in

Banka Parliamentary constituency, Bihar.

MOTION OF THANKS ON THE PRESIDENT’S ADDRESS

SHRI RAJIV PRATAP RUDY moving the motion said: I thank you for giving me an opportunity to speak on President’s Address. I would also like to say that we are here to work for nation building in the next five years. We have started with the slogan ek bharat shresth bharat . We have also said that we will take along all the parties in this direction. But, how has it been made possible? This has been made possible due to the efforts of a single person who is sitting in the first row of treasury benches. This is the same person who made direct contact with 125 crore people during elections which has not been done by any person in the history of the world. Today, BJP has been voted to power with 282 MPs in the country. After all, why did we get this mandate? We got it because the people had faith in us. The poor hoped that they would now get two square meals a day. The youth hoped that they will get jobs. The women hoped that they would get security and lower middle class hoped that they would get rid of price rise. That is why the whole country has reposed faith in BJP, the Prime Minister of the country and his whole Cabinet today. In this election people have given mandate to BJP so as to meet their hopes and aspirations. Despite the passage of 65 years since

Independence we have not been able to provide even the basic facilities like toilets to the people. Urban women want security. The lower middle class is pinning its hope on us to fight inflation. Workers want their wages on time while businessmen are hoping for the creation of a system in which they are not harassed in matters of taxation and find proper ambience for doing their business. Rich people want to create and increase their wealth and contribute to the nation building by adding to the government revenue. There are three parliamentary constituencies in Patna covering fifty thousand such people who are still deprived of the facility of power in their areas despite the passage of 65 years of

Independence. Today the entire country has reposed its faith in the Bhartiya Janata

Party and the hon. Prime Minister along with his Cabinet. We are sitting in this

House on the basis of this faith reposed in us by the people of the country. Even today 40 crore people of the country are living below the poverty line as per the official figures. This is a challenge before us. Today approximately 40 crore people are bereft of the facility of electricity and we have taken this shame lying down in this democracy. If we compare the situation with China we find China adds approximately 1 lakh Megawatt power every year while we are talking about generating 70 thousand Megawatt in five years. So everybody would agree that it is a challenge for us. Therefore, we have to set a target in respect of electricity generation in the country for the next ten years by tapping non-conventional energy sources hydel power or conventional means of power generation. We shall have to achieve this target of power generation which can become the foundation stone of development for the country and the Government is committed to it.

This country is producing 10 lakh unemployed youth every month. We have to take the example of China as how it addressed this problem of poverty. China decided to move nearly 40 crore people from the farm sector to the non-farm sector. However, we have a peculiar case in since 12 crore people are on the cusp of returning back to the farm sector which can only be attributed to the policy of the UPA Government. It is a worldwide trend that people have to move from farm to industrial sector in search of growth and development. However, in India the situation has become so dire during the last 10 years that 12 crore people from the industrial sector are poised to return to the farm sector. People expect the

Members of Parliament to provide employment either to them or to their family members. However, the situation is such that the entrepreneurs who could have created job opportunities here by making investment and by setting up industries in the country have decided to invest their capital to the tune of 50 lakh crore rupees abroad especially in America. As far as education is concerned there is not a single university in India which can be reckoned as one of the best hundred universities of the world. We have failed to create even a single institute of excellence during the last 65 years. Today, 45 per cent engineering graduates and

21 per cent MBA graduates in the country are not employable. We have to think over this situation. Today nearly 10 crore people in the country are facing water crisis and 50 per cent of the people in the country have to walk more than 5 kilometers to fetch drinking water. There is dearth of water for irrigation purpose.

All of us have to collectively find solution for this problem.

It is for the first time in the history of the country that the heads of state of ten countries including those of SAARC countries arrived here to participate in the oath taking ceremony of the Prime Minister. We also received positive signals of this cordial meeting very soon when as a matter of goodwill gesture Sri Lanka made an announcement to set our fishermen and their boats free from their captivity. Besides, informal talks with the Chinese Premier lasted for 45 minutes.

In the field of sports we have been performing below par and being a country of

120 crore people we are able to win only a few medals. Therefore, our

Government is committed to launch a national talent search scheme under which talented players from rural areas would be identified and trained to represent India on world fora. Now I would like to say something about the Railways. We don’t have any significant achievement to boast of except addition of a few thousand kilometers of railway line to what the Britishers had left for us. Our Government has a very clear cut vision for the Railways. Our Government is talking about rail corridors, freight corridor and the Golden Quadrilateral Network. As far as bureaucracy is concerned it is so paralyzed and fearful that they ask for clear cut written order by the Judiciary before they take any decision on files. So dismal has become the situation in the country that judicial intervention has become the order of the day. We are committed to change this situation. It is the long standing misgovernance which has resulted in blurring of roles and responsibilities of the bureaucrats and the politicians leading to confusion. Our Government is committed to change the situation. Present political system is suffering from several lacunae. Our Government intends to plug these loopholes.

SHRI RAM VILAS PASWAN seconding the motion moved by Shri Rajiv

Pratap Rudi said: The President’s Address is the vision of the Government and reflects the intention of the Government. India has a unique Parliamentary democracy. Today, queens do not give birth to kings, kings are born of ballot boxes. We are proud that our democracy is continuously gaining strength for the last sixty seven years and we also want to establish more robust democracy in the coming years. The present mandate is unique and has to be respected by all.

While Shri Narendra Modi was pledging to remove poverty, corruption and unemployment, you were striving not to let him come to power. Shrimati Indira

Gandhi won the election of 1971 on the slogan of ‘Gareebi Hatao’. When the disenchanted people try to elect someone else, you always term him as secular or communal. Have you forgotten the emergency era, the Hindu-Sikh riots, communal riots of Bhagalpur and the recent Muzaffarnagar riots? How long will you rant the Godhara incident which took place 12 years ago? Why are you trying to put a spoke in the moving wheel of the chariot of time? If the hon. Prime

Minister of India says that we will not tolerate any riot or crime, then you must have faith in his statement. The Address speaks of eradicating poverty instead of alleviation of poverty. There are no two opinions that India is divided into haves and have not. Today, the condition of the poor is worse. They do not get proper food or medicines. When the hon. President says ‘Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat’

He means that we are Indians first. When we say we are Indians it means that the national interest is supreme. The party or individual interest can be taken care of later.

Education system needs total revamping for the purpose of putting uniform education system for all in place. It is the Puna Pact through which the dalits got various rights as well as reservation. I thank the government led by Shri Narsimha

Rao for making provision of reservation in promotion. There was UPA

Government for the last ten years but it failed to pass a single Constitutional

Amendment for providing reservation in promotions. Today, the existing reservation policy is being governed by a government order. We have repeatedly demanded to convert this government order into an Act and hope that the new

Government will do this. As far as, the minority is concerned, the Government is committed to bring them into the main stream and to have zero tolerance for riots. Here people talk about majority and minority. When the people of the country are marching in one direction, then why some people are talking about Hindus or

Muslims. Are all the people of upper castes or lower castes or backwards or dalits, who voted for the government communal? All political parties are in favor of women reservation but it has not seen the light of the day. It is the Government of

Narendra Modi who has given maximum representation to women in the Cabinet since Independence. Hon’ble President has said ‘Beti Bachao, Beti Padao’. He also promised to give 33% reservation to women. Is there any objection to these issues? Why these should not be supported?

The younger generation has peculiar hopes and aspirations. His mindset transcends the barriers of caste, creed or religion. They are not prejudiced. We demand that a commission for youth be constituted. The Government has set forth the concept of linking of rivers. The country is facing flood on the one hand and drought conditions on the other. Once the work of linking of rivers is completed, no field will remain unirrigated and India will not be dependent on others. We will implement one rank one pension scheme. The Government of India provides subsidized ration to the poor. First it was given through Antyodaya Programme, then BPL and now Food Security Act is in place. In spite of all these efforts, the poor are not able to get rations. The supply of ration in Bihar is 4 lakh tonne against the demand of 23 lakh tonne. We are committed to provide ration to the poor and the cooperation of the State Governments is very important for this purpose. Many Governments are doing remarkable work in this regard. The Government of Tamil Nadu is distributing free ration and Chhattisgarh has excellent distribution system. The sugarcane growers in Uttar Pradesh are in distress. It is also said that we will maintain peace with our neighbouring countries. We are the big country and will play the role of elder brother. We will try to pick up the thread from where Shri Atal Bihari Vajpeyee left it. Who does not want to see a powerful Prime Minister at the Centre. We are powerful only when our country is powerful. There is no dearth of policy in the country but of intention. Our policies are clear and intention is clear so we will succeed.

SHRI MALLIKARJUN KHARGE: I welcome and support the motion of thanks on President’s Address moved by Shri Rudi Saheb and seconded by Shri

Ramvilas Paswan. How is the Government going to implement the schemes announced in the President’s Address? It would have been better if this was discussed. But, the Government skipped all that. We welcome the election of Mr.

Modi Saheb as the Prime Minister of India by the people of the country. The ruling party got only 31.32 per cent of votes. This means that 69 per cent of the people of this country do not subscribe to Government’s ideology. It is we who made this country strong. The country which could not even make a needle is now in a position, due to us, to send rocket to Mars. Whereas, the people once did not even have food to eat is now in a position to get foodgrains at Rs.3 per kg due to the Food Security Act passed by us. All these Public Sector Undertakings were established by the Congress Government itself. The Green Revolution as well as the White Revolution in Gujarat is due to the Congress Government. We gave employment to 4.75 crore of families through MNREGA. Annual growth rate which was 5.9 per cent during NDA regime was on an average 7.5 per cent during

UPA rule. Food production during NDA years till 2004 was 213 million tonnes now stands at 263 million tonnes. Power capacity which was 1,12,700 MW now after ten years is 2,34,600 MW. Before the election, it was published in the newspapers that Prime Minister had termed MNREGA as useless. Perhaps, he will come out with the clarification in this regard. You dislike Right to Education and

Mid-Day Meals meant for the poor. I am saying all these things because all these were done by us but we were unable to publicize it. Is Gujarat at the top in the matter of health, literacy and per capita income? On what count is Gujarat the number one state in the country. During the ten years of UPA rule expenditure on health was Rs.36,322 crore as compared to Rs.7248 crore. Till the end of NDA regime, the expenditure on minorities welfare stood at Rs.4000 crore whereas UPA

Government spent Rs.66,500 crore under this head. It was we who passed the

Right to Information Act, The Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in

Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, and Lokpal Act. There is no mention of doing away with untouchability in the Presidential Address. Several schemes mentioned in the President’s Address were prevalent under the previous

Government. We will support programmes which are in public interest. I request the Government to mention its targets to be achieved during one year. I support the motion of thanks. My only desire is that the Government should work for the welfare of the people. If there is any shortcoming in this regard, we will inform the people. Our stand will be based on people’s welfare.

DR. M. THAMBI DURAI: the results of the recently-concluded elections have shown that Dr. Amma is with the people and the people are with Dr. Amma.

This is the first time since the last three decades that people of the country have given a clear majority for a single party. I congratulate the hon. Prime Minister for that and my best wishes to the new Government. The President appreciated the people for having voted for stability, honesty and development, where corruption has no place. I have raised the issue of 2 G spectrum scam, many times in 2009, that is in the 15th Lok Sabha. The people of Tamil Nadu have punished the perpetrators of 2G Scam in May 2011 elections. You may call it any wave.

According to me the only wave is anti-corruption wave. So many VIPs, former

Ministers from Tamil Nadu and former Chief Minister’s family members were involved in corruption but no action has so far been taken against them. People have given their verdict and we hope that the new Government will take a serious action against the culprits and they would be punished. The President talks about poverty elimination in paragraph 7 of his Address. The Supreme Court gave a judgement that the foodgrains which is lying in the godowns is completely rotten and rats are eating it. The Government should distribute it to the people free of cost. But they did not do that. In Tamil Nadu our leader, Jayalalithaji gave foodgrains free of cost. If you are charging Rs.3, it is not food security. The

Government is having plenty of stocks. As regards marriage assistance, our leader is implementing a scheme under which four grams of gold and up to Rs.50000 are given for marriage expenses. So, this is a role model which we should follow. So many models of development are being quoted here. I would request you to take

Tamil Nadu as a model. Our hon. Chief Minister is the pioneer in implementing all such welfare schemes. A corruption free government is running in the State of

Tamil Nadu. Congress Government failed to take action in this matter and thus they lost the elections. The Minimum Support Price for agricultural produce has to be increased. From ancient times agriculture has been our mainstay. If you fail to accord primacy to agriculture, definitely our country is going to face a lot of problem. I would, therefore, like to congratulate the hon. President for having mentioned about the agriculture sector. Since our economy is dependent on agriculture, how can we do agriculture without inter-linking of rivers? The

Government should allocate more funds for modernization of the police force. We have to give top priority to the modernization of police. The Government should also try and recruit more intelligent people, service oriented people and committed people in the police force by giving higher salary to them. We are talking only about the pollution of the river Ganges. All the rivers of the country are polluted.

Therefore, do not think that Ganga is the only river to be cleaned. Our forefathers preserved all the rivers so that we will be able to get good drinking water. The

Government should draw a master plan and see that any sort of materials causing pollution must not go to the rivers. You must give priority from the beginning itself and see that Central Government sanctions sufficient funds. State Governments have no power to impose any tax. They are at the mercy of the

Central Government. All states are coming to the Centre with begging bowls. The only solution to solve the problem of drinking water is to link all the rivers. The

Government of Tamil Nadu has been urging the Government of India to implement the inter-linking of rivers. The Supreme Court has directed the Ministry of Water

Resources, Government of India to constitute a special committee for the implementation of inter-linking of rivers. I would request the Central Government to take this issue seriously. I am sorry to say that during the last 20 years, the

Centre was not at all respecting the federal character of the country. States were not given sufficient power and allocation of resources. Stronger States will only lead to the stronger nation. Let education once again go back to the State List and let it not remain under the Concurrent List. Why only one particular language is recognized as the national language of this country? You have to give respect to all the languages of the country. Whoever has boarded black money in other countries that must be brought back immediately. I am requesting the Central

Government to be liberal to the States, and give more powers to the States; allocate more funds. Rajiv Gandhi and Jayawardene Award, has to be fully implemented.

We want equal status to the Sri Lankan Tamils. The Central Government should respect the resolution passed by the Tamil Nadu Assembly and respect to the sentiments of the Tamil Nadu people. Katchatheevu was part of India. But

Katchatheevu was ceded to Sri Lanka. Sri Lankan navy is not only arresting our fishermen, but they are also killed. Nearly 500 Tamil Nadu fishermen died due to firing by the Sri Lankan Navy. I am requesting the Central Government to initiate steps in this regard. Seized boats of Tamil Nadu fishermen are returned and the fishermen who are in jails in Sri Lankan jails are released. Therefore, I think, this government may be sympathetic to our requests, and take necessary action and see that all the funds which are pending must be released to Tamil Nadu.

SHRI KALYAN BANERJEE: On behalf of my party, I welcome the

Address made by the hon. President of India to the Parliament and we express our thanks and gratitude to the hon. President of India. The Government has underlined their policies for development of our country. A few policies are new and rests are repetition of old policies in new name. If the Government discharges its functions for betterment of the people, we will extend our cooperation. But, if any function of the Government is opposed to national interest, people’s interest, more specifically poor people, harmony and peace of this country, we will oppose such function and policy tooth and nail. I wish to give a caution to the Government, do not try to sell out a particular political party’s agenda or a religious organisation’s agenda at the cost of betterment, peace and harmony of our country. Unity in diversity is our origin. This Government should take care of the interests of the

Scheduled Castes, the Scheduled Tribes, the OBC, and the minorities. According to our Constitutional object, they need more attention and affection. Minorities are playing a very vital role in Indian political and social field and are contributing significantly in the development of our country. The benefit of all schemes for minorities must reach to the grassroots’ level. A loan of Rs. 2,30,000 crore has been shifted to our State Government of West Bengal. It is a huge burden for us.

We are requesting the Government to right off such loan and interest. BPL cards should be opened immediately. The persons who deserve to come under the BPL list should be included in the BPL list itself. We cannot forget the ideas of Atalji in

1998-99, when all-over India the national highways were constructed. The similar types of objects be undertaken in the rural areas. Government should increase the supporting price for paddy and jute. In term of Jute industries law should be amended to this extent that 100 per cent jute bags should be used. The agricultural loans given to the poor people of this country should be waived. A new land policy should be framed in our country. There should not be any forceful acquisition of the land. If the Government takes every State Government into confidence and if you would find that most of the problems are getting resolved by having interaction. There is a need for speeding up of our justice delivery system.

We would request this Government to please review the policy for the appointment of the Judges. I would also request the Government to open up so many vacancies of Judges. The Judges are overburdened. The time has come that we rethink about the Amendment of Constitution by setting up the circuit benches of the Supreme

Court in different parts of the country. As far as infiltration is concerned the

Government should go in accordance with the law and do not make it a political issue. Please maintain the secular fabric of the country.

SHRI BHARTRUHARI MAHTAB: At the outset, all of us had witnessed as to what hon. President read out yesterday. The first line that actually said on an electrifying note was a single line, ‘this has been an election of hope’. Every election, I would say, is an election of hope. People come to the polling booth to cast their vote with the hope that things will change. People of India want their hope to be realized. But, it is the only hope of this country to see an NDA

Government come at the Centre. If that is so, then why people of Tamil Nadu voted 37 Members to this House out of 39? Why people of West Bengal voted 34

Members to this House out of 42? Why people of Odisha voted 20 out of 21? In every election Biju Janata Dal increased its tally both in the Assembly and in the

Parliament. When in his speech, the hon. President says that the first claim on development belongs to poor, we welcome it and we would be happy to educate ourselves about the roadmap that this Government wants to lay before us. There is a mention about co-operative federalism. The essence of co-operative federalism is that the Centre and the State Governments should be guided by the broader national concerns- using the available resources for the benefit of the people. Our

Chief Minister had met the Prime Minister, and we had submitted a memorandum.

We are eager to know, and when the Budget will come everybody will also come to know as to what steps this Government is going to take. Odisha is visited by natural calamity every year-drought, flood or cyclone. Whatever development we have made or we make, we come down. That is our predicament. Odisha has a legitimate claim for being declared as a ‘Special Category’ state. Royalty rates of minerals should be revised. Despite the Finance Commission’s pronouncement that after every three years, the royalty rates of minerals should be increased. It has not been done. Odisha is losing about Rs. 5 crore every day on account of this delay.

The Central Government should, therefore, issue the required notification revising the rates of royalty from 10 per cent to 15 per cent. It is the mining entity which is making super profit because the rate has increased in the international market. It is important, therefore, to introduce Mineral Resource Rent Tax for ensuring the gains from mineral exploitation accrued to the local areas and regarding social welfare. As far as Railways is concerned, Odisha contributes over Rs. 14,000 crore annually to the revenue of Indian Railways which accounts for about one- tenth of the total Railway revenue. The State is home to one-third of the country’s mineral resources which have to be moved to industrial clusters spread across the

State. It makes economic sense for the Railways to invest in Odisha as the said investments are likely to get paid very quickly. This makes a strong case for focusing on increasing the Railway coverage both from equity and return stand points. Hon. President’s Speech also mentioned about GST. The former

Government went back. In 2010-11 Odisha lost Rs. 664 crore, but no compensation was given in the last three years. This Government has come to power because the earlier Government was under the shadow of corruption. Very reluctantly Lokpal institution was established. BJD had pronounced to have a

Lokayukta of its own in Odisha. Within three months after the Lokpal Bill was passed by Parliament, we have done it. Setting up the SIT to unearth black money stashed abroad is a welcome step. Lastly, I would like to draw the attention of this

House to our foreign policy. Long ago, a wise man called Kautilya had pronounced four tools – saama, daama, danda and bheda - which mean conciliation, inducement, deterrent action and subversion. This Government must rescue foreign policy from the outdated prism of routine ceremonials and develop a clear-cut security doctrine incorporating both foreign policy and defence.

SHRI PRATAPRAO JADHAV: I, on behalf of my party, support the motion of thanks on the President’s Address. Hon. President has in his Address said that this has been an election of hopes. The people of the country participated in these elections enthusiastically. The UPA Government, during the last ten years, formulated a number of schemes but these schemes failed in delivering their benefits to the poor. So the poor people were concerned as to who would rid them of their problems, who would curve price rise. In such a scenario, they found a ray of hope in a man, Narendra Bhai Modi, that he would solve their problems of price rise, corruption, unemployment and also the problems of the farmers. If they thought that the schemes and performance of the predecessor government were good then why should have they decimated their party. I would take this opportunity to thank the people of Maharashtra who elected 42 candidates of our party to this House out of 48 seats in the state. I would thank the Hon. Prime

Minister for announcing for the first time Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana for the country in this House. He also mentioned that every drop of water is valuable and water should be preserved.

SHRI NARASIMHAM THOTA: I welcome the President’s Address and take this opportunity to congratulate Shri Narendra Modi for his excellent performance in the recently concluded Lok Sabha elections. I also take this opportunity to mention that our Party is blessed by the people of residual Andhra

Pradesh and they gave reins to Shri Chandrababu Naidu to make it Swarnandhara

Pradesh. In the recent tragedy, 24 Hyderabad-based engineering students are feared drowned on Sunday in the Beas river in Mandi district of Himachal Pradesh.

I would request the Government to give all necessary help to the families of these missing students. Our Chief Minister had sent a special aircraft with the State

Minister, Shri P. Narayana and 37 parents to Himachal Pradesh to speed up the rescue operations. My State is presently at crossroads. We have virtually to start from the scratch with a deficit Budget to the tune of nearly Rs.50,000 crore. The people have reposed faith on Shri Chandrababu Naidu. My request to the

Government is to immediately give special status to Andhra Pradesh and also request that the period may be extended to fifteen years considering the financial crises due to lack of revenue. Hon. President in his Address mentioned that each drop of water is precious and that his Government is committed to water security.

He mentioned that all long-pending water projects would be completed on priority.

I take this opportunity to request the Government of India to complete all long- pending projects of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh on priority basis.

SHRIMATI K. KAVITHA: Entire people of Telangana have had high hopes on the Presidential Address but there was just a mere statement talking about the development of both Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. As a women member I greatly appreciate the move of the Government to bring the 33 per cent Women Reservation Bill. This Bill has been passed in Rajya Sabha. Now, responsibility lies on this House. Today, the entire nation is facing the malnutrition issue. It is a great problem because 60 per cent of India’s children are undernourished. It is not only the problem of children, but also of women. This is a great issue which can be addressed by a systematic and sensitive Government. The PDS also needs to be strengthened with sufficient storage facilities and effective distribution of the food grains. Farmers have high hopes on this Government but Presidential Address does not talk about the MGNREGA as they had promised that they would link agriculture to the MGNREGA. I would like to request that they need to make a statement on the MGNREGA because many farmers today have acute problem of getting agricultural labourers. For the first time in the history, an Ordinance is brought to alter the boundaries of a State. Altering the boundaries of Telangana

State should be prerogative of this House. I, therefore, request the Government to kindly withdraw the Ordinance. There should be a discussion in the Parliament. I would request the hon. Prime Minister to call for a meeting with the 4 State Chief

Ministers. This is not an issue between Andhra and Telangana rather this is an issue of Adivasis. The Government is going to introduce a Vanbandhu Kalyan

Yojana but here we are talking about submerging more than two lakh Adivasis not in one state but in four states. We are not against the Polavaram Project. We want our Andhra Pradesh to get water. The only problem is about the design. There are some primitive tribals. According to Scheduled (V), President is supposed to be the custodian. If such an Ordinance is promulgated then, I do not know who will save them. The seven mandals which are being given to the Andhra Pradesh State, there is a power generating station which generates 460 megawatts of power throughout the year. This originally belongs to Telangana. These seven mandals can be with the Telangana.

SHRI P. KARUNAKARAN: The President’s Address should not be a general statement or a statement of intention. The promises should be translated into action. But it is absent from the Address of the President. No concrete programmes are drawn. Policy based analysis are not seen. Even there is contradiction of priority in various issues. I would like to ask this Government what they are going to do with regard to the price rise issue because this

Government is following the same policies that the Congress government has followed. I want to know as to what this Government is dong to check corruption.

The statement has already been made that they are going to permit 100 per cent

FDI in Defence, in Railways, in Newspaper and other industries. So, what is the difference between the congress and the BJP? When they were in the Opposition, they were criticizing all these policies. As far as agriculture is concerned, the farmers need to get the agricultural loan and also the remunerative prices of their produce. Besides, there are policy issues. In Kerala, last time, the price of the rubber was Rs.250 per kilo. Now, it is Rs.135 per kilo. It is due to the uncontrolled import of rubber from the foreign countries. The Government has to clarify whether they are going to make any changes in the import policy that was in existence earlier. What steps they are going to take for the youth of this country as it is not mentioned in this Address. As far education, it is not possible for an ordinary family to go in for a higher education of their children. It is not only the question of quality of education, but whether the poor people would be able to go in for education, has become a major issue. There is no alternative policy or steps that have been mentioned in his Address. The SC/ST and the OBC sections are still living in very sympathetic conditions. The Sachar Committee Report was discussed in this House in 2000. According to the Report, in the 90 cities of this country, the conditions of the minority people are below that of the SC/ST people and in 370 cities of our country, the minority people are not getting sufficient amenities and other benefits. What is the approach of the Government with regard to the Sachar Commission? Atrocities against women and children are increasing in various parts of our country. At any cost we have to give protection to them but no concrete action is proposed. We have been discussing various measures to strengthen the judiciary sector. There is a demand for the appointment of a

National Judicial Commission. What is the approach of the Government? As far as the common people are concerned, it is not possible for them to go to the High

Courts or to the Supreme Court. The economic condition of our country is grim.

Black money and corruption are the main issues for the de-generation of the system. Tax forgone is not for the common people but for the corporates. Crores of workers are engaged in traditional industries such as khadi, beedi, coir, handloom. The wages are very low but nothing is said about these traditional industries. Railway is the major Public Undertaking that we have. They are also going in for PP and also FDI. The public character of the Railways is really the reason for the success of the Railways. So, such issues should not be taken up by this Government. There is one issue which is with regard to Kerala. This is with regard to implementation of the Kastorirangan Report and Madav Gadgil Report.

It is not only myself and the State of Kerala is demanding it but I think the States of Maharashtra, Goa, Tamil Nadu and many other States have been demanding it.

I am not against any Report but at the same time the Government has to go for a new proposal and consult with all stakeholders of the States and also with district

Panchayats and others. I congratulate the Government as it has come with single majority but at the same time I also hope that the Government will safeguard the secular character of our country.

** ** ** **

P. SREEDHARAN, Secretary-General.

**Supplement covering rest of the proceedings is being issued separately. © 2014 BY LOK SABHA SECRETARIAT NOTE: It is the verbatim Debates of the Lok Sabha and not the Synopsis that should be considered authoritative.

English and Hindi versions of Synopsis of Debates are also available at http://loksabha.nic.in.