17 Oral Answers [ 24 NOV. 1977 ] to Questions 18

Familiarising Civil Servants with the approach to economic and administrative Political Philosophy and Objectives of matters. In this connection, the Janata Party's Janata Government manifesto, the decisions of the new Government and various announcements on *214. SHRIMATI HAMIDA policy made by the Prime Minister were HABIBULLAH: t referred as the indicative of Government's SHRIMATI LAKSHMI objectives and approach. KUMARI CHUNDAWAT: SHRI PRAKASH MEHROTRA: SHRI SHRIMATI HAMIDA HABIBULLAH: GURUDEV GUPTA; SHRI Sir, in all humility, I would ask the Prime SAWAISINGH Minister as to what the Government means SISODIA: by asking the officers to familiarise themselves with the Janata Party's political Will the PRIME MINISTER be pleased to philosophy and follow the Janata Party's mani- state; festo. Are the officers going to be treated like machines and mercenaries who keep (a) whether it is a fact that the Cabinet changing their attitude to suit every party's Secretary, in a recent letter addressed to all manifesto? Sir, if the Janata Party is replaced the Secretaries to the Government of India, by another party—and the way the law and order has asked the civil servants to familiarise situation is deteriorating every day, it may themselves with the political philosophy, easily happen—what happens to all these objectives and approach of the Janata officers? All the basic policies of socialism and Government in various matters; and democracy are already laid down very (b) if so, what are the details thereof? clearly in our Constitution. The administration should be based on those basic objectives. THE PRIME MINISTER (SHRI Why is it necessary to follow the manifestoes? MORARJI R. DESAI); (a) and (b) A Statement is laid on the Table of the House. SHRI MORARJI R. DESAI: I do not want to refer to the comments made by the hon. Statement Member outside the House because that is not necessary. But there is no question of (a) and (b) The House is fully aware making officers in any way committed to this of the important role of the administrative Government; that was the privilege of the last machinery in assisting and advising Government. We want that the Government Government in the formulation of policies cheers and the staff should work honestly and and programmes and in their that they should advise us with their honest implementation. The House is also aware and independent views. But when ever they of the radical change that came over the have to advise, they have also to familiarise entire country as a result of the elections to themselves with the policies which this the Lok Sabha in March, 1977, and the Government follows in the matter of consequential need for the administrative economic development and other programmes. machinery to respond to the change. In such The Constitution, the hon. Member ought a situation, the need for general guidance to to know, gives principle and not the top civil servants became absolutely programmes. She does not seem to know it. necessary. It was in this context that the They are to be framed by the Government and Cabinet Secretary wrote to Secretaries to the Government frames them according to the Government to familiarise themselves with policies of the party which is in power, and that the new Government's objectives and is why they are informed about

tThe question was actually asked on the floor of the House by Shrimati Hamida Habibullah. 19 Oral Answers [ RAJYA SABHA ] to Questions 20 the policies and the programmes which are so illiterate that they do not know the party has. That does not mean that what is happening in the country and is he they have no freedom to offer their asking them to study the manifesto of the comments on them. Whenever the Janata Party and also to familiarise programmes come, they have to offer themselves with the new Government's their comments and give their advice, and objectives and approaches to economic they are free to do so. and administrative matter? There is an ice-cream cal-led "three-in-one", and the SHRIMATI HAMIDA HABIBUL- Janata Party is like four-in-one or four- LAH: The election manifesto is meant and-a-half-in-one. When the Prime 'for the election, and it is not the Minister himself had to say that no Government programme. In fact, the statement except his own should be taken Janata Party is not following its mani- as a policy statement, when this is the festo at all. state of the house of the Janata Party, why is he calling upon the civil servants who SHRI MORARJI R. DESAI: I do not are intelligent enough to know what is know whether the hon. Member, even happening in the country, to study the though she is a Member of the Rajya particular manifesto which has been Sabha, knows the functioning of the repeatedly violated during the last eight Government and of the party. Because months? she does not stand in any election, does she mean she had nothing to do with manifestoes and policies? The manifesto SHRI MORARJI R. DESAI: I do not given in the election and the principles know whether the hon. Member's given therein are meant to be carried out comment calls for any reply. He can by that party if they get charge of utilise his privilege as a Member of this Government. That she ought to know. House to say whatever he likes. But I This is a preliminary thing which any cannot be in that category. I have, school boy will know. therefore, to speak only relevant matters. I do not understand what he meant by SHRIMATI HAMIDA HABIBUL- saying that we have violated any part of LAH: I have fought and won an election our policies. There is no part which is in 1969 and also have the honour of violated. He quoted the example of becoming a Minister in Uttar Pradesh. I MISA. MISA has not been used even in also know very clearly—I think most of one case in all these months. And it is the people agree—that the manifesto is going to come here for repeal very soon. not the Government programme. Let the hon. Member have some patience. SHRI JAGJIT SINGH ANAND: The Illustrated Weekly of India of November SHRI PRANAB MUKHERJEE: Sir, 13 carries an interview with Shri Charan the hon. Prime Minister has said that they Singh, the Home Minister. In that are not going to have a committed civil interview—I am quoting from the service as the previous Government. May paper—he says: "The circular issued by I know from the hon. Prime Minister the Cabinet Secretary was asking the civil whether it is not the normal practice in a servants to familiarise themselves with parliamentary system for the political the contents of the Janata Party executive to formulate the party manifesto." I want to know whether he programmes into Government wanted them to be familiarised with the programmes, and then the civil servants manifesto which has been violated are expected to follow that programme? repeatedly with respect to MISA, LIC But here it has been suggested in the note bonus and remunerative prices to the circulated by the Cabinet Secretary that peasants. Does he say that the civil the civil servants should familiarise servants who are there for so many years themselves with the programmes of the working in the Ministries of the Central Government, 21 Oral Answers { 24 NOV. 1977 ] to Questions 22

Janata Party. The political executive SHRIMATI MARGARET ALVA: Sir, may find in its wisdom at a later stage that I think a couple of months ago, in the last it may not be possible to implement some session, the Minister of Finance stated in of the programmes included in the this House that the Government was anifesto. Therefore, I would like to know committed to de-politicising the banking from the Prime Minister whether he would system in this country. like to make a distinction between the pro- gramme in the manifesto and the That is, the Government was com- programme formulated by the political mitted to seeing that no political opinion executive on the basis of the political of any kind was brought to bear on any programme of the party when it comes to decision as far as hi* Ministry was power. This is the normal parliamentary concerned. Now, if this is the statement practice. What are they actually going to made, I would like to know whether it is do here? not a contradiction of this circular which has been issued to the officers that they SHRI MORARJI R. DESAI: Well, the must familiarise themselves with the hon. Member seems to be in a divided political philosophy, the manifesto and mind, but not the officers. everything else of the Janata Party, I have no objection to it. But I would like the SHRI PRANAB MUKHERJEE: What Prime Minister please to enlighten us on type of an answer is that? how there could be such contradiction between the circular and the statement of MR. DEPUTY CHAIRMAN: Shri the Minister in this House. Malaviya. SHRI MORARJI R. DESAI: The hon. ourable Member may see contradictions SHRI HARSH DEO MALAVIYA: Sir, where there is none. Of course,, there is a the Janata Party consists of many very subtle use of intelligence. I can say "ghataks"; it is a conglomeration with that. We do not want politicising of divergent philosophies. At one end is Mr. anything. And banks are not to be used Fernandes and at the other end is hon. for political purposes. That is mentioned Charan Singhji. Someone wants to invite in the manifesto itself. That does not multinationals, and someone does not require to be said anywhere else. want to invite multinationals. Somebody wants to stop the growth of big industries; SHRI NRIPATI RANJAN CHOU- others want big industries. Some are for DHURY: This is again another con- "realisation". There are different tradiction. approaches, it is very clear—without SHRI MORARJI R. DESAI: Those casting any reflection on any member of who are always full of contradictions; the Janata Government. May I know what what else will they see in others? One is the political philosophy of the Janata reflects one's contractions when one does Government? In the question there is the like that. That is not the right thing. Let it term "political philosophy". I shall be be properly understood. There is no deeply obliged if the honourable, question of introducing any politics in respected Prime Minister gives us some this matter at all. The economic knowledge about the political philosophy programmes are there in the manifesto, of the Janata Government. and that is what they are concerned with, that is what officers have to familiarise SHRI MORARJI R. DESAI: Sir, I do themselves 'with. That does not mean that not claim the capacity of convincing my they will not be able to offer comments hon. friend who refuses to be convinced. against them when the proposals come. And I am not qualified to be his professor We or teacher. Therefore, I cannot reply to this. 23 Oral Answers [ RAJYA SABHA ] to Questions 24

invite them, and we have instructed them SHRIMATI HAMIDA HABIBUL- that that is what they should do. LAH: I believe India is among the five or six countries in the world making braille •215. [The questioner (Shri Gurudev watches for the blind. The watches were Gupta) was absent. For answer vide cols. expected to be ready for sale in April 34 infra] 1977. I suppose that has already happened. I would like to know what the annual demand of these Braille watches Production of braille wrist watches in the country is. what the total by H.M.T. production per year is and what the prospects are for export of these watches. •216. SHRIMATI LAKSHMI I would also like to know of what price KUMARI CHUNDAWAT: they are, because these are needed by a SHRIMATI HAMIDA HABI- community that is not so well off. BULLAH: SHRI PRAKASH MEHRO- TRA: SHRI GEORGE FERNANDES: It SHRI GURUDEV GUPTA: seems the honourable Member did not SHRI SAWAISINGH SISO- hear my reply to the question. I said that DIA: we have produced in the current year a thousand watches of which we have sold Will the Minister of INDUSTRY be 700. Our plans are to produce 5000 pleased to state: watches in the next year. We are one of the six countries in the world producing braille watches, the other countries being

(a) whether it is a fact that H.M.T. the United States,, Japan, Switzerland, has recently started manufacturing Germany and France. So far as the braille wrist watches; demand projection in India and abroad is concerned, we believe that there is (b) if so, what is the number of such adequate market for these watches and watches manufactured and sold so far; that is why we are going in for 5000 and watches during the next year. As far as the price is concerned, as I said earlier, it (c) what is the market price of each is Rs. 165. variety of such watches?

THE MINISTER OP INDUSTRY SHRI P. RAMAMURTI: Sir, the (SHRI GEORGE FERNANDES): (a) honourable Minister said that if Members Yes, Sir. wanted, they could have a look at the watch, that he would show it to the (b) HMT have so far assembled 1000 Members. I would like to know whether braille watches from imported com- he is going to make a present of this ponents and sold 700. Manufacture of watch to the Members. 5000 braille watches, based on indi- genous components, has been planned SHRI GEORGE FERNANDES; I do for 1978-79. not think there is any Member in this House who will need a braille watch and I hope it will not be necessary for any (c) The watch is priced at Rs. 165 - Member to demand a Braille watch. plus excise duty and local taxes. Sir, I have a watch here and honourable SHRI N. P. CHAUDHARI: No party Members may have a look at it. man will require this watch. tThe question was actually asked on the floor of the House by Shrimati Hamida Habibullah.