WEDNESDAY, THE 5TH MARCH, 2008 (The met in the Parliament House at 11-00 a. m.)

11-00 a.m.

1. Obituary Reference The Chairman made a reference to the passing away of Kumari Sayeeda Khatun (ex-Member). The House observed silence, all Members standing, as a mark of respect to the memory of the departed.

11-04 a.m.

The House adjourned and re-assembled at 11-16 a.m.

11-16 a.m.

The House adjourned and re-assembled at 11-30 a.m.

^11-31 a.m. The House adjourned and re-assembled at 12-00 Noon.

2. Starred Questions Answers to Starred Question Nos. 101 to 120 were laid on the Table. 3. Unstarred Questions Answers to Unstarred Question Nos. 622 to 776 were laid on the Table.

______^From 11-30 a.m. to 11-31 a.m. some points were raised.

5TH MARCH, 2008 ^12-04 p.m. 4. Papers Laid on the Table Shri Suresh Pachouri (Minister of State in the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions and Minister of State in the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs) on behalf of Shri Priyaranjan Dasmunsi (Minister of Parliamentary Afairs and Minister of Information & Broadcasting) laid on the Table a copy each (in English and Hindi) of the following Notifications of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, under sub- section (3) of section 22 of the Cable Television Networks (Regulation) Act, 1995:— (1) G.S.R. 774 (E) dated the 18th December, 2007, publishing the Cable Television Network (Third Amendment) Rules, 2007. (2) G.S.R. 25 (E) dated the 10th January, 2008, publishing the Cable Television Networks Rules, 2008. Shri Kipal Sibal (Minister of Science & Technology and Minister of Earth Sciences) laid on the Table a copy each (in English and Hindi) of the following papers:— (i) (a) Annual Report and Accounts of the National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT), Chennai, for the year 2006-2007, together with the Auditor’s Report on the Accounts. (b) Review by Government on the working of the above Institute. (c) Statement giving reasons for the delay in laying the papers mentioned at (a) above. (ii) (a) Annual Report and Accounts of the Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS), Hyderabad, for the year 2006-2007, together with the Auditor's Report on the Accounts. (b) Review by Government on the working of the above Centre. (c) Statement giving reasons for the delay in laying the papers mentioned at (a) above.

______^ From 12-00 Noon to 12-04 p.m. some points were raised. RAJYA SABHA Shri Oscar Fernandes (Minister of State (Independent Charge) of the Ministry of Labour & Employment) laid on the Table:- I. A copy (in English and Hindi) of the Ministry of Labour and Employment Notification G.S.R. 685 (E) dated the 31st October, 2007, publishing the Employees’ State Insurance (Central) (Second Amendment) Rules 2007, under sub- section (4) of section 95 of the Employees’ State Insurance Act, 1948. II. A copy each (in English and Hindi) of the following papers:— (a) Annual Report of the Employees' State Insurance Corporation, New Delhi, for the year 2006-2007. (b) Annual Accounts of the Employees' State Insurance Corporation, New Delhi, for the year 2006-2007 and the Audit Report thereon. Shri Manikrao Gavit (Minister of State in the Ministry of Home Affairs ) laid on the Table a copy each (in English and Hindi) of the following papers of the Ministry of Home Affairs, under sub-section (3) of section 12 of the Governors (Emoluments, Allowances and Privileges) Act, 1982:— (a) Special Order dated the 14th December, 2007, authorizing Governor of Haryana for additional expenses under ‘Hospitality Expenses’, ‘Contract Allowances’ and ‘Tour Expenses’ of Schedule-II to the Governors (Allowances and Privileges) Rules, 1987. (b) Special Order dated the 24th January, 2008, authorizing Governor of Assam for additional expenses under Schedule-I to the Governors (Allowances and Privileges) Rules, 1987. Shri Shriprakash Jaiswal (Minister of State in the Ministry of Home Affairs) laid on the Table:- I. A copy (in English and Hindi) of the Ministry of Home Affairs Notification No. G.S.R. 88 (E) dated the 15th February, 2008, publishing Central Industrial Security Force (Subordinate Ranks) Recruitment Amendment Rules, 2008, under article 309 of the Constitution.

5th March, 2008 II. A copy each (in English and Hindi) of the following Notifications of the Ministry of Home Affairs, under sub- section (2) of section 156 of the Indo-Tibetan Border Police Force Act, 1992:— 1. G.S.R. 545 (E), dated the 14th August, 2007, publishing the Indo-Tibetan Border Police Force, Second-in-Command (Transport) Recruitment Rules, 2007. 2. G.S.R. 801 (E) dated the 31st December, 2007, publishing the Indo-Tibetan Border Police, General Duty Cadre (Group ‘B’ and ‘C’ posts) Recruitment (Amendment) Rules, 2007. Shri E.V.K.S. Elangovan (Minister of State in the Ministry of Textiles) laid on the Table:- I. A copy each (in English and Hindi) of the following Notifications of the Ministry of Textiles, under sub-section (2) of section 3 of the Jute Packaging Material (Compulsory use in Packaging Commodities) Act, 1987:— (i) F.No. 9/5/2007 dated the 9th August, 2007, regarding the Notification issued under the provision of the Jute Packaging Material (Commodities) Act, 1987, specifying mandatory packaging of certain commodities in Jute packaging materials. (ii) S.O. 1514 (E), dated the 11th September, 2007, regarding the Notification issued under the provision of the Jute Packaging Material (Commodities) Act, 1987, specifying mandatory packaging of certain commodities in Jute packaging materials. II. A copy each (in English and Hindi) of the following papers:— (a) Twenty first Annual Report and Accounts of the National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT), New Delhi, for the year 2006-2007, together with the Auditor's Report on the Accounts. (b) Review by Government on the working of the above Institute. (c) Statement giving reasons for the delay in laying the papers mentioned at (a) above.

RAJYA SABHA Shri Jairam Ramesh (Minister of State in the Department of Commerce, Ministry of Commerce & Industry) laid on the Table:- I. (1) A copy each (in English and Hindi) of the following papers, under sub-section (1) of section 619A of the Companies Act, 1956:— Twelfth Annual Report and (a) Accounts of the National Centre for Trade Information, New Delhi, for the year 2006-2007, together with the Auditor's Report on the Accounts and the comments of the Comptroller and Auditor General of thereon. Review by Government on the working of the (b) above Centre. (2) Statement giving reasons for the delay in laying the papers mentioned at (1) above. II. (1) A copy each (in English and Hindi) of the following papers under sub-section (3) of section 22 of the Marine Products Export Development Authority Act, 1972:— (a) Annual Report and Accounts of the Marine Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA), Kochi, for the year 2006-2007, together with the Auditor's Report on the Accounts. Review by Government on the working of the (b) above Authority. (2) Statement (in English and Hindi) giving reasons for the delay in laying the papers mentioned at (1) above. Shrimati V. Radhika Selvi (Minister of State in the Ministry of Home Affairs) laid on the Table:- I. A copy each (in English and Hindi) of the following Notifications of the Ministry of Home Affairs under section 389 of the New Delhi Municipal Council Act, 1994:— (1) No. 4/41/2006/NDMC/8009, dated the 18th May, 2007, publishing the New Delhi Municipal Council (Powers, Duties and Functions of Secretary) Regulations, 2007. (2) F.No. 4/4/2006/NDMC/14663, dated the 14th August, 2007, publishing the New Delhi Municipal Council (Dengue, Malaria, Filariasis, Yellow Fever and Other Vector Borne Diseases) Bye-laws, 2007. 5TH MARCH, 2008 II. A copy each (in English and Hindi) of the following Notifications of the Ministry of Home Affairs under sub- section (2) of section 103 of the Daman and Diu Value Added Tax, Regulation, 2005:— (1) No. DMN/VAT-2005/05-06/364, dated the 25th August, 2005, to amend the schedules of the Daman & Diu Value Added Tax Regulation, 2005. (2) No. DMN/VAT-2005/07-08/716, dated the 25th October, 2007, to amend the schedules of the Daman & Diu Value Added Tax Regulation, 2005. 12-05 p.m. 5. Report of the Department Related Parliamentary Standing Committee on Transport, Tourism and Culture Shri Sitaram Yechury presented the One Hundred and Thirty-first Report (in English and Hindi) of the Department-related Parliamentary Standing Committee on Transport, Tourism and Culture on the 'Closure of Bangalore and Hyderabad Airports and matters related thereto'. 12-06 p.m. 6. Report of the Committee on Public Undertakings Shri Mahendra Mohan laid on the Table a copy (in English and Hindi) of the Twenty-fifth Report of the Committee on Public Undertakings on 'Chapter III of C&AG’s Report (Commercial) No. 9 (Performance Audit) of 2007 regarding review of performance of Engine Division of Bharat Earth Movers Limited'. 12-07 p.m. 7. Report of the Joint Committee on Offices of Profit Shri P.R. Rajan laid on the Table a copy (in English and Hindi) of the Fifth Report of the Joint Committee on Offices of Profit. 12-08 p.m. 8. Motion for Election to the Tea Board A motion for election of one member to the Tea Board was moved and adopted. RAJYA SABHA 12-09 p.m. 9. Statement regarding Government Business Shri Suresh Pachouri, Minister of State in the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions and Minister of State in the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs, made a statement regarding Government Business in the Rajya Sabha during the week commencing Monday, the 10th March, 2008.

12-10 p.m. 10. Motion of Thanks on the President's Address Further Discussion on the following Motion moved by Shri Janardan Dwivedi on the 28th February, 2008 continued: — "That an Address be presented to the President in the following terms— 'That the Members of the Rajya Sabha assembled in this Session are deeply grateful to the President for the Address which she has been pleased to deliver to both Houses of Parliament assembled together on February 25, 2008. '"

The following Members took part in the discussion on the Motion and the Amendments moved thereto:— 12-10 p.m. 1. Prof. P.J. Kurien 12-36 p.m. 2. Shri Vedprakash P. Goyal 12-59 p.m. 3. Shri D. Raja 1-28 p.m. 4. Dr. K. Kasturirangan 1-45 p.m. The House adjourned and re-assembled at 2-30 p.m. &2-31 p.m. 5. Dr. M.S. Swaminathan 2-34 p.m. 6. Shri Jaswant Singh, Leader of the Opposition 3-21 p.m. Dr. , Prime Minister and Leader of the House, replied to the debate. ______& From 2-30 p.m. to 2-31 p.m. see item no. 11. 5TH MARCH, 2008 4-11 p.m. All the Amendments moved were either negatived or withdrawn by the House. 4-19 p.m. The Motion of Thanks was, thereafter, adopted. $11. Supplementary Demands for Grants (Railways) 2007-08 Shri Lalu Prasad, Minister of Railways, laid on the Table a statement (in English and Hindi) showing Supplementary Demands for Grants (Railways) for the year 2007-2008. 4-20 p.m. 12. Special Mentions After taking the sense of the House, the Deputy Chairman directed that the following Special Mentions may be treated as laid on the Table of the House:— 1. Shrimati Brinda Demand to declare Karat underground fire in the Jharia Coal Field a national disaster. 2. Shri Ali Anwar Request to continue the CGHS facilities to accredited Journalists and their families. 3. Shri Shreegopal Demand to declare Vyas 'Vishwakarma Diwas' as National Labour Day. 4. Shri Harish Rawat Demand to increase the quantity of APL wheat supply to Uttarakhand. 5. Shri Moinul Hassan Demand to review the policy of ban on recruitment in Government Offices. 6. Shri Rahul Bajaj Problems being faced by exporters at the Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust. 7. Miss Mabel Rebello Need to streamline Public Distribution System in Jharkhand. ______$ At 2-30 p.m. RAJYA SABHA 8. Shri B.K. Concern over pending rural Hariprasad development projects in Karnataka. 9. Shri Tarlochan Need to provide dual Singh citizenship to NRIs. 10. Shri Abu Asim Azmi Concern over the problems being faced by people of Maharashtra due to shortage of power. 11. Shrimati Kanimozhi Demand to protect Olive Ridley Turtles in Orissa. 12. Shri Janardhan Demand for recruitment of Poojary local people to Group D posts in Railways. 13. Shri Matilal Sarkar Demand to frame a scheme to benefit the poorer sections of people falling in the APL. 14. Shrimati Sushma Concern over apathy towards Swaraj gallantry award winners. 15. Shri Santosh Justice meted out to alleged Bagrodia culprits. 16. Shri O.T. Lepcha Need to take effective measures to maintain communication link on the National Highway-31A during calls of bandh.

4-22 p.m. 13. Short Duration Discussion *Prof. Ram Deo Bhandary raised a discussion on the recent incidents of attacks on North Indians in various parts of Maharashtra. The following Members took part in the discussion:— *4-42 p.m. 1. Shri Mohammed Amin *4-49 p.m. 2. Shri Raashid Alvi *5-01 p.m. 3. Dr. Murli Manohar Joshi ______* Spoke in Hindi. 5TH MARCH, 2008 *5-17 p.m. 4. Shri Amar Singh *5-33 p.m. 5. Shri Santosh Bagrodia *5-44 p.m. 6. Shri Sharad Yadav *6-02 p.m. 7. Shri Kalraj Mishra *6-11 p.m. 8. Shri Mangani Lal Mandal 6-24 p.m. 9. Shri C. Ramachandraiah *6-30 p.m. 10. Shri Tariq Anwar *6-40 p.m. 11. Shri Manohar Joshi *7-00 p.m. 12. Dr. Prabha Thakur !7-08 p.m. 13. Shri Abu Asim Azmi *7-20 p.m. 14. Shri Shatrughan Sinha 7-41 p.m. 15. Dr. Barun Mukherjee 7-45 p.m. 16. Shri D. Raja *7-48 p.m. 17. Shri Ram Narayan Sahu *7-52 p.m. 18. Shri Rajniti Prasad 7-55 p.m. 19. Shri Tapan Kumar Sen 7-58 p.m. *Shri Shivraj Vishwanath Patil, Minister of Home Affairs, replied to the discussion. The discussion was concluded. @8-28 p.m. 14. Statement by Minister Shri Raghuvansh Prasad Singh, Minister of Rural Development, laid on the Table a statement (in English and Hindi) regarding electronic transfer of Monthly Progress Reports of Rural Development Programmes.

(The House adjourned at 8-29 p.m. till 11-00 a.m. on Monday, the 10th March, 2008)

______

______@ From 8-25 p.m. to 8-28 p.m. some points were raised. * Spoke in Hindi. ! Spoke in Urdu.