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

Monday, June 8, 2009 / Jyaistha 18, 1931 (Saka ) _____

OATH

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

Sl. No. Name of Constituency State Affirmation Language Member 1 2 3 4 5 6 1. Shri Palamau (SC) Jharkhand Oath Hindi Kameshwar Baitha

ELECTION OF DEPUTY SPEAKER

SHRI LAL KRISHNA ADVANI moved that Shri Karia Munda, a member of this House, be chosen as the Deputy Speaker of this House.

SHRI RAJNATH SINGH seconded the motion.

THE MINISTER OF FINANCE (SHRI PRANAB

MUKHERJEE) moved that Shri Karia Munda, a member of this House, be chosen as the Deputy Speaker of this House. THE MINSTER OF PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS (SHRI

PAWAN KUMAR BANSAL) seconded the motion.

SHRI SHARAD YADAV moved that Shri Karia Munda, a member of this House, be chosen as the Deputy Speaker of this House.

SHRI RAJIV RANJAN SINGH Alias LALAN SINGH seconded the motion.

THE MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE AND MINISTER OF

FOOD, CONSUMER AFFAIRS AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION

(SHRI SHARAD PAWAR) moved that Shri Karia Munda, a member of this House, be chosen as the Deputy Speaker of this House.

THE MINISTER OF STATE OF THE MINISTRY OF CIVIL

AVIATION (SHRI PRAFUL PATEL) seconded the motion.

SHRI AJIT SINGH moved that Shri Karia Munda, a member of this

House, be chosen as the Deputy Speaker of this House.

SHRI SANJAY SINGH CHAUHAN seconded the motion.

SHRI T.R. BAALU moved that Shri Karia Munda, a member of this

House, be chosen as the Deputy Speaker of this House.

SHRI A.K.S. VIJAYAN seconded the motion.

SHRIMATI SUSHMA SWARAJ moved that Shri Karia Munda, a member of this House, be chosen as the Deputy Speaker of this House. SHRI ANANTH KUMAR seconded the motion.

KUNWAR REWATI RAMAN SINGH moved that Shri Karia

Munda, a member of this House, be chosen as the Deputy Speaker of this

House.

SHRI SHAILENDRA KUMAR seconded the motion.

SHRI E. AHAMED moved that Shri Karia Munda a Member of this

House be chosen as the Deputy Speaker of this House.

SHRI E.T. MOHAMMAD BASHEER seconded the motion.

The motion moved by Shri Lal Krishna Advani and seconded by Shri

Rajnath Singh was unanimously adopted and Shri Karia Munda was chosen as Deputy Speaker.

Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh, Leader of the House, Shri

Pranab Mukherjee and the Leader of the Opposition, Shri Lal Krishna

Advani conducted Shri Karia Munda to the Chair.

FELICITATION TO THE DEPUTY SPEAKER

THE PRIME MINISTER (DR. MANMOHAN SINGH): Madam

Speaker, in electing Shri Karia Munda as the Deputy-Speaker of this august

House so soon after your own election unanimously as the Speaker, it augurs well for our country. Both of you belong to the two most disadvantaged communities of our country. By honouring both of you, this House reaffirms its commitment to the cause of social justice and to the empowerment of the disadvantaged communities.

Shri Karia Munda has a wealth of experience. This is his seventh term as a Member of this House. He has been a member of many Standing

Committees and he has also been a Minister in the Union Government. He is a multifaceted personality and an accomplished social worker. He is a writer. I believe, he has written a book on Rabindranath Tagore. I congratulate Shri Karia Munda for his unanimous election to the august

Office of the Deputy-Speaker. We assure him our wholehearted cooperation in running the affairs of this House.

THE MINISTER OF FINANCE (SHRI PRANAB

MUKHERJEE): I have the opportunity of witnessing the performance of

Shri Karia Munda in different capacities, as a parliamentarian, as an administrator and also as a social reformer. I am particularly happy that we have maintained the tradition of choosing a Member from the Opposition as the Deputy-Speaker of this House since 1977. I wish him all success and I assure him of our fullest cooperation.

SHRI L. K. ADVANI: The Leader of the House has aptly remarked that this tradition has been started in 1977 because in that year first time the recognized opposition party came into existence. This is a very good tradition. It will be better if this tradition is adopted by the rest of the legislatures of . The results of the General Election 2009 have been sweet for some people and bitter for other people but our democracy, no doubt, has won. Today’s election has amply demonstrated the maturity of our democracy which has underlined the mutual respectful relations between the treasury benches and the opposition. I congratulate heartily Shri Karia

Munda ji and believe that in his guidance the business of the House will run smoothly.

SHRI MULAYAM SINGH YADAV: We congratulate Shri Karia

Munda ji for his unanimous election for the post of Deputy-Speaker. It is his seventh term for the Lok Sabha and he has been around us since 1977. The rich experience which he will bring to the Chair will certainly benefit the

House. We assure him full support on behalf of my party.

SHRI SHARAD YADAV: I congratulate Shri Karia Munda ji for his elevation to the post of Deputy-Speaker of the House and I appreciate this gracious act of the House.

SHRI VIJAY BAHADUR SINGH: I, on my own and on behalf of my party BSP, heartily congratulate the Deputy-Speaker of the House. I believe that his background will inspire him to lead this House to the goal of an equitable society. The Dalit, poor and the backward people of our country are rising to the higher posts and this is a good omen.

SHRI ARJUN CHARAN SETHI: I associate myself with the sentiments express by hon. Prime Minister, Leader of the House, as well as

Leader of the Opposition in electing Shri Karia Munda ji to the office of the

Deputy-Speaker of this august House. He has long experience in the service of the people, working as a Member of Parliament, working in different capacities such as Minister in the Central Cabinet as well as Member of this different Committees of this august House. On behalf of Biju Janata Dal of

Orrisa, I assure him all kind of cooperation in conducting the proceedings of the House.

SHRI : We have continued the healthy tradition of electing the Speaker and the Deputy-Speaker unanimously in this Fifteenth Lok Sabha. Shri Karia Munda ji is a multifaceted personality and I assure him full support of my party CPI (M) in running the House. I hope that he will maintain the decorum and dignity of this House.

SHRI : We whole-heartedly appreciate the sentiments and the decision taken by hon. Prime Minister,

Leader of the House, Chairperson of UPA, and Leader of the Opposition, as such. I congratulate Mr. Karia Munda. I assure all sorts of assistance on behalf of our Party, Trinamool Congress.

SHRI ANANT GANGARAM GEETE: The House has elected Shri

Karia Munda ji as the Deputy-Speaker unanimously. I, on behalf of my party, Shiv Sena, congratulate him. He has rich experience which will come handy in running the House. I assure him full cooperation on behalf of my party.

DR. M. TAMBIDURAI: On behalf of my party, AIADMK, and on my own behalf, I congratulate Shri Karia Munda for being elected unanimously to the post of Deputy-Speaker of Lok Sabha. I extend full support of my party in running this House smoothly.

SHRI T.R. BAALU: The successive accessions to the exalted position of the Indian democracy by the SCs and STs, will go a long way in the Indian history. I appreciate and congratulate Shri Karia Munda. On behalf of the DMK, we will definitely give our fullest cooperation to conduct this House in a peaceful manner.

SHRI : The representation of the backward and Dalit in the highest forum of democracy raises a new hope of social uplift. If this gesture is really translated into effective State policy to do good to the depressed, minority and Dalit, then that would mean a new turn in the Indian history. With this hope, I congratulate Shri Karia Munda.

SHRI AJIT SINGH: I would like to felicitate Shri Karia Munda ji for his election to the post of Deputy-Speaker of the House. He has the support of all parties of this House and I firmly believe that he will discharge his duties efficiently.

SHRI INDER SINGH NAMDHARI: I would like to felicitate Shri

Karia Munda ji. I am one of his old friends. With this elevation to the post of Deputy-Speaker, the dignity of this House has increased. By electing him for this post, we are trying to repay the debt of Shri Mahatma Gandhi ji.

MADAM SPEAKER: Hon. Prime Minister, hon. Leader of the

House, hon. Leader of the Opposition, hon. Leaders of Parties and Groups and hon. Members:

It is a matter of great happiness that one of our worthy colleagues,

Shri Karia Munda ji has been unanimously elected as Deputy-Speaker of the

Fifteenth Lok Sabha. I would like to extend my heartiest felicitations to Shri

Karia Munda ji on this occasion. May I also congratulate all the Members of the Lok Sabha in ensuring the smooth election of an eminent parliamentarian to this august office. Hon. Members, parliamentary democracy has taken deep roots in our country. The peaceful conduct of the General Elections to the Fifteenth Lok

Sabha and the clear mandate given by the electorate. I am sure, are a testimony to their maturity and also of our parliamentary system. Within six decades of Independence, India has firmly secured its position as the largest working democracy of the world, inspite of having to contend with many problems both internal and external.

The people of India have reposed their faith in us and also given to us a very high responsibility. We now have the bounden duty to strive to come up to their expectations. Through healthy debates and purposive discussions, we have to chart out the plan for the country’s development and pave the way for our people’s prosperity. I am sure that the Fifteenth Lok

Sabha will witness further strengthening of parliamentary institutions, and the promotion of a healthy parliamentary culture.

Shri Karia Munda ji, whom the House has unanimously elected as the

Hon. Deputy-Speaker is a man of the masses. Shri Karia Munda ji has always stood out in our public life and is respected widely for his honesty, integrity and sincerity. Representing the Khunti parliamentary constituency in Jharkhand, he has made significant contributions as a Member of the

Sixth, Ninth, Tenth, Eleventh, Twelfth and Thirteenth Lok Sabhas. During his illustrious career, he was a member of the Bihar and

Jharkhand Legislatures where too he displayed exemplary parliamentary skills. He was also a Minister in the Union Cabinet when his administrative acumen was acknowledged by the nation. Being closely associated with the under-privileged, he has tirelessly worked towards eradicating socio- economic inequalities. With such a distinguished public life, he is eminently suited to adorn the Office of the Deputy-Speaker of the Lok Sabha.

While we have every reason to be proud of the fact that elections to the offices of the Speaker and Deputy-Speaker have been unanimous, we should, at the same time, ensure that this unanimity should be hallmark of the functioning of the Fifteenth Lok Sabha. In a parliamentary democracy, there are bound to be differences of opinion on various occasions, a fact which makes the job of a Presiding Officer very challenging. However, in the interest of the welfare of the nation and the people, we shall have to arrive at consensus on major issues. I am confident, as Presiding Officers,

Shri Munda ji and I will receive full cooperation from all sections of this

House. I am equally sure, that Shri Karia Munda ji’s vast legislative experience and his unquestionable integrity will go a long way in upholding the dignity of this august House and enriching our parliamentary system. With these words, I would like to once again congratulate the newly elected hon. Deputy-Speaker of the Lok Sabha, Shri Karia Munda ji. I would also like to convey my very best wishes to Shri Munda ji in fulfilling the onerous responsibility bestowed upon him.

SHRI KARIA MUNDA thanking the Hon. Speaker, Hon. Prime

Minister, Hon. Leader of the House, Hon. Leader of opposition, Leaders of other parties and Groups and Hon. Members, said: It is indeed a matter of great honour to be elected the Deputy Speaker of the Lok Sabha. I am grateful to you all for unanimously electing me to this high office. I do not have sufficient words to express my feelings for this honour and I accept this constitutional office with all humility. I am, indeed, overwhelmed with the rich feelings expressed for me by all sections of the House. I wish to assure you that I shall make maximum possible efforts to upkeep the dignity of this august House. At the outset, I heartily congratulate Shrimati Meira Kumar

Ji for her unanimous election to the office of Speaker, Lok Sabha and also for being the first woman Speaker. I want to assure her that I would fully support and cooperate with her towards conduction of the proceedings of the

House. I, also, heartily welcome you all Hon. Members for the great fortune you are blessed with to come elected to this popular House of the biggest working democracy of the world. I have been elected the Deputy Speaker of this House for the first time. However, as most of the Hon. Members know, Parliamentary

Institutions and Parliamentary Procedure and Practice are not new to me. I was, for the first time, elected to the sixth Lok Sabha in 1977. Later, I was elected to the ninth, tenth, eleventh, twelfth, thirteenth and now, further to the fifteenth Lok Sabha. Meanwhile, I got the opportunity also to be elected to the Bihar Legislative Assembly and Jharkhand Legislative Assembly. I also had the privilege to work as Union Minister in the Cabinets of Prime

Ministers Morarji Desai and Atal Bihari Vajpayee. I hope that my

Parliamentary experience and the rich traditions set by preceding Deputy

Speakers would help me towards discharge of my Parliamentary duties and upkeep of the dignity of our Parliament. I look forward to your constant cooperation for effective discharge of the duties.

Our Parliament has evolved as a multi-functional institution in the years after independence. It is the focal point of the political pulsation of our country and is able to forge itself according to the needs of changing time. It is a well known fact that the Parliament has played a very important role towards keeping the political system vibrant in context of the socio- economic scenario of the country. Our Parliament has set up conducive precedents and traditions in its functioning in the last decades. As a public representative, the Member holds position of an esteemed person. As such, dignified conduct in and out of the House is one of the primary duties of the

Member. It is also important to reach consensus through mutual discussion and cooperation. As elected public representatives, we all should start with presenting ourselves in such a manner which may manifest dignity, courtesy, tolerance and harmony. I hope, every elected member, working with a sense of commitment, would understand the rules of the House, obey them and contribute in a valuable manner to the proceedings of the House so that we all might work towards the welfare of the people in a concerted way. I am grateful to all Hon. Members who have expressed their good wishes for me and assured me of their fullest cooperation. On my own behalf too, I assure you to try my level best to upkeep the confidence you have reposed in me.

INTIMATION REGARDING ARREST OF MEMBER

MADAM SPEAKER: I have to inform the House that following communication dated 6th June, 2009 was received from the Superintendent of Police, Special Crime Branch, Central Bureau of Investigation, Mumbai:

“I have the honour to inform that as per the directions of the

hon. High Court of Judicature at Bombay vide its order

dated 23.10.08 in Criminal Writ Petition No. 81 of 2008, the investigation of Crime No. 220 of 2006 of Kalamboli Police

Station was transferred to the CBI which accordingly registered an FIR vide RC-BSI/2009/S/0001 dated

20.03.2009 at CBI, Special Crime Branch, Mumbai.

I have the honour to inform that, I found it my duty, in the exercise of my powers under Section 41 of the

Criminal Procedure Code that Shri Padmsinh Bajirao Patil,

Member of the Lok Sabha, may be arrested for committing offences u/s 120-B/302 IPC for the double murder of Pawan

Raje Nimbalkar, R/o. Govardhanwadi, Dist. Latur,

Maharashtra, and Samad Abdul Wahid Kazi, R/o. Dhoki,

Osmanabad, on 03.06.2006 at Kalamboli, Panvel, Dist.

Raigadh, Maharashtra.

Shri Padmsinh Bajirao Patil, MP, was accordingly arrested and taken into custody at 10.20 p.m., on 06.06.2009 and is at present in the custody of Special Crime Branch,

CBI, Mumbai.”

*MATTERS UNDER RULE 377

(i) SHRI P.T. THOMAS laid a statement regarding need to take

steps to prevent attacks on Indian students in Australia.

(ii) SHRI JAI PRAKASH AGARWAL laid a statement regarding

need to amend the Dowry Prohibition Act for ensuring economic

empowerment of women.

(iii) SHRI N.S.V. CHITTHAN laid a statement regarding need to

extend the National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme to

Gram Panchayats and Town Panchayats.

(iv) SHRI NINONG ERING laid a statement regarding need to

declare Arunachal Pradesh as a centre of Indian Green Revolution

with a view to protect the fast-depleting forest areas in the country.

(v) SHRIMATI BOTCHA JHANSHI LAKSHMI laid a statement

regarding need to pass the Women Reservation Bill in Lok Sabha.

(vi) SHRI ADHIR CHOWDHURY laid a statement regarding need

for expansion and four-laning of N.H. 34 in .

(vii) SHRI K.C. VENUGOPAL laid a statement regarding need to

depute a fact-finding team to assess the extent of threat posed by

water-borne diseases in Alappuzha district of Kerala.

* Laid on the Table as directed by the Chair. (viii) SHRI RAVINDRA KUMAR PANDEY laid a statement

regarding need to appropriate funds under Social Integration

Programme of Damodar Valley Corporation Chandrapura and

Bokaro Thermal Power stations in Jharkhand for providing

irrigation and drinking water facilities in the area.

(ix) DR. RAJAN SUSHANT laid a statement regarding need to

implement ‘one rank-one Pension’ scheme in the Armed Forces of

the country.

(x) SHRI GANESH SINGH laid a statement regarding need to

provide financial assistance for boring tube-wells and constructing

tanks in the drought-hit Satna Parliamentary Constituency of

Madhya Pradesh.

(xi) SHRI DANVE RAOSAHEB PATIL laid a statement regarding

need to expedite the survey and construction of railway line

between Jalgaon and Sholapur in Maharashtra.

(xii) SHRI RAMKISHUN laid a statement regarding need to stop

acquisition of agricultural land for construction of railway freight

corridor in Chandauli Parliamentary Constituency, Uttar Pradesh. (xiii) SHRI SUSHIL KUMAR SINGH laid a statement regarding need

to provide funds from NABARD for the completion of North Koel

Irrigation Project in Jharkhand.

(xiv) SHRI KALYAN BANERJEE laid a statement regarding need to

provide relief and rehabilitate people affected due to cyclone AILA

in West Bengal.

(xv) SHRI D. VENUGOPAL laid a statement regarding need to

promote floriculture in Thruvannamalai Parliamentary

Constituency, Tamil Nadu.

(xvi) ADV. A. SAMPATH laid a statement regarding need to set up a

bench of High Court in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala.

(xvii) SHRI B. MAHTAB laid a statement regarding need to expedite

the construction of second railway bridge over river Kathajodi in

Orissa.

(xviii) SHRIMATI SUPRIYA SULE laid a statement regarding need to

release funds for the construction of Homes for Women under

“Swadhar” Scheme in Maharashtra.

(xix) SHRI PRABODH PANDA laid a statement regarding need to

start the construction of second railway bridge over river Kansayee in West Bengal and double the single railway line between

Kharagpur and Midnapur in the State.

(xx) SHRI INDER SINGH NAMDHARI laid a statement regarding

need to dissolve the suspended Legislative Assembly of Jharkhand

with a view to restore proper governance in the State.

MOTION OF THANKS ON THE PRESIDENT’S ADDRESS - Contd.

SHRI SAJJAN VERMA continuing said: As per the sixth point in the hon. President’s Address, this Government has got a huge and powerful mandate. I want to say that the great people of the country have clearly told by giving a surprising but correct mandate that this Government would be able to take decisions towards the welfare of the country. This Government has proved in the last five years that it stands with the last weak person sitting in the last line. Our UPA Government has formed strong economic and foreign policies. I feel proud for the fact that in the coming five years, our farmers would be in position to get cheap power with the production of

65,000 MW power with the help of the nuclear deal and other resources.

Our UPA Government has put in a lot of wisdom in forming the 100 days plan. SHRI MULAYAM SINGH YADAV: My observation is, only slogan raising of “Gareebi Hatao” is there since 1952.

India would have been the most powerful country of the world had the

Presidential Address followed in words and deeds. It is well-known that the

Congress Government was at the helm of the affairs in the country most of the times but the poverty instead of decreasing has indeed gone up. I am of the opinion that unless and until honest people are included in the NREGP, the poverty will continue to rise and the benefits of such schemes will not percolate to the poorest of the poor. Simply giving slogan of garibi hatao will not be helpful. Therefore, the slogan should be to remove unemployment as unemployment is the main cause of poverty. It is because of this, we socialists have given this slogan “remove unemployment”. It is, therefore, in the fitness of things that the Government should provide employment else they should provide unemployment allowance.

Today, the farmers and peasants are suffering a lot because of lack of confidence. We know that the world’s most powerful and economically rich countries have prospered because of farmers as they have given priority to the cause of farmers. Therefore, if we want to remove poverty we have to empower our farmers and have to give remunerative prices for their produce.

We will have to provide adequate procurement prices to our farmers. Our country can only prosper if our farmers are prospered. The condition of farmers and muslims is most pitiable in our country as 80 per cent of muslims are artisans.

On an average, the production of foodgrains in our country is decreasing by 3 per cent every year because of urbanisation. This has resulted in the shortage of arable lands and concrete jungles are increasing.

Large tracts of barren and uncultivable lands are lying waste for want of any suitable scheme to make them cultivable. There is no mention in the

Presidential Address in regard to this. I request the Government to provide adequate funds for creating irrigation facilities to such type of lands so that they may be made cultivable and arable. This would certainly remove unemployment. It is a known fact that farmers are the biggest employer in the country today. Inspite of that, they are a most neglected lot. Not only that, the water table is going down day by day and it is going to create a big and serious problem. Ponds are the only way to solve this problem.

Therefore, more and more ponds should be dug in the villages and filled with water. I also request the Government to constitute a Committee to enquire as to how much water is there in such ponds as of today? We have found at most of the places that ponds are constructed but there is no water as these are at height whereas the source of water is at the lower level. This should have been otherwise. The climate change has also created a big problem in front of all of us. Not only that, we figure somewhere at the bottom so far the literacy is concerned. Barring a few years, most of the time the Congress was in power at the centre. I, therefore, would like to know as to what did they do to remove the illiteracy? Same is the case with health. There are a number of diseases which have no treatment. It is really regrettable that there has been no real planning in the country after it has gained independence. Everything is going on without any planning. I would like to know from the Government as to what measures they have taken to check such diseases from spreading? It is an established fact that the country where children are educated and healthier will prosper and progress well. These sort of diseases are increasing only because of less expenditure on health mission. Further, this Government is not taking adequate steps to check the price rise. The Socialists have always taken recourse to price regulation in order to develop agriculture. I, therefore, feel that price rise can only be contained by the Government through price regulation.

In the last 11-12 years, approximately 1.50 lakh farmers have committed suicide in the country. No doubt, the Government have waived off the bank loans of the farmers but they are still not free from the clutches of money-lenders as the loan taken from money-lenders is yet to be paid by them. I request the Government to enquire as to how much loan they have taken from such money-lenders and take steps to waive it off. We know that nothing is more disturbing and troublesome than the poverty as poverty is a curse and sorrow. As per a Report, there are approximately 75 crores people in this country who make their both ends meet on meagre Rs. 9 to Rs. 20 per day. So far as the checking of the price rise is concerned, I am of the opinion that the Government should resort to regulate prices through a policy of price mechanism. Prices are increasing at an unprecedented rate.

It is also an established fact that the development cannot take place anywhere in the world in the absence of power. The power scenario in our country is in a very dismal state.

The main moto of any foreign policy to any country is that it should be in the interest of the country. But it is really unfortunate that today we have no neighbouring country as our friend. What sort of foreign policy is this? In fact there is no foreign policy as such. I am also of the opinion that the Government will maintain communal harmony and provide adequate internal security in the country. I also feel that Naxalism and Maoism are more dangerous than terrorism. We have successfully uprooted Naxalism in

Uttar Pradesh but we firmly believe that it cannot be eliminated by using coercive methods. It is, therefore, need of the hour that the Government should understand this problem first.

So far as the matter pertains to providing reservation to women in

Legislative Assemblies and Lok Sabha is concerned, I am of the opinion that if the Women Reservation Bill is passed in the present form, this

Government will not come back in Lok Sabha again. The present form of this Bill is against democracy. I am always in favour of women reservation and our party have always did its best to promote women in every respect.

We are in favour of the Women’s Reservation Bill. All the Constitution amendments till date have been passed unanimously. The Women’s

Reservation Bill, in its present form, should be withdrawn. Call a meeting of all the leaders and, after reaching a consensus the Bill should be introduced. We will pass it unanimously. My submission is that reservation should be made at party level itself. The party should provide a particular percentage of reservation to the women and in case it does not do so, its registration should be cancelled. Therefore, I urge that this women reservation should be made at the party level by calling a meeting of all the political parties.

SHRI DARA SINGH CHAUHAN: The Hon. President’s Address is a manifesto of the Government in which the achievements and the policies and programmes of the Government for the next five years is mentioned. It is sad that there is no mention of the suicides by the farmers in the

President’s Address. Today, the farmers are cultivating the land but they themselves are landless. Therefore, there is a need of land reforms in the country. This issue has also got no place in the President’s Address. The agricultural equipments, pesticides, power and water should be made available to farmers at cheaper rates. Population wise Uttar Pradesh is the largest State in the country. Even after 61-62 years of independence, the condition of this State is quite miserable. The farmers are not getting electricity. The UPA Government should pay more attention towards them.

So many years have elapsed after independence even then the condition of poor people in the country is quite miserable. The basic things for the development and upliftment of the poor have not yet been done. The issue of loan waiver scheme of farmers has been raised with fanfare. But what will happen to the poor, the artisans and the small farmers who were honest and have taken the loan of 10-50 thousand of rupees? The rural poor people is provided 100 days of employment through NREGA, the Hon. President has said nothing in her Address as to what he will do during the remaining

265 days and how he will survive. Nothing has been mentioned in this

Address with regard to the cottage industries and health. The issue of Women Reservation Bill has been raised. But, it will be injustice with the country to bring this disputed Bill in the House until and unless the economic and social gap is bridged. If we want the development of this country then the first and foremost thing will be to remove these social and economic disparity.

SHRI SUDIP BANDYOPADHYAY: We are grateful to the Hon.

President that at the initial stage of her speech, she was very much concerned about the cyclone that took place in our State of West Bengal, damaging lives and properties of a few millions of people. We propose that relief centres should be operated. Well-managed relief centres can only give new life. The Government of West Bengal has asked for a relief from the

Central Government saying that at least a sum of Rs. 1000 crore is immediately required. I do not know how much money will be allotted from the central quota. A relief team from the Government of India has already arrived. But there should be proper monitoring of the expenditure.

As far as Land Acquisition Act is concerned this Act was passed in the British regime and by application of the various provisions of this Act, the Government of West Bengal has started squeezing land of the poor farmers forcefully. Therefore, the Land Acquisition Bill, which is sought to be re-introduced in the Parliament should be tabled afresh. The land of the farmers and the agriculturists should not be allowed to be taken away forcibly. We do not support the procedure of disinvestments in profit making Public Sector Undertakings, banks and the insurance sector. The recommendations of Sachar Committee gave a new direction to the improvement of the minorities. Their problems have been well reflected in the Report. The number of beneficiaries of minority scholarships should be increased to 35 lakhs. Financial assistance as is provided in case of students belonging to the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes should be extended to students belonging to Minority communities for research, management and professional education. In addition to this the allocation for the National

Minority Development Financial Corporation should be enhanced. The

Muslim OBCs should be given proper share in OBC quota as per

Government reservation policy. A very good proposal of development and beautification of the river Ganges has been mooted in the Address. This will help in making the Ganges pollution free. Today, India’s young population is restless. There are neither jobs nor employment facilities nor have they got ways of livelihood. The Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission is a very laudable effort. For the city of , Rs.3000 crore have been allotted under the scheme but only Rs.1500 crore have been spent so far. So the Government of India should direct all the State Governments to properly implement the projects under JNNURM. In addition to this we appreciate few decisions announced in the speech which include areas like internal security and communal harmony, Governance reforms, infrastructure development, female literacy, Rajiv Gandhi Awas Yojana, rural housing and rural infrastructure. Cheap rice for 260 million people is a very laudable decision and this will certainly help the poor people who are living below poverty line. The Election Commission is functioning properly. Therefore, this time people of West Bengal have succeeded in casting their votes without fear. And for this we should extend our thanks to the Election

Commission. We propose that one Public Grievance Cell should be activated where people of this country can send their grievances. We do urge upon the Government to keep a vigilant eye over the latest situation in

West Bengal and send relief materials directly to the District Magistrate.

Barrages and roads of more than 800 kms have been destroyed in West

Bengal in Aila cyclone. We wholeheartedly support the Motion of Thanks.

SHRI T.K.S. ELANGOVAN: The President’s Address ensures her

Government’s commitments towards economic, social and cultural inclusiveness and the rejection of the forces of divisiveness and intolerance.

The Address has a definite goal of all-round growth. The Address can be considered as a broad outline for the future Plan to come. Inclusive growth, equitable development and a secular and plural India should be the platform on which the Government should act in the forthcoming years. During the just concluded general elections the people have elected those parties which had performed. In spite of the many good things mentioned in the Address, the State of Tamil Nadu and the Tamils feel neglected, particularly they are unhappy because the Address do not promise the steps for early completion of the Sethusamudram Project. The Sethusamudram Project, will definitely shower prosperity on the Tamils. So, the Government of India should ensure the people of Tamil Nadu that the Scheme is definitely coming up and completed. The Address deals with the issue of terrorism in detail and commits to take firm action against it. But what will we do against the

State-sponsored terrorism? Thousands of Tamils were killed by the Sri

Lankan Army in the No-War Zone. The world was watching it. The world has not condemned it. We, the nearest neighbour, who boast of unity in diversity of giving equality to different cultures, different languages and different religions, were watching it. We have not strongly condemned the

Government of Sri Lanka and we have not taken strong steps to stop the killings of innocent Tamils in Sri Lanka. Now the Government should render all possible assistance for the rehabilitation and resettlement of lakhs of Tamils who had lost their houses and other properties and who are crippled by the attack of the Sri Lankan Army. There is no mention of linking of national rivers in the Address. Water management in our country is dismal. So the Government should immediately take steps to link all the national rivers. The Address mentions about reform of governance for effective delivery of public services. Decentralisation is one among the many measure identified to achieve this goal. Hence the Government should take necessary steps to amend the Constitution and give more powers to

State Governments in the interest of effective administration. On behalf of my party I support the Motion of Thanks.

SHRI BASUDEB ACHARIA: There is mention of the devastating cyclone, Aila, in the State of West Bengal in the Address. As on 4th June, the total number of affected persons has reached 67.5 lakhs; the total deal toll rises to 137; the number of fully and partly damaged houses crossed nine lakhs; the affected crop area exceeded 2.8 lakh hectares; and the length of embankment breaches increased to more than 500 kms. It is a national level natural calamity. The State Government has so far spent Rs.134 crore for relief and rehabilitation. 3,900 MT relief material was distributed up to 4th

June. About 398 medical teams of the State Government and 10 Army medical teams are working day and night. Now, the Central team is visiting two districts because the State Government has asked for financial assistance to the extent of Rs.1,000 crore. This tragedy should be declared as a national calamity as the cyclone is quite unprecedented. There is reference of Communal Violence Bill, in the Address. This Bill should be brought and the legislation should be enacted.

There is a demand for change in the Centre-State relations. But the reference to Centre-State relations in the President’s Address is missing. A

Commision – Sarkaria Commission – was constituted long back. Its recommendations are yet to be implemented. There is a need for giving more power to the State Governments. In regard to various programmes, what has been stated in the Address, are all the repetitions of what was stated five years back. But what is the fate of all these programmes? It was said that 2.3 crore Below Poverty Line households would be connected. But what is the achievement by December, 2008 it is only 17.95 per cent.

About the targeted rural households electrification, of the targeted villages, only 52 per cent has been electrified. The Pradhan Mantri Grameen Sarak

Yojana (PMGSY) is a cent per cent Centrally sponsored scheme. But what is the performance. The NCMP emphasized that the irrigation would receive the highest investment priority and all ongoing projects would be completed according to the strict time schedule. But the Bharat Nirman committed only an additional irrigation capacity of 10 million hectares to be created by

2009. Only 5.8 million hectare or half of the target has been achieved so far.

This flagship programme of the Rural Health Mission was adopted.

About 68.6 per cent of Primary Health Centres are functioning with one or no doctor; 807 Primary Health Centres have no doctor at all. Much has been stated about inclusive growth. What is the situation that is prevalent today in our country? The hiatus between the poor and the rich has been widened.

There is a need to amend the Essential Commodities Act. There is a need to contain and control the rising prices of essential commodities. There has not been any mention of how many workers have been retrenched following the economic recession. Retrenchment is going on and there has been deceleration in exports. The Government wanted to raise FDI in insurance sector, we prevented it from doing to. It also wanted to allow foreign equity in our nationalized banks. It is because of our efforts that the impact of economic recession has not been so much in our financial institutions. There is a need to reverse the policy.

SHRIMATI SUSHMA SWARAJ: One should not be in the race for taking credit of welfare and developmental works. I am happy to note that you have promised to do what we wanted to do. I am proud that the chief ministers of four BJP ruled States namely Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan and Uttarakhand as also the NDA Governed State of Bihar have increased the quota of reservation for women from 33 to 50 per cent in their respective States.

The Government says that it would provide rice at the rate of Rs.3/- per kg. to the poor. But the Chief Minister of Chhattisgarh, a BJP ruled

State has already been providing 35 kg. of rice at Rs.3/- per kg. since 2007.

The quota of rice for Chhattisgarh was 61 thousand metric tonnes that time but the Central Government has reduced it to a mere 953 metric tones i.e. a whopping reduction of 97 per cent. What I want to say is that there should be no discrimination against any state irrespective of whichever party’s rule is there. But the Central Government has been discriminating against the state of Madhya Pradesh. A list of 31 crore BPL families has been sent by

Madhya Pradesh but the Central Government is not providing foodgrains for them. Similarly, the supply of coal to Madhya Pradesh has also been curtailed. The State has been grappling with power crisis. There is draught like situation. The hydro power projects have almost come to standstill in the State.

I would like to state let the Government launch and run the schemes it likes, but they should be implemented in a fair and impartial manner. I am pained at the fact that neither in the Address nor in the action plan for 100 days, there is a mention of going ahead with the establishment of six

AIIMSs. The AIIMS was set up in the country 58 years back. Thereafter, population increased multifold, but no subsequent AIIMS came up. In my tenure of 10 months, we had acquired land for them, we laid foundation stones for six AIIMSs and even earmarked Rs.6 crore under Budget head in the vote on account for the same to construct their boundary walls.

However, even after five years of this Government’s tenure no further work was done thereon. We even initiated action to upgrade the six existing

AIIMSs.

Then, in the paragraph 25, there is a mention of creating equal opportunities for women. The Government propose to accord priorities to the literacy, employment and political empowerment of womenfolk.

However, it fails to address the root cause relating to the very birth of female child. If a female child is not allowed to be born, how she is going to be educated. The female foeticide is committed on a large scale in the country.

It is the biggest crime. ‘Laadli Laxmi Yojana’ launched in Madhya Pradesh is a very good scheme to check female foeticide. Unless female foeticide is stopped, the other three objectives cannot be fulfilled. So far as the women reservation is concerned, there is no commitment as such in the President’s

Address to get the Bill passed. However, it says that the Government intends to take measures in this regard. The measures would be taken and the promise would just be fulfilled. The time frame has to be spelt by the

Government as to when the Women Reservation Bill would be passed.

Para 42 touches and ends with the mention of cross border terrorism on Indo-Pak border. The most pertinent topic remains untouched. Today,

Pak is building up and enhancing its nuclear capability. I am pained to say what we achieved during Atalji’s rule, has been lost under Indo-American nuclear pact. We have imposed self-restraint on any future nuclear explosion and in case if it is carried out, the pact become null and void. The

Prime Minister has to reply what steps the Government are taking to deal with the nuclear capability being augmented by the Pak. In this very paragraph, there is a mention of Tamil Lankans. Could we afford to sit silent at the inhuman atrocities being committed against our Tamil brethren?

We should send our delegates there to assess the situation and suggest what measures could be taken to mitigate their sufferings to the extent possible.

Then, in the paragraph 45 there is a mention of Indian diaspora. On one hand, we term them as our undeclared ambassadors, on the other hand we come across the reports of their sufferings abroad. What pain me most is when a responsible minister of the Cabinet says on the TV Channel ‘what could be done since our mission are under staffed’. The people are not bothered about the mission being under or overstaffed. We want our people and children to be safe there. Lot of will power and determination is required to fulfill the commitments made in the Address. What message is going to be conveyed to the people of the country if the ministers make such statement showing helplessness? Hence, a delegation consisting of young

Parliamentarians be sent to Australia so that our people there could feel that someone is there to take care of them and the Government is sensitive to their cause. It should not take long time and nor there is any difficulty in it.

Our President has talked of the aspirations and the hope of our youth.

Whenever, there has been a crisis, our youth have played their role very responsibly. I am happy to see a large number of young Parliamentarians having been elected to Lok Sabha. I congratulate them. I look forward to the aspirations of the people being fulfilled by them. However, the

Government need to take steps to help them fulfill those expectations. I have word of caution for the Government that the youth cannot wait for long. The youth gets impatient if there is inordinate delay and that impatience has in it the message of resentment brewing in them. It is accepted that we cannot change the picture in 100 days, but we can chalk out a blue print for the same. The Government has to formulate such a blue print. The people have elected them to govern the country and we have been assigned the role of the watchdog as Opposition. We would support the

Government if it undertakes good measures. We would caution the

Government if it committed lapses and delays. Likewise, we would also

caution it if it does not deliver. We would oppose if they make mistakes and

lapses. We would put to the test the promises and points made in the

Address and see if they have been accomplished or not.

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P.D.T. ACHARY, Secretary-General.

****Supplement covering rest of the proceeding is being issued separately. © 2009 BY LOK SABHA SECRETARIAT NOTE: It is the verbatim Debates of the Lok Sabha and not the Synopsis that should be considered authoritative.