MONDAY, the 13TH MARCH, 2000 (The Rajya Sabha Met in the Parliament House at 11.00 A.M.) 1

MONDAY, THE 13TH MARCH, 2000 (The Rajya Sabha met in the Parliament House at 11.00 a.m.) 1. Starred Questions The following Starred Questions were orally answered. Starred Question No. 241 regarding Involvement of State Governments in exports. Starred Question No.243 regarding Discussion with British Delegation on Trade. Starred Question No. 244 regarding Setting up of Industries in Meghalaya. Starred Question No. 247 regarding Substitution of conventional materials in automobiles. Starred Question No.248 regarding Production target. Starred Question No.249 regarding Removal of casual news-readers in Doordarshan. Answers to remaining questions (242, 245, 246, 250 to 260) were laid on the Table.

2. Unstarred Questions

Answers to Unstarred Question Nos.1824 to 1978 were laid on the Table.

12 Noon

3. Statement by Minister Correcting Answer to Question

Shri Omar Abdullah (Minister of State in the Ministry of Commerce and Industry) made a statement correcting the reply given in the Rajya Sabha on the 20th December, 1999 to Starred Question 309 regarding Antidumping duties investigations.

12-02 p.m.

4. Papers Laid on the Table Shri O. Rajagopal (Minister of State in the Ministry of Law, Justice and Company Affairs and Parliamentary) on behalf of Ms. Maneka Gandhi laid on Tabel a copy each (in English and Hindi) of the following papers, under sub-section (1) of section 619A of the Companies Act, 1956:— 13TH MARCH, 2000

(i) (a) Twenty-fifth Annual Report and Accounts of the Artificial Limbs Manufacturing Corporation of India, Kanpur, for the year 1997-98, together with the Auditor's Report on the Accounts and the comments of the Comptroller and Auditor General of India thereon.

(b) Review by Government on the working of the above Corporation.

(ii) (a) Fifth Annual Report and Accounts of the National Minorities Development and Finance Corporation, New Delhi, for the year 1998-99, together with the Auditor's Report on the Accounts and the comments of the Comptroller and Auditor General of India thereon.

(b) Review by Government on the working of the above Corporation.

(iii) (a) Tenth Annual Report and Accounts of the National Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes Finance Development Corporation, New Delhi, for the year 1998-99, together with the Auditor's Report on the Accounts and the comments of the Comptroller and Auditor General of India thereon.

(b) Review by Government on the working of the above Corporation.

(2) Statements (in English and Hindi) giving reasons for the delay in laying the papers mentioned at (1) above.

II. A copy each (in English and Hindi) of the following papers:—

(a) Annual Report and Accounts of the National Institute for Orthopaedically Handicapped, Calcutta, for the year 1997-98, together with the Auditor's Report on the Accounts. 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. Shri Dilip Ray (Minister of State (Independent Charge) of the Ministry of Steel) on behalf of Shri Arun Jaitley laid on the Table a copy each (in English and Hindi) of the following papers:— (i) (a) Annual Report and Accounts of the Children’s Film Society, India, Mumbai, for the year 1998-99, together with the Auditor's Report on the Accounts.

(b)Statement by Government accepting the above Report.

(ii) (a) Annual Report and Accounts of the Satyajit Ray Film and Television Institute, Calcutta, for the year 1998-99, together with the Auditor's Report on the Accounts.

(b)Statement by Government accepting the above Report.

Shri Dilip Ray (Minister of State (Independent Charge) of the Ministry of Steel) laid on the Table a copy each (in English and Hindi) of the following papers, under sub-section (1) of section 619A of the Companies Act, 1956:—

(a) Seventeenth Annual Report and Accounts of the Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Limited, (Visakhapatnam Steel Plant), Visakhapatnam, for the year 1998-99, together with the Auditor's Report on the Accounts and the comments of the Comptroller and Auditor General of India thereon.

(b) Review by Government on the working of the above Company.

(2) Statements (in English and Hindi) giving reasons for the delay in laying the papers mentioned at (1) above.

II. A copy (in English and Hindi) Memorandum of Understanding between the Government of India (Ministry of Steel) and Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Limited for the year 1999-2000.

13TH MARCH, 2000

Shri Manohar Joshi (Minister of Heavy Industry and Public Enterprises) the following papers laid on the Table:-

I. A copy each (in English and Hindi) under sub-section (1) of section 619A of the Companies Act, 1956:— (a) Forty-fourth Annual Report and Accounts of the National Industrial Development Corporation Limited, New Delhi, for the year 1998-99, together with the Auditor's Report on the Accounts and the comments of the Comptroller and Auditor General of India thereon.

(b) Statement by Government accepting the above Report.

II. Statement (in English and Hindi) giving reasons for the delay in laying the papers mentioned at (I) above.

III. (1) A copy each (in English and Hindi) of the following papers, under sub-section (1) of section 619A of the Companies Act, 1956:— (a) Thirty-sixth Annual Report and Accounts of the MMTC Limited, New Delhi, for the year 1998-99, together with the Auditor's Report on the Accounts and the comments of the Comptroller and Auditor General of India thereon.

(b) Review by Government on the working of the above Company.

(2) Statement (in English and Hindi) giving reasons for the delay in laying the papers mentioned at (1) above. IV. (1) A copy each (in English and Hindi) of the following papers, under sub-section (3) of section 21 and sub-section (4) of section 18 of Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority Act, 1985:— (a) Fourteenth Annual Report and Accounts of the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority, New Delhi, for the year 1998- 99, together with the Auditor's Report on the Accounts. (b) Review by Government on the working of the above Authority.

(2) Statement (in English and Hindi) giving reasons for the delay in laying the papers mentioned at (1) above.

V. A copy (in English and Hindi) of the Ministry of Industry (Department of Industrial Policy & Promotion) S.O. 72(E) dated 25.1.2000 publishing the amendment to the Newsprint Control Order, 1962, under Section 3 of the Essential Commodities Act, 1955.

VI. A copy each (in English and Hindi) of the following papers:—

(a) Fourth Annual Report and Accounts of the National Centre for Trade Information, New Delhi, for the year 1998-99, together with the Auditor's Report on the Accounts.

(b)Review by Government on the working of the above Centre.

Dr. Raman (Minister of State in the Ministry of Commerce and Industry) laid on the Table a copy each (in English and Hindi) of the following papers:—

(a) Annual Report and Accounts of the Quality Council of India, New Delhi, for the year 1998-99, together with the Auditor's Report on the Accounts.

(b) Statement by Government accepting the above Report.

5. Corrigendum to Budget Documents 2000-2001

Shri O. Rajagopal (Minister of State in the Ministries of Law, Justice and Company Affairs and Parliamentary Affairs) laid on the Table a copy (in English and Hindi) of Corrigendum to Budget Documents 2000-2001. 12-03 p.m. 13TH MARCH, 2000

6. Report of the Committee on Public Undertakings

Shri Gopalsinh G. Solanki laid on the Table a copy (in English and Hindi) of the First Report of the Committee on Public Undertakings on Action Taken by Government on the Recommendations contained in their second report (12th Lok Sabha) on "Follow-up action on the Reports of C&AG of India (Commercial)".

12-04 p.m.

7. Reports of the Department-related Parliamentary Standing Committee on Petroleum and Chemicals

Shri P. Soundararajan laid on the Table a copy each (in English and Hindi) of the following Reports of the Standing Committee on Petroleum and Chemicals:—

First Report on Action Taken by Government on the recommendations contained in Tenth Report (Twelfth Lok Sabha) on Demands for Grants (1999-2000) relating to the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas.

Second Report on Action Taken by Government on the recommendations contained in Eleventh Report (Twelfth Lok Sabha) on Demands for Grants (1999- 2000) relating to the Ministry of Chemicals and Faertilisers, Department of Chemcials and Petro-Chemicals.

Third Report on Action Taken by Government on the recommendations contained in Twelfth Report (Twelfth Lok Sabha) on Demands for Grants (1999- 2000) relating to the Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilisers, Department of Fertilisers.

12-05 p.m.

8. Statement regarding Government Business

Shri O. Rajagopal (Minister of State in the Ministries of Law, Justice and Company Affairs and Parliamentary Affairs) made a statement regarding Government Business in the Rajya Sabha during the week commencing Monday, the 13th March , 2000. 12-06 p.m.

9. Motion for Election to the Court of the Aligarh Muslim University — Adopted

A motion for election of one member to the Court of the Aligarh Muslim University was moved and adopted.

12-07 p.m.

10. Motion for Election to the National Welfare Board for Seafarers — Adopted

A motion for election of one member to the National Welfare Board for Seafarers was moved and adopted.

12-08 p.m.

11. Motion for Election to the Committee on the Welfare of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes — Adopted

A motion for election of ten members to the Committee on the Welfare of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes was moved and adopted. 12. Motion for Election to the Committee on Public Undertakings — Adopted.

A motion for election of seven members to the Committee on Public Undertakings was moved and adopted.

12-09 p.m.

13. Motion for Election to the Committee on Public Accounts — Adopted

A motion for election of seven members to the Committee on Public Accounts was moved and adopted.

12-13 p.m.

13TH MARCH, 2000

14. Calling Attention to Matter of Urgent Public Importance

Shri Solipeta Ramachandra Reddy called the attention of the Minister of Agriculture to the steep hike in the price of DMS Milk causing immense hardship to the common man.

Shri Hukumdeo Narayan Yadav, Minister of State in the Ministry of Agriculture made a statement.

Thereafter, Members sought clarifications on the Statement.

(The House adjourned at 12-57 p.m. and reassembled at 2-04 p.m.)

2-04 p.m.

15. Supplementary Demands for Grants (General), 1999-2000

Shri Yashwant Sinha (Minister of Finance) laid on the Table a statement (in English and Hindi) showing the Supplementary Demands for Grants (General), 1999- 2000 (March, 2000).

2-08 p.m.

16. Short Duration Discussion

Shri Pranab Mukherjee raised a discussion on the role of Governors in discharging their Constitutional responsibilities in the formation of Governments in the States in light of recent events in Bihar.

The following Members took part in the discussion:—

2-26 p.m. 1. Shri Gurudas Dasgupta

2-40 p.m. 2. Shri M. Venkaiah Naidu

3-13 p.m. 3. Shri S. Ramachandran Pillai 3-27 p.m. 4. Shri Ram Deo Bhandary **

3-41 p.m. 5. Maulana Obaidullah Khan Azmi **

3-52 p.m. 6. Shri Solipeta Ramachandra Reddy

3-55 p.m. 7. Shri C.P. Thirunavukkarasu

4-01 p.m. 8. Shri Mohd. Azam Khan **

4-11 p.m. 9. Shri R. Margabandu

4-14 p.m. 10. Shri Shankar Roy Chowdhury

From 12-10 p.m. to 12-13 p.m. | Some points were raised.

From 2-05 p.m. to 2-08 p.m. |

4-20 p.m. 11. Shri Ram Jethmalani, (Minister of Law, Justice and Company Affairs)

5-08 p.m. 12. Shri Kapil Sibal

5-27 p.m. 13. Shri S.R. Bommai

5-39 p.m. 14. Shri Sharief-Ud-Din Shariq

5-44 p.m.

Shri L.K. Advani, Minister of Home Affairs replied to the debate.

The discussion was concluded.

(The House adjourned at 6-13 p.m. till 11-00 a.m. on Tuesday, the 14th March, 2000)

______** Spoke in Hindi.