WEDNESDAY, THE 9TH AUGUST, 2000

(The Rajya Sabha met in the Parliament House at 11.00 a.m.)

1. Reference and Homage to martyrs of Freedom Movement and victims of Atomic bombs dropped in Hiroshima and Nagasaki The Chairman made a reference to the Quit Movement launched under the leadership of Mahatma Gandhi and also to the dropping of atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki in Japan on the 6th and 9th August, 1945. The House observed silence, all Members standing, as a mark of respect to the memory of martyrs and freedom fighters and also to the memory of the bomb victims.

11-02 a.m. ______** Spoke in Hindi. 9TH AUGUST, 2000

2. Starred Questions The following Starred Questions were orally answered. Starred Question No. 241regarding Status of projects. Starred Question No. 242 regarding MDA for handloom products. Starred Question No. 243 regarding Conversion of SU-30 Aircrafts.

Answers to remaining Starred Questions (Nos. 244 to 260) were laid on the Table.

3. Unstarred Questions Answers to Unstarred Question Nos.1861 to 2015 were laid on the Table.

12 Noon

4. Papers Laid on the Table Shri Chennamanevi Vidya Sagar Rao (minister of State in the Ministry of Home Affairs) on behalf of Shri L.K. Advani laid on the Table the following papers: —

I. A copy (in English and Hindi) of the Ministry of Home Affairs Notification G.S.R.611 (E) dated 17.7.2000 publishing the National Human Rights Commission (Conditions of Service of Officers and Staff) Rules, 2000, under sub-section (3) of Section 40 of the Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993.

II. A copy each (in English and Hindi) of the following Notifications of the Ministry of Home Affairs, under sub-section (3) of Section 141 of the Border Security Force Act, 1968:— (I) G.S.R 182 dated 27.5.2000 publishing the Border Security Force (Engineering Officers) Recruitment Rules, 2000.

(2) G.S.R 227 dated 24.6.2000 publishing the Director Police Tele- Communications and Inspector General (Communications) Border Security Force Recruitment Rules, 2000.

Shri N.T. Shanmugam (Minister of State (Independent Charge) of the Ministry of Coal) laid on the Table a copy (in English and Hindi) of the Memorandum of Understanding between the (Ministry of Mines and Minerals, Department of Coal) and the Limited for the year 2000-2001. RAJYA SABHA

Ms. Jayawanti Mehta (Minister of State in the Ministry of Power)laid on the Table a copy each (in English and Hindi) of the following papers:— (i) Memorandum of Understanding between the Government of India (Ministry of Power) and the National Hydroelectric Power Corporation Limited for the year 2000-2001.

(ii) Annual Budget of the Damodar Valley Corporation for the year 2000-2001, under sub-section (3) of section 44 of the Damodar Valley Corporation Act, 1948.

(iii) Memorandum of Understanding between the Government of India (Ministry of Power) and the Power Finance Corporation Limited for the year 2000-2001.

Shri Gingee N. Ramachandran (Minister of State in the Ministry of Home Affairs) laid on the Table a copy (in English and Hindi) of the Notification G.S.R. 608 (E) dated 13.7.2000 publishing the Textiles Committee (Amendment) Rules, 2000 under sub-section (3) of Section 22 of the Textiles Committee Act, 1963.

12-01 p.m.

5. Motion for Election to the Central Silk Board — Adopted A motion for election of one member to the Central Silk Board was moved and adopted.

12-02 p.m.

6. Motion for Election to the Committee on Public Accounts — Adopted A motion for election of one member to the Committee on Public Accounts was moved and adopted.

12-11 p.m.

7. Special Mentions 1. Shri Santosh Bagrodia raised a matter regarding Ballistic Missiles.

12-14 p.m.

9TH AUGUST, 2000

2. Shri Pranab Mukherjee Shri Shri J. Chitharanjan raised a matter regarding continued fall in the rupee value against the U.S. dollar.

12-18 p.m.

3. Shrimati Sarla Maheshwari** raised a matter regarding construction of a national memorial at the birth place of Munshi Prem Chand.

12-29 p.m.

4. Shri Sanjay Nirupam** raised a matter regarding threat to the federal structure of the country by the Maharashtra Government.

12-32 p.m.

5. Ven'ble Dhammaviriyo raised a matter regarding appointment of Director of Nava Nalanda Mahavihar.

12-36 p.m.

6. Shri W. Angou Singh raised a matter regarding taking over of the Regional Institute of Medical Sciences, Imphal by the Government of India.

12-42 p.m.

7. Shri P.N. Siva raised a matter regarding discrimination and delay in the allotment of funds for the Rural Area Development.

12-44 p.m.

8. Dr. Y. Radhakrishna Murthy raised a matter regarding plight of paddy farmers in Andhra Pradesh.

(The House adjourned at 12-56 p.m. and re-assembled at 2-02 p.m.)

______** Spoke in Hindi. RAJYA SABHA 2-06 p.m. 8. Statutory Resolution — Adopted Shri V. Dhananjay Kumar (Minister of State in the Ministry of Finance) moved the following Resolution:— "That in pursuance of sub-section (2) of section 8A of the Customs Tariff Act, 1975, read with sub-section (3) of section 7 of the said Act, this House hereby approves of Notification No.96/2000-Customs dated July 7, 2000 [G.S.R.593 (E) dated July 7, 2000] which seeks to amend the First Schedule to the Customs Tariff Act, 1975 so as to enhance the rate of customs duty applicable to goods falling under sub-heading no. 0802.90 from 35% to "100%". The Resolution was adopted.

8. Government Bill — Passed

The Madhya Pradesh Reorganisation Bill, 2000

Shri L.K. Advani** (Minister of Home Affairs) moved for the consideration of the Bill.

The following Members took part in the discussion:— 2-19 p.m. 1. Shri Arjun Singh ** 2-27 p.m. 2. Shri Vikram Verma ** 2-42 p.m. 3. Shri Khagen Das 2-58 p.m. 4. Shri Suresh Pachouri** 3-14 p.m. 5. Shri Solipeta Ramachandra Reddy 3-25 p.m. 6. Shri Lakkhiram Agarwal** 3-35 p.m. 7. Ven'ble Dhammaviriyo** 3-44 p.m. 8. Shri C.P. Thirunavukkarasu 3-49 p.m. 9. Prof. Ram Gopal Yadav ** 3-55 p.m. 10. Shri Vijay J. Darda ** 3-59 p.m. 11. Shri H.K. Javare Gowda 4-03 p.m. 12. Shri J. Chitharanjan 4-12 p.m. 13. Shri Bhagatram Manhar** 4-24 p.m. 14. Shri R. Margabandu 4-34 p.m. 15. Shri Satish Pradhan** 4-45 p.m. 16. Shri Kailash Joshi ** 5-01 p.m. 17. Shri Jhumuk Lal Bhendia** ______** Spoke in Hindi. 9TH AUGUST, 2000

5-03 p.m. 18. Shri Dilip Singh Judev ** 5-09 p.m. 19. Shri Surendra Kumar Singh** 5-13 p.m. 20. Shri Balkavi Bairagi ** 5-15 p.m. 21. Shri Abdul Gaiyur Qureshi** 5-20 p.m. Shri L.K. Advani** replied to the debate.

5-35 p.m. The motion for consideration of the Bill was adopted.

Thereafter, clause by clause consideration of the Bill was taken up. Clauses 2 to 4 were adopted. Clause 5 was adopted, as amended. Clauses 6 to 11 were adopted. Clause 12 was adopted, as amended. Clauses 13 to 86 were adopted. The First Schedule was adopted, as amended. The Second Schedule was adopted. The Third Schedule was adopted, as amended. The Fourth Schedule, the Fifth Schedule, the Sixth Schedule, the Seventh Schedule and the Eighth Schedule were adopted. Clause 1, the Enacting Formula and the Title were adopted.

5-43 p.m. The motion moved by Shri L.K. Advani that the Bill, as amended, be passed was adopted and the Bill, as amended, was passed.

5-45 p.m.

9. Statement by Minister Shri L.K. Advani, Minister of Home Affairs made a statement on the situation in Jammu and Kashmir.

(The House adjourned at 5-51 p.m. till 11-00 a.m. on Thursday, the 10th August, 2000)

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