FRIDAY, THE 17TH FEBRUARY, 2006 (The Rajya Sabha met in the Parliament House at 11-00 a.m.) 11-00 a.m. 1. Introduction of Ministers by the Prime Minister Dr. , Prime Minister introduced 8 Ministers, 1 Minister of State (Independent Charge) and 10 Ministers of State, to the House. 11-03 a.m. 2. Starred Questions The following Starred Questions were orally answered:- Starred Question No.2 regarding Improvement in standards of hospitals and PHCs. Starred Question No.3 regarding Ban on globally discarded drugs. Starred Question No.4 regarding Suicides by farmers. Answers to remaining Starred Question Nos.1 and 5 to 20 were laid on the Table. 3. Unstarred Questions Answers to Unstarred Question Nos. 1 to 90 were laid on the Table. 12-00 Noon 4. Report of the Department Related Parliamentary Standing Committee on Finance Shri Mangani Lal Mandal laid on the Table a copy (in English and Hindi) of the Thirty-third Report of the Department-related Parliamentary Standing Committee on Finance on “Widening of Tax Base and Evasion of Tax”. 12-01 p.m. 5. Recommendations of the Business Advisory Committee The Chairman informed Members that the Business Advisory Committee in its meeting held on Thursday, the 16th February, 2006, has allocated time as follows for Government Legislative and other Government Business:-

RAJYA SABHA

BUSINESS TIME ALLOTTED 1. Consideration and adoption of the amendments made by Lok Sabha in the following Bills as passed by Rajya Sabha:— (a) The Chartered Accountants (Amendment) Bill, 2005. Half-an-hour (b) The Cost and Works Accountants (Amendment) Bill, 2005. (c) The Company Secretaries (Amendment) Bill, 2005. 2. Discussion on the Motion of Thanks on the President’s 12 Hours Address. 3. Discussion on the Statutory Resolution seeking disapproval of the National Commission for Minority Educational Institutions (Amendment) Ordinance, 2006 4 Hours (No.1 of 2006) promulgated by the President on the 23rd [To be discussed January, 2006. together] 4. Consideration and passing of the National Commission for Minority Educational Institutions (Amendment) Bill, 2005. 5. Consideration and passing of the following Bills after they have been passed by Lok Sabha:— (i) The Contempt of Courts (Amendment) Bill, 2004. 2 Hours (ii) The Khadi and Village Industries Commission 3 Hours” (Amendment) Bill, 2005.

17TH FEBRUARY, 2006 12-02 p.m. 6. 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 20th February, 2006. 12-04 p.m. 7. Matter raised with permission Shri Jaswant Singh, Leader of the Opposition raised a matter regarding reported survey of persons belonging to a particular community in the defence forces. Shrimati Sushma Swaraj** also spoke. 12.25 p.m.$ (The House adjourned at 12-25 p.m. and re-assembled at 12.55 p.m.) 12.56 p.m.# (The House adjourned at 12-56 p.m. and re-assembled at 2.32 p.m.) 2.32 p.m. 8. Private Members’ Bills — Introduced 2-32 p.m. (1) The High Court of (Establishment of a Permanent Bench at Bhopal) Bill, 2006 was introduced by Shrimati Maya Singh.

(2) The Neglected and Suffering Widows (Protection and Welfare) Bill, 2006 was introduced by Shrimati Maya Singh. 2-33 p.m. (3) The Villages (Information Technology and Infotainment Facilities) Bill, 2004 was introduced by Dr. Alladi P. Rajkumar. ______** Spoke in Hindi. $ From 12-22 p.m. to 12-25 p.m. some points were raised. # From 12-55 p.m. to 12-56 p.m. some points were raised. RAJYA SABHA 2-34 p.m. (4) The Constitution (Amendment) Bill, 2004 (insertion of new article 262A) was introduced by Dr. Alladi P. Rajkumar. (5) The Constitution (Amendment) Bill, 2004 (to amend articles 75 and 164) was introduced by Dr. Alladi P. Rajkumar. 2-35 p.m. (6) The Palm Industry Workers Welfare Bill, 2005 was introduced by Shri C. Perumal. (7) The Inter-State Rivers (Regulation) Bill, 2005 was introduced by Shri C. Perumal.

2-36 p.m. 9. Private Member’s Bill — Under Consideration The Commercial Advertisements on Electronic Media (Regulation) Bill, 2005. Shri Kalraj Mishra** concluded his speech while moving the motion for consideration of the Bill. The following Members took part in the discussion:— 3-01 p.m. 1. Shri Shantaram Laxman Naik 3-20 p.m. 2. Shri Ram Narayan Sahu** 3-25 p.m. 3. Dr. M. S. Gill** 3-39 p.m. 4. Shri N. Jothi 3-53 p.m. 5. Shrimati Kum Kum Rai** 4-01 p.m. 6. Maulana Obaidullah Khan Azmi$$ 4-13 p.m. 7. Shri Jayantilal Barot** 4-21 p.m. 8. Shri Silvius Condpan** 4-26 p.m. 9. Shri Narayan Singh Manaklao** 4-31 p.m. 10. Dr. Faguni Ram** 4-49 p.m. 11. Kumari Nirmala Dehspande** 4-54 p.m. 10. Shri Raashid Alvi** The discussion was not concluded. ______** Spoke in Hindi. 17TH FEBRUARY, 2006 5-00 p.m. 10. Statement by Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh, Prime Minister made a statement regarding ‘’s vote in the IAEA on the issue of Iran’s nuclear programme’. 5-17 p.m.%

(The House adjourned at 5-17 p.m. till 11-00 a.m. on Monday, the 20th February, 2006)

______% From 5-10 p.m. to 5-17 p.m. some points were raised.