2967 Appropriation [ 13 MARCH 1958 ] {Railways) No. 2 Bill, 19582968

2967 Appropriation [ 13 MARCH 1958 ] {Railways) No. 2 Bill, 19582968 for another two years. While suggesting this, rule 162 (2) of the Rules of Procedure and we have taken into account the convenience Conduct of Business in the Rajya Sabha, the and, if I may say so, the case of both the Chairman has allotted five hours for the Houses of Parliament and the Joint Select completion of ali stages involved in the Committee etc. It might be necessary for us in consideration and return of The Appropriation the Joint Select Committee to invite con- (Railways) No. 2 Bill, 1958, by the Rajya cerned and interested parties to come and Sabha, including the consideration and tender evidence; it "might be necessary for us passing of amendments, if any, to the Bill. to collect various other relevant data and material so that when the Report of the Joint DR. R. P. DUBE (Madhya Pradesh): On a Select Committee comes up before the House point of information, Sir, have we got some it might be a full Report a complete Report other business for tomorrow? Can't we extend and an efficient Report. It is only with that this period? We start now at 3 o'clock and . object in view that we have kept the period as two years and as I said we lose nothing MR. DEPUTY CHAIRMAN: We have thereby. These are all the points that were given five hours for this Bill and there is a raised and I am grateful to the House and the half-an-hour discussion tomorrow. Members for all the courtesy shown to this measure. MR. DEPUTY CHAIRMAN: The question is: THE APPROPRIATION (RAILWAYS) No. 2 Bill, 1958. "That the Bill to continue the Control of Shipping Act, 1947, for a further period, as THE DEPUTY MINISTER OF RAILWAYS passed by the Lok Sabha, be taken into (SHRI SHAH NAWAZ KHAN): Sir, I beg to consideration." move: The motion was adopted. "That the Bill to authorise payment and appropriation of certain sums from and out MR. DEPUTY CHAIRMAN: We shall now of the Consolidated Fund of India for the take up clause by clause consideration of the service of the financial year 1958-59 for the Bill. purposes of Railways, as passed by the Lok Clause 2 was added to the Bill. Sabha, be taken into consideration." Clause 1, the Enacting Formula and the MR. DEPUTY CHAIRMAN: Motion Title were added to the Bill. moved: SHRI RAJ BAHADUR: Sir, I move: "That the Bill to authorise pav ment and "That the Bill be passed." appropriation of certain sums from and out of Ihe Consolidated Fund of India for the MR. DEPUTY CHAIRMAN: The question service of the financial year 1958-59 for the is: purposes of Railways, as passed by the Lok "That the Bill be passed." Sabha, be taken into consideration." The motion was adopted. ALLOTMENT OF TIME FOR CONSI- DERATION OF THE APPROPRIATION (RAILWAYS) NO. 2 BILL, 1958 j MR. DEPUTY CHAIRMAN: I have j to inform hon. Members that under I 2969 Appropriation [ RAJYA SABHA ] (Railways) No. 2 Bill, 1958 297O SHRI PRITHVIRAJ KAPOOR: Is that the men, our own people, but it appears from the desire of the House, Mr. Deputy Chairman? . results, from what we hear about its working, I . am rather very unhappy to say, that those people have not done their duty properly, otherwise there would have been no occasion I for this complaint. We find that for the last three months the people working in that MR. DEPUTY CHAIRMAN: He wants railway have not been paid their salaries. Well, everybody to understand. So he is speaking in it can be easily said that the Centre is not English. responsible; it is a provincial affair; the District Board is managing it and we have nothing to SHRI PRITHVIRAJ KAPOOR: I stand here, do with it. Certainly, you will be right and you Sir, to recommend this motion that is moved have got every right to say all those things and just now to the House and support the Mover exoherate yourself from the responsibility. But with a few humble suggestions . for a layman, and in the category of laymen I include myself—and perhaps there might be SHRI BHUPESH GUPTA: (West Bengal): some other hon. Members here as ignorant as I They are very important. am and who perhaps do not know that this is a private aflair, that this is being managed by a SHRI PRITHVIRAJ KAPOOR: . and they are these. I would request the hon. Deputy District Board—it is rather difficult to know Minister of Railways to consider these humble this fact; even if it is a one-person minority like suggestions, give some time to them before myself, an ignorant man, it is bad, but there are millions in the country who are ignorant about just throwing them away of shelving them and this fact that this railway is not being managed if he finds these suggestions are of any use I by our Government, and thus a rumour spreads would request him to incorporate them, to give that our own railway workers them some tangible shape and work them out. are not being paid their salaries. And then this Sir, our railways are a big affair and we are news spreads. We have our friends all over the very proud of the entire establishment, the world. We say that, because we are friendly working, the . towards them. But there are some#people who SHRI H. P. SAKSENA (Uttar Pradesh): . are interested in spreading rumours about our the accidents. country. To guard our honour, to guard our prestige and not to provide means to these SHRI PRITHVIRAJ KAPOOR: My friend people to say anything against us and spread will have his time; why crow at the wrong such rumours abroad, I believe at such moment? moments, our Government should step in, put m the shoulder to the wheel, take the responsibi- . personnel, and everything. Off and on, a lity upon itself. It is my very humble few things come in the way; they disturb and suggestion. In spite of the fact that the moment spoil the very happy picture that you form might be very odd, in spite of the fact that it about the railways of our country. For might be very difficult to nationalise it at this instance, in these few days we have been hear- juncture, in spite of the fact that there may be ing so much about the Bhaktiarpur-Patna so many offler loopholes and spokes in that Railway. I know, Sir, that it is not your machinery and the setup there, in spite of the incumbent duty at this moment to take this up fact that knowing that there is so much to be done in so many other spheres. There are 32 miles of track on this railway and for the moment it is being controlled by some Board, the District Board, which of course is formed of our own country- 2971 Appropriation [ 13 MARCH 1958 ] (Railways) No. 2 Bill, 19582572 Rs. 9 lakhs or so, as the hon. Minister said the When there is food cooked for twenty, other day, is owed by the District Board to you can accommodate four more. When the Central Government or the Railways, in there is so much being done, when you are spite of all these things and handicaps, still it managing the affairs of hundreds of is our bounden duty, where the question of thousands, well the question of a few hundred honour comes in, to put our step forward, people working, and the salary of Rs. 32,000 boldy more forward and take the per month, could be easily managed. I believe responsibility. As it has been said by with your piles and piles that you have got at Shakespeare "Rightly to be great is not to stir your command and at your beck and call in without great argument but greately to find your Railway Department, you would be able to quarrel in a straw when honour is at stake." do it much better, much easier and in a much Here, in this particular case, there is a nicer way than it is being done or has been done question of prestige, the question of honour by those people on whom it was thrust and who of the country. Railway workers and perhaps were not able to understand the gravity railways as it is understood the world over of the matter, the importance of it. So, I would are a national subject. Railway workers are again repeat it, take it as a national question; without salary for three months. Leave take it as a question of national prestige and alone their suffering, leave alone their put your best foot forward and go to the rescue troubles that I hear about the of these workers who have suffered. Go to gratuity and the other gains. All these the rescue of your own countrymen and let troubles are the personal troubles of these that railway run and thus save the prestige of people. They will tighten their belt, they the land and the railways. will bear with them, put up with them, suffer Another humble thing is this. I will just as far as they can peacefully, nonvielently. mention two or three points if I am given But here the prestige of the country is at stake. permission. Do I 'have time, Sir? In this matter I believe you also know and it is known to so many of us that there have been MR.

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