WEDNESDAY, the 26TH JULY, 2000 (The Rajya Sabha Met in The
WEDNESDAY, THE 26TH JULY, 2000
(The Rajya Sabha met in the Parliament House at 11.00 a.m.)
1. Reference regarding the First Anniversary of India's Victory in Kargil The Chairman made the following reference:—
Hon’ble Members, July 26, 2000 marks the first anniversary of India’s victory in the Kargil conflict when the last of the Pakistani aggressors were evicted from our territory. Recalling the sacrifices of many of our brave soldiers and airmen who laid down their lives to protect the territorial integrity of India and the acts of courage and gallantry displayed by our troops, this House salutes the memory of those who were killed in defending the motherland and applauds the dedication and professional commitment of the members of our armed forces. This House reaffirms the nation’s commitment 26TH JULY, 2000 to the welfare of the families of the martyrs and of those who were disabled. This House also recalls with pride and joy the great unity, solidarity and sense of purpose that the entire nation displayed during the crisis which demonstrated India’s unshakeable resolve to foil any misadventure of the kind that our neighbour regrettably engaged herself in. Today, on the occasion of the Kargil Vijay Diwas, this House reiterates India’s resolve to beat back any aggression as well our commitment to the path of peace and maintenance of good relations with our neighbours.
11-03 a.m.
2. Starred Questions The following Starred Questions were orally answered. Starred Question No.41 regarding Kutir Jyoti Programme for rural areas. Starred Question No.42 regarding Murder of Christian School Principal near Mathura. Starred Question No. 53 regarding Death of key witness to Christian Priest’s murder in police custody. Answers to remaining Starred Questions (Nos. 43 to 52 and 54 to 60) were laid on the Table.
3. Unstarred Questions Answers to Unstarred Question Nos.311 to 465 were laid on the Table.
(The House adjourned at 11-43 a.m. and re-assembled at 11-55 a.m.)
(The House adjourned at 11-55 a.m. and re-assembled at 2-03 p.m.)
2-03 p.m.
4. Papers Laid on the Table Ms. Jayawanti Mehta (Minister of State in the Ministry of Power) laid on the Table a copy (in English and Hindi) of the following papers: — 1. Memorandum of Understanding between the Government of India (Ministry of Power) and the National Thermal Power Corporation Limited for the year 2000-2001.
RAJYA SABHA
2. Memorandum of Understanding between the Government of India (Ministry of Power) and the Power Grid Corporation of India Limited for the year 2000-2001.
Shri O. Rajagopal (Minister of State in the Ministry of Law, Justice and Company Affairs and Parliamentary Affairs) laid on the Table the following statements (in English and Hindi) showing the action taken by Government on the various assurances, promises and undertakings given during the Session shown against each: — 1. Statement No. XLIII Hundred and Fifty- fifth Session, 1990 2. Statement No. XXXV Hundred and Sixty-fourth Session, 1992 3. Statement No. XXX Hundred and Seventieth Session, 1994 4. Statement No. XXIV Hundred and Seventy- third Session, 1995 5. Statement No. XVIII Hundred and Seventy-fourth Session, 1995 6. Statement No. XVII Hundred and Seventy- fifth Session, 1995 7. Statement No. XII Hundred and Seventy-sixth Session, 1996 8. Statement No. XVI Hundred and Seventy-eighth Session,1996 9 Statement No. XIV Hundred and Seventy-ninth Session, 1996 10. Statement No. XIV Hundred and Eightieth Session, 1997 11. Statement No. XIV Hundred and Eighty-first Session, 1997 12. Statement No. XII Hundred and Eighty-second Session, 1997 13. Statement No. X Hundred and Eighty-fourth Session, 1998 14. Statement No. VIII Hundred and Eighty-fifth Session, 1998 15. Statement No. VII Hundred and Eighty-sixth Session, 1999 16 Statement No. IV Hundred and Eighty-eighth Session, 1999 17. Statement No.III Hundred and Eighty-ninth Session, 2000
2-04 p.m.
5. Report of the Committee on Subordinate Legislation Shri Dipankar Mukherjee presented the Hundred and Twenty-ninth Report (in English and Hindi) of the Committee on Subordinate Legislation.
2-05 p.m.
6. Reports of the Department-related Parliamentary Standing Committee on Home Affairs
26TH JULY, 2000
Shri Pranab Mukherjee present the following Reports (in English and Hindi) of the Department-related Parliamentary Standing Committee on Home Affairs: — (i) Sixty-second Report on the Salaries, Allowances, Leave and Pensions of the Officers and Servants of the Supreme Court Bill, 1994. i. Sixty-third Report on the Salaries, Allowances, Leave and Pensions of the Officers and Servants of the Delhi High Court Bill, 1994.
2-06 p.m.
7. Report of the Department-related Parliamentary Standing Committee on Urban and Rural Development Shri Solipeta Ramachandra Reddy laid on the Table a copy (in English and Hindi) of the Fourteenth Report of the Standing Committee on Urban and Rural Development on ‘The Constitution (Eighty - sixth Amendment) Bill, 1999.’
2-13 p.m.
8. Message from the Lok Sabha — Secretary-General reported to the House a message received from the Lok Sabha and its sitting held on the 26th July, 2000, had adopted the following Motion: — "That this House do recommend to Rajya Sabha that Rajya Sabha do agree to nominate one member from Rajya Sabha to associate with the Committee on Public Accounts of the House for the unexpired portion of the term of the Committee vice Shri Vayalar Ravi retired from Rajya Sabha and do communicate to this House the name of the member so nominated by Rajya Sabha."
2-16 p.m.
9. Special Mentions
1. Shri Suresh Pachouri** raised a matter regarding allegations levelled against some Ministers and IT Officials by an office bearer of a political Party. ______**Spoke in Hindi. RAJYA SABHA 2-21 p.m.
2. Shri Anantray Devshanker Dave** raised a matter regarding crop insurance.
2-26 p.m.
3. Shri Md. Salim** raised a matter regarding Amarnath Yatra. Shri Harin Pathak, Minister of State in the Ministry of Defence replied.
2-33 p.m.
4. Shri Santosh Bagrodia raised a matter regarding cargo vessel 'River Princess' running aground on Sinquerim-Candolim beach, Goa.
2-36 p.m.
5. Shri Eduardo Faleiro raised a matter regarding residential permits for refugees in Delhi.
2-38 p.m.
6. Shri J. Chitharanjan raised a matter regarding reduction in the interest rate of Provident Fund deposits.
2-41 p.m.
10. Government Bills — Passed
I. The Army and Air Force (Disposal of Private Property) Amendment Bill, 1999
Shri George Fernandes (Minister of Defence) moved:- “That the Bill further to amend the Army and Air Force (Disposal of Private Property) Act, 1950, be taken into consideration.”
The following Members took part in the discussion: — 2-45 p.m. 1. Shri Suresh Pachouri ** 2-55 p.m. 2. Shri B.P. Singhal ______** Spoke in Hindi. 26TH JULY, 2000
3-00 p.m. 3. Shri Nilotpal Basu 3-02 p.m. 4. Shri Prem Chand Gupta 3-04 p.m. 5. Shri S. Viduthalai Virumbi 3-08 p.m. 6. Shri Gaya Singh** 3-10 p.m. 7. Shri R. Margabandu 3-15 p.m. 8. Shri Satish Pradhan ** 3-16 p.m. 9. Shri Gandhi Azad ** 3-18 p.m. Shri George Fernandes** replied to the debate.
3-31 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 1 was adopted, as amended. The Enacting Formula was adopted, as amended. The Title was adopted.
Shri George Fernandes moved- That the Bill be passed.
3-32 p.m.
The motion moved by Shri George Fernandes that the Bill, as amended, be passed was adopted and the Bill, as amended, was passed.
3-33 p.m.
II. The Indian Power Alcohol (Repeal) Bill, 2000
Shri Suresh Prabhu (Minister of Chemicals and Fertilisers) moved – “That the Bill to repeal the Indian power Alcohol Act, 1948, be taken into consideration.” 3-34 p.m.
The motion for consideration of the Bill was adopted. ______** Spoke in Hindi. RAJYA SABHA
Thereafter, clause by clause consideration of the Bill was taken up. Clause 2 was adopted. Clause 1, the Enacting Formula and the Title were adopted.
Shri Suresh Prabhu moved – That the Bill be passed.
3-35 p.m.
The motion moved by Shri Suresh Prabhu that the Bill be passed was adopted the Bill was passed.
3-37 p.m.
III. The Chemical Weapons Convention Bill, 2000
Shri Suresh Prabhu (Minister of Chemicals and Fertilisers) moved - “That the Bill to give effect to the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production, Stockpiling and Use of Chemical Weapons and on their Destruction and to provide for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto, be taken into consideration.”
3-38 p.m.
Dr. Raja Ramanna took part in the discussion.
3-43 p.m.
Shri Suresh Prabhu replied to the debate.
3-45 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 56 and the Schedule were adopted. Clause 1, the Enacting Formula, the Preamble and the Title were adopted.
26TH JULY, 2000
Shri Suresh Prabhu Moved – That the Bill be passed.
3-46 p.m.
The motion moved by Shri Suresh Prabhu that the Bill be passed was adopted and the Bill was passed.
3-47 p.m.
IV. The Indian Companies (Foreign Interests) and the Companies (Temporay Restrictions on Dividends) Repeal Bill, 2000
Shri Arun Jaitley (Minister of State of the Ministries of Information and Broadcasting and Law, Justice and Company Affairs) moved - “That the Bill to repeal the Indian Companies (Foreign Interests) Act, 1918 and the Companies (Temporary Restrictions on Dividends) Act, 1974, as passed by Lok Sabha, be taken into consideration.”
3-49 p.m.
Dr. Biplab Dasgupta took part in the discussion.
3-51 p.m.
Shri Arun Jaitley replied to the debate.
4-05 p.m.
The motion for consideration of the Bill was adopted.
Thereafter, clause by clause consideration of the Bill was taken up. Clause 2 was adopted. Clause 1, the Enacting Formula and the Title were adopted.
Shri Arun Jaitely moved – That the Bill be passed.
RAJYA SABHA 4-06 p.m.
The motion moved by Shri Arun Jaitley that the Bill be passed was adopted and the Bill was passed.
4-08 p.m.
V. The Cotton Cloth (Repeal) Bill, 2000 as passed by Lok Sabha
Shri Kashiram Rana (Minister of Textiles) moved – “That the Bill to repeal the Cotton Cloth Act, 1918, as passed by Lok Sabha, be taken into consideration.”
The following Members took part in the discussion:— 4-14 p.m. 1. Shrimati Savita Sharda ** 4-16 p.m. 2. Shri N.K.P. Salve 4-18 p.m. 3. Shri C.O. Poulose 4-24 p.m. 4. Shri Rumandla Ramachandraiah **
4-26 p.m.
Shri Kashiram Rana** replied to the debate.
4-36 p.m.
The motion for consideration of the Bill was adopted.
Thereafter, clause by clause consideration of the Bill was taken up. Clause 2 was adopted. Clause 1, the Enacting Formula and the Title were adopted.
Shri Kashiram Rana moved – That the Bill be passed.
4-37 p.m.
The motion moved by Shri Kashiram Rana that the Bill be passed was adopted and the Bill was passed. ______** Spoke in Hindi. 26TH AND 27TH JULY, 2000 4-40 p.m.
11. Statement by Minister Shri Arun Jaitley, Minister of State of the Ministries of Information and Broadcasting and Law, Justice and Company Affairs made a statement on the new Uplinking Policy.
(The House adjourned at 4-45 p.m. till 11-00 a.m. on Thursday, the 27th July, 2000)