THURSDAY, THE 17TH AUGUST, 2006 (The Rajya Sabha met in the Parliament House at 11.00 a.m.) 11:00 a.m. 1. Obituary Reference The Chairman made a reference to the passing away of Prof. M.M. Agarwal (ex- member). The House observed silence, all Members standing, as a mark of respect to the memory of the departed. 11:03 a.m. 2. Starred Questions The following Starred Question were orally answered:- Starred Question No.301 regarding Neglect of MPLAD projects by district administration. Starred Question No.303 regarding Opening of Suchetgarh-Sialkot border. Starred Question No.304 regarding Rajasthan Atomic Power Station at Rawathbhata. Starred Question No.305 regarding Rail-road linkage projects for minor prots of Gujarat. Starred Question No.307 regarding Death of Indians in Bahrain. Starred Question No.308 regarding Four-laning of National Highways. Answers to remaining Starred Question Nos.302, 306 and 309 to 320 were laid on the Table. 3. Unstarred Questions Answers to Unstarred Question Nos. 2104 to 2258 were laid on the Table. 17TH AUGUST, 2006 12:00 Noon. 4. Papers Laid on the Table Shri Suresh Pachouri (Minister of State in the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions and Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs) laid on the Table a copy each (in English and Hindi) of the following statements showing the action taken by the Government on the various assurances, promises and undertakings given during the Session shown against each:— 1. Statement No. XXXIII Hundred and Eighty-ninth Session, 2000. 2. Statement No. XXXII Hundred and Ninetieth Session, 2000. 3. Statement No. XXV Hundred and Ninety-third Session, 2001. 4. Statement No. XVII Hundred and Ninety-fourth Session, 2001. 5. Statement No. XXII Hundred and Ninety-fifth Session, 2002. 6. Statement No. XVI Hundred and Ninety-seventh Session, 2002. 7. Statement No. XIV Hundred and Ninety-eighth Session, 2003. 8. Statement No. XI Hundred and Ninety-ninth Session, 2003. 9. Statement No. X Two Hundredth Session, 2003. 10. Statement No. IX Two Hundred and second Session, 2004. 11. Statement No. VII Two Hundred and third Session, 2004. 12. Statement No. VI Two Hundred and fourth Session, 2005. 13. Statement No. IV Two Hundred and fifth Session, 2005. 14. Statement No. III Two Hundred and sixth Session, 2005 15. Statement No. II Two Hundred and seventh Session, 2006 16. Ministry wise Status Note of Rajya Sabha pending Assurances, as on 30-6- 2006. Shri K.H. Muniappa (Minister of State in the Ministry of Shipping, Road Transport & Highways) laid on the Table a copy each (in English and Hindi) of the following Notifications of the Ministry of Shipping, Road Transport and Highways (Department of Road Transport and Highways), under section 10 of the National Highways Act, 1956:— (1) S.O. 1123 (E) dated the 18th July, 2006, regarding acquisition of land with or without structure, falling within the stretch from Km. 52.00 to Km. 84.80 (Gwalior-Jhanshi Section) on National Highway No. 75 in the District of Datia, . (2) S.O. 1124 (E) dated the 18th July, 2006, regarding acquisition of land with or without structure, falling within the stretch from Km. 60.00 to Km. 61.00 (Agra-Gwalior Section) on National Highway No. 3 in the District of Morena, Madhya Pradesh. RAJYA SABHA

12:01 p.m. 5. Messages from Lok Sabha reported and Government Bill laid on the Table I. The Appropriation (Railways) No.4 Bill, 2006 Secretary-General reported to the House the following Message received from Lok Sabha, signed by the Secretary-General of Lok Sabha:- "In accordance with the provisions of rule 96 of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in Lok Sabha, I am directed to enclose the Appropriation (Railways) No.4 Bill, 2006, as passed by Lok Sabha at its sitting held on the 11th August, 2006. The Speaker has certified that this Bill is a Money Bill within the meaning of article 110 of the Constitution of ." (2) A copy of the Appropriation (Railways) No.4 Bill, 2006, as passed by Lok Sabha, was laid on the Table. §II. on the 17th August, 2006, had adopted the following Motion:

“That a Joint Committee of Houses to be called the Joint Committee to examine the constitutional and legal position relating to Office of Profit be constituted consisting of fifteen members, ten members from this House to be nominated by the Speaker including the Chairperson of the Joint Committee and five members from the Rajya Sabha to be nominated by the Chairman, Rajya Sabha. 2. That the terms of reference of the Joint Committee shall be – (i) to examine, in the context of settled interpretation of the expression “Office of Profit” in article 102 of the Constitution and the underlying constitutional principles therein, and to suggest a comprehensive definition of “Office of Profit”; (ii) to recommend, in relation to “Office of Profit”, the evolution of generic and comprehensive criteria which are just, fair and reasonable and can be applied to all States and Union territories; ______♣ At 8.21 p.m. 17TH AUGUST, 2006 (iii) to examine the feasibility of adoption of system of law relating to prevention of disqualification of Members of Parliament as existing in the United Kingdom and considered by the Constitution (Forty-second Amendment) Act, 1976; and (iv) to examine any other matter incidental to the above. 3. That in order to constitute a sitting of the Joint Committee, the quorum shall be one-third of the total number of members of the Joint Committee. 4. That the Joint Committee shall make a report to this House by the first day of the last week of the next session of Parliament. 5. That in other respects, the rules of Procedure of this House relating to the Parliamentary Committees shall apply with such variations and modifications as the Speaker may make. 6. That this House recommends to the Rajya Sabha that the Rajya Sabha do join the said Joint Committee and communicate to this House the names of the Members nominated by the Chairman, Rajya Sabha to the Joint Committee.” 12:02 p.m. 6. Motion for Election to the Spices Board A motion for election of one member to the Spices Board was moved and adopted. 7. Motion for Election to the Rubber Board A motion for election of one member to the Rubber Board was moved and adopted. 12:03 p.m. 8. Short Duration Discussion Shri Yashwant Sinha raised a discussion on the Indo-US nuclear deal. The following Members took part in the discussion:— 12:44 p.m. 1. Shri Anand Sharma, Minister of State in the Ministry of External Affairs 1:20 p.m. 2. Shri Amar Singh** ______** Spoke in Hindi. RAJYA SABHA 1:36 p.m. 3. Shri Sitaram Yechury 2:11 p.m. 4. Shri N. Jothi 2-33 p.m. 5. Shri Mangani Lal Mandal** 2:43 p.m. 6. Dr. K. Kasturirangan 3:05 p.m. 7. Shri Digvijay Singh** &3:29 p.m. 8. Shri C. Ramachandraiah #3:51 p.m. 9. Shri Arun Shourie 4:25 p.m. 10. Shri Raashid Alvi** 4:49 p.m. 11. Dr. P.C. Alexander 5:06 p.m. 12. Shri Shahid Siddiqui$$ 5:15 p.m. 13. Shrimati Shobhana Bhartia 5:23 p.m. 14. Dr. Barun Mukherjee 5:27 p.m. 15. Shri Ram Jethmalani ª6:06 p.m. 16. Shri Arjun Kumar Sengupta 6:22 p.m. 17. Shri Abani Roy 6:29 p.m. 18. Shri B.J. Panda 6:40 p.m. 19. Shri Syed Azeez Pasha 6:45 p.m. 20. Shri Tariq Anwar** 6:52 p.m. 21. Dr. Farooq Abdullah 6:59 p.m. 22. Shri Jaswant Singh, Leader of the Opposition

7:01 p.m. Dr. , Prime Minister, replied to the discussion. The discussion was concluded.

Y8:22 p.m. (The House adjourned at 8.22 p.m. till 11-00 a.m. on Friday, the 18th August, 2006)

______** Spoke in Hindi. & From 3.24 p.m. to 3.26 p.m. some points were raised. # From 3.47 p.m. to 3.51 p.m. some points were raised. $$ Spoke in Urdu. ♠ From 5.55 p.m. to 6.06 p.m. some points were raised. Ψ From 8.21 p.m. to 8.22 p.m. see item no.5(II).