______∗SYNOPSIS OF DEBATE ______(Proceedings other than Questions and Answers) ______Friday, December 12, 2008/Agrahayana 21, 1930 (Saka) ______

OBITUARY REFERENCE MR. CHAIRMAN: Hon. Members, I refer with profound sorrow to the passing away of Shri Rama Shanker Kaushik, a former member of this House. Shri Rama Shanker Kaushik passed away on the 29th November, 2008 at the age of 77 years. Born at Gajraula, in the present district Jyotiba Phule Nagar in Uttar Pradesh in April, 1931, Shri Kaushik had his education at Government School, Amroha, S.M. College, Chandausi and Lucknow University. An farmer and a social worker, Shri Rama Shanker Kaushik since his student days was associated with the socialist movement and worked relentlessly for the interests of students and farmers. For the upliftment of the weavers and women belonging to weaker sections, he set up an institutions "Shramgarhi', in village Gajraula.

∗ This Synopsis is not an authoritative record of the proceedings of the Rajya Sabha.

197 Shri Kaushik began his legislative career with the membership of the Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly in 1977, and served as Member of that Assembly for two terms from 1977 to 1980 and 1985 to 1989. He was a Member of the Uttar Pradesh Legislative Council from 1990 to 1996. He also served as Minister in the Government of Uttar Pradesh on three occasions, from 1978 to 1980, from 1990 to 1991 and from 1993 to 1995. Shri Rama Shanker Kaushik represented the State of Uttar Pradesh in this House from July, 1998 to July, 2004. He also served on the panel of Vice-Chairmen. In the passing away of Shri Rama Shanker Kaushik, the country has lost a dedicated social worker and a noted Parliamentarian. We deeply mourn the passing away of Shri Rama Shanker Kaushik. (One minute's silence was observed as a mark of respect to the memory of the deceased.) ______REFERENCE REGARDING SEVENTH ANNIVERSARY OF TERRORIST ATTACK ON THE PARLIAMENT BUILDING ON THE 13TH DECEMBER, 2001 MR. CHAIRMAN: Hon'ble Members, 13th December, 2008, marks the Seventh Anniversary of the dastardly attack on the Parliament House by terrorists. On this occasion we recall the supreme sacrifices made by our security personnel including two staff of the Watch and Ward from the Rajya Sabha Secretariat, five Delhi Police personnel and a woman constable of the Central Reserve Police

198 Force, who laid down their lives while preventing entry of terrorists inside the Parliament House building. A Gardener of the C.P.W.D. also lost his life in the incident. I am sure, the whole House will join me in condemning this incident in unequivocal terms. We once again re-iterate our firm resolve to fight terrorism with determination and re- dedicate ourselves to protect the sovereignty and integrity of our nation. (One minute's silence was observed as a mark of respect to the memory of the deceased.) ______MATTERS RAISED WITH THE PERMISSION OF THE CHAIR I. CONCERN OVER FIRING BY POLICE ON PEACEFUL GATHERING OF TRIBALS IN SHRI ALI ANWR ANSARI: C.E.C. Company of R.K. Goenka Group intend to set-up a power plant at Amgachi and Pukharia villages in Kanthipur subdivision in District Dumaka in Santhal Pargana in Jharkhand and it intend to acquire 1000 acre of land there but the villagers are not ready to give their land. In this connection a movement is going on there and the tribals are being arrested regularly thereof. On 6th December, 2008, while opposing these arrests the tribals were marching forward peacefully for courting their arrests, they were stopped by the police at Haripur check-post about three kilometers form Kathikund police station, the police resorted to lathicharge and firing on them and 80 rounds were fired by the police. One tribal was died and two others were seriously injured in it. A total number of 15 tribals have been injured in it. Further,

199 Shrimati Munni Hansada, the leader of the movement, and one other person, Shri Charan Kumar have been lodged in the jail. They are being treated badly in the jail and essential amenities are not being provided to them. SHRI S.S. AHLUWALIA: Today, we need power and the power station for its generation in the country but these power stations should be set-up on the barren land only not on the agriculture land. In the area of Santhal Pargana, where nobody can purchase land from the tribals, effort are being made to set-up a power station thereby forcibly acquiring 1000 acre of their land. I, through you, demand that Government should formulate a policy on land acquisition wherein no land could be acquired unless and until a foolproof rehabilitation package for the displaced people is prepared. I support my colleague who have raised this matter and demand that the Government should look into it and take action thereof. (Shri Abani Roy and Shri Rajniti Prasad associated) FARMERS' AGITATION FOR SUBSTANTIAL REDUCTION IN THE PRICES OF DIESEL AND PETROL SHRI SARDAR TARLOCHAN SINGH: Recently the Government has made nominal reduction in the prices of diesel and petrol. The farmers are in need of diesel. Whatever policy, the government formulate, its very little benefits goes to the farmers. The Government have recently brought new schemes of thousands of crores to remove the recession, but there is not any has been sown in and Punjab. There is acute shortage of electricity in Haryana. The farmers are in need of diesel. The International prices of petrol and diesel have been reduced from 147 dollar per barral to 43 dollar per barral. The reduction is 67 per cent but we have been given rupees 2 only. We are unable to

200 understand that when the international prices have been reduced substantially, why the prices of diesels and petrol have not been reduced commencement to it and the prices of kerosen and LPG have also been reduce. In addition to it, recently the government have reduced the excise duty by your per cent but this not applicable on diesel. We are unable to understand the fact that the Government don't take care of issues with regard to farmers. The day after tomorrow about five thousand farmers from Haryana were gathered and they had made one demand that the prices of diesel may be reduced. Our leader Shri Om Prakash Chautala led them. I would urge upon the Minister of Agriculture that a special package may be brought about for Haryana and Punjab as they give wheat and rice to whole country, particularly prices of diesel should be reduced so that they get the incentive and give more production. The Government recognise the role of farmers in the country and action should be taken at the earliest. CONCERN OVER SCARCITY OF FERTILIZERS IN THE COUNTRY, ESPECIALLY IN UTTAR PRADESH SHRI NAND KISHORE YADAV: The statement of the Ministers of fertilizers of Government of India was issued time and again and advertisements were publised in the news papers in the country in this regard that there is not any shortage of fertilizers in the country. But today there is uproar for DAP in Uttar Pradesh particularly in estern Uttar Pradesh. The farmers could not sow the Rabi crop in time. The farmer could not get one bag of DAP after standing in queue for 72 hours before the Sadhan Cooperative Committees and Godown of fertilizers, due to this he could not sow his Rabi crop.

201 The people agreed to the fact that economy of the whole country is dependent on agriculture. But it is unfortunate that such a incompetent Government is in the Uttar Pradesh which have not agriculture, fertilizers, pesticide, drugs, seeds in its agenda and this is why the farmers eastern Uttar Pradesh are on road. Earlier at 27 places scirmishes between farmers and policed took place, at 29 places farmers were lathi charged by the State Government and I know that the Central Government had sent the fartilizers there, but the Sadhan Cooperative Committee has become so incompetent and the administration of the state has become so incompetent that the administration and Sadhan Cooperative Com