Synopsis of Debate

RAJYA SABHA _________ ∗SYNOPSIS OF DEBATE _________ (Proceedings other than Questions and Answers) _________ Tuesday, December 20, 2011/Agrahayana 29, 1933 (Saka) _________ Reference to the Victims of Tropical Storm Washi in Philippines MR. CHAIRMAN: Hon’ble Members, as you are aware, tropical storm Washi hit Mindanao Island in Southern Philippines on the night of 16th December, 2011, resulting in flash floods and land slides in which more than 600 people have lost their lives and several hundreds are still missing. In some places, entire villages are reported to have been swept away. I am sure the whole House will join me in conveying our deep condolences on the losses suffered by the friendly people of Philippines. The people of India stand in solidarity with the people of Philippines in their hour of grief. (One Minute’s silence was observed as a mark of respect to the memory of those who lost their lives in this natural calamity.) _________ ________________________________________________________ ∗ This Synopsis is not an authoritative record of the proceedings of the Rajya Sabha. 161 MATTERS RAISED WITH THE PERMISSION OF THE CHAIR I. Confinement of 30 Indians of a Real Estate Company in Kuwait SHRI AVINASH RAI KHANNA: A real estate company of Kuwait had held prisoners of about 30 persons belonging to Punjab and most of them hailing from the districts of Hoshiyarpur, Jalandhar and Gurdaspur districts of Punjab. No legal assistance is being provided to them in Kuwait. These 30 persons have been confined in a room. The said company had already taken possession of their passports. The visas of these persons have expired. They have been forced into submission and are being forced into unlawful activities. It is because of this very reason, their visas have not been extended and our embassy is not able to provide them assistance. Most of these persons belong to the scheduled caste community. The Scheduled Caste Commission of Punjab had also requested the Government of India to bring back these confined Indians from Kuwait. The matter has also been appeared in number of newspapers. But the Government of India has so far not taken any action in this regard. I had also done some correspondence regarding the same. Even then no action is being taken by the Government. I, therefore, would like to submit through your good self that the Government should make efforts regarding bringing back the 30 Indians, especially people belonging to Punjab, to the country and assist them in getting their dues. (Shri Prakash Javadekar, Dr. Bharatkumar Raut, Shri Kanjibhai Patel, Shri Avtar Singh Karimpuri, Shri Jai Prakash Narayan Singh, Dr.M. S. Gill and the entire House associated.) II. Press Release issued by the Ulfa in Assam SHRI KUMAR DEEPAK DAS: The 13th December press release of hard-line faction of ULFA said that one Cabinet Minister of the State of Assam is a member of political wing of ULFA. But he 162 was forced to leave the outfit because he lacked the knowledge of revolution. But, till date, the Minister has not surrendered as is usually done by others. Before 13th December, this was an allegation because on a number of occasions the allegation was raised by various organizations in the State. The said declaration has created shocks in the minds of general public of the State. The said declaration was flashed in detail in almost all the print and electronic media. I ask the Hon’ble Minister to come with a specific statement on the issue to clarify the position and, if needed, he may order for an enquiry on the matter by a competent and independent authority. III. Alleged Scam in Subsidy of Fertilizers SHRI NARESH CHANDRA AGRAWAL: I would like to draw your kind attention towards the scam worth of Rs. 20, 000 crores committed by the Department of Fertilizers. The Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers has replaced the words ' Maximum Retail Price' with ' New Trend Based Subsidy' recently and provided subsidies to the companies like IFFCO, IPL, Birla, Zuari Agro Chemical and withdrawn the right of determining maximum retail price. As a result of which farmers had to pay about Rs 400 -500 per sack additionally in the current season. The said companies have been allowed to open their outlets in abroad. These companies had bought fertilizers for 600 dollars and sold the same fertilizer in India at about 700 dollars. Thus scam worth Rs. 5000 crores was committed through this channel. Earlier the right of importing urea was used to be with STC and MMTC. But the hon. Minister had allowed a Madras based company Coromondel Fertilizers Limited to directly import urea from the abroad by breaking away from the policy. The entire country is concerned about the suicides being committed by the farmers whereas the said Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers is giving such concessions which are assisting in committing scam of Rs 20, 000 crores and the PMO and Ministry of Finance is silent about it. I, therefore, urge upon the Government to have a discussion on it in the House and Minister should himself give his reply on it. (Shri Balbir Punj, Shri Vikram Verma and the entire House associated.) 163 IV. Missing of Haj Pilgrims in Mecca SHRI MOINUL HASSAN: Everybody knows that every year, lakhs of people go to the Holy City of Mecca to perform Haj. This time one important thing happened. Last flight flew from Jeddah to Kolkata on 5th December. All Haj people came back, but, unfortunately, 138 people are missing who have not yet come back. Their return ticket was on 4th and 5th December, but, they have not returned. Nobody knows what happened to them. Their families are asking us where are those people. The Indian Consulate General in Jeddah has written a letter to the All India Haj Committee. It was also reported that already 20 persons have been arrested there and 14 persons have died. But, no formal announcement has come from the Government of India or the All India Haj Committee. It again shows the irresponsibility of the All India Haj Committee and the State Haj Committees. It is also a question of prestige of our nation before a foreign country. I urge upon the Government to please take proper action and immediately bring back all those people who had gone there to perform their religious duty. V. Rotting of Potatoes on Roads due to Economic Recession in the country SHRI NARENDRA KUMAR KASHYAP: Ours is an agrarian country and 70 percent population is engaged in the agricultural work. It is paradoxical situation that decline in prices of potatoes puts farmers in crisis and price rise of potatoes bring crisis before the consumers. Recession in country and price rise of potatoes have created crisis in the country. Farmers of Punjab and Uttar Pradesh are throwing their yield of potatoes on the roads as they are not getting the adequate price for their potato yield. It is a serious issue and related to farmers community of the country. Cold storage for unripe potatoes should be made available to farmers. I request ,therefore, to the Government that policy for proper storage of potatoes should be framed keeping in view of major problem of farmers of the country. I will also request that increase in MSP will be beneficial for the potato growers. 164 (Dr. M.S. Gill, Shri Avtar Singh Karimpuri, Shri Tarun Vijay, Shri Jai Prakash Narayan Singh, Shri Avinash Rai Khanna, Shri Natuji Halaji Thakor and Dr. Bharatkumar Raut associated.) VI. Closing of Several Mines in Sundargarh and Keonjhar Districts SHRI RAMA CHANDRA KHUNTIA: I want to raise the issue of the plight of the workers working in two mining districts of Sundergarh and Keonjhar of Odisha because of the mining and for want of forest and environmental clearance. Many mines, including public sector mines under SAIL have been closed down. Mines under the Odisha Mineral Development Corporation and also Bisra Limestone and Quarry Mines have also been closed down for want of environmental clearance. The workers should not suffer for the fault of the mining owners. If the tribal workers remain out of job for a long time, I am afraid they may be motivated by Maoist people to take a wrong track. Now, they are all out of job. So, I urge upon the Central Government to take immediate decision to open these mines and give environmental clearance so that these workers could go back to work. VII. Ban imposed on Shrimad Bhagavad Gita in Russia SHRI TARUN VIJAY: The Government of Russia is knitting a conspiracy to ban Bhagwad Gita, which has conveyed the eternal message 'karmanyevadikaraste maa phaleshu kadachana'. Entire House must condemn such a foolish step. This is a matter of happiness that all political parties across their conviction have univocally opposed this. The Bhagwad Gita has united India. The Government of India should hold a talk with the Government of Russia. Mahatma Gandhi, Vinoba Bhave and Albert Einstein were admirer of the Bhagwad Gita. The Bhagwad Gita is the pulse of the country. It defines India. SHRI P.J. KURIEN: Bhagwad Gita is our great treasure. Its message is universal which is not confined to one religion. I request 165 the Government of India to take up the matter with the Government of Russia and the Siberian Court. THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS (SHRI RAJIV SHUKLA): We are fully convinced with the sense of the House. Entire House and the Government are united on this issue. The Government will raise this issue before the Government of Russia.

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