4329 Appropriation [ RAIYA SABHA ] Appropriation 4330 (Railways) Bill, 1965 (Railways) No. J. BUI, 1965 THE AGRICULTURAL REFINANCE CORPORA- SHRI A. D. MANI (Madhya Pradesh): Will TION (STAFF) REGULATIONS, 1964 the hon. Member speak near the mike; we are not able to hear him in full. SHRI RAMESHWAR SAHU: Madam, I also beg to lay on the Table a copy of the SHRI BHUPESH GUPTA: You cannot even Ministry of Finance (Department of Economic hear me. The trouble is you Affairs) Notification dated the 27th June, are approaching my trouble. 1964, publishing the Agricultural Refinance Corporation (Staff) Regulations, 1964, under Now, this is the position. Here there is a sub-section (5) of section 46 of the station called Durgapur station, which is a Agricultural Refinance Corporation Act, fairly good station, and within a very short 1963. [Placed in Library. See No. LT- distance of it this particular flag station was 4059/65.] built temporarily. We do not see as to why it should have been built, because Durgapur station was good enough for purposes of the Congress Session, and in case certain problems arose, well, they could have been met by mobilising public conveyance, bus THE APPROPRIATION (RAILWAYS) transport and so on. Our impression is that BILL, 1965—contd. there was no need for it at all, even if we would make the maximum possible allowance for the convenience of those who went to see THE APPROPRIATION (RAILWAYS) that particular session of the Congress. Now I No. 2 BILL, 1965—contd. should like to' know from the hon. Minister for Railways whether any estimate of the cost had SHRI BHUPESH GUPTA (West Bengal): been taken and how many people detrained at Madam, yesterday I was dealing with the the station or took the train from that station. subject of the Durgapur Congress Session and That is to say, we should have an idea of the the Bidhan Chandra railway station put up in financial aspect of this venture. According to our information not many people used this that connection, and I am glad that our station and that also is another proof that it esteemed friend, Mr. S. K. Patil, is here. My was not necessary. The delegates came from complaint was that this particular station outside and naturally the Congress Party made should not have been built at all just because arrangements for them to be taken to the venue the Congress Session was taking place near of the Session, by bus and so on. But there was about, and in this connection I pointed out that, no need for a station of this kind in order to when Mr. Patil built this station for temporary look after the delegates, or for their use, Shri Atulya Ghosh said that it had come to convenience. As far as the visitors were stay, that it would stay as a permanent feature, concerned, the visitors were mostly from as a permanent station for the well being of the within Bengal. That was also an over-estimate. people, for the convenience of the people. He As I said, I know of many pickpockets coming sai'd it because of public criticisms in West from Calcutta, but very few bona fide visitors Bengal, especially in Calcutta papers, that to the Congress Session apart from our friends, Government money should have been so Congressmen. On that account also there was wasted, that the Bengal leaders of the no need for it. Therefore I would like to know, Congress should have prevailed upon them to because this has created a very bad build a temporary station of this kind. Faced impression. I am not saying that when the with this opposition or rather criticism, Shri situation demands—for the convenience of the Atulya Ghosh made a statement that it was a public—such temporary arrangements should permanent one. More or less at about the same not be made. But in this case it was made time the same Minister made it known that it rather thoughtlessly, and, as was not going to be permanent. And indeed it does not exist today. 4331 Appropriation [24 MAR. 1965] Appropriation 4332 {Railways) Bill, 1965 (Railways) No. 2 Bill, 1965 you know, Durgapur is on the trunk line —no would come out of it. This is the trouble. difficulty at all as far as railway transport is But that is not the point. concerned. Then here we found, I also saw, that the station had been turned into a kind of So I say that it was, therefore, a mis- a police camp. Around the station I did not adventure, and it was done because the great see many passengers either waiting for the one of the Bengal Congress wanted it, and train, or getting out of the station. What I saw that is all. I would have no opposition with there really . regard to that if there was real need for it. Then again, Madam Deputy Chairman, not SHRI A. B. VAJPAYEE (Uttar Pradesh): content with the construction of a temporary Did you go there? station, the Bidhan Chandra flag station, do you know what they did in addition? They SHRI BHUPESH GUPTA: Yes, I passed, unfortunately it falls on my way and could not changed the entire landscape of the escape my eye. I had a good look at it and I Chittaranjan area nearby. We made enquiries found that literally it was a police camp. As and we found that it was anticipated that the you know, Madam, many policemen, hon. Minister for Railways would, on that thousands of them had been mobilised, had occasion, be visiting that locality, that area, beerTdraft-ed to Durgapur, in order to look and therefore the railway authorities took it after our friends of the Congress Party; so into their head that it should be made very very popular people, they have to be looked attractive, with gardens and so on, everything; after all the time that way. But I do not see as a lot of money was spent in order to change, to why, for that, a station was needed. Then so to say, the entire landscape of the again . Chittaranjan area and there again it was a lot of extravagance on their part. I am sure " Mr. SHRI BHUPESH GUPTA: i am not S. K. Patil would not have been any the so fortunately placed. If I had gone sadder if he had not seen this kind of there, perhaps my pocket would have expensive rearrangement made just to receive been picked up, because the pick people like him, or attract those who were pockets . going that way. So there also it was extravagance. SHRI A. B. VAJPAYEE: If you had gone, your pocket would have been full. But, Madam Deputy Chairman, what I say SHRI BHUPESH GUPTA: No, the is this. Our Railway Minister should not have experience of others does not prove that it was participated in this thing, the construction of full; it only proves that the anticipation of the this station with platforms and so on, more pickpockets that went there in order to pick especially when the railway employees do not very substantial pockets came true. Therefore have proper quarters there, if not all, at least the danger was there. some of them do not have proper quarters in that locality at all; that is my criticism. But he SHRI CHANDRA SHEKHAR (Uttar participated in that scheme of expenditure— Pradesh): Your comrades are not so un- the Government of West Bengal and the charitable to pick your own pocket. Central Government lavishly spent there on the occasion of the 69th Session of the Congress, to set up stalls, put up exhibitions SHRI BHUPESH GUPTA: No, no, I cannot and so on. pick my own pocket. If I picked my pocket, sometimes the C.B.I, report SHRI JOSEPH MATHEN (Kerala): You are repeating what you have already said every time. THE DEPUTY CHAIRMAN: Mr. Bhupesh Gupta, you must now be very 4333 Appropriation [ RAJYA SABHA ] Appropriation 4334 {Railways) Bill, 1965 (Railways) No. 2 Bill, 1965 [The Deputy Chairman.] brief and wind think it would be for the good of all, and it up. Apart from your comments on the would be in the interest of the Railway Station have you anything more to say? Administration, of the Chittaranjan undertaking and everybody concerned, to SHRI BHUPESH GUPTA: I am finishing. extend to this union recognition. All the The West Bengal Government, for example, criteria for obtaining recognition have been spent Rs. 5 lakhs odd, for setting up a number more than satisfied. All the objective tests are of stalls, etc., and it has been revealed there for the hon. Minister to guide himself officially that the income from these things with. was only about Rs. 254 or so—good income. As far as the Central Government is Similarly, there is also the Dakshin Railway concerned, they spent lots of money. That Employees' Union which was promised should be discusse'd after investigation. recognition, but upto now it has not been Therefore the railway authorities should not given recognition and the Government has have participated in this extravaganza as far as gone back upon its own promise. I would funds are concerned. request the hon. Minister to consider this matter. Finally I request that recognition should be given to both these Unions that I Madam Deputy Chairman, then I go to my have mentioned. next point—I have one or two points more. I should like in this connection to invite the hon. Minister's attention to the fact that the Now I come to my last point.