M A I N   N E W S

Government defends Laloo
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, December 15
The government today went out on a limb to defend rail minister Laloo Prasad Yadav, whose absence from Parliament derailed proceedings in the Lok Sabha as a determined opposition insisted on a statement from the Minister on yesterday’s rail accident.

Countering the Opposition charge that Mr Laloo Prasad Yadav had gone missing even after promising a statement, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad produced the records of yesterday’s proceedings to point out that no such assurance was given by the Rail Minister.

Mr Laloo Prasad Yadav visited the accident site yesterday itself but instead of returning to Delhi, went on to Patna to prepare for his party’s December 23 public rally. Mr Azad quoted parliamentary rules and procedures which, he said, explicitly state that in addition to the Cabinet Minister, a Minister of State or even a Parliamentary secretary can also make a statement. “If members refuse to hear junior ministers, they will be rendered redundant,” Mr Azad added.

In this instance, Mr Azad maintained the ministers of state were ready with all the information but the opposition insisted that only Mr Laloo Prasad Yadav be allowed to make the statement.

Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee, he said, convened a special meeting of all leaders where they were informed that Mr Yadav was on his way and would make the statement by evening. However, the opposition, led by former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, made it clear that they would not allow the House to function.

Oppn walkout over Cabinet minister’s absence in RS
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, December 15
The government today faced embarrassment as Opposition NDA members vehemently protested the absence of a Cabinet minister in the Rajya Sabha during Special Mentions and later staged a walkout.

The NDA members, led by senior BJP leader Sushma Swaraj, raised the issue demanding that the House be adjourned for 10 minutes until a Cabinet minister came.

Ms Swaraj accused the UPA government of breaking the convention of the House when important Special Mentions were being made and said they had pointed out earlier also that the government was paying scant respect to the issues raised by the members and also to Parliament.

The Opposition claimed that the Congress party, when in Opposition, had forced the adjournment of the House in similar situations, and it was only appropriate that the House be adjourned for 10 minutes till a Cabinet minister came in.

The Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs, Mr Suresh Pachouri, while assuring the Opposition that their point had been well taken, however, contested the Opposition demand, saying there had been many occasions when there was no minister present in the House during the NDA regime but the House was never adjourned.

The atmosphere got surcharged when he claimed that there were occasions when no Cabinet minister was present in the House when Ms Swaraj was Parliamentary Affairs Minister. She was immediately on her feet to challenge it.

As both Mr Pachouri and Ms Swaraj stuck to their stand, the chair intervened to pacify them. The Chairman also tried to pacify the Opposition urging them not to press for their demand and let the House take up Special Mentions.

The Opposition did not agree with the Chair that the government had been directed to call a minister to the House and they should remain seated in the House.

Rail mishap probe begins tomorrow
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, December 15
Inquiry into the rail accident in Punjab by the Commissioner, Railway Safety, Northern Circle, Mr G.P. Garg, will begin on Friday and will have a statutory time period of 30 days to complete it.

Besides Delhi the notification will also be issued in Ahmedabad, Rajasthan, Jalandhar and adjoining areas so that all the public on route are informed, according to a railway spokesman.

Punjab gives Rs 10 lakh grant to Mansar village
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, December 15
Happy over the help extended to the injured and family members of the deceased by residents of Mansar (Hoshiarpur) village yesterday, the Punjab Government today announced a special development grant of Rs 10 lakh for the village. As many as 38 persons were killed and 200 hurt in the rail accident near the village yesterday.

Announcing the grant in the Punjab Assembly today, the Chief Minister, Capt Amarinder Singh, said the villagers made extraordinary contribution by helping the families of the injured as well as other passengers involved in the accident.