Lok Sabha Debates
Regarding Minimum Support Price Policy For Copra And Raw Jute For 1998 Season. on 10 June, 1998
nt> Title: Regarding minimum support price policy for Copra and Raw jute for 1998 season.
18.34 hrs THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE (SHRI SOMPAL): With your permission, Mr. Chairman, I wish to make a Statement regarding the announcement of minimum support price for copra and jute for 1998 season and 1998-89 season. The Government of India has fixed the Minimum Support Price (MSP) for Fair Average Quality (FAQ) of Milling Copra at Rs.2900 per quintal and for FAQ variety of Ball Copra at Rs.3125 per quintal for 1998 season. ... (Interruptions) SHRI A.C. JOS (MUKUNDAPURAM): It is too low. ... (Interruptions)
SHRI VARKALA RADHAKRISHNAN (CHIRAYINKIL): It is very unfortunate and ridiculous. I may be permitted to speak. ... (Interruptions) MR. CHAIRMAN: Please hear him.
SHRI A.C. JOS (MUKUNDAPURAM): It is very very unfair. ... (Interruptions)
SHRI SOMPAL: First allow me to complete the Statement. ... (Interruptions)
MR. CHAIRMAN: Please take your seats. Let him complete first.
SHRI VARKALA RADHAKRISHNAN : I may be permitted. ... (Interruptions)
SHRI SOMPAL: This marks an increase of Rs.200 per quintal in MSPs for each Milling and Ball Copra for 1998 season over their respective MSPs for previous year. The increase in MSPs is expected to induce the copra growers to invest more and raise the productivity and production of copra. The National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India Ltd. (NAFED) would continue to act as a nodal agency to undertake the price support operations for copra. II. Minimum Support Price for Raw Jute for 1998-99 season.
The Government of India has also fixed the Minimum Support Price for TD-5 grade of raw jute for Assam for the 1998-99 season at Rs.650 per quintal ... (Interruptions) PROF. A.K. PREMAJAM (BADAGARA): Sir, this is too low a price. They do not know what the farmers are suffering from... (Interruptions) MR. CHAIRMAN : Please take your seat. Let him complete.
... (Interruptions)
SHRI ANIL BASU : Sir, cost of all imports has been increased considerably and the hon. Minister is fixing the price at Rs.650 per quintal ... (Interruptions) SHRI SOMPAL: Sir, I would request the hon. Members to complete my Statement first... (Interruptions) MR. CHAIRMAN: Let him complete his Statement first. He has not completed his Statement.
... (Interruptions)
MR. CHAIRMAN: Please take your seat.
... (Interruptions)
SHRI A.C. JOS : Sir, does the hon. Minister want more and more farmers to commit suicide? .. (Interruptions) SHRI ANIL BASU : Sir, it is a very dangerous thing. They are not considering the plight of the farmers... (Interruptions) MR. CHAIRMAN: Let him complete. He has not completed his Statement.
... (Interruptions)
MR. CHAIRMAN: I would request the hon. Members to take their seats. Let him complete his Statement. ... (Interruptions)
MR. CHAIRMAN: Shri Jos and Shri Basu, please take your seats.
... (Interruptions)
SHRI ANIL BASU : Sir, after announcing the Minimum Support Price, there is no remedy left at all... (Interruptions) MR. CHAIRMAN: Please take your seat.
... (Interruptions)
SHRI ANIL BASU : Sir, how can the hon. Minister announce that? Sir, he says that the Agricultural Cost and Prices Commission had fixed the price and that he had nothing to do with it. The whole economy is going to collapse... (Interruptions) SHRI P.C. THOMAS (MUVATTUPUZHA): Sir, we would request the hon. Minister to withhold this... (Interruptions) Sir, the whole rural economy of Kerala would be destroyed... (Interruptions)
PROF. A.K. PREMAJAM : Sir, the season is coming to a close and now they are fixing such a low price for that... (Interruptions) MR. CHAIRMAN: Let him complete. He has not completed. If the hon. Members have anything to say, they may give notice for discussion. ... (Interruptions)
SHRI A.C. JOS : Sir, once it is announced, we have no remedy at all... (Interruptions)
SHRI ANIL BASU : Sir, let the Agricultural Costs and Prices Commission be requested to review the decision. SHRI SOMPAL: Mr. Chairman, Sir, let me complete the statement first ... (Interruptions)
SHRI ANIL BASU : Let the hon. Minister review the decision. This is not acceptable to the House. ... (Interruptions) MR. CHAIRMAN: Let the hon. Minister complete his statement first.
SHRI ANIL BASU : The hon. Minister may kindly enlighten as to what is the remedy left to us. ... (Interruptions) MR. CHAIRMAN: One or two hon. Members may make clarifications after the statement.
... (Interruptions)
SHRI MURLI DEORA (MUMBAI SOUTH): Mr. Minister, why do you not reconsider this announcement? ... (Interruptions) PROF. A.K. PREMAJAM : The hon. Minister has no idea about the condition of the farmers in the country. ... (Interruptions) संसदीय कार्य मंत्री तथा पर्यटन मंत्री (श्री मदन लाल खुराना): सभापति जी, मेरा निवेदन है कि मंत्री जी को स्टेटमेंट पढ़ने दिया जाए। यदि उसके बाद कोई शिकायत है, तो बताएं। यदि डिस्कशन चाहते हैं, तो अध्यक्ष महोदय को लिखकर दें। उसके ऊपर विचार किया जा सकता है और डिस्कशन के लिए समय नश्िचत किया जा सकता है। जब ये पावर में थे, तब इन्होंने कितना बढ़ाया था, वह बताएं। ... (व्यवधान) सभापति महोदय, मैं तो आपसे यह कह रहा हूं कि अगर कोई डिस्कशन करना है, तो अध्यक्ष महोदय को लिखकर दीजिए। ... (व्यवधान) श्री अनिल बसु : खुराना जी, आप दिल्ली के बारे में बोल सकते हैं, लेकिन ग्रामीणो और खेती के बारे में आपको ज्यादा मालूम नहीं है। ... (व्यवधान)
MR. CHAIRMAN: Let the hon. Minister complete his statement first.
... (Interruptions)
SHRI SOMPAL: Mr. Chairman, sir, let me complete the statement. The Members have their right to make any observation even in the post-statement period. ... (Interruptions) SHRI ANIL BASU : What is the remedy left to us? ... (Interruptions)
SHRI SOMPAL: Is this the way to behave in this House? You are a senior Member. You cannot behave like this. ... (Interruptions) Sir, Shri Anil Basu is a very senior Member. He is not expected to behave like this in the House. He should be disciplined and asked to sit down. ... (Interruptions) Mr. Chairman, Sir, let me complete my statement. After that, the hon. Members may make their observations. ... (Interruptions) SHRI VARKALA RADHAKRISHNAN : Sir, will you allow me to seek a clarification? ... (Interruptions) MR. CHAIRMAN: Shri Radhakrishnan, please take your seat. Shri Jos, please take your seat.
... (Interruptions)
SHRI P.C. THOMAS : Sir, I am on a point of order. ... (Interruptions)
MR. CHAIRMAN: Under which rule?
SHRI P.C. THOMAS : We are about to discss the General Budget and that is why the sitting of the House has been extended. Now, this is a very important statement which the Minister of State in the Ministry of Agriculture is making. This is a matter on which we have a right to get some notice. That was not in the agenda. We did not find it in the agenda. This was also not circulated. We did not get a copy of the statement also. This is a very important aspect. The agriculturists, jute growers and coconut growers have been suffering for quite a long time. This is a very important matter on which the statement is being made. MR. CHAIRMAN: The statement has been made with the consent of the hon. Speaker. No questions shall be asked when statement is being made. SHRI P.C. THOMAS : I am not venturing to ask a question. (Interruptions)
SHRI SOMNATH CHATTERJEE (BOLPUR): The hon. Speaker has permitted.. (Interruptions)
SHRI SATYA PAL JAIN (CHANDIGARH): Sir, he is not being allowed to make a statement. Let him complete his statement. SHRI SOMNATH CHATTERJEE: If you interrupt everywhere, on every issue like this, I can say with all humility that it is not possible to run the House.... (Interruptions) SHRI P.C. THOMAS : I raised a point of order. We are on a very important matter... (Interruptions) SHRI SOMNATH CHATTERJEE : Sir, I agree that the hon. Speaker has every right. Nobody questions his right to permit a statement being made. But the time was not given by the hon. Speaker. We have intervened because the hon. Finance Minister was not present in the House. I have one submission. You find that the hon. Members are highly agitated because it concerns the farmers. You are fixing a price which is known to be even much below the input prices for this. Therefore, may I request this? Heavens will not fall if you issue it day after tomorrow. Why do you not call some hon. Members, sit with them and have their views? Why do you not do that? That will be helpful. I would request the hon. Minister of Parliamentary Affairs to please see this. Do not think you have that majority always to bamboozle us. This is our request for a proper functioning. If you do not agree to that, well, then it is for you. श्री मदन लाल खुराना : सभापति जी, मैं माननीय सदस्य सोमनाथ चटर्जी का बहुत आदर करता हूं। सोमनाथ जी इस सदन के बहुत पुराने सदस्य हैं। आप तो जानते हैं मंत्री जी द्वारा कोई स्टेटमेंट सदन में दिया जा रहा हो और उसे बीच में ही विदड़ा कर लिया जाए, ऐसा कभी नहीं हुआ। श्री सोमनाथ चटर्जी : ठीक है, आधा बाद में पढ़ लेंगे। श्री मदन लाल खुराना: सभापति महोदय, मेरा निवेदन है कि स्टेटमेंट आने दीजिए। जब स्टेटमेंट पूरा हो जाए और यदि सब लोग चाहें तथा सदन की अनुमित हो, तो इस विषय पर यहां एक या डेढ़ घंटे की चर्चा हो जाएगी। ... (व्यवधान)
SHRI SOMNATH CHATTERJEE : I am not asking to withdraw it.
SHRI P.C. THOMAS : Sir, there is a point of order.
MR. CHAIRMAN: One thing can be done. Shri Khurana, after he makes the statement, tomorrow, the Minister of Agriculture can call for a meeting with the concerned Members from Kerala, West Bengal, Bihar and Karnataka. They are are agitated. SHRI SOMPAL: Tomorrow it is not possible because I will be busy in the House.
MR. CHAIRMAN: It is because day after tomorrow, Parliament will be adjourned. So, you find some time tomorrow. SHRI SOMPAL: At first, let me complete this statement.
MR. CHAIRMAN: Let him complete his statement.
SHRI P.C. THOMAS: Sir, my limited point of order is, it is not that the hon. Speaker may not give consent or that the Speaker has not given the consent.... MR. CHAIRMAN: I have already given my ruling.
SHRI SOMPAL: The statement is being made after due permission from the Chair. There is a written order of the Chair to permit me to make a statement at this hour. SHRI P.C. THOMAS : We are also entitled to know it. This is a very important matter. There is something on the agenda. It must come on the agenda. MR. CHAIRMAN: Shri Thomas is on a different point. Shri Thomas, now you please take your seat.
SHRI P.C. THOMAS : A very important matter like this should have come in the agenda. It has not come in the agenda. SHRI PRITHVIRAJ D. CHAVAN (KARAD): Sir, this is under Rule 372. After the permission of the Speaker, the Government is within its right to make its statement. That is fine. But I am on a point of procedure. What happens is, when important statements are made, we would that the Opposition Members to be present here. There was always a practice in this House to issue a supplementary agenda about two or three hours before, so that the Members can be present. But it is happening again and again. They are springing a surprise. That is why, the Members are agitated. If we had known that this statement is coming at 6 or 7 o' clock, we would have prepared. Something could have been discussed earlier. Why is this happening? I do not know. This is not the practice in the House. A supplementary agenda is circulated when an important statement is coming. It is happening again and again. Everyday, the Government is sitting in quietly. श्री चन्द्रशेखर साहू (महासुमन्द): सभापति महोदय, नियम ३७२ में साफ लिखा है कि जब कोई मंत्री वकतव्य दे रहा हो तो उसके बीच में कोई प्रश्न नहीं पूछा जायेगा। ... (व्यवधान) इसमें स्पष्ट लिखा है। SHRI PRITHVIRAJ D. CHAVAN: Please consider this before allowing him to make the statement. ... (Interruptions) MR. CHAIRMAN : Shri Radhakrishnan, please take your seat. Let him complete the statement. Tomorrow sometime he will call a meeting of the Members from Kerala, West Bengal, Bihar and other States. Shri Sompal please.
SHRI SOMPAL: The Government of India has also fixed the Minimum Support Price for TD-5 grade of raw jute for Assam for the 1998-99 season at Rs.650 per quintal. This marks the highest ever increase of Rs.80 per quintal over the minimum support price announced for the previous season. The minimum support price for other varieties and grades of raw jute will be fixed in the light of normal market price differentials with regard to TD-5 grade. The Jute Corporation of India (JCI) would continue to act as a nodal agency to undertake the price support operation for jute for l998-99 season.... (Interruptions)
MR. CHAIRMAN: Please take your seat. श्री चन्द्रशेखर साहू : सभापति महोदय, पिछली बार कितनी कीमत थी। ... (व्यवधान)
MR. CHAIRMAN: Now, discussion on General Budget. Shri Murli Deora.
SHRI NADENDLA BHASKARA RAO (KHAMMAM): Paddy is not taken into consideration.
MR. CHAIRMAN: He will call the meeting.
SHRI A.C. JOS : You have ruled that he should convene a meeting tomorrow or the day after. But the Minister has not responded. I want an assurance from the Minister. He has not said anything. (Interruptions) SHRI N.K. PREMCHANDRAN (QUILON): They have not considered the demand of Kerala. Even what is announced is below the cost of production. This minimum support price is below the cost of production. It will aggravate the difficulties of the people of Kerala. ... (Interruptions) डा. मदन प्रसाद जायसवाल (बेतिया): सभापति महोदय, पिछली बार कितना बढ़ाया गया था, MR. CHAIRMAN: In our House after a statement is made no clarification is allowed to be made. The Minister has agreed to meet the Members of the concerned States. Tomorrow you can raise all these issues in the meeting. SHRI VARKALA RADHAKRISHNAN : We want a discussion on this.
MR. CHAIRMAN: You give a notice under Rule l93.
... (Interruptions)
MR. CHAIRMAN: Next Item. Discussion on General Budget. Shri Murli Deora to initiate. Nothing will go on record except what Shri Murli Deora says. ... (Interruptions) श्री चन्द्रशेखर साहू : आप पिछली बार का बता दें।
... (व्यवधान) डा. मदन प्रसाद जायसवाल : सभापति जी, आप हमारी बात भी सुन लीजिए। ... (व्यवधान) जब वे सरकार में थे तब कितना बढ़ाया गया था, इसकी भी जानकारी दीजिए। ... (व्यवधान)
MR. CHAIRMAN: No, no. He has already completed.
SHRI P.C. THOMAS : I firmly protest at the price which is announced.... (Interruptions) As a protest, I am walking out of the House. 18.55 hrs (At this stage, Shri P.C. Thomas left the House.) SHRI NADENDLA BHASKARA RAO : I am requesting him, through you.... (Interruptions)
SHRI N.K. PREMCHANDRAN : The minimum support price is very low and it is below the cost of production. We also protest and walk out. l8.55 1/4 hours (At this stage, Shri N.K. Premchandran and some other hon. Members left the House.) SHRI SOMPAL: Mr. Chairman, Sir, if I am allowed to make a simple observation, a very brief observation...(Interruptions). MR. CHAIRMAN: Not necessary now. I have already called Shri Murli Deora.
... (Interruptions)
श्री मदन लाल खुराना : पिछले दो सालों के अंदर कितना बढ़ाया गया था? एक बार २० रुपए और दूसरी बार ६० रुपए बढ़ाए गए हैं। इस बार ८० रुपए बढ़ाए गए हैं। एक साल पहले २० रुपये, फिर ६० रुपये और अब ८० रुपये बढ़ाए गए हैं। इसके बावजूद यह कहते हैं कि वाकआउट करते हैं। ... (व्यवधान) श्री सोमनाथ चटर्जी : आजकल रुपए की वैल्यू कुछ नहीं है।
... (व्यवधान)
SHRI NADENDLA BHASKARA RAO : Sir this Government has given bonus on wheat but so far as paddy is concerned, even the minimum support price is not announced. So, we request the hon. Minister, through you, Sir, to announce this...(Interruptions). MR. CHAIRMAN: Please take your seat now. I have called Shri Murli Deora.