Lok Sabha Debates
Regarding Increase In The Electricity Charges In Andhra Pradesh. on 21 August, 2000
Title: Regarding increase in the electricity charges in Andhra Pradesh.
SHRI S. JAIPAL REDDY (MIRYALGUDA): Mr. Speaker, Sir, thank you very much. I wish to bring certain things to the notice of the entire House through you. Today, Andhra Pradesh is witnessing a sad and shocking spectacle. More than 90 MLAs have gone on an indefinite fast. … (Interruptions) The health condition of some of the MLAs is not good. … (Interruptions) MR. SPEAKER: Nothing should go on record except Shri Jaipal Reddy’s speech.
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MR. SPEAKER: No, no; I have allowed Shri Jaipal Reddy.
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SHRI S. JAIPAL REDDY : The point I am making, is that this is the culmination of three month old agitation in which millions of people of Andhra Pradesh participated and yet, the Government of Andhra Pradesh has been displaying monumental insensitivity and dictatorial obstinacy in the matter. SHRI PRAMOD MAHAJAN: We are encroaching on the rights of the State Assembly.
MR. SPEAKER: Shri Jaipal Reddy, this is a State subject. The Assembly is also in session. … (Interruptions)
SHRI K. YERRANNAIDU (SRIKAKULAM): Sir, the Congress Party is playing double standards in this country.… (Interruptions) Please listen to me, Sir. SHRI S. JAIPAL REDDY : Let them be given an opportunity of responding to me.… (Interruptions) MR. SPEAKER: Hon. Members, I am appealing to you.
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MR. SPEAKER: If you want to put forward anything, I will allow you after him. Now, I have allowed Shri S. Jaipal Reddy. … (Interruptions)
MR. SPEAKER: Not now, please. Shri Yerrannaidu, you can speak later on.
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MR. SPEAKER: Hon. Member, please take your seats.
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MR. SPEAKER: Shri Jaipal Reddy, please understand it.
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MR. SPEAKER: Shri Jaipal Reddy, you are a senior parliamentarian. Please understand that this is entirely a State matter. The State Assembly is also in Session, how can we discuss the State matter here? You please tell me first. … (Interruptions)
MR. SPEAKER: If you want to discuss everything in the Lok Sabha, what will be the contribution of State Assembly? Please understand this. … (Interruptions)
SHRI MADHAVRAO SCINDIA (GUNA): Sir, this is an unprecedented case. Sir, never in the history of this country, 95 Members of a Legislative Assembly have gone on hunger strike… (Interruptions) The condition of a Member is very serious and he has to be admitted to the hospital… (Interruptions) MR. SPEAKER: I am asking a question to Shri S. Jaipal Reddy, under what rule can you discuss a matter relating to a State Assembly in the Lok Sabha? … (Interruptions)
MR. SPEAKER: Please take your seats.
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MR. SPEAKER: Please tell me the rule first.
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SHRI S. JAIPAL REDDY : Sir, here the Central Government is involved and secondly the price of electricity has been increased… (Interruptions) SHRI K. YERRANNAIDU : Sir, they have no right to say this in the House. They themselves initiated reforms. They should appreciate first… (Interruptions) They are playing double standards. They are initiating reforms in Orissa and Rajasthan and here they are questioning Andhra Pradesh… (Interruptions) SHRI S. JAIPAL REDDY : Sir, you asked me a question, let me answer them… (Interruptions) Sir, the Central Government is involved in this case… (Interruptions) SHRI MADHAVRAO SCINDIA : Sir, you have called his name, let he be allowed to speak… (Interruptions) MR. SPEAKER: I called his name but I asked him a question, under what rule can he raise this matter in the House. … (Interruptions)
SHRI S. JAIPAL REDDY : Sir, I am replying to that only. The Central Government has cleared a loan for the Andhra Pradesh Government, thereby the Central Government is involved in this… (Interruptions) Secondly, the Central Electricity Authority have cleared the power project and thus involved in it… (Interruptions) MR. SPEAKER: Shri Yerrannaidu, please understand, if you want to speak you can speak later. Please take your seat. … (Interruptions)
SHRI K. YERRANNAIDU : Sir, I would like to know under what rule he can raise a State matter in the House… (Interruptions) MR. SPEAKER: Shri Yerrannaidu, I have also put the same question to him.
… (Interruptions)
MR. SPEAKER: Please understand, what message are we sending to the State Assembly? This is a matter relating to a State. … (Interruptions)
SHRIMATI RENUKA CHOWDHURY (KHAMMAM): Sir, some people have been beaten by the police there… (Interruptions) SHRI S. JAIPAL REDDY : Sir, the Central Government is involved, the Central Electricity Authority is involved… (Interruptions) MR. SPEAKER: Nothing should go on record.
(Interruptions) … * MR. SPEAKER: Hon. Members, please take your seats.
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MR. SPEAKER: Please take your seats.
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1216 hours (At this stage, Shrimati Renuka Chowdhury and some other hon. Members came and stood on the floor near the Table.) MR. SPEAKER: Nothing will go on record.
(Interruptions) …* अध्यक्ष महोदय : टेलीकॉस्ट को बंद कर दीजिए।
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MR. SPEAKER: Please go back to your seats. This is not the way.
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MR. SPEAKER: I have permitted Shri Jaipal Reddy and heard him also. Please go back to your seats. … (Interruptions)
1218 hours (At this stage, Shrimati Renuka Chowdhury and some other hon. Members went back to their seats.) MR. SPEAKER: I am appealing to all the hon. Members to go back to their seats.
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MR. SPEAKER: Nothing will go on record.
(Interruptions) … * MR. SPEAKER: Shri Jaipal Reddy, please hear me.
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* Not Recorded MR. SPEAKER: Shri Raghunath Jha, please take your seat.
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MR. SPEAKER: Shri M.V.V.S. Murthi, please take your seat. I am on my legs. Please take your seat. … (Interruptions)
MR. SPEAKER: Shri Jaipal Reddy, are we to discuss the State matter in the House? Please hear me first. … (Interruptions)
MR. SPEAKER: The national issues have to be discussed in the Parliament. How can we discuss the State matter in this House? Under what provision and under what rule, can you raise this matter here? That too, when the Assembly is in Session, how can you raise this matter here? What signal are you going to send to the Assembly? … (Interruptions)
SHRI S. JAIPAL REDDY : Sir, you have raised a question and I have not given the answer. … (Interruptions) Mr. Speaker, the State Government entered into a clandestine agreement with the World Bank through the good office of the Central Government. The situation has also been aggravated on account of the over invoice projects which were cleared by the Central Electricity Authority.… (Interruptions) SHRI K. YERRANNAIDU: I am asking the Congress Party. What is their policy?
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MR. SPEAKER: Please conclude.
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SHRI K. YERRANNAIDU :They are talking of Andhra Pradesh. They are a national Party. They should have one policy. … (Interruptions)
MR. SPEAKER: Shri Yerrannaidu, please sit down. I will give you a chance after he has spoken, and not now. … (Interruptions)
SHRI S. JAIPAL REDDY : I am not being allowed to answer.
MR. SPEAKER: Shri Jaipal Reddy, please conclude. There are other matters also. … (Interruptions)
SHRI M.V.V.S. MURTHI (VISAKHAPATNAM): He should not raise that matter. How can he raise it?… (Interruptions) MR. SPEAKER: Shrimati Renuka Chowdhury, this is too much.
SHRI S. JAIPAL REDDY : Mr. Speaker, Sir, the State Government has entered into a clandestine agreement with the World Bank through the good office of the Central Government. Secondly, a part of the problem is because the Central Electricity Authority of India has cleared the project cost of many Independent Power Producers.… (Interruptions) Therefore, the Central Government is fully involved in the matter. We are not opposing the reforms per se.… (Interruptions) MR. SPEAKER: How can you discuss the matter which took place long back? It was a decision taken by the State and Central Governments long back. SHRI S. JAIPAL REDDY : I know. But the problem is coming because of that.
… (Interruptions)
MR. SPEAKER: You are a senior Member. You have to address the Chair. You please address the Chair. Under what rule, can we discuss this matter? That is a decision which was taken long back. How can we discuss this matter? … (Interruptions)
SHRI S. JAIPAL REDDY : Any decision of Government of India should be examined and scrutinised by Parliament. … (Interruptions)
MR. SPEAKER: Nothing should go on record except the submission of Shri Jaipal Reddy. (Interruptions) … * SHRI S. JAIPAL REDDY :Any decision of the Government of India or any action of the institutions of the Government of India should be scrutinised by Parliament. The House should not be indifferent to the situation in Andhra Pradesh. The situation in Andhra Pradesh is very, very serious. It calls for the intervention by the House.… (Interruptions) * Not recorded MR. SPEAKER: There are other matters also. Please conclude.
Now, Shri Yerrannaidu.
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MR. SPEAKER: Shri Yerrannaidu, please wait for a minute.
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MR. SPEAKER: Shri Jaipal Reddy, please finish your speech.
SHRIMATI RENUKA CHOWDHURY : He may be allowed to complete his speech.
MR. SPEAKER: Madam, you should not dictate the Chair as to how to run the House. You are giving a direction. It is too much. You are giving a direction to the Chair. You are not supposed to give a direction to the Speaker. What is this? … (Interruptions)
SHRI S. JAIPAL REDDY : So, the Government of India cannot remain unconcerned, nor can Parliament of India be a mute spectator. At any rate, all these things are covered by the Central Electricity Act.… (Interruptions) MR. SPEAKER: Shri Jaipal Reddy, please conclude.
SHRI S. JAIPAL REDDY : They are also standing on their legs. Will you kindly ask them to resume their seats? … (Interruptions)
MR. SPEAKER: Please complete.
SHRI S. JAIPAL REDDY : Sir, today in Andhra Pradesh, there is a very astonishing thing taking place. Today, the situation is very grim in Andhra Pradesh. MR. SPEAKER: You have already raised the matter.
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SHRI K. YERRANNAIDU : Mr. Speaker, Sir, Parliament has no role to discuss a State matter. … (Interruptions) SHRI MADHAVRAO SCINDIA : They should be allowed to speak.
SHRI K. YERRANNAIDU : Congress is a national Party. They should have one policy in this country. They created the electricity reforms in this country. They initiated it in Orissa. They initiated it in Madhya Pradesh. They initiated it in Karnataka.… (Interruptions) What Shri Janardhana Reddy and Shrimati Renuka Chowdhury are saying is politically motivated. …(Interruptions) They want to make political capital out of it. 1226 hours (At this stage, Shri Satyavrat Chaturvedi and some other hon. Members came and stood on the floor near the Table.) MR. SPEAKER: I am also calling their names. Please understand. Please take your seats. … (Interruptions)
श्री प्रभुनाथ सिंह (महाराजगंज, बिहार) : महोदय, हमें बोलने का मौका कब मिलेगा?
अध्यक्ष महोदय : हम सब को बुलाएंगे।
SHRI K. YERRANNAIDU : It will be a new precedent in this House.
MR. SPEAKER: Please take your seat, Shri Yerrannaidu. Whoever has given their names, I am calling their names. Please understand. Now please go to your seats. Shri Janardhana Reddy and Shrimati Renuka Chowdhury can also associate with Shri Jaipal Reddy. They have also given a notice on the same subject. He has also raised the same matter. (Interruptions)
MR. SPEAKER: There are others also. This is not the only issue today. I have a number of other Members also to speak; please understand. Please resume your seats. Shri Yerrannaidu, please take your seat. 1227 hours (At this stage, Shri Satyavrat Chturvedi and some other hon. Members went back to their seats.) MR. SPEAKER: Shri Janardhana Reddy.
SHRI N. JANARDHANA REDDY : This problem has been represented to the State Government and finally the Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh today has gone on record, in today’s newspapers that it is not in his hands. That means he has lost it from his hands! … (Interruptions) Whom can we approach? MR. SPEAKER: Again, you are raising it.
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MR. SPEAKER: This will not go on record.
((Interruptions) … * MR. SPEAKER: Shrimati Renuka Chowdhury can also associate herself with him. Hon. Members, please take your seats. Your leader Shri Yerrannaidu is there. Please take your seats. Now Shri Janardhana Reddy please. He can associate with what Shri Jaipal Reddy has said. SHRI N. JANARDHANA REDDY : My friends are saying that it is a State subject. The Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh now says "I wash my hands and it is not in my hands now". Whom should we go and approach? If a State Chief Minister says that he has washed his hands, what is to be done? Ninety-five MLAs are on a Dharna. … (Interruptions) MR. SPEAKER: You are not going to discuss MLAs’ matter here.
SHRI N. JANARDHANA REDDY : Is it democracy? … (Interruptions) …* * Not Recorded MR. SPEAKER: This will not go on record (Interruptions) … * MR. SPEAKER: . How can you discuss all these things here? The State Government is there to look after the law and order problem. You are also a former Chief Minister. … (Interruptions)
MR. SPEAKER: This will not go on record.
(Interruptions) … * MR. SPEAKER: Shrimati Renuka Chowdhury, you raised the matter. I heard it. You can also associate with Shri Jaipal Reddy and Shri Janardhana Reddy. SHRI N. JANARDHANA REDDY : I have got another point also.
MR. SPEAKER: You please understand. How can you discuss it? The Assembly is there It is in Session. SHRIMATI RENUKA CHOWDHURY : I want to lay some facts on the Table of the House. An undertaking was given by the State Government about three years ago for a project costing about Rs.3,00,000 crore. These were the clauses for the loan to be given to the State Government.… (Interruptions) Huge sums have been accumulated for the past five years in the name of hi-tech city whereas not a single mw of power has been added to the State. … (Interruptions) There is a gross human rights violation. Women have been representing in protest against it. … (Interruptions) SHRI K. YERRANNAIDU : Sir, this is not correct. Please give me a chance to explain the position. SHRIMATI RENUKA CHOWDHURY : Sir, I would…… (Interruptions)
MR. SPEAKER: Nothing should go on record.
(Interruptions) … * SHRIMATI RENUKA CHOWDHURY (KHAMMAM): Sir, I want to say… (Interruptions)
* Not recorded MR. SPEAKER: This will not go on record.
(Interruptions) … * SHRI K. YERRANNAIDU Sir, she has no right to raise this issue here. In fact, they have no moral right to raise this issue. They are adopting double standards. In Karnataka, in Madhya Pradesh and in Rajasthan, electricity rates have been hiked. … (Interruptions) SHRI MADHAVRAO SCINDIA : Sir, as a protest, we are walking out of the House.
1231 hours (At this stage, Shrimati Sonia Gandhi and some other hon. Members left the House.) MR. SPEAKER: What is this? I have called Shri Somnath Chatterjee.
… (Interruptions)
SHRI SOMNATH CHATTERJEE : Sir, many of us in this House have been saying… (Interruptions) श्री विजय गोयल (चांदनी चौंक) अध्यक्ष महोदय, कांग्रेस कॉलैक्टिव ढंग से ड्रामा करती है, फिर वाकआउट करती है और किसी दूसरे की बात सुनती नहीं है। यह कांग्रेस के लिए शर्म की बात है।…( व्यवधान) SHRI SOMNATH CHATTERJEE : Sir, this problem arises when State issues are raised here. Now, I find that Shri Somaiya is shouting; our friends from this side are also shouting. … (Interruptions) Therefore, this problem will arise in this House. … (Interruptions) SHRI SUDIP BANDYOPADHYAY (CALCUTTA NORTH WEST): Sir, he is trying to score a point. … (Interruptions) MR. SPEAKER: I have allowed Shri Somnath Chatterjee.
… (Interruptions)
श्री प्रभुनाथ सिंह : अध्यक्ष महोदय, मैं जीरो आवर में बहुत महत्वपूर्ण सवाल उठाना चाहता हूं। यह सदन का समय खराब कर रहे हैं।…( व्यवधान) अध्यक्ष महोदय: मैं सभी को बोलने के लिए बुलाऊंगा।
SHRI SOMNATH CHATTERJEE : We have been appealing to all sections of the House. I know there are tensions and problems in different States. We are becoming different State Assemblies here from time to time. My hon. friend from Telugu Desam very seriously objected to the State issues being raised here today. But do not forget it please. Therefore, these problems will arise. … (Interruptions) Therefore, my only request… (Interruptions) SHRI SUDIP BANDYOPADHYAY: This is a Legislature issue, not a State issue. It should be demarcated. It is a State Legislature issue. It cannot be discussed here. … (Interruptions) SHRI SOMNATH CHATTERJEE : Sir, if we selectively follow that procedure, then it creates problems. Now, Members feel encouraged to raise State issues here because many a State issues are being raised here in spite of our objections.… (Interruptions) When I talk of selective responses, our young and ebullient hon. Minister for Parliamentary Affairs gets upset. This is what happens. There are many important issues, I know. Also, our party Member has joined the strike.… (Interruptions) I did not raise it although our party Members are participating in this hunger strike. That is an important matter and they will solve it. I would like to know from the Government whether the World Bank has any role to play in this matter. I have nothing else to ask. Therefore, let that matter be clarified.… (Interruptions) श्री किरीट सोमैया (मुम्बई उत्तर पूर्व): अध्यक्ष महोदय, सोमनाथ बाबू ने मेरा नाम लिया है, इसलिये मुझे भी बोलने की अनुमति दें। SHRI SOMNATH CHATTERJEE : If I had to support the Congress all through, then I would have gone out with them. But the Government also should behave. What is happening to this country in economic matters also is important, on which a very serious discussion should take place. SHRI K. YERRANNAIDU : Mr. Speaker, Sir, first of all, I would like to say that the Andhra Pradesh Assembly Session is going on in Hyderabad. All the Congress MLAs there are suspended. They stalled the proceedings continuously for five days. That is why, the Speaker has taken this decision.… (Interruptions) MR. SPEAKER: Here also we have to adopt that method in the remaining days. Otherwise it is very difficult to run the House. SHRI K. YERRANNAIDU : That is welcome, Sir.
Sir, Congress is a national party. They initiated the reforms in this country. The then Orissa Chief minister, Shri J.B. Patnaik initiated the electricity reforms first in his State. After that, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and Karnataka also did the same thing. Now, under the Electricity Regulatory Authority, under the law, the Andhra Pradesh Government has taken a decision. The Congress party is a national party but they are playing double standards. Now they are asking Shri Chandrababu Naidu to withdraw the increase in the tariff. Therefore, I am asking the Congress Members to learn a lesson from the Chief Ministers of Rajasthan and Karnataka. The Karnataka Chief Minister is on record to say that the Electricity Regulatory Authority is a body constituted under the law and we are, in no way, concerned with the Regulatory Authority. Whatever increase they make, we cannot stop that. The same thing is expressed by the Rajasthan Chief Minister. Congress party is a national party and they should adopt one policy, not double standards. That is why the Congers party is getting eroded in this country. In the year 1996, they had 180 Members; in 1998, they had 140 Members and now their strength is reduced to 110. If they continue to follow these double standards, double policies and everything, they will get further eroded. That is why they should follow one policy. Now, this is a drama. In Andhra Pradesh, the MLAs are playing drama and the same thing is being repeated in this House also. SHRI KIRIT SOMAIYA : Sir, my only point is, whatever remarks have been passed against the State Assembly and the Speaker may be deleted from the records. MR. SPEAKER: That is over now.