Lok Sabha Debates
Cag Report On Sale Of Centaur Hotels, Expenditure Incurred On India Shining ... on 9 May, 2005
an> Title: CAG report on sale of Centaur Hotels, expenditure incurred on India Shining compaign and defence purchases. SHRI GURUDAS DASGUPTA : Hon. Mr. Speaker, Sir, our apprehension has come true.
MR. SPEAKER: Please do not make any allegation because there has been a whole discussion. SHRI GURUDAS DASGUPTA : I am speaking only about the CAG Report, no allegations.
Our apprehension has come true. We have repeatedly drawn your attention, after the new House was constituted, that some irregularities have been perpetrated by the earlier Government while disinvesting and privatising the public sector units. … (Interruptions) MR. SPEAKER: You should one day hold a bonfire of the Rule Book and the Constitution! SHRI GURUDAS DASGUPTA : Sir, we had repeatedly raised this issue in the House that during the earlier regime serious irregularities appear to have been committed. *Not Recorded.
MR. SPEAKER: It has been discussed under a Calling Attention. You can only refer to the CAG’s report since made. SHRI GURUDAS DASGUPTA : Not Centaur. We had referred… (Interruptions)
डॉ. धीरेन्द्र अग्रवाल (SÉiÉ®É) : यह बहुत महत्वपूर्ण विषय है। इस पर बहस होनी चाहिए।…( व्यवधान) MR. SPEAKER: Do not record it. Anybody speaking without my permission will not be recorded. (Interruptions)* श्री गुरुदास दासगुप्त : सर, यह क्या हो रहा है? Is it a free for all?
MR. SPEAKER: Please be brief. We have already taken 45 minutes on this.
SHRI GURUDAS DASGUPTA : We had repeatedly drawn the attention of you, Mr. Speaker, Sir, that there was a suspicion, lurking suspicion, that during the earlier regime irregularities had been committed while carrying on the policy of disinvestment, privatisation and sale of the public sector units. People in this country and some Members of the House have come to the conclusion that we are trying to destroy the image of a particular political combination or we are trying to run down individuals who had been important during the earlier regime. We had never been taken seriously. It was also said that it was a politically motivated villification campaign. That was attributed to us. We are all being accused of that. MR. SPEAKER: Please be brief.
SHRI GURUDAS DASGUPTA : The Comptroller and Auditor General of India is a statutory body and its Report has been laid on the Table of the House. With your permission, I would like to quote a few sentences from that Report. MR. SPEAKER: No, it is not necessary. You have mentioned the Report.
*Not Recorded.
SHRI GURUDAS DASGUPTA : Give me permission to read out a few lines, Sir. I well not waste your time. It says:
“Sale transactions of two hotels, Juhu Centaur and Airport Centaur, were finalised on the basis of single bids without the benefit of competition. Assumptions made during valuation of the properties and fixation of reserve price of Airport Centaur were not consistent with the practice followed by the Ministry in the earlier case. Repeated extensions were given to facilitate the sale.” MR. SPEAKER: That is there in the Report.
SHRI GURUDAS DASGUPTA : There is another issue. Nobody has seen the Report.
The Report categorically says that while conducting ‘India Shining’ campaign, Rs.63 crore had been misused[KMR12] . India did not shine. A few individuals have shined. It is said, very seriously, that the mine removal machines were procured very late. It led to loss of lives. This is what the CAG had stated. Why am I raising it? I am raising it because the hon. Minister of Finance, replying to a Calling Attention, had said that let the CAG Report come, then, we shall decide. I demand - the entire House joins me perhaps - that there should be an appropriate inquiry to nail down the culprits who had squandered away millions of money of poor India. We want a categorical assurance. … (Interruptions) Hon. Leader of the House is here. … (Interruptions) MR. SPEAKER: He has heard it. I cannot compel the Minister.
… (Interruptions)
SHRI GURUDAS DASGUPTA : I would request the hon. Leader of the House to kindly respond to this demand and there has to be an appropriate inquiry. Criminals must be put in proper places, who have squandered away crores of rupees of India. … (Interruptions) MR. SPEAKER: Please conclude. Do not go into the details.
… (Interruptions)
MR. SPEAKER: Shri Acharia, you can only associate with him.
SHRI BASU DEB ACHARIA : In reply to a Calling Attention … (Interruptions)
MR. SPEAKER: What is going on here?
SHRI BASU DEB ACHARIA : The Minister has categorically said.that the Government would consider .. … (Interruptions) MR. SPEAKER: If you behave like this, I will ask you to vacate.
… (Interruptions)
MR. SPEAKER: I totally condemn this behaviour. If it is not controlled, I will be compelled to take action. The House stands adjourned till 2 p.m. 12.51 hrs. The Lok Sabha then adjourned till Fourteen of the Clock.
14.05 hrs. The Lok Sabha re-assembled after Lunch at five minutes past Fourteen of the Clock.
(Mr. Deputy-Speaker in the Chair) MATTERS UNDER RULE 377 MR. DEPUTY-SPEAKER: We will take matters under Rule 377.
Chaudhary Lal Singh – not present