Taking exception to reported remarks by Rajasthan Home Minister Gulab Chand Kataria questioning the integrity of a rape victim in the State, the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha on Thursday demanded his resignation. The Government said if the remarks were true, they were condemnable and the Centre will apprise the State Government about the sentiments of the Elders.
Other issues like fake drugs, suicide by farmers in Gujarat and Congress leader Digvijaya Singh demanding discussion on his substantive motion regarding the conduct of Goa Governor also figured in the House.
The Rajya Sabha saw a brief adjournment over the Rajasthan Minister’s reported remarks issue when the Opposition including JD-U and Congress raised a din with some of them coming into the well of the house after Deputy Chairman PJ Kurien did not allow Kahkashan Perween(JD-U) to raise the matter.
Making her point when after the proceedings resumed and Kurien allowed her to speak, Perween demanded that the Centre should immediately take steps to sack the Rajasthan Minister who had made the “irresponsible” remarks. He allegedly said it was unlikely that eight men gang raped the girl and she did not complain.
Responding to her demand, Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Mukthar Abbas Naqvi said, “any such statement cannot be justified. It should be condemned if it is true. The National Women Commission has given a notice.” He also assured the Elders that the Centre will convey the sentiments of this House to the State Government so that it takes corrective steps.
On the issue of discussion over the conduct of Goa Governor for inviting the BJP to form the Government there instead of the single largest party Congress, Deputy Chairman PJ Kurien directed that leader of House Arun Jaitley be told that the substantive motion is pending as he has not discussed the time for holding the discussion.
Kurien also said the discussion will take as soon as possible when Digvijaya Singh sought to know the timeline.
Raising the issue of fake drugs, Naresh Agrawal(SP) said besides this menace gullible people especially in rural areas were sold sub-standard and expired medicines thereby posing danger to their health. He urged the Government to come out with strict laws to curb this problem.
Health Minister J P Nadda admitted the issue was important and assured the House that the government was sensitive and proactive on the matter. However, the implementation of the policy regarding the checking the quality of medicines is with state governments, he said.
The Centre was giving them financial and technical support and more than Rs 2,000 crore project was sanctioned for increasing and enhancing the lab facilities and other infrastructure in states, he said.
Madhusudan Mistry(Congress) raised the issues of farmers' suicide in Gujarat and said 91 farmers had committed suicide in the period 2012-2015 due to crop failure and debt.
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