Expressing concern over farmers committing suicide in various parts of the country, the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha on Monday blamed the Government for not waiving the debt leading to these deaths. The Opposition also charged that despite promising to write off the
loans during the recently concluded UP polls, the newly elected State Government did not do so.
Among the other issues flagged in the House included rising number of attacks on doctors, raising a volunteer defence force in Punjab to guard the international border facing Pakistan, drought in Karnataka and Sri lanka’s reluctance to take action against those indulging in war crimes against Tamils.
Earlier, when the House met for the day, Digivijaya Singh (Congress) sought a decision on a substantive motion submitted by him for discussing the role of Goa Governor for inviting the BJP to form the Government there.
Deputy Chairman P J Kurien said the matter was under Chairman Hamid Ansari’s consideration. However, leader of Opposition Ghulam Nabi Azad proposed discussing the motion if accepted in post lunch session of Monday. Sharad Yadav(JD-U) also backed Digvijaya Singhs’s appeal. Minister for law and Justice Ravi Shankar Prasad urged the chair to expunge Singh’s remark “murder of democracy” in Goa.
Raising the issue of farmers’ distress, Congress leader Pramod Tiwari claimed at least 117 farmers had committed suicide in the last two months. He said these deaths took place as the farmers did not get adequate price for their produce despite bumper crops this year and charged the Government for not waiving off their debts. Tiwari also said the BJP during the election campaign in UP has promised to write off the debts, but the newly elected Government was yet do so.
Vikas Mahatme (BJP) demanded enactment of stringent laws to prevent assaults
on medical professionals including doctors by relatives of patients. His plea came in the backdrop of recent cases in Maharashtra.
Drawing the attention of the House to forest fires, T Subbarami Reddy (Congress) asked the Government to conduct a study and find a permanent solution to the problem. Even Deputy Chairman associated himself with the issue and said it will be a serious problem in future.