NEW DELHI, July 17:
The Gaza situation rocked Rajya Sabha for the second consecutive day today with a determined opposition demanding an immediate discussion even as Chairman Hamid Ansari said the matter can be taken up at a later date while rejecting the Government’s plea against a debate.
Giving his ruling on External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj’s request made yesterday, Ansari said, “I am unable to accede to the request of the Minister” and cited rules in favour of the notices given by the opposition in this regard.
Swaraj had opposed any debate on the issue arguing it is not admissible as it is not primarily concern of Government of India and any discourteous remark could affect India’s relations with Israel and Palestine.
“I do not find any infirmity in the notices given by the Leader of the Opposition and others,” Ansari said, referring to the demand by the opposition for a debate.
In another ruling, he accepted the plea of Leader of the House Arun Jaitley that the issue be not taken up for discussion today and the Government will communicate an appropriate date for the same soon.
“Accordingly, in view of the provisions of rule 177 read with the communication received from the leader of the House, the short duration discussion on Palestine has not been listed in today’s agenda paper,” Ansari said.
Citing rules, he said, the “the subject having been already admitted, now requires consultations with the Leader of the House to fix the next date and time for discussion.”
Not finding the issue listed in today’s business of the House, infuriated opposition members were up on their feet and in the aisles vociferously demanding that the important issue be taken up today itself.
Questioning the Chairman’s ruling, opposition members said he had no authority to change the agenda and an item listed yesterday had to be taken up first today.
The Upper House saw three adjournments in the pre-lunch session – two during Question Hour and one in Zero hour.
The House witnessed uproarious scenes during Zero Hour after V Maitreyan (AIADMK) wondered that while the opposition members were so agitated over the killing of citizens in a distant land, they were not concerned over the killing of Tamil Nadu fishermen in Sri Lanka.
“I strongly condemn the killing of innocent civilians anywhere in the world, whether it is Palestine or Sri Lanka. I and my party are anguished that while they (opposition) are so concerned about the killing of citizens at a distant place, they are not concerned about killing of Tamil Nadu fishermen in neihgbouring Sri Lanka,” he said.
Irked by his remarks, opposition members including those of Congress and Left parties were on their feet and entered the aisles while Maitreyan received support from treasury benches.
Protesting members demanded that the “aspersions” cast by Maitreyan be expunged.
Deputy Chairman P J Kurien sought to pacify the agitated members saying he will check the records and will expunge remarks if they have cast any direct or indirect aspersion against any member.
As uproar continued, Kurien adjourned the House till 2 PM.
Leading the opposition attack, Congress accused the Government of “disrespecting” and “diluting” institutions one after another and said that now they were trying to do so with Parliament.
“The question is not what topic is to be discussed and when. The question is that whether the Executive can over-rule the rights of the Legislature. In such a short span of time, this Government has disrespected one institution after another in the country. After Judiciary, they are now trying to disrespect Parliament. We will now allow it,” Satyavrat Chaturvedi (Cong) said.
Resenting Maitreyan’s remarks, Leader of the Opposition Ghulam Nabi Azad said India has economic interest in West Asia and peace in that region is in the interest of India.
“The country’s economy is based on West Asia,” he said.
I&B Minister Prakash Javadekar said the Government understands the sensitivities and respects the right of members.
“To maintain the dignity of the House is responsibility of both sides. Government is not running away from a debate. The issue may be taken up at the Business Advisory Committee meeting,” he said.
As soon as the House met for Zero Hour, Naresh Chandra Agarwal (SP) demanded that a short duration discussion on violence in Gaza be taken up as per the list of business yesterday since the Chair has dismissed External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj’s request not to hold a discussion on the issue.
Raising a point of order, Agarwal said as per rules either a discussion should take place on yesterday’s agenda or the matter be decided through voting.
P Rajeeve (CPI-M) demanded a short duration discussion on violence in Gaza strip saying as per rule it should have taken place after Question Hour.
Sharad Yadav (JD-U) said postponing the discussion would send wrong signals as India’s relations to West Asia is “centuries old” with economic and social ties.
“We should raise our voice and send our message through Parliament to the world,” he said demanding a discussion.
D Raja (CPI) demanded that there should be a “meaningful and structural discussion” on the important issue wondering why the Government was not agreeing for it.
Sitaram Yechury (CPI-M) said the issue was listed yesterday in the revised list of business which could not have been prepared without Government consent.
“Government had earlier agreed but changed its mind. Government’s reversal of their position has to be explained in Parliament…Government is accountable
legislature…Government
cannot influence what is to be discussed by legislature,” he said.
Yechury said the whole world is seized of the issue and
even Prime Minister Narendra Modi is signatory to BRICS declaration which has condemned the attack on Gaza.
“Even children below ten years of age have been killed there…Italy, Germany have condemned it. It is the sovereign right of Indian Parliament to discuss it,” he said.
Sukhendu Sekhar Roy (TMC) said the objection raised by Minister of External Affairs was not appropriate and maintainable. Propriety demands that the discussion that could not be held yesterday is held today, he said.
Rejecting the criticism by the Opposition members, Vijay Goel (BJP) said the Government is “not running away” from a discussion on the issue and has said only this much that it will be discussed at right time.
He rued that while members are repeatedly saying that they accept the ruling of the Chair, they are not doing so and questioning it.
Premchand Gupta (RJD) said a “genocide” of children and elderly people is being carried out in Palestine and “history will not forgive us” if the issue is ignored.
Kanimozhi (DMK) said the Chair has a number of times said that the sense of the House will be taken and the sense of the House in this issue is clear.
Satyavrat Chaturvedi (Cong) questioned “why the Government is shying away from a discussion” noting that the Palestine issue has been discussed in past in both Houses a number of times.
Earlier, soon after the House met for the day, Yechury supported Anand Sharma saying dropping the issue from the agenda would amount to violation of the Constitution.
He said though a communication has been received from Jaitely for having the discussion on another date, the reason for it has not been given.
Sharad Yadav (JD-U) said many Indians earn their livelihood in West Asia and thus, the matter concerned many people here.
Members also wanted to know why the discussion on the issue was being delayed, particularly after the violence was condemned by BRICS leaders including Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Amid din, Ansari adjourned the House first for 15 minutes and then till noon. (PTI)

MUMBAI, July 17: Donning a gold lehenga and choli teamed with an elaborate raani haar, Bollywood actress Sridevi looked every bit royal as she walked the ramp at the ongoing India International Jewellery Week 2014.
The 50-year-old actress was the showstopper for Golecha Jewels show show titled ‘Brides’.
Besides the regal diamond raani haar, Sridevi also sported a square gleaming pendant, matching earrings, bracelet and ring.
The clothes were created by ace designer Vikram Phadnis which added to the drama of the show as lehenga-choli sets and sensational saris matched the beauty of the ornaments.
‘Heropanati’ star Kriti Sanon also took to the ramp to display Mahabir Danwar Jewellers collection.
Actress Parineeti Chopra made a show stopping entry in a velvet corset and layered tulle lehenga, decked in strands of pearls with giant pendant, a kada with enormous emerald prongs, floral ring and earrings for Birdhichand Ghanshyamdas Jewellers. (PTI)

NEW DELHI, July 17:
Amid rising food subsidy arrears, the Food Corporation of India (FCI) for the second time this fiscal has floated a tender inviting bids for short-term loan of Rs 20,000 crore for smooth procurement and distribution of food grains.
In April this year, FCI had floated a tender for the same amount and raised it from around 20 banks at interest rates in the range of 10.19-10.25 per cent.
In the recently floated tender on July 15, the FCI said, “To meet out its short-term fund requirement for procurement and distribution of food grains, the corporation is considering raising short-term loans from the scheduled banks only for 90 days tenure.”
In 2013-14, the Government had provided Rs 75,500.02 crore as subsidy to the FCI, while subsidy incurred during the year stood at Rs 1,03,791.85 crore. The total subsidy arrears, including carried over from previous years, amounted to about Rs 50,000 crore.
The arrears are estimated to touch Rs 68,000 crore by the end of the current fiscal as against the demand of Rs 1,10,000 crore. The Government has allocated Rs 92,000 crore as food subsidy to the FCI for 2014-15.
The Corporation has been left with no other option but to raise short-term funds for its procurement and distribution operations, according to sources.
Besides arrears, the delay in subsidy payments is also forcing the nodal agency for raising funds.
In the tender, which closes on July 24, the minimum quote has been fixed at Rs 250 crore and tranche size at Rs 20,000 crore.
The Corporation takes short-term loans from various scheduled commercial banks normally at base rate.
“Rate of interest quoted is to be linked with the base rate of the bank quoting the plus/minus to the base rate to arrive at the effective rate at which the offer for short-term loan can be extended to FCI,” says the tender.
Banks can bid for different tenures but the final call will be taken by the Corporation.
Meanwhile, in the tender FCI has clarified, “Neither the Government of India guarantees nor any other security is available for this short-term loan and this would be an unsecured one.”
Apart from short-term loans, the FCI has a cash credit limit of Rs 54,495 crore, which it can avail from the consortium of 62 banks against foodgrains stocks lying in its godowns.
The Corporation has already utilised the cash credit limit.
During the last fiscal, the FCI had raised Rs 8,000 crore from the market through long-term bonds.
The FCI’s subsidy has risen sharply in the last few years due to increase in the minimum support prices (MSP) for wheat and rice as well as high procurement, storage and distribution costs.
The economic costs comprising MSP, procurement, storage and distribution for wheat stood at Rs 1,494.35 per quintal and that of rice were at Rs 1,983.11 per quintal in 2010-11.
While in 2013-14, economic costs of both wheat and rice have gone up to Rs 1,932.39 per quintal and Rs 2,638.54 per quintal, respectively. (PTI)