Grant citizenship to Bangaladesh minority community refugees: BJP

NEW DELHI: A strong plea for granting citizenship to refugees of minority community from Bangaladesh who were forced to migrate due to religious persecution was made by a BJP member in the Lok Sabha today.

Raising the issue during zero hour, Sanjay Jaiswal recalled that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh as Leader of the Opposition in 2003 had pleaded in the Rajya Sabha for different treatment to such persons.

Sushil Kumar Singh (JD-U) made a strong plea for central assistance to farmers whose farms were gutted in Bihar.

T R Baalu (DMK) drew the government's attention to the situation caused by the agitation of 31,000 contract labourers in the Neyvellie Lignite Corporation and sought its immediate intervention.

Ravindra Kumar Pande (BJP) made a strong pitch for better wages to 41,000 aanganwadi workers in Jharkhand.

Jagadanand Singh (RJD) wanted Bihar to be given permission to use its share of the Ganga waters.

Jayawant Awale (Cong) expressed concern over the growing incidents of thefts of LPG cylinders and wanted stern action to unearth the racket.