JD-U demands Bharat Ratna to former PM Charan Singh

NEW DELHI: A JD-U member in Rajya Sabha today demanded 'Bharat Ratna' be given to late Prime Minister Chaudhary Charan Singh.

Making a special mention in the House, K C Tyagi said the former Prime Minister, whose birth anniversary falls on December 23, should be honoured by conferring on him the Bharat Ratna.

Singh was the Prime Minister of India from July 28, 1979 until January 14, 1980.

Mani Shankar Aiyar (Cong) expressed concern over forcible separation of Indian or children of Indian origin from their parents by the Child Protection Services in foreign countries, particularly in Norway.

In her special mention, Congress MP Renuka Chowdhury made a demand to take immediate steps to protect the women from exploitation by unscrupulous money lenders in Andhra Pradesh and Telengana.

Anil Desai of Shiv Sena asked for effective measures to ensure security of womenp passengers in local trains in Mumbai.

Jharna Das Baidya (CPI-M) made a demand for speedy inquiry into the case of gang rape of a minor girl from West Bengal and take necessary measures to rehabilitate her from Nirbhaya fund.

JD-U member Kahkashan Perween made a case for widening of Vikramshila bridge in Bhagalpur to provide connectivity to NH-80 under the Smart City Project.

AIADMK member V Maitreyan sought approval for the extension of the Phase - 1 of the Chennai Metro Rail project, while Husain Dalwai (Cong) made a demand for financial assistance to protect the debt ridden farmers from exploitation by money lenders in Maharashtra.