Sharp exchanges between BJP, Congress in Rajya Sabha

NEW DELHI: Sharp exchanges were witnessed in Rajya Sabha between members of the ruling BJP and Congress after the opposition members said poor muslim families were not being rehabilitated by the Vadodara Municipal Corporation in Gujarat after displacing them.

Raising the issue, Madhusudan Mistry (Cong) said 300 muslim families were not being rehabilitated by the civic body in BJP-ruled Gujarat despite tall claims made by the party.

As he used some harsh words against Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who was former chief minister of Gujarat, members from the treasury benches took strong objection to it forcing the Chair to assure them that anything derogatory against the Prime Minister would be expunged.

Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi also asked the member to refrain from making such direct comments against the Prime Minister and asked Deputy Chairman P J Kurien to look if anything objectionable is recorded.

Earlier Minister of State for Tourism Mahesh Sharma said government was taking steps to increase tourism in the country.

He said the country had earned 1.2 lakh crore revenue through tourism, an increase of 11.6 per cenr during the year.

The tourism industry has touched 7.7 million showing an increase of 10.6 per cent, he added.

Sharma said a total of 120 crore was earmarked for developing Buddhist tourism and another Rs 120 crore for developing the Krishna circuit on which Rs 30 crore was already spent for developing Mathura and Vrindavan.

The Minister said a 24-hour helpline on telephone number 1363 in 12 languages was also being launched soon. At present the helpline had 2 languages.

Kanak Lata Singh (SP) raised the issue of farmers from Uttar Pradesh, saying they have been made bonded labour in Saudi Arabia and are living in very bad conditions.

K N Balagopal (CPI-M) also raised the issue of high taxes on petrol and diesel imposed by government despite international crude oil prices coming down drastically.

B K Hari Prasad (Cong) also raised the issue of increasing rapes in the country, especially of tribal women.

He added that in Delhi alone there have been 300 cases reported since last year and took a dig at Prime Minister Modi for talking of 'Achche din'.