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SHRI CHANDRA SHEKHAR (Ballia, U.P.) : Sir, first of all I congratulate the President of India. When the dignity of the country was at stake, when big guns of the country were ready to touch the feet of the foreigners, at that time the President of India said that the world is becoming a village but we had never accepted that someone would be the head of this village. This statement was criticized very much. I am sorry to say that the Government of India also did not consider it necessary to make a statement in this regard to save the respect of the President of India. The opposition leaders also thought it proper to keep mum on this issue because of that time a new star emerged... (Interruptions)

SHRI CHANDRA SHEKHAR : I do not know as to who were or who was not among them...(Interruptions)

SHRI CHANDRA SHEKHAR : If you were not among them, it is good, but I think that no economic and political policy can be effective if it does not save the dignity, glory and respect of the country. President has a prominent place in the Parliamentary democracy. If President of some other country comes here and say that our soldiers did not save our borders but it was done through his order, there cannot be anything of more insult than this.

Mr. Chairman, Sir, when this address was being read out in the Central Hall of Parliament, our hon’ble President had said that our aim behind the policy of liberalization would be development in the country, equality, a new morning in the lives of the poor and there would be a wave off development in the whole of the world. Shri Mulayam Singhji has said first now that and it is true that their policies are being implemented in our country for the last 10 years. One or one and half year earlier I had written a letter to the Prime Minister of India that nine years have passed, now we should sit and evaluate as to what we have achieved or lost. From the address of the President, which has been prepared by the Government, it appears that the country is heading towards gloomy future. Whatsoever dreams of development were there in the country, all those have remained only dreams. Small scale industries of our country have been eliminated and cottage industries closed. The factories which were established by our forefathers with their labour and hard work are being closed. The Government was declared last year that the property worth Rs. 10,000 crores of these factories will be sold out.

Shri Manohar Joshiji is sitting here. Some people have opposed this but sell of property continued. I am sorry to say that I have never heard any statement of the Prime Minister of India that we will revive those factories we will create new capacity in these factories. He has been saying that the work of disinvestment will be accelerated. Other day, our Finance Minister was making a statement. He was also reiterating this fact that inspite of every efforts of selling we could not collect money. We had expected ours is a such country where we have a Minister who will see role of industries. The name of this in English is Disinvestment Minister. Shri Arun Shourie is our old friend. He is quite young and we had great expectations from him. We have a saying in our villages that a boy who sells his father’s property is an unworthy person. But he is a worthy man who is selling the property of this country one by one.

Just now, Shri Mulayam Singh mentioned the name of Shri George Fernandes. He is an old friend of ours. I can feel his agony with which he is holding his chair because I know that a man who has sacrificing his life for the sake of his country and if he has restrictions, he has been provided no facilities for doing his work of fighting we cannot forget his difficulties. This is also a fact that our army is well disciplined. This is also a fact that on the order of our Defence Minister, our 450 soldiers have laid down their lives in Kargil. But this is also a fact that we could cross our border. We were ready to sacrifice our soldiers because the whole world was saying that if we cross those borders of Kargil which is our line of control then there will be full fledged. At the time of atomic test which were conducted at Pokhran, George Sahib you were not informed. I know one of your colleagues had thrown a challenge to Pakistan and wanted to know the place and time suitable for Pakistan for fight. They forgot that they are members of our family. If we can make a mistake then they can also make a mistake. We have conducted five nuclear tests and they have conducted six tests. Now you have forgot those differences and proceeded for Lahore Agreement in a bus. Governing the country is not child’s play. When we had not conducted atomic test, at that time our strength was five times more than Pakistan. Now we are equals. Either they can destroy us by first use of nuclear bomb or we can destroy them by doing. Shri George Fernandes is present here. He believes in quick action. Probably he will act before them. But when a bomb is dropped at Lahore what will happen. Once I said in this House that we should see as to what effect it will have on Amritsar. We should think about this. I would not like to say that thing. People fight the battle with courage. But everything is spoiled by one step taken by you.

What is cease-fire in Kashmir. I do not know who has declared this cease-fire. This ceasefire is for our soldiers and army only. Killings are taking place everyday. This is not happening in Kashmir only it is happening in Nagaland also. I used to have a dialogue with people like Farookh Abdullah or Jamir Sahib. No one might have felt their feelings but George Fernandes can feel them. He has just came in at the right moment. Therefore I request you to remember those days when these people look at you with hope. They thought that India as a powerful country will not only save herself but she will give an assurance to the poor countries also that if they are in pain and agony, India will be there to help them. Today we are absolutely helpless. I have mentioned these things in the beginning because seeking George Saheb reminded me old times. But if you look at the economic condition of our country, then this document which Hon’ble President has read in one hour, is very much confusing. How long shall we remain in such confusion. All know that the last ten years, since these policies were implemented during this Government’s tenure as well as the period of previous small scale industries have been closed down. Where are our cottage industries. What is condition of our weavers, craftsmen, blacksmiths. Where is their art, what is the condition of Arts of Adivasis villages. After all, India was the richest country of the world before the arrival of Britishers. There were no multi-national companies, there were farmers. There were not big plants but we had skilled people who were spread all over India and they used to create wealth. Their products used to be sold throughout the world. Suddenly one thing was spread in India when Mahatma Gandhi came to India to fight against Britishers. Mr. Gokhale told Mahatma Gandhi : Go to villages and recognize the strength of villagers and with their inspiration you can build new Hindustan. Gandhiji had urged the tradition and strength of rural India. He infused a new life into a country which was inactive and from 1914 to 1942 Gandhiji infused a new strength and raised a weaponless country fight against British colonialism who gave the slogan of “do or die” and “Quit India” may not have any mention in Government’s files but still his voice can be heard in every part of India. This voice can be heard not only in the heart of Indian but also in the hearts of the people of the world. I remember day Mahatma Gandhiji died. At time Einstein said that one day people of the world would remember that such a lean person was born in this world. At that time Mr. Romya Rola told if ever the world will think when was human civilization and culture begun, name of only one country will come to mind and that is India. Gandhiji has given courage to such country. In 1991, an attempt was made to lower that courage and it is still going on today. It is said that we are helpless, if people of other countries do not give us money then nothing can be done in our country. Why do we need money. What is the use of money that we have received. George Saheb, do you remember, we opposed Cocacola in the year 1977 and Mr. George Fernandes who introduced 77 has now become George who is welcoming Pepsi and Cocacola. It is painful that intention of our forces is not good but our farmers are deligently farming the land and have made our country self-sufficient in agriculture. I think our farmers have faced many problems and still made India self-dependent in many fields. In the past we could not make even small pin but now India’s is among 13 industrial countries. George Saheb, you remember that day when you called for railway strike. Thousands of workers got ready and now if the same workers are not agreeing to the sell of BALCO. You approach Supreme Court and act as agent of this company and ask for permission to send force there. You want to compel them to work on the basis of gun power and political power. This is not your company. Remember, this company belongs to a capitalist. A friend of the capitalists has raised this question. On behalf of capitalists disinvestments Minister tells us how to run this country. He tells us as how favouritism is done how the Government at Centre works. Where was the Central Government when bureaucrats did whatever they wished. You may criticise the speech of Somnath Chatterjee. However, I would not use that language but when a Government officer openly gives an interview and that is published in the newspaper and when the Member of National Executive of your party, which is a major party has been referring to the deeds of the Prime Minister’s Office on TV daily for the last two months, then where is the Information Ministry, the Department of Information and the PMO, why those things are not refuted? If that is not refuted then why a young man gets agitated when our friend, Somnath Chatterjee makes a mention of that. You can suppress the feeling of the people by showing anger, you can get any resolution passed with majority in the Parliament, but friends, remember one thing that the revolutions in the world, never occur as a result of the resolutions of the Parliament and the judgement of the Supreme Court. The people choose the way of revolution by setting aside the judgement of Supreme Court and the Parliament also keeps mum. Today whatever is going on in BALCO is not a good sign. If a Chief Minister challenges then the Government approaches the Supreme Court. The Government do not think of coming before the Parliament and the Union Cabinet and tell them that this work is not been done. But the Government approaches the Supreme Court. A day will come when the Supreme Court may ask you to resign. The Supreme Court can impose restrictions on you one day. Mr. Chairman, Sir, I beg your pardon. I have seen many times in this Parliament that the summons of the High Court and the Supreme Court have been ignored by the people occupying this Chair, which you are holding today. It is said that the person occupying the chair is not bound to comply with the orders of the court. I have written to the hon. Speaker that I feel that the rights and duties of the person holding that post is decided by the Parliament only. The Supreme Court can neither reduce it nor it can increase it. But today the Government which have failed to do the duty has been working forward to that only. It is creating fear among the people. It is not a good sign that the country which was not afraid of the British imperialism is being cowed down by this legal gimmick. I would like to submit whatever sector one casts his glance over, they one by one including industries face closure. It was said that the companies running in losses would only be sold. Ten thousand crore rupees would be collected. Then it was said that there is none to purchase the company running in losses and therefore, the companies earning profit would also be sold. Our hon. Disinvestment Minister who is not present here made a statement in this regard. That was supported by our friend, who is the Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission. Is it your property? Today you are in power, but tomorrow you may not be in power. Suppose tomorrow any other person becomes Prime Minister, any other party comes to form Government, then what will happen to this country if you sell those companies. What will be the situation? Today, you are making such policies which lead to further worsen the problems of the poor country. The policies of present Government are responsible for pushing the country to such a situation.

A few days back, the Chief Minister of poor State and Chief Minister of rich State began challenging each other on the issue of the report of 11th Finance Commission. Such things have never happened during the last 50-52 years, but it is your grand success. My friend Mulayamji observed that I used to call Atalji as Gurudev. I have no hesitation in calling him even now as ‘Gurudev’ but remember that Arjun was compelled to use his bow and arrow even against his Guru Dronacharya. Therefore, I am asking in which direction the country is being led to in which embarrassing situation you want to land the country? Today, foreigners are openly dictating that which agriculture policy we should adhere to, what should be done with our workers. Government will ask nothing if a company employing up to one thousand workers is closed down. Where is the courage once characterised trade union leader George Fernandes. Manohar Joshiji, I would like to ask you, you are responsible for the condition of those workers.

I was in favour of nationalisation of Banks. At that time, I had said that nationalisation of banks are essential because capital is flowing from poor areas to rich areas, it is being accumulated in the hands of a few capitalists which is leading to regional imbalance and to check that trend, nationalisation of Bank was essential. There were a few shortcomings in the nationalisation of banks. Bank employees also committed a few mistakes but whether it is not a fact that Banks helped lakhs of people to buy tractors for farmers buying pumps, for opening shops to small traders, whereas earlier only 14 families have permission to use the capitals of the Bank. The capital which was controlled by a few hands, reached to a number of persons after the nationalisation of Banks. There is mention of high ideals in it. I do not want to repeat one by one. You want to educate, you want to provide health services to the villagers, you wish to make electricity available where is my friend Suresh Prabhuji, he knows how the electricity will reach and where. Te policies which you are following, there shall be nothing but darkness everywhere in the country within two years. Enron will not recover only 30-35 rupees, Shivraj Patilji, your State is facing most grave situation in this regard. One of our friends had signed it and another respected friend had given approval. I had termed it as a disastrous move at that time. Now it is creating problems for Mr. Suresh Prabhu. The Government of Maharashtra is trying to transfer it to the Union Government and the Union Government are in dilemma as to who would purchase power at such an exorbitant rate of Rs. 7.80 per unit? Threats are being given. Our coming generations would pay that price when you would be no more in power and we would be no more in the Parliament. Having pondered over these objects, I considered to raise my voice, be it heard or not. I should tell the countrymen as to where you are leading the country to? Fees are being hiked in the country. The University Grant Commission is pronouncing to offer no help in next five years. They raise the fees at the rate of ten per cent per annum and offer no help. I went to Allahabad and Lucknow Universities. The youth over there pleaded that our parents make us study with their hard earned money and the Government provide us no employment. The Government is engaged in retrenchment and by way of VRS 90,000 bank employees are seeking retirement. What happened to those constitutional safeguard passed by the Parliament? Now this Government seek to adopt to policy of hire and fire in one stroke. There is no discussion. I have to say it with regret Mr. Shukla and Mr. Shivraj Patil you also support the Government. It is a pity that the Government and the opposition are singing in the same tune on the issue of selling the country. I would like to ask you as to where you are leading the country to? How can the country progress when a poor man’s son finds himself unable to go to “university or a college"?

Mr. Mulayam Singh often pleads for reservation. But, what’s the fun of having provision of reservation in the absence of any job opportunities? Foreign companies won’t obey your legislation in regard to reservation. Have you gone through it, where would it lead? We are selling one major industry after other. I am not talking of BALCO alone. Now, we are heading towards privatisation of Indian Airlines and Air India. This Government is working towards selling this country and feeling pride in it. The same sort of breach of trust is being meted out to labourers and Government employees. They too are treated in the same manner. Five or eight Ministries have been abolished. Now you would not decide in the Cabinet regarding abolishment or otherwise of a Ministry, rather it would be decided by the World Bank or International Monetary Fund. I can show you the reports of the World Bank and International Monetary Fund which mentions about the number of persons to be retrenched in India and the economic system it should adopt. Now a new agriculture policy would be formulated. Our friend, the Finance Minister was saying that the agriculture policy has been framed for the first time in the country. Has he forgotten that the jamindari raj was abolished here. Has he forgotten the massive agitation launched for cooperative farming. Has he forgotten about the massive investment made by the Government during green revolution. I have been against the working of Government but nevertheless I would say that revenue building work has been done between 1947 to 1990 and in the country and we have started selling it from 1991. How any Government, any Prime Minister or Finance Minister or Disinvestment Minister could speak with pride after listening to it. This is the situation in the Parliament today then what would be the morale the poor people of the country. For how long would you keep them in illusion? For how long would you keep them in confusion? Today awareness is coming in that society too. We want to say this because the Adivasis, poor dalits have got pain in their hearts. Many boys and girls of the dalits and adivasis are studying in universities and colleges. Who are those persons to whom not only today but several years ago it was said that the Alimighty has given to them only this life and they are born only with this destiny. These boys and girls are not ready to accept it as they have read about the revolutions and history. They have seen the revolution the world over. They knew about the revolutions of Vietnam, Cuba and France. They know about the revolutions of Russia and China. They know that there exists no God. These policies of the Government make them poor, that is why they wish to make them poor, that is why they wish to make their place in the history as a result thereof. You demand your rights. We have got only one way, either to make policies as per their aspirations or remember our friends sitting in Parliament, suppress their feelings by your proposals and power. Please remember that human minds awakening can never be confined in a cage. No one can make human consciousness a prisoner. Pain born out of hunger destroy palaces. Beware lest fire should destroy the Parliament, our whole set up politicians and bureaucrats sitting in the PMO. Therefore, I am here to warn you. I want to warn such people of the world who are dreaming of making India their slave. The East India Company had arrived but no with their own army. They succeeded in dividing brothers, Hindu- Muslims, Sikhs-Marathas and captured power. Today there is no East India company. Mahatma Gandhi had given the slogan Quit India in 1942. Today, we are giving the slogan that our doors are open for the Britishers, Germans, Japanese, Canadians or Americans or anyone else who wishes so. Hon. Chairman, Sir, our world is a selfish one. No one comes to help others out, but for their profit, they come to exploit the poors. One who invests money, say ten rupees would like earn twenty rupees. Today, we are claiming that we have made immense progress. We have got enough stock foreign exchange in the Reserve Bank. I have often heard that Chandra Shekhar ji had mortgaged gold. However, I took no loan in those four months. People in power before me had taken loans but it was not their fault. It is another matter that the policies were wrong. Questions may be raised regarding the wisdom of it. Poor women folk in our villages say that their husbands have mortgaged their jewellery in the same way as the politicians have mortgaged gold and moan over it. What do they do by moaning over it? Whether the honour of the country or gold was supreme? If it was honour of the country gold could be mortgaged. Now you are not mortgaging only gold but selling the land too. You have said that lands of farmers could be given on lease to big capitalists of India or other countries, where they can establish big farm houses and use machines for agricultural purposes. On the other hand, Shri Shanta Kumar ji has said that we have not enough storing capacity for keeping foodgrains. I had heard and read it as well that the Americans use to throw foodgrains in the sea or burn the crop, but you have left the foodgrains to rot and people of Kalahandi are dying out of starvation. Is this way to run the country. If some accident take place like what happened in Gujarat and suppose someone says something wrong, our Prime Minister becomes agitated. I was not present here that day. He had said to a senior member that he would put him in the dock. Mr. Prime Minister, Sir, you are standing in the dock. You are put in the dock by your own Government servants who make statements in newspapers everyday. You have been put in the dock by your national executive member who are making statements not only in newspapers but on television everyday and the entire country listens to it. One lady member who is present at the moment, was saying on Women’s Day that Atalji has done great on Women’s Day, so he should be awarded the Nobel Prize for peace. I was listening about the cease-fire where helpless youths have been left at the mercy to meet cold-blooded death, it was because we could tell the world that Pakistan is enemy to peace and we are the messiah of if, so we should be given the Nobel Prize for Peace, but where is Mr. Burhanuddin of Afghanistan. Two Embassies of America have been blown up and their ships destroyed. If they could not fire missiles against them it would not be helpful to you. Our friend, the Foreign Minister, who used to talk to them and assure you too has gone somewhere else. No one bows down to the setting sun. Those who bow down to the setting sun and wish for a new morning cannot run the country.

Sir, I am saying with regret that attempt has been made to be little the stature of the President through this address. I would certainly say that the President has not only maintained the stature of his post by sounding warning to the country from time to time but has also served the country well too. I, therefore, congratulate the President. I request to the Government to play hide and seek game with the world and the people of the country as well. It is necessary to work and impress upon the people the correct facts in the hours of trials. I, therefore, constrained to give vent to my sentiments.