People's Democracy

THE WEEK IN PARLIAMENT

CPI(M) Parliamentary Office

ON September 7, the capital witnessed a powerful blast which ripped through the reception counter of Delhi High Court complex, leaving at least 11 people dead and more than 75 injured. The parliament condemned this blast. Both the houses were adjourned to allow home minister P Chidambaram time to gather information before he could make a statement on the blast.

Speaking on the minister’s statement, CPI(M) parliamentary group leader Sitaram Yechury condemned the blast and conveyed his deep-felt condolences to the families of the dead. He said the menace needed to be unitedly met and extended full support to the government’s endeavour in this regard.

In the other house, Basudeb Acharia termed the blast a “disturbing act” and said two explosions had occurred at the same spot within four months. The entire country should stand united and resolve to fight terrorism. Terrorists have no religion. They are out to divide and destabilise the nation. There is need for united action against them.

Speaking on the Indian Institute of Information Technology, Design and Manufacturing, Kancheepuram Bill 2011 in Rajya Sabha, T K Rangarajan said there is a problem for those who have passed in the first batch. They have to be given certificates and degrees. The policy of the government regarding ‘deemed universities’ and ‘institutes of national importance’ needs to be clarified. Would the courses these institutions offered be self-financing in nature? Would the board of an institute have power to fix the fees at any level? Would the reservation for SC, ST and OBC students apply to these institutes? While raising such questions, he asked that the bill be referred to the Stranding Committee on HRD. The final decision should be taken in such a manner that the students’ interests are well protected, he said.

On September 8, both houses got disrupted on the cash-for-vote scam issue and were adjourned sine die in the afternoon.