RAJYA SABHA

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*SYNOPSIS OF DEBATE

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(Proceedings other than Questions and Answers)

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Wednesday, September 5, 2007/Bhadrapada 14, 1929 (Saka)

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OBITUARY  REFERENCES

MR.  CHAIRMAN : Hon'ble Members, I refer with profound sorrow to the  passing away of   Shri  Ashis Sen and   Shri Banarsi Das Gupta,  former Members of this House. 

Shri Ashis Sen passed away on the 24th August, 2007, at the age of 85 years.  Born at Hooghly district of West Bengal in November 1922, Shri Sen had his education at Scottish Church College and Vidyasagar College, Kolkata.

A trade unionist, Shri Sen was associated with various Banking Employees' Associations in different capacities and suffered imprisonment for his trade union activities in 1956.  He also served as President of the All India Regional Rural Banks Employees' Association. Shri Sen wrote articles on economic issues and trade union movement in newspapers and periodicals and was also Editor of the Trade Union Journal from 1949 to 1960.

Shri Sen represented the State of West Bengal  in this House from April, 1988 to April 1994.     In the passing away of Shri Ashis Sen, the country has lost a noted  trade unionist.

            Shri Banarsi Das Gupta passed away on the   29th August, 2007 at the age of 90 years. Born at Manheru in the Bhiwani district of Haryana in November 1917,  Shri Gupta had his education at the Birla Inter College, Pilani.

A social worker, Shri Gupta was associated with various social welfare and educational organizations.  He worked for the uplift of Harijans and backward classes and for spreading education, particularly in rural areas. He waged a struggle against the practice of untouchability, dowry and child marriage and stood for widow remarriage. Shri Gupta participated in the freedom struggle and established Praja Mandal in the erstwhile Jind State in the pre-Independence period.  He was imprisoned several times for launching an agitation for establishment of a responsible Government there.  

A true follower of Acharya Vinoba Bhave, Shri Gupta undertook several padyatras and collected thousands of acres of land  for    distribution    among   the  landless during  the   Bhoodan Movement.   Shri Gupta also edited Hindi weekly ‘Apna Desh’ and ‘Haryana Kesri’ for many years.

The legislative career of Shri Gupta started with the membership of the Haryana Legislative Assembly, where he was a Member three times.   He was also Speaker of that State Assembly.   He served as Minister in the Government of Haryana  for several years and had the distinction of serving as Chief Minister of that State twice.  Shri Gupta represented the State of Haryana  in this House from April, 1996 to April 2002.

In the passing away of Shri Gupta, the country has lost an able Parliamentarian, an efficient Administrator and a dedicated social worker.

We deeply mourn the passing away of Shri Ashis Sen and  Shri Banarsi Das Gupta.

            (One minute’s silence was observed as a mark of respect to the memory of the deceased.)

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MATTERS RAISED WITH THE PERMISSION OF THE CHAIR

I.          Attack on a Member of Rajya Sabha

            SHRI PRASANTA CHATTERJEE:  While going to attend some meetings on 4th September, 2007, Shri Penumalli Madhu, Member of Parliament, Rajya Sabha, was attacked by armed hooligans in the old city of Hyderabad.  Fifteen persons have been injured and two persons are in hospital in critical condition.  Shri Madhu, somehow, escaped the attack on his life with the help of his party supporters.  While requesting the Chair for directing the State Government to send a report on this incident, I urge upon the Hon’ble Members of this august House to condemn this heinous attack on Shri P. Madhu.

(Shrimati Brinda Karat and Shri Ravula Chandra Sekar Reddy associated.) 

II.        Commemoration of birth anniversary Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan

            SHRI MATILAL SARKAR: Today is 5th September, the 46th Teachers’ Day and 120th birth anniversary of Dr. S. Radhakrishnan, a great philosopher and great teacher of the nation.  I hope my colleagues will join me in expressing heartiest tributes to Dr. Radhakrishnan.

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STATEMENT BY THE MINISTER

Successful Launch of GSLV-F04 on 2nd September, 2007

            THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE PRIME MINISTER’S OFFICE (SHRI PRITHVIRAJ CHAVAN):  I am happy to inform this august House that Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle, GSLV-F04, has successfully launched our latest communication satellite, INSAT-4CR, on September 2, 2007 from Satish Dhawan Space Centre at Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh.

            The 2140 kg INSAT-4CR is the third satellite in INSAT-4 series.  The INSAT-4CR satellite carrying 12 high power Ku Band Transponders will augment INSAT capacity for Direct-To-Home (DTH) television and other communications services.

            The Master Control Facility at Hassan in Karnataka acquired signals from INSAT-4CR soon after it entered into orbit and initial checks have indicated normal health of the satellite.  Orbit raising manoeuvres  have commenced on September 3, 2007 and will continue during September 5-7, 2007 followed by deployment of appendages, three axis stabilization, payload switching ‘on’ and in-orbit tests. INSAT-4CR will be operationalised by end of September 2007.

            I request Members to join me in congratulating the Chairman and all members of the ISRO team and in wishing them success.

            THE VICE-CHAIRMAN (PROF. P. J. KURIEN): We are proud of our achievement.  On behalf of the whole House and on my own behalf, I take this opportunity to warmly greet the entire ISRO community on the success of this important mission.  The entire country appreciates our scientists for achieving yet another milestone in their Space Programme. 

 

 

YOGENDRA NARAIN,

                                                            Secretary-General.

 

 

 


* This Synopsis is not an authoritative record of the proceedings of the Rajya Sabha.