Bilingual Dialogues

OATH TAKING

MR. SPEAKER: Member to take the oath or affirmation, Secretary General, please.

SECRETARY GENERAL: Smt. Sonia Gandhi Ji who stands elected from the Wayanad
Constituency of Kerala will now take the oath or affirmation.

(Proceeds from the place that she is occupying to the right hand of the Secretary’s General
table and hands over her Certificate of election to the officer at the Table).

SECRETARY GENERAL: Madam, do you want to take oath or affirmation?

SMT. Sonia Gandhi : Oath Please

SECRETARY GENERAL: in which language would you like to take the oath?

SMT. Sonia Gandhi : In Hindi Please. (The Secretary-General hands over a copy of the form
of Oath in the language in which she wants to take the oath)

SMT. Sonia Gandhi: “I, having been elected a Member of the Lower House of the Youth
Parliament, do swear in the name of God that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the
Constitution of India as by law established, that I will uphold the sovereignty and integrity of
India and that I will faithfully discharge the duty upon which I am about to enter.”
(The member then places the oath paper on the Table of the Secretary-General and shakes
hands with the Chair. The member then passes behind the Chair to the other side of the
Secretary’s General Table, where she signs the Roll of Members. After signing the roll, she
takes her seat in the House. The Members of Opposition.
Welcome her by thumping on their desks).

INTRODUCTION OF NEW MINISTERS

MR. SPEAKER: Prime Minister and Leader of Opposition to introduce new Ministers.

PRIME MINISTER: Mr. Speaker, Sir, I have the pleasure in introducing to you and through
you, to the House, my trusted colleague, the new Minister.
Mr. S. Jaishankar, Minister of External Affairs
(While being introduced the minister in turn stands with folded hands. The Members greet
them by thumping on their desks).

QUESTION HOUR

MR. SPEAKER: Now the question hour starts. Question No. 101 Smt. Dimple Yadav Ji.
Smt. Dimple Yadav:- Thank you speaker sir, my very first question is on the point of
increasing fiscal deficit or net increase in expenditure of budget on interest servicing, last
year the government spent 10.55 Lakh Crore Rupees on interest servicing while this year the
government is going to spend 11.9 Lakh Crore Rupees on interest servicing which is even
more than 1/3rd of the total government expenditure, while the matter of fact also remains
that still the largest source of income for the government is not Income Tax, GST etc. but
instead borrowing from other states comprising 28% of the total income source. This trend if
continued the day is not far when the Indian government will be caught off in a Debt Trap
and repayments of debt will continue.

Finance Minister (Nirmala Sitharaman): Mr. Speaker, Sir, Question No.101, will the Minister
of Finance be pleased to state that such trends have already been observed and such changes
like balancing the other sources of income of the government with borrowing is a clear
attempt that the problem is not out of sight out of mind but rather in our strict
acknowledgment. This can also be understood by the attempt of the government to reduce the
fiscal deficit rate year by year when last year the fiscal deficit was pledged to be reduced to
5.7% of GDP and we were able to bring it to 5.6%, thus this year as well it has been pledged
to be brought down to 5.1% of GDP in accordance with the mandatory implementation of the
Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management Act of 2003.

MR. SPEAKER: Question No. 102 , Srimati Jyotsna Mahant

Srimati Jyotsna Mahant : In the recent Budget Rs. 6.21 Lakh Crore has been allocated to the
Ministry of Defence which is not only the highest amount any ministry has received in the
current budget but is also the record highest budget ever allocated to the MoD in the entire
history of India. Well Congratulations on that, but one thing which despite such huge spike of
4.79% from FY 2023-24, the defence expenditure on R&D is way less, due to which India is
still dependent on other states for its own weapon production due to the reason which India is
currently the largest importer of arms in the entire world.

Minister of Defence(Rajnath Singh):- For the matter of fact Smt. Jyotsna Singh should also
note that in the current budget only the record highest budget has also been allocated for
DRDO and R&D which is 1.2% of the total allocation, which will thereby boost indigenous
development and India can tend to dominate the world Arms Market as well

Akhilesh Yadav (Rebuttal):- While on one hand India boasts its support of Peace irrespective
of anything while here we are aspiring to become a world superpower by having an intend to
dominate the world Arms Market, how can these 2 contradictory stances be balanced by India
on the international stage, if we want World Peace then we should maintain a strict policy of
peace and don’t be a hypocrite by exporting weapons to other states.
Minister of External Affairs (S. Jaishankar) (interrupts):- I think that the opposition must first
understand this point that export and import of weapons first of all is not to breach peace or
violate the international law but it is actually an indication of improvement in the diplomatic
relations between two states.
(Intense Banging among opposition)
MR. SPEAKER: Question No. 103, Sri Shashi Tharoor Ji.

Sri Shashi Tharoor:- My very Simple stands to the point the recent Case where Paracetamol,
the most produced and the most consumed pharmaceutical drug in India was found that its
regular use was associated with a 28% increased risk of Liver Cancer. This clearly shows that
regular monitoring and inspection of drug production for public use is not being maintained
so why is that no special budget is allocated for empowering the monitoring bodies.

Minister of Health (J.P. Nadda)

I believe that Francisco Sir, have not gone too much into the detail of the cohort report that
such cohort reports are being conducted by foreign laboratories on the basis of Random
Sampling like literally for a country like India with such a huge population taking only
460,000 samples is not at all enough and it could be a possibility that there were only a
selected batches so thus to verify such risks Indian Inspecting bodies are at work.

MR SPEAKER: Now the question hour is over.

(murmurs in the audience)

MR SPEAKER: There shall be no supplementary! Kindly maintain the decorum of the

assembly.

ZERO HOUR

SPEAKER:- Now this is the time for the Zero Hour Considering the expanse of debate and
questions and Notices previously submitted by the opposition. Members will be given time to
resurrect questions and demand answers from the concerned Minister

SPEAKER:- Rahul Gandhi Ji please..

Shri Rahul Gandhi:- Thank you so much speaker sir for the recognition. Standing at this
position of the Leader of Opposition I feel this is a critical matter not only for the entire
nation but also for the forthcoming generations of our Nation, the youth, the students, and the
future of this nation. And this critical issue is none other than the insufficient importance
given to education by the Government. In this budget itself it’s clearly observed that last year
when 116 Lakh Crores were allocated to Education they ended up only spending 108 Lakh
Crores, regardless of a slight increase from the 2023-24 Budget to the Budget of 2024-25 to
125 Lakh Crores which is approximately 2.7% of the GDP, the government still fails to meet
the aim of allocating at least 6% of GDP to education as mentioned in the New Education
Policy (NEP) 2020. And in the midst of this atmosphere of exam leaks and scams the
Education Minister sits silent with focusing on almost everything but not on his own
Ministry. (the entire opposition laughs out)
My simple question remains that instead of focusing on infrastructural development why isn’t
the Government focusing more on R&D, HDI etc.?

Shri Dharmendra Pradhan (Minister of Education)

Mr. Rahul Gandhi please have some faith in the work which the government is currently
doing, you cannot just out of nowhere state such statements Which make absolutely no sense,
speaking of Exam Leaks and Scams the Vidya Samiksha Kendra (VKS) as a part of the
suggestions under NEP, is going to given such control of full proof verifications and digital
monitoring systems with an allocation of 5.6 thousand Crores, speaking of R&D the allocated
budget has been increased from 210 Crores last year to 355 Crores in this year’s Budget. As
this year has seen the record highest allocation of percent of GDP allocated to Education of
2.7%, simultaneous increase will be seen over the years.

MR. SPEAKER:- Ms.Mohua Moitra , interrogates the concerned Minister.

Ms. Mohua Moitra : Sir, I beg to call the attention of the minister for MSMEs to the situation
arising out of the reported loss of employment, leading to falling living standards as a result
of industrialization in the State by the Center and the action taken by the government in this
regard. India boasts of its rich culture and heritage, it is almost India’s metaphorical lung.
With increasing technology, however, a huge number of traditional artisans are losing their
jobs. I would request the center to present their reports and workings in the area.

MR. SPEAKER: Yes, Minister of MSMEs Giriraj Singh please.

MINISTER OF MSMEs: Mass production is labour intensive and requires many workers.
People have full freedom to pursue whatever they want and the government is dedicated to
protecting all workers. As a matter of fact, Over 10,000 artisans are guaranteed a minimum
value of their products. Their annual income has soared by 35%. Additionally, the loss of
employment that you claim has occurred due to industrialization, is nonexistent - all those
who were earlier involved in labour-intensive tasks with meagre pay, have been relocated to
other industries with much higher profit returns. In our report, we have also gathered how
increasing enrollment rates in vocational courses is directly proportional to the creation of
employment - clearly establishing the success of our venture.

Also since you have blamed industrialization I want to make you aware of the fact that
industrialization and urbanisation go hand in hand plus there are several startups that are
grooming gracefully in collaboration with these traditional artisans and our tradition is
spreading and appreciated all over the world. It was through industrialization that we were
able to free these labourers from their never-ending trap of poverty and guide them towards
the path of establishing one's units. The MSME ministry maintains proper records which are
updated regularly, so the opposition need not concern themselves with the so-called “falling
living standards.”Rest, the Government will move forward with affirmative action to ensure a
playing field for all. Through the cultural hubs initiative of 2023 several platforms are being
created to promote the cultural heritage on the global platform.
.

Mr. SPEAKER: Mr. Adoor Prakash next is your turn.

Sriman Adoor Prakash: Mr. Speaker; sir, I have to thank the chair for allowing me to raise a
question for the Consumer Affairs Minister for taking up the discussion concerning the
situation arising out of the deplorable state of safety standards of consumer goods especially
pharmaceuticals in India.

MINISTER OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS (Prahalad Joshi):-

The government recognizes that there has been a slight decline in the standards of the
imported consumer goods and the ones indigenously produced. The government has taken
several measures to get the regulatory bodies back on track. Firstly, We have made the
system of quality inspection more robust.The government has also initiated high standard
techniques to quality check pharmaceuticals and directly consumed commodities to ensure
further safety.

Mr. Speaker:- Mr. Saqda Ahmed please

Mr. Saqda Ahmed: Deficit state as far as goods especially rice is concerned, the food
situation is so grave in Kerala that it now threatens the collapse of the public distribution
system. The annual requirement of rice for public distribution is 20 lakh tones. However, the
monthly allocation is hardly 95,000 tonnes. It is extremely meagre. Moreover, several States
have restricted the movement of food grains. This has resulted in the arrival of food grains in
Kerala having fallen creating a serious situation.

Mr. Depender Singh Hooda (interrupts): Adding to Mr. Saqda Ahmed’s point, there is a
failure of the monsoon. The prices are rising. The Government of Kerala has approached the
Central Government for raising monthly allocations. It is of immediate importance that the
monthly allocations be increased to the original quota of at least 1, 35,000 tones. Further the
Civil Supplies Corporation has to buy rice from surplus States for the requirements of
consumers outside the statutory rationing systems. This is necessary to see that prices are
kept in check and that rice is available at reasonable rates.

MINISTRY OF FOOD AND CIVIL SUPPLY(G.R. Ani):- Sir, I have listened carefully to
the point raised by Hon’ble Member of this House on the subject of the distribution of food
grains to the States by the Centre for their Public Distribution System. I have a due concern
for the hardship being faced by some of the States due to drought and failure of monsoon in
some parts of the country. It has always been the endeavor of this Government to help the
States/UTs
As regards the position with regard to Tamil Nadu, I may submit that I have already
explained the position of supplying rice to that State in this House earlier in reply to questions
and through statements made by me. But despite all our assurances, the leaders from the State
chose to enter into controversy with the Centre and went on to sit on fast to press the Centre
on the matter.

MR. SPEAKER:- The Zero Hour Ends here, proceeding towards motions

LEGISLATIVE BILLS TO BE INTRODUCED

Mr. Speaker: HONOURABLE Minister of Home Affairs AMIT SHAH:

AMIT SHAH: Sir, I beg to move for leave to introduce a Bill further to amend the
ELECTION LAW (AMENDMENT ACT) 2021
Speaker:- The Election Laws (Amendment) Act, 2021, allows Electoral
Registration Officers to require the existing or prospective elector to provide
the Aadhaar number for the Purpose of establishing identity on a voluntary
basis. The government wants to bring amendments to it.
“That leave be granted to introduce a Bill further to amend the
Election law (amendment ACT) 2024
“Those who are in favour will please say ‘Aye’. (The majority of the Members
say ‘Aye’) “Those who are against it please say ‘No’ ” (A minority of the
Members say ‘No’). I think the ‘Ayes’ have it, the ‘Ayes’ have it, the ‘Ayes’ have
it. Leave is granted.
AMIT SHAH: Sir, I introduce the Bill
SPEAKER: the bill stands introduced in the house, the house is adjourned to
meet at 11 a.m. tomorrow