Sangma calls for second freedom struggle

Lok Sabha Speaker P A Sangma on Tuesday called for a second freedom struggle to free the country from the contradictions of prosperity and poverty, the abundance of resources and their bad management, peace and tolerance and our current conduct sliding towards violence, intolerance and discrimination.

He was addressing the special four-day session of Parliament, intended to strengthen the democratic institutions in the golden jubilee year of Independence.

Proceedings in the Rajya Sabha began with new Chairman Krishan Kant's felicitation.

The special session offers members an opportunity to focus on India's achievements and shortcomings. It allows them to speak on any topic of their interest including the state of Indian democracy, the economic situation, the position of infrastructure and the state of human development in the country.

Deputy Chairperson Najma Heptulla informed the Rajya Sabha that the two houses would adopt a common resolution at the end of the session.

The House on Tuesday began a discussion on ''human development and science and technology''. The topic was initiated by leader of the Opposition, Sikandar Bakht (BJP).

In the Lok Sabha, leader of the Opposition Atal Bihari Vajpayee said, ''We we have been able to successfully uphold parliamentary democracy.'' He welcomed Sangma's suggestion that a second freedom struggle should be launched.

However, the veteran parliamentarian cautioned that unless corruption is checked effectively, it would endanger the democracy. He wondered what a mere cell, set up in the prime minister's office to tackle corruption, could do to eradicate the problem.

In this context, the BJP leader referred to the "sudden prosperity" of some ministers's relatives. He said their assets should be disclosed along with those of the ministers to reduce the influence of black money.

"It is the Indian theory of relativity, and not Newton's law of gravity,'' he said amidst laughter.

Delving into the falling standards of parliamentary proceedings, Vajpayee said, ''We have turned the biggest parliamentary democracy into a fish market.''

He said the question hour should not be disturbed. ''No one should troop into the well of the House under any pretext.''

Madhavrao Scindia (Congress) demanded that the country's military be deployed on the frontiers, and peace talks be held from the position of strength.

He said India's nuclear options should be reviewed from time to time as per the country's security perceptions. The country was not required to give explanations about its missile programme, he added.

Scindia, who dealt at length with various issues confronting the country, demanded that a matured self-restraint be exercised to maintain proper balance among the executive, the judiciary and the legislature.

About fighting corruption, the Congress leader said that anti- corruption steps should be kept high on the national agenda.

Scindia said that pragmatic liberalisation should be adopted.

Advocating steps for the technological advancement of the country, Scindia demanded empowerment of women, control of population growth, universalisation of elementary education and total literacy.

He lashed out at elements who were trying to mix religion with politics for parochial gains.

Sounding a note of optimism, he said the nation should take pride in its developments during the last 50 years.

Janata Dal's Sharad Yadav said the age-old caste system is the bane of independent India. ''To arrest the evil, I am not averse to providing 50 per cent reservation for those going in for inter-caste marriages,'' he said.

Yadav said water is the most important resource of the future. ''If there ever is a third world war, it would be over water-sharing,'' he said, advocating that water should be transferred from the state list to the Central list.

Yadav said India's real strength lay in its craftsmen and farmers who comprised 70 to 80 per cent of the population. He suggested that a university be set up for developing craftsmanship.

He said corruption had dealt a deadly blow to development work in India.

UNI