Spate of suicide by farmers, one rank-one pension (OROP), removal of toll tax all over the country, attacks on social media and immediate publication of the caste census were among a host of issues raised in the Lok Sabha today.
During the Zero Hour, BJP member Nana Patole made a strong plea for giving industry status to agriculture and accepting the recommendations of the M S Swaminathan Committee to give a fair deal to the farmer.
He said this was necessary as some three lakh farmers have committed suicide in various parts of the country so far.
Congress member Dipender Hooda wanted the government to effectively implement OROP for ex-servicemen, insisting that the scheme implemented by the government has several flaws and leaves out those seeking premature retirement.
An agitated Hooda later staged a walkout protesting against Speaker Sumitra Mahajan not giving him enough time to have his say. He had twice earlier come into the Well on the matter.
Expelled RJD member Pappu Yadav alis Rajesh Ranjan pitched for removal of toll tax all over the country. He said that the transporters association was ready to give more money to the government than the Rs 14,000 crore it receives through toll tax.
AAP leader Bhagwant Mann hailed the social media as the "fifth pillar" in democracy and decried attempts in Punjab to harass people using it and sought legal protection for them.
Jayaprakash Narayan Yadav (RJD) demanded that the caste census be published immediately contending that it would reveal the social, economic and educational condition of several communities.
Bhola Singh (BJP) wanted government to build dams in Nepal on the rivers flowing into Bihar. He said that this, coupled with linking of rivers in the state, would make Bihar the grannary of India.
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NCP member Mohammed Faizal demanded amendment to the National Food Security Act (NFSA), saying people in Lakshadweep are unable to get rice at affordable prices due to some provisions of this law.
Faizal said the government should provide 140 tonnes of additional per month to the Union Territory as a special case.
Lakshadweep has a combined family system and there are 10-15 people in one ration card, he said adding reduction of 4 kg in the APL quantity aggregates to reduction of around 50-60 kg of rice after implementation of the NFSA.
Congress, Left and BJD members supported him on the issue.
