BJP plays vocal Opp… on air

Water woes: TDP protests power plans

A battle over water erupted in the Rajya Sabha, when Telugu Desam Party (TDP) members from Andhra Pradesh protested the Congress-led Maharashtra government’s plans of starting irrigation projects, saying they would lead to a drought in Andhra Pradesh. During Zero Hour, TDP members led by R. Chandra Sekhar Reddy, said Maharashtra had begun work on a project on the Godavari river. At least six districts in Telengana would be affected, Reddy claimed.

Govinda debut

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi thumped their desks after movie star Govinda made his maiden speech in the LS on Wednesday. Prefacing his speech with ‘‘pranams’’ to one and all Govinda made a plea for the development of his North Mumbai constituency, which he said was the most underdeveloped in the metropolis, with some 12 lakh people living in slums. Govinda sought policy changes to boost housing for the poor, and called for help for madarsas, to promote education among girls.

On Tada detainees

People detained under TADA, still being held despite the act being repealed in 2002, can be set free following recent changes in the Criminal Procedure Code, Home Minister Shivraj Patil said in the Rajya Sabha. New provisions entitle them to bail after prolonged detention, he said. National Commission for Minorites chairman Tarlochan Singh had asked about hundreds of youth, particularly Sikhs, booked under TADA, who are still in jail. Patil said three committees are analysing POTA cases.

Tea party for MPs

MPs have been invited to a tea party hosted by Commerce Minister Kamal Nath. The idea was mooted by Rajya Sabha Chairman Bhairon Singh Shekhawat during Question Hour. As Nath rattled off data on how Indian organic tea was becoming a hot commodity in the world market, Shekhawat asked him why members should not have a taste of it too!

WMD bill today

With the Left backing off on its demand to refer the Weapons of Mass Destruction Bill, 2005, to the Standing Committee, the UPA is set to push through the bill in both Houses of Parliament tomorrow. The agreement was reached at meeting of Defence Minister Natwar Singh, Parliamentary Affairs Minister, Urban Development Ghulam Nab Azad, External Affairs Minister Natwar Singh with the Left Parties, Samajwadi Party and TDP.