 "Disruptions preventing people's issues to be raised: BJD MP")
"My rights as a politicians are being ignored," Anubhav Mohanty (BJD) said after the papers listed for the day were tabled in Rajya Sabha.
Mohanty, who has been in the House for only one year, said "we have so many issues to be debated and discussed... I want to raise so many issues but I am unable to." He said he came to Parliament prepared to raise issues concerning people of his state of Odisha, but has been unable to do so.
Amidst disruptions from Congress members, he said, "I have a right to speak."
Sanjiv Kumar (JMM) demanded an inquiry into the death of 11 persons and 50 others being injured in temple stampede in Deoghar in Jharkhand.
He said the Jharkhand government announced Rs 2 lakh as compensation to the next of kin of those killed which was "not enough" and sought that ex-gratia amount should be raised to Rs 10 lakh.
Stating that the accident was unfortunate, Telecom Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said a committee headed by Home Secretary has already been announced to inquire into the incident.
The Home Minister, he said, has instructed that security personnel at the temple may be increased if there is a need. "We will draw the attention of the Jharkhand government to the demand for increase in compensation," he said.
Naresh Agarwal (SP) said the Uttar Pradesh government has announced an ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh each for the 7 persons hailing of the state who were killed in the stampede.
He asked the Centre to make an announcement of Rs 10 lakh compensation for the victims saying when the government can spend Rs 200-250 crore on advertisements, compensation amount can be raised for those killed.