Take stringent steps to check film piracy: Actor-MP tells govt

Stringent action should be taken against those involved in film piracy, Lok Sabha member George Baker said today.
Describing it as a burning issue, he said hefty penalty should be imposed as per the cost of the film and a minimum of 15 year jail sentence awarded.
"I request immediate attention of the government on the issue of film piracy. I urge the government to stop taking lenient action and take punitive action" against the culprits," he said.
Baker, a noted actor who has acted in several Bengali and Assamese films, said piracy was like a cancer for the film industry and it has continued unabated.

The statement assumes significance as Baker is also a member of the Censor Board of Film Certification. He raised the issue during Zero Hour.
Chandrakant Khaire (Shiv Sena) raised the issue of farmers' suicide and demanded loan waiver in Maharashtra due to drought and other reasons.

As the Uttar Pradesh government has announced farm loan waiver, he urged the Prime Minister and the Finance Minister to extend support to Maharashtra on this issue. "I request you (Centre) to announce loan waiver for Maharashtra farmers," he said.
Raising the issue of private security guards, Ramesh Bidhuri (BJP) said these people were facing several problems like uncertain job and long hours. He asked the government to train them to handle emergency situations.

They should also get police training and their job timings and wages should be fixed to improve their conditions.
K V Thomas (Congress) sought the government's intervention on the issue of hike in fares by airlines operating to Gulf countries.
He said those countries have announced summer holidays and a lot of Indians were coming to India as all the airlines have enhanced the fares two to three times.
Sirajuddin Ajmal (AIUDF) claimed that human trafficking was increasing in Assam and other parts of the north eastern region.
He said that thousands of children and women were missing from Assam and authorities were not able to do anything. "I request for a high level inquiry on this issue," he said.