Title: Introduction of the Iron and Steel Companies (amalgamation and Takeover Laws) Repaeal Bill, 2000.
THE MINISTER OF STATE OF THE MINISTRY OF STEEL (SHRI DILIP RAY): Sir, I beg to move for leave to introduce a Bill to repeal the Iron and Steel Companies Amalgamation Act, 1952 and the Indian Iron and Steel Company (Taking Over of Management) Act, 1972.
“That leave be granted to introduce a Bill to repeal the Iron and Steel Companies Amalgamation Act, 1952 and the Indian Iron and Steel Company (Taking Over of Management) Act, 1972. ”
SHRI BASU DEB ACHARIA (BANKURA): Sir, I rise to oppose the introduction of Iron and Steel Companies (Amalgamation and Takeover Laws) Repeal Bill, 2000. The Indian Iron and Steel Company was taken over by the Government of India in 1972 as there was steady deterioration in its production. Subsequently, under the provision of Public Sector Iron and Steel Company Restructuring Provision Act, 1978, this Company was made one of the subsidiaries of the Steel Authority of India Ltd. Even after the Government took over this Company, this Act remained in the statute book for the last 28 years. So, what is the necessity to repeal this existing Act now? We feel that it is a step towards privatising this Company. The Government of India has already floated tenders. We had raised this issue on the floor of the House already that a Company like Indian Iron and Steel Company which has its own coal mines, iron ore and washeries, is being sold out at a throwaway price.
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*Published in the Gazette of India, Extraordinary, Part-II, Section 2, dated 15.5.2000.
The property worth more than Rs.6,000 crore is now being sold at a throw away prices. The motive behind bringing this Bill is to repeal the existing law which was enacted in 1972.
MR. SPEAKER: You have to justify your stand as to why you are opposing it.
SHRI BASU DEB ACHARIA : I think there is no necessity now to bring this amendment because the Act is still there in the statute book. Even after 1978, when the Indian Iron and Steel Company was nationalised, the Act continued. Why does the Government now think that this Act should be repealed? The motive behind this is to privatise an important steel industry of our country.
SHRI PRIYA RANJAN DASMUNSI (RAIGANJ): I would like to oppose the introduction of this Bill to repeal the Act. We all know, the very debate which started throughout the country from 1969 to 1971 related to the abolition of Privy Purses, Nationalisation of the banks and also whether the right to property should always be treated as a Fundamental Right. I would not like to go back to the history. People’s mandate, people’s wisdom leads the country to move in a particular direction. This very Act does not concern West Bengal only. It is exposing the hidden agenda of the Government, that is to destabilise, privatise and denationalise all public sectors, beginning with this. One day, it will lead to Vizag in your State. It is aiming at Salem, Durgapur and finally everywhere. This is just a beginning, a tip of the iceberg. The whole House is not seriously thinking today the impact of this.
In the Indian Iron and Steel’s Annual Report 1999-2000 – this is not my report but the report of the very Minister who is introducing this Bill — it has been mentioned that against the actual Plan of 725 metric tonnes of production in hot metal — this unit produced 737.9 metric tonne. This comes to about 102 per cent. Similarly, against the production target of crude steel 325 metric tonne, it produced 301 metric tonne which is 93 per cent. Against the Pig iron target of 342 metric tonne, it produced 375 metric tonne which is more than 110 per cent. This is the performance report of the unit as per the plan target of the Ministry itself. This is the only Iron and Steel unit under the Government’s control throughout the country, if not the countries throughout the world, which is having precious coal mines and washeries to the tune of the property more than Rs.20,000 crore. In spite of all these things… (Interruptions) I am concluding in one minute. Even in 1993 the Congress Government tried to … (Interruptions)
श्री प्रकाश मणि त्रिपाठी (देवरिया) : अध्यक्ष महोदय, इस स्टेज पर यह सब बोलने की जरूरत नहीं है।…( व्यवधान)
श्री प्रियरंजन दासमुंशी : यह कोई पार्टी की बात नहीं है, समझने की कोशिश कीजिए। आप सुनिए, आप जानते नहीं हैं।…( व्यवधान)
MR SPEAKER: Please take your seat. If there is anything, the Minister is there to reply.
SHRI PRIYA RANJAN DASMUNSI : In the whole world this is the only public sector unit having this kind of property. On 22nd August, 1972, the then Minister Shri Mohan Kumaramangalam in this very House while replying to a question put by Shri Indrajit Gupta and Shri Samar Guha, made it abundantly clear that this will not be returned back to either the old management, any group or to any individual. This was the commitment made on this very floor by the Government of the day. In 1993 when Shri Narasimha Rao Government planned to bring such a Bill, the entire trade union opposed it and the Government said that it was wrong… (Interruptions)
MR. SPEAKER: Shri Dasmunsi, at this stage, you are supposed to give only a brief statement.
SHRI PRIYA RANJAN DASMUNSI : Sir, I oppose its introduction because they cannot change the solemn commitment given on the floor of the House by a Government by this measure. Secondly, you cannot throw away the property which was taken through the decision of a Parliament in the interest of public. You cannot denationalise and privatise it to throw it to the people who are paying less price than this property is worth. This Parliament cannot endorse it. This is a draconian thing. This is anti-Parliament. This is anti-purpose of the Constitution. Therefore, I oppose it tooth and nail… (Interruptions)
SHRI SUNIL KHAN (DURGAPUR): Sir, I rise to oppose it… (Interruptions)
MR. SPEAKER: Your notice is time barred. You had given notice after 10 o’clock. I am not allowing.
… (Interruptions)
MR. SPEAKER: This will not go on record.
(Interruptions)*
MR. SPEAKER: This is not the procedure. Now, the Minister will reply.
THE MINISTER OF STATE OF THE MINISTRY OF STEEL (SHRI DILIP RAY): Sir, this was enacted with a sole purpose to amalgamate ISCO with the Steel Corporation of India… (Interruptions). Sir, the Commission set up by the Central Government under the Chairmanship of Shri P.C. Dev in 1998 identified certain laws which are no longer relevant. They recommended repeal of those Acts. Sir, I can assure you that there is no hidden agenda in it. So, no motive should be attributed to it… (Interruptions)
SHRI BASU DEB ACHARIA : Sir, the Standing Committee opposed it… (Interruptions)
MR. SPEAKER: Shri Basu Deb Acharia and Shri Dasmunsi have given notices before 10 o’clock. How can I allow you?
… (Interruptions)
14.52 hours
(At this stage, Shri Sunil Khan came and stood on the floor near the Table.)
MR. SPEAKER: Please go back to your seat. You cannot stop the proceedings of the House.
… (Interruptions)
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*Not Recorded.
14.53 hours
(At this stage, Shri Sunil Khan went back to his seat.)
MR. SPEAKER: Hon. Members, please understand. The position is clear. Rule 72 of Rules of Procedure says:
“If a motion for leave to introduce a Bill is opposed, the Speaker, after permitting, if he things fit, brief statements from the member who opposes the motion and the member who moved the motion, may, without further debate, put the question: ”
Therefore, now I am putting the question as per the procedure.
… (Interruptions)
SHRI PRIYA RANJAN DASMUNSI : Sir, I crave your indulgence. You are the custodian of the House… (Interruptions)
MR. SPEAKER: Shri Dasmunsi, I am doing it as per the procedure only.
… (Interruptions)
MR. SPEAKER: There is a procedure and I am doing it according to that.
“That leave be granted to introduce a Bill to repeal the Iron and Steel Companies Amalgamation Act, 1952 and the Indian Iron and Steel Company (Taking Over of Management) Act, 1972. ”
Those in favour will please say `Aye’.
SEVERAL HON. MEMBERS: `Aye’
MR. SPEAKER: Those against will please say `No’.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: `No’
MR. SPEAKER: I think, the `Ayes’ have it. The `Ayes’ have it.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: The `Noes’ have it.
14.54 hrs.
MR. SPEAKER: Let the Lobbies be cleared –
MR. SPEAKER: Now, the lobbies have been cleared.
Kind attention of the Members is invited to the following points in the operation of the Automatic Vote Recording System:
1. Before a Division starts, every Member should occupy his or her own seat and operate the system from that seat only.
2. As may kindly be seen, the “Red bulbs above display boards” on either side of my chair are already glowing. This means the voting system has been activated.
3. For voting, press the following two buttons simultaneously immediately after sounding of first gong, viz.,
(i) One “Red” button in front of the Member on the head phone plate; and
(ii) Any one of the following buttons fixed on the top of desk of seats:
`Ayes’ — Green colour
`Noes’ — Red colour
`Abstain’ — Yellow colour
4. It is essential to keep both the buttons pressed till the second gong sound is heard and the red bulbs are “off”.
The hon. Members may please note that the vote will not be registered if both buttons are not kept pressed simultaneously till the sounding of the second gong.
5. Do not press the amber button (p) during Division.
6. Members can actually “see” their vote on display boards and on their desk unit. In case vote is not registered, they may call for voting through slips.
15.00 hrs.
“That leave be granted to introduce a Bill to repeal the Iron and Steel Companies Amalgamation Act, 1952 and the Indian Iron and Steel Company (Taking Over of Management) Act, 1972.”
MR. SPEAKER: Subject to correction, the result* of the division is:
Ayes: 59
Noes: 33
The motion was adopted.
SHRI DILIP RAY: I introduce the Bill.
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*The following Members also recorded their votes through slip :
AYES : Shri V.P. Singh Badnore and Shri Babubhai K. Katara.
NOES : Shri Shivraj V. Patil.
15.02 hours