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Title: Reported decision by Railway Ministry regarding deletion of regional languages except Tamil in destination boards in trains throughout the country.
SHRI BRAJA KISHORE TRIPATHY (PURI): Hon. Speaker, Sir, we are witnessing frequent ethnic clashes in the country, that is, clashes between religions, on the issue of language, etc. These are always standing in the way of our unity and integrity. Sometimes, the action of the Government also accelerates these things happening in the country. Such a case has happened in the Railway Ministry recently.
The Railway Ministry vide its letter No. 87/MC/202/10 Vol. II dated 22.11.2006 has communicated a Government decision for deletion of all the regional languages except (Interruptions) …*
MR. SPEAKER: Please do not say this. This portion should not be there.
… (Interruptions)
SHRI BRAJA KISHORE TRIPATHY : Sir, this letter mentions deletion of all the regional languages except Tamil. … (Interruptions)
SHRI A. KRISHNASWAMY (SRIPERUMBUDUR): Sir, why is he mentioning about Tamil language, and about the Minister? … (Interruptions) Sir, this should not be allowed. … (Interruptions)
MR. SPEAKER: I have omitted that portion.
… (Interruptions)
* Not recorded
SHRI BRAJA KISHORE TRIPATHY : Sir, I am only quoting from the letter. … (Interruptions)
MR. SPEAKER: Mr. Krishnaswamy, please take your seat.
… (Interruptions)
SHRI ARJUN SETHI (BHADRAK): Mr. Tripathy, you please read from the letter. … (Interruptions)
SHRI BRAJA KISHORE TRIPATHY : Sir, I can place it on the Table of the House. I am reading from the letter. … (Interruptions)
MR. SPEAKER: Mr. Tripathy, are you reading from a Government notification?
… (Interruptions)
SHRI BRAJA KISHORE TRIPATHY : Yes, Sir. I will authenticate this letter. … (Interruptions)
MR. SPEAKER: Otherwise, I would not allow it.
… (Interruptions)
SHRI BRAJA KISHORE TRIPATHY : This is a letter from the Ministry of Railways to all the General Managers of Indian Railways. The subject given is : “Destination Boards in Trains – Languages to be used”. The letter states that :
“Board have decided that all destination Boards of trains shall be written / painted / printed in Hindi and English languages only. … (Interruptions) However, for trains based for primary maintenance in coaching depots located in Tamil Nadu State, the destination Boards may also be written in the regional language, that is, Tamil besides English and Hindi.” … (Interruptions)
This is the instruction of the hon. Railway Ministry. … (Interruptions)
श्री अनंत गंगाराम गीते (रत्नागिरि) : महोदय, यह भारतीय रेल है, राज्यों की रेल नहीं है। …( व्यवधान)
MR. SPEAKER: What is happening in the House? I am imploring the hon. Members to please sit down.
… (Interruptions)
MR. SPEAKER: Mr. Ananth Kumar, please sit down.
… (Interruptions)[r4]
MR. SPEAKER: You are given an opportunity to speak. If you disturb like this, I will adjourn the House. If any disturbance is there, I will immediately adjourn the House. You are not serious about any matter.
SHRI BASU DEB ACHARIA (BANKURA): We are serious, Sir.
MR. SPEAKER: This does not show seriousness. Shri Ananth Kumar, are you a self-appointed advisor?
… (Interruptions)
श्री अनंत गंगाराम गीते : अध्यक्ष महोदय, यह भारतीय रेल है किसी राज्य की रेल नहीं है।…( व्यवधान)
अध्यक्ष महोदय : आप बैठ जाइए।
(Interruptions) *…
MR. SPEAKER: Nothing should be recorded.
… (Interruptions)
MR. SPEAKER: Everybody is advising everybody.
SHRI BRAJA KISHORE TRIPATHY : We have an Official Language Policy. The Act has been passed in this Parliament. Its implementation is not at the mercy of any Government. The three-language policy is now the standing policy of the Government. … (Interruptions)
MR. SPEAKER: You have raised it already. I have allowed you to raise this very important issue.
… (Interruptions)
SHRI BRAJA KISHORE TRIPATHY : Let me complete my submission. … (Interruptions)
अध्यक्ष महोदय : ठीक है, आपने अपनी बात कह दी।
… (Interruptions)
MR. SPEAKER: This is very strange. Is this the way the House will function?
… (Interruptions)
* Not recorded
SHRI BRAJA KISHORE TRIPATHY : The Railway Board should withdraw this letter immediately. I have already written a letter one month back in this regard. I have written a letter one month back to the hon. Minister Mr. Lalu Prasad Yadav requesting that this letter should be withdrawn. … (Interruptions). But it is unfortunate that he has not taken any action.
MR. SPEAKER: The House stands adjourned till 1 p.m.
12.21 hrs.
The Lok Sabha then adjourned till Thirteen of the Clock.[r5]
13.00 hrs.
The Lok Sabha re-assembled at Thirteen of the Clock.
(Mr. Speaker in the Chair)
MR. SPEAKER: Shri Ram Kripal Yadav, please go to your seat. Nothing will go on record.
(Interruptions)* …
MR. SPEAKER: Please allow me to hear as to what you are saying.
… (Interruptions)
अध्यक्ष महोदय : अगर आप यहां खड़े रहे, तो हम आपकी बात नहीं सुनेंगे।
श्री राम कृपाल यादव (पटना) : ठीक है, हम वापस जा रहे हैं।
MR. SPEAKER: I am not stopping you.
… (Interruptions)
श्री राम कृपाल यादव : अध्यक्ष महोदय, आसाम में कल फिर तीन आदमियों को मार दिया गया। …( व्यवधान)
अध्यक्ष महोदय : आप सुनिये।
…( व्यवधान)
अध्यक्ष महोदय: मिस्टर देवेन्द्र प्रसाद, आप बैठ जाइये।
…( व्यवधान)
MR. SPEAKER: Shri Devendra Prasad Yadav, I have to go home. Please come here.
… (Interruptions)
MR. SPEAKER: Please, I have not called you, Shri Ram Kripal Yadav.
… (Interruptions)
MR. SPEAKER: If I disallow, then you can raise it. I have not got any opportunity to say `yes’ or `no’. Hon. Member, you are sincere.
… (Interruptions)
* Not recorded
MR. SPEAKER: That is a very sensitive matter. Because of its importance, I allowed Shri Braja Kishore Tripathy. There is concern from all sections of the House. I believe, the Minister wishes to say something on this. Let us hear him first.
… (Interruptions)
SHRI ANANTH KUMAR (BANGALORE SOUTH): We have raised the issue. … (Interruptions)
MR. SPEAKER: You have raised the issue and you have showed your opposition to what has been done.
… (Interruptions)
MR. SPEAKER: Let us hear the Minister.
… (Interruptions)
THE MINISTER OF PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS AND MINISTER OF INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING (SHRI PRIYA RANJAN DASMUNSI): The matter was brought to the notice by Shri Braja Kishore Tripathy in the House in the `Zero Hour’. We have heard it and the Government is very clear in this matter and that we have to respect all the languages as accepted by the Constitution of India. All the languages are regarded equally without any discrimination to any language. … (Interruptions)
SHRI ANANT GANGARAM GEETE (RATNAGIRI): Then, withdraw the notification. … (Interruptions)
SHRI PRIYA RANJAN DASMUNSI: In regard to the particular reference that the hon. Member has brought to the notice, I would say that we would actively address the issue at the appropriate level and there should not be any apprehension in future. … (Interruptions) I said that I am not a Railway Minister. I will bring it to the attention of appropriate authority in the Railway Minister to initiate appropriate measures. What more can I say? … (Interruptions)
MR. SPEAKER: Let me say something. Please allow me. Hon. Members, the Leader of the House is here.
… (Interruptions)
MR. SPEAKER: Just a minute. Allow me to speak.
… (Interruptions)
अध्यक्ष महोदय : मेहरबानी करके आप बैठ जाइये।
…( व्यवधान)
MR. SPEAKER: It is very unfortunate. You cannot force. I am trying to regulate the House. I am going to say which would help everybody.
… (Interruptions)
MR. SPEAKER: Hon. Member, let me conclude this matter. I will come to your matter.
… (Interruptions)
अध्यक्ष महोदय : अभी आपको बोलने का टाइम नहीं दिया है।
This is a very strange situation. Everybody wants to speak together.
… (Interruptions)
MR. SPEAKER: Hon. Members, hon. Leader of the House is here; the hon. Railway Minister is here. I believe, the feelings of all sections of the House on this matter cannot be ignored. [r6]
There is already an established three language formula in this country and I am sure, the Government will consider it properly so that the Constitutional mandate is followed.
रेल मंत्री (श्री लालू प्रसाद):महोदय, हमने अपनी तरफ से किसी भी राज्य की भाषा की उपेक्षा नहीं की है और न यह आदेश हमारे समय का है। होम डिपार्टमेंट की पहले से ही यह व्यवस्था चली आ रही है कि तमिलनाडु में जो लोकल गाड़ियां हैं, उन पर वहां की भाषा – तमिल – को लिखा जाएगा और विगत साल कर्नाटक में भी, चूंकि गाड़ी उनके ज्युरिस्डिक्शन में जाने पर उनका नाम आया था, इसलिए विवाद हुआ था। रेलवे ने अपनी तरफ से चाहे नाम का मामला हो या रेल के मामले में नामकरण नहीं करता है। आपके दिशा-निर्देश का आदर करते हुए, चूंकि हम देश में विवाद नहीं खड़ा करना चाहते हैं, इस लिए सभी को कांफिडेंस में लेते हुए, हम इसे विदड्रॉ करते हैं और नए सिरे से इस पर विचार किया जाएगा।
MR. SPEAKER: Thank you. I think the House will appreciate the gesture of the hon. Railway Minister because he himself had come and said that they respect all the languages. We should appreciate the gesture of the hon. Railway Minister.
… (Interruptions)
MR. SPEAKER: Okay, they will respect all languages including Telugu.
… (Interruptions)
SHRI KINJARAPU YERRANNAIDU (SRIKAKULAM): Thank you, Sir.
रेल मंत्री (श्री लालू प्रसाद) : अध्यक्ष महोदय, सदन की भावना को ध्यान में रखते हुए आपके इन्टरफेरेंस दिशानिर्देशन में भाषा के सवाल पर मैंने कहा कि इसे तत्काल विड्रॉ कर लेते हैं, हमने जो विड्रॉ करने की बात कही है यह पॉर्लियामेंट के एक्ट के तहत है। पॉर्लियामेंट ने कानून बनाया इसलिए तमिलनाडु में त्रिभाषी फार्मूला का समर्थन करते हैं। इसे अन्यथा न लें और विवाद भी न बने। त्रिभाषी फार्मूले का, हर राज्य की भाषाओं का कैसे आदर कर सकें, क्योंकि यह एक्ट है, इसे विड्रॉ करना मुझे अच्छा नहीं लगता है इसलिए सब पार्टियों को बुला लीजिए और अगले सत्र में देखेंगे।
MR. SPEAKER: This should be rectified. He has reiterated his support for the three-language formula.
… (Interruptions)
श्री देवेन्द्र प्रसाद यादव : डाइनामाइट से चार मजदूर मारे गए हैं।…( व्यवधान)
MR. SPEAKER: No ground has been stated. I would not allow it. It is over now.
Matters under Rule 377 will be treated as laid on the Table of the House.
… (Interruptions)
श्री देवेन्द्र प्रसाद यादव (झंझारपुर):अध्यक्ष महोदय, यह बहुत गंभीर मामला है।…( व्यवधान)
अध्यक्ष महोदय : आप थोड़ी मेहरबानी करके मुझे दो मिनट का समय दे दीजिए।
श्री देवेन्द्र प्रसाद यादव : महोदय, उल्फा के उग्रवादियों द्वारा असम में बिहार के लोगों पर हमला हो रहा है।…( व्यवधान)
MR. SPEAKER: If you defy me, I will not allow you to raise your subject; you can close the House if you like. But I want cooperation and I am entitled to expect cooperation from every hon. Member in this House. So, do not pressurize me and do not try to bulldoze me; I have been saying this for a long time.
I will call you after Dr. Sarma raises his subject.
श्री देवेन्द्र प्रसाद यादव : अध्यक्ष महोदय, यह राष्ट्रीय महत्व का मामला है। राष्ट्रीय एकता पर आघात हो रहा है।…( व्यवधान)
SHRI BASU DEB ACHARIA (BANKURA): Sir my matter is also there.
MR. SPEAKER: Any hon. Member who raises his hand or says ‘my matter’ will not be called.
… (Interruptions)