21.08.91
*t16
(iii) Release of K. Doraiswamy, a senior IOC official abducted by the militants at Srinagar in June. 1991.
THE MINISTER OF HOME AFFAIRS (SHRI S.B. CHAVAN): I rise to
inform the House regarding the release of a senior IOC official, Shri Doraiswamy last evening from the captivity of the terrorists.
2. The facts as ascertained from the State Government are as follows:
3. SHRI K. Doraiswamy, a senior IOC offical, who reached Srinagar from Delhi on 27-6-91 was abducted
423 Statement by Minister Release of Sh. Doraiswamy, a Senior I.O.C Official obducted by Militants in Srinagar in June, 1991
[Sh. S. B. Chavan)
by armed terrorists at Zewan, Pantha Chowk, Srinagar on 28-6-91 in the torenoon while he was moving in a vehicle. Shri Doraiswamy was on an inspection visit to Srinagar. Shri Doraiswamy had gone with a party of other officials to inspect a site for construction of a storage capacity for kerosene/petrol. The pro-Pak terrorists outfit "Ikhwan- Ul-Mulslimeen owned responsibility for kinapping and demanded the immediate release from detention of Shri Javed Ahmed Shalla Bilal Beg and other Activists. by 1500 hours on 1-7-91 failing which the IOC official in its custody would be shot dead. On July 1st the terrorist outfit conveyed an appeal purported to be from Shri Doraiswamy to the President and Prime Minister of India to save his life.
4. The Government of Jammu and Kashmir has been negotiating with the terrorists through contacts. The terrorists had also been extending their deadlines.
5. On 20th July after prolonged negotiations, the modus operandi for securing the safe release of the hostage was arrived at and in lieu there of three of the five terrorists were handed over to the mediator in a place agreeable to come back with Mr. Doraiswamy and thereafter the other two terrorists were bo be released. However, the intemediary did not turn up and this the efforts to sesure the release of Shri Doraiswamy got a setback.
6. On 22nd July the abductors in a fresh statement levelled baseless allegations that the Government had gone back in its commitment regarding the release of Javed Ahmed Shalla and also demanded the release of 9 detenues including the three already released
7. The abductors nominated a new intermidiary and efforts continues to get the release of Shri Doraiswamy.
424 a Senior I.O.C. Officials abductred by Militants in Srinagar in June, 1991
Statments appeared in the name of abductors that if therir demands were not met in full, the hostage would be put to turture.
8. After prolonged and protracted negotiations. Detailed for release of Shri Doraiswamy were settle. According to the understading.
Shri Doraiswamy was set free by the abductors at about 8.30 P.M. on 20the August in exchange of five arrested terrorists. On safe arrival of Shri Doraiswamy at Srinagar, the sixth terrorist, namely, Shri Javed Ahmed Shalla was also released on bail, Excepting Shri Shalla, none of the released terrorists are with heinous crime.
SHRI NIRMAL KANTI CHATTERJEE (Dum Dum): What about the other Satement?
SHRI BASU DEB ACHARIA (Bankura): We demanded a State on the lathi charge. (Interruptions.)
SHRI NIRMAL KANTI CHATTERJEE: Three hourse have passed since the incident took place in which 55 persons were beaten up in the Police Stations.
THE MINISTER OF HOME AFFAIRS (SHRI S.B. CHAVAN): I have no ida.
All of a sudeen I cannot react.
SHRI NIRMAL KANTI CHATTERJEE: Sir, the Minister says that he has no idea.(Interrutions)
MR. SPEAKER: Let him collet the information.
SHRI LOKANATH CHOUDHURY (Jagatsinghpur): Sir, Delhi is not far away from that place.
MR. SPEAKER: Delhi may be far way but then there are so may other things on hand also.
SHRI PIUS TIRKEY (Alipurdwar): All the responsibity comes to the Home Minister. The person who was beaten up was a member of the 425 Statement by Minister Release of Sh. Doraiswamy, a Senior I.O.C Official obducted by Militants in Srinagar in June, 1991
Congress party. He was on a peaceful hungerstrike. (Interruptions) SHRI LOKANATH CHOUDHRY: Sir, the police has a right to take him to custody but it has no right to beat him.
SHRI NIRMAL KANTI CHATTERJEE: Sir, 55 persons were there. They were beaten up severely by the police. (Interruption)
SHRI LOKANATH CHOUDHURY: In a democratic set up one can go on hunger strike. He was not doing any violent activity.
MR. SPEAKER: How can you carry out the business of the House like this?
SHRI NIRMAL KANTI CHATTERJEE: I agree with you, but you also see that three hours have passed since the incident took place.
(Interruptions)
MR. SPEAKER: You asked for a Statement and the Statement is made.
Now, something else is to be taken up. It all of you stand up and talk, how can we proceed?
(Interruptions)
SHRI LOKANATH CHOUDHURY: We demanded a statement in the Zero Hour. We will obstruct the business of the House.
MR. SPEAKER: Don't take up the discussion on un-listed business throughout the day.
SHRI BASU DEB ACHARIA: I wanted to raise this matter during Zero Hour.
MR. SPEAKER: Mr. Acharia, please take your seat. All of you take your seats.
I have brought it to your notice that this is the Budget Session.
We have the Demands of Industries' Ministry on the Agenda for the last 4-5 days. It was only yesterday that we were able to touch it. We have discussed it today. Every time, if unlisted business is taken up and dis-
426 a Senior I.O.C. Official abducted by Militants in Srinagar in June, 1991
cussed, those Members who are sitting quietly at the back, they are not able to open their mouths. And at every moment, without information, without notice, you raise certain issues and you expect a Statement, how can it go on like this?
I would tell-if any colleague of ours is involved in it-you that certainly the Government will take note of it. They will collect the information. They will inform you. But you cannot just get up and say that, you collect the information and come. Every moment you open your mouth, you expect a Statement and it is to be made. How can it go on like this?
SHRI NIRMAL KANTI CHATTERJEE: We are interested in the
discussion. But three hours ago, we raised this question.
(Interruptions)
MR. SPEAKER: What do you mean by three hours? This is not there in the list.
(Interruptions)
MR. SPEAKER: Please do not discuss like that. It does not help you.
SHRI NIRMAL KANTI CHATTERJEE: We are interested in the discussion on the Grants. But in the meantime, let the Government behave. If the Government creates such situations that the discussions on Grants cannot take place what can we do? If our colleagues are taken to Police Station.... (Interruptions)
MR. SPEAKER: Supposing one Member or two Members are only raising the points, other Members are suffering. They are just keeping quiet and they come to my Chamber and say that you are allowing those Members who are getting up...
(Interruption)
SHRI NIRMAL KANTI CHATTERJEE: Even the Congress Members join that. (interruptions)
427 Statement by Minister Realease of Sh. Doraiswamy, a Senior I.O.C Official abducted by Militants in Srinagar in June, 1991
MR. SPEAKER: Okay. You have made the point. I have very carefully said that if the Government collects the information and if in their wisdom want to inform the House, they can inform the House also and if one of the Members is involved, they would certainly be interested in informing the House about the action taken. But you cannot just pressurise every time by saying that, you come and make a Statement without collecting the information. Please, it is in your interest-the House is yours, the time is yours, Demands are yours-you make use of that in whatever fashion you like. But I would request you, please do take into consideration, the feelings of those Members who are just keeping quiet and not getting up unless their names are called out.
SHRI NIRMAL KANTI CHATTERJEE: But you refer to the Government also. Let them behave.
MR. SPEAKER: Shri Chatterjee, they have taken note of your
feelings.
(Interruptions)
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17.55 hrs.
DEMANDS FOR GRANTS (GENERAL), 1991-92-Contd.
Ministry of Industry-Contd.
MR. SPEAKER: Mr. Yaima Singh Yumnam.
SHRI YAIMA SINGH YUMNAM (Inner Manipur): I know that you will not allow me to speak in Manipuri which is my mother tongue because it is not mentioned in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution of India. I cannot speak in Hindi. I have very little command over the English language. So, I have got this grievance that you are not
428 Demands for Grants (General) 1991-92 Ministry of Industry allowing me to speak in Manipuri. So, I have to speak only in English.
MR. SPEAKER: Don't take time of the House.
SHRI YAIMA SINGH YUMNAM: I rise to oppose the Demands for Grants under the control of the Ministry of Industry and the National Policy on industry. However, I do appreciate the spirit of the Government with which it has come out with a National Policy on Industry according to the guidelines laid down by Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru. I understand he took up the cause of industrial development with a call to organise industries in the country to make India economically Sovereign, just after Independence. He made a call to the nation that without industrial revolution the country will remain backward and dependent; and in that context, he inspired us to the extent that we took it as an act of patriotism to be involved in the organistions for promoting industries in the in the rural areas, in the remote places, etc. Although there was hue and cry, criticism against the policy at that time saying that the industries were in the hands of a few industrialists like Tatas, Birlas, etc., still Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru explained to the people that there would be mixed economy, there would be a Socialistic Pattern of Society, etc. So, it was, to some extent, tolerable.
Now I am coming to the present National Policy on Industry. I suggest that the Government would be better to compromise with the proposals made from the Opposition leaders and the senior Members of the Opposition who spoke yesterday about the public sector, private sector, etc. It will be in the interest of the nation if the Minister incharge of industry, can entertain the suggestions, the proposals made by the Leaders of the Opposition, by the Members
429 Demands for Grants (General) 1991-92- Ministry of Industry of the Opposition just like the Government did in the case of Rajiv Gandhi's Foundation or the fertiliser issue.
My sole interest lies in mentioning some of the grievances of my State, Manipur. There is a North-Eastern region which is considered as a dark region in respect of industry. Manipur, as you know, is a State which is known for extending full cooperation to the Centre in all matters. Recently, there was an air crash in Imphal in which an Indian Airlines Boeing 737 crashed on a hill minutes before it was to land in Imphal killing 69 persons on board. Then the Minister of Civil Aviation went there to supervise the rescue operation and all that. It is a State surrounded by hills and hills with a spacious area of valley.
18.00 hrs.
It is a very much neglected State. But there live your sisters and brothers whom you call Indians. They were not Indians earlier.
They were simply manipuris. They have a different language, they have a diffirent statures and culture. But the Central Government, considering that it will be in the interests of the country made them 'Indians'. But unfortunately they are now very much disappointed and frustrated. The youngsters who are impatient, some of them, have gone underground and they have become terrorists. Why? Because, they are very much disappointed. They expected very much from the Indian Government.
MR. SPEAKER: Would you please continue your speech tomorrow? We will take up the flood and drought situation. We had decided that at Six O'clock we would take up the discussion on floods and droughts.
(Interruptions)
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