Sena, BJP ask for minister statement

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The problem of correctly identifying BPL beneficiaries is a real hurdle to getting food to the poor. How does the ordinance aim to address this?

Suman Sahai [1]

Expressing concern over the fire on board the Russian-made submarine Sindhurakshak at the naval dockyard in Mumbai, Shiv Sena’s Bharat Kumar Raut and BJP member Chandan Mitra on Wednesday demanded a statement from defence minister A.K. Antony in the Rajya Sabha.

Raising the issue, Mr Raut said though senior ministers are sitting in the House, nobody is taking cognisance when “there should have been a suo motu statement.”
Deputy chairman P.J. Kurien, who was in the Chair, then said, “This is a very serious incident. Defence minister has gone to the spot. Let him come back. The defence minister has informed that he is going to Mumbai... As soon as he comes back, he will make a statement.”
On members’ insistence that the defence minister should make a statement on Wednesday itself, Prof. Kurien said, “As soon as the defence minister returns, he should make the statement today itself.” To this, parliamentary affairs minister Rajiv Shukla said, “Let him come back, I will ask the defence minister to make a statement either today or tomorrow. He cannot make a statement in haste.”