Issue of disregard shown to Ashoka emblem figures in Lok Sabha

"On March 5, the Forum against War on People organised a workshop in JNU with writer Arundhati Roy as a guest. The phamplet used for inviting people to the workshop depicted a shoe with the Ashoka emblem on its sole," Jagadambika Pal (Congress) alleged in the Lok Sabha during Zero Hour.

Alleging that showing disregard to national symbols had become "a fashion of sorts" these days, he said this was misuse of the freedom of speech and not only an act of disrespect to the national emblem but also to values of Satyamev Jayate (truth always triumphs) inscribed on it.

Pal said no action had yet been taken though the JNU Vice Chancellor and Dean of Students had been apprised of the issue. Thokchom Meinya (Cong) demanded the setting up of a High Court in Manipur as there was a long list of pending cases and the people of his state had to go to Tripura where the High Court is located.

M K Raghavan (Cong) demanded that children of people, who have been evacuated from strife-torn Libya, some of whom would have lost their school certificates and whose parents are in financial difficulties, should be provided free books and free education, along with health insurance.

R Dhruv Narayan (Cong) demanded imposition of 30 per cent import duty on Chinese silk as sericulture farmers in Karnataka, his home state, were adversely affected due to this variety which costs less.

Lal Singh (Cong) demanded that the Vice-Chancellor of Jammu university should be from the region and not an outsider. Satpal Maharaj (Cong) demanded revival of the HMT factory in Kathgodam, Nainital which once provided employment to the local people but was now in a bad financial state.