JOIN USRaising the issue during Zero Hour, Anto Antony said there are 50 lakh NRIs and they are denied voting rights because of certain guidelines of the Election Commission, like a person should not have stayed away from his residence for more than six months.
He said the NRIs are taking part in the country's affairs and participating in nation-building.
Despite their immense contribution and participation in nation-building, overseas Indians are denied voting rights. "They are denied the basic right to franchise," said Antony, an MP from Kerala which has about 21 lakh NRIs.
He pressed for amending such a clause and insisted that the EC should consider the passport and the permanent address mentioned therein as a criteria.
Antony noted that a bill had been brought in 2002 which was in limbo.
Raising the issue of Tsunami relief in Andaman and Nicobar islands, Bishnu Pada Ray (BJP) alleged a huge scandal in relief work saying many of those hit by the natural calamity five years back are yet to get relief.
He said though many farmers have lost their land in the calamity, they have not got any alternative land so far despite promises.
Same is the situation as regards the 5,000-odd submerged house sites, he said adding there has been discrimination in the relief between Nicobar and Andaman too.
The work of building sluice gates to protect the island from rising waters has failed to take off, he said adding that Andaman was being subjected to experiments like a guinea pig in the matter.
Reoti Raman Singh (SP) made a strong plea for setting up a conservation park in Allahabad district which have a rare species of black buck. PTI SPG SMI 12071517
Govt examining charges of reporting less revenue against RCom
The government today said in the Lok Sabha that a special audit has observed that Reliance Communication and its other subsidiaries under reported revenues during 2006-07 and 2007-08.
There was an under reporting of Rs 1000 crore to Rs 1500 crore by the telecom firms, to avoid payment of licence fee, and the government may have lost about Rs 250 crore due to this, Telecom Minister A Raja said during Question Hour.
The Department of Telecom (DoT) had appointed special auditors to look into financial accounts of five leading telecom companies for allegedly indulging in fudging of accounts and under-reporting of revenue to the telecom regulator TRAI during 2006-07 and 2007-08 to avoid payment of licence fee.
Out of five auditors the one for RCom has submitted the report, the Minister said.
"The auditor has observed that three companies -- RCom, Reliance Telecom and Reliance Communications Infrastructure Ltd (all belonging to Anil Ambani group) -- under reported their revenues to the TRAI during 2006-07 and 2007-08," the minister said.
The observations are under examination of the DoT, he said adding whatever action is needed, it would be taken by the end of January next year.
A committee, headed by Member (Finance), DoT is looking into the nearly 900-page report.