Congress MP Shafi Parambil moves resolution in Lok Sabha to regulate airfares

"The rate to fly on 27th July from Cochin to Dubai on Air India is Rs. 19,062 for economy class. The site shows only 4 seats vacant. The same airline, same duration, same airport of departure and arrival; the same flight for August 31st shows the rate of Rs. 77,573. Please note, only 9 seats are left," Parambil stated.

"Is this just about demand and supply? For tomorrow, only 4 seats are left, and this is the price while it's so much more for August 31st. How will the workers come home? How will they go back to their work? They are not rich people who have abundant resources. Most of them are normal laborers who work for a flat salary. They work hard to ensure that their families have their bread and butter. They work to ensure that their parents get the required treatment. How will a normal employee afford a ticket of Rs. 77,000?" he questioned.

There was also uproar in the House midway when a TMC member tried to address the Bengal BJP chief's remarks about making North Bengal part of the Northeast. At the same time, BJP members attempted to bring up alleged corruption in Karnataka. The Speaker did not permit either issue to be discussed.

The need for caste census in India was another issue which was briefly pointed out by the opposition in the Lok Sabha on Friday.

The Deputy Leader of Congress in Lok Sabha, Gaurav Gogoi on Friday gave an adjournment motion notice in Lok Sabha to "prioritise the conduct of the census and announce a clear timeline for its completion."

I hereby give notice of my intention to ask for leave to move a motion for the adjournment of the business of the house for the purpose of discussing a definite matter of urgent importance, namely. The census is a fundamental exercise that provides critical data for policymaking, resource allocation, and understanding the socio-economic fabric of our nation," Gogoi stated in adjournment motion notice.

"The absence of timely and accurate census data poses a significant challenge to the government's ability to make informed decisions. Without a clear understanding of population demographics, literacy rates, poverty levels, and other critical indicators, it becomes exceedingly difficult to address the pressing needs of the people. According to the Global Census Tracker of the United Nations Population Fund, 150 countries had scheduled to conduct their census enumerations in 2020 and 2021. Out of which, 94 countries, including China, Bangladesh, Nepal, etc, completed their census during the pandemic. Fifty-two countries had postponed the census to a new date. India is among the three countries that have postponed the census without a new date," he said.

Gogoi further said that the government's decision-making currently relies on the 2011 data, which does not accurately represent the current needs of India's population.

"There are several examples of people being left out of public distribution efforts in the past decade because they were never accounted for. Everything from finance commission recommendations to the delimitation exercise will rely on the census data. However, this government has made no real efforts to kick-start the process because it is prioritising political calculations over people. According to the Budget 2024-25, just Rs 1,309.46 crore has been allocated for census surveys and statistics, indicating that the process is unlikely to begin this year either," he said.

He further urged the government to prioritise the conduct of the census and announce a clear timeline for its completion.

"The nation cannot afford to be deprived of this crucial data any longer. I demand a comprehensive explanation for the delay and assurances that the government will take immediate steps to rectify the situation," he stated.

The budget session of Parliament began on July 22 and, according to schedule, will end on August 12. (ANI)