Make a statement on Rs 35,000 cr banks' scam: BJP asks FM

New Delhi, Mar 9 (UNI) Prof Vijay Kumar Malhotra (BJP) today sought a statement by Finance Minister P Chidambaram on news reports over a Rs 35,000 crore scam involving, among others, ten foreign banks, politicians and terrorists.

Raising the issue in the Lok Sabha during zero hour, Prof Malhotra said according to the reports bureaucrats and builders were also involved.

''Our apprehension is that there would be a cover-up exercise,'' he said.

GUJARAT DALITS: Mr Madhusudan Mistry (Cong) said Gujarat police and administration had mercilessly beaten up the Dalits who had taken part in a rally in Gandhinagar.

UP CROP LOSS: Mr Rewati Raman Singh (SP) sought a financial package for the Uttar Pradesh farmers affected by the recent hail storm which damaged wheat and other crops.

COCONUT: Mr Varkala Radhakrishnan (CPI-M) asked the Centre to raise the import duty on palm oil in the interest of coconut growers in Kerala and other southern states.

BPL: Mr Shailendra Kumar (SP) wanted the government to ensure provision of below poverty line (BPL) ration cards for all the BPL families.

UNI