Centre not paying wages to MNREGA labourers in UP: Congress MP

New Delhi, Dec 11: Accusing the Centre of not paying daily wages to labourers in Uttar Pradesh under MNREGA, a Congress member today demanded a probe into the issue and responsibility be fixed against those responsible for the delay.

Raising the demand during Zero Hour, Sanjay Singh (Cong) said Rs 700 crore was pending towards wages to labourers in the state during the current year and another Rs 70 crore was pending for 2013-14.

"Does this not amount to exploitation of poor labourers? There should be a thorough probe into the issue and responsibility be fixed against officials responsible for the delay. Strict action should be taken against those responsible. It is the Centre's responsibility to ensure wages are paid to labourers in time under the MNREGA," he said.

L Punia (Cong) demanded construction of a magnificent structure like Saanchi Stupa at 12, Alipore Road in Delhi, the place where Baba Saheb Ambedkar lived in his last days.

He said it was decided to acquire nearby bungalows when Atal Bihari Vajpayee headed the NDA government and a decision to construct a "Stupa" was taken by UPA's Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

He said a delegation of MPs from different parties also met Union Minister for Social Justice and Empowerment Thaawar Chand Gehlot in June to press for this demand.

Punia said the Nirvan Sthal of Ambedkar at Alipore Road is a centre of faith for crores of Indians and a magnificent structure like Saanchi Stupa should be constructed.

Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa (SAD) raised the issue of fertiliser scarcity in the country, particularly in Punjab, and demanded that Centre should meet states' demand for fertiliser.

He said that the Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal had even written to the Centre in this regard.

Tarun Vijay (BJP) made a demand for declaring the home of Thiruvalluvar in Varanasi as a place of national heritage and demanded putting up of a statue of Subramanian Bharati and Thiruvalluvar in Parliament.

PTI