Shiv Sena member Arvind Sawant today demanded that the word ‘Sindh’ in the national anthem be removed and replaced with an appropriate word, saying there was no state by that name in the country. Raising the issue during the Zero Hour in Lok Sabha, he said that as the national anthem was adopted by Parliament, it should initiate action to remove the word. Sawant said a correct word with appropriate pronunciation should replace the word ‘Sindh’. National anthem ‘Jana Gana Mana’, composed by Nobel laureate Rabindra Nath Tagore in 1911, was adopted by the Constituent Assembly in 1950. Raising other issues, NCP member Supriya Sule asked the government to ban ‘pan masala’ as it was carcinogenic and a public health hazard.
A P Jithender Reddy (TRS) suggested that the fares of luxury train Maharajas’ Express should also be expressed in rupees for Indian citizens. Currently, the fare of Maharajas’ Express, which is operated by Indian Railways for tourists, is mentioned only in US dollars. BJP member Maheish Girri demanded that a helipad should be built in East Delhi, saying it would come handy in dealing with emergencies or natural calamities. Moreover, the helipad would also ensure easier movement of VIPs without disrupting normal traffic, he added. Congress member Shashi Tharoor suggested that a National Institute of Medicinal Plant should be set up in Thiruvananthapuram. He also wanted to government to immediately to release Rs 50 lakh for setting up of the institute.
