December 13, 2022
Sudip Bandyopadhyay’s speech on The Supplementary Demands for Grants – First Batch for 2022-2023
Sir, many issues have been discussed and debated on the floor of this House regarding Supplementary Demands for Grants. Normally, the discussion on Supplementary Demands for Grants is limited to a very short time. It is not such an enormous subject to be discussed. But the hon. Speaker is kind enough that he decided in the Business Advisory Committee meeting that twelve hours will be allotted for this discussion. The Appropriation Bill is nothing but a consent that we give to the Government and we say “do not misappropriate the money”. The Appropriation Bill is passed because without appropriation, money cannot be spent. So, we are aware of a few issues but, today, many issues have been discussed. I thought it better to place only two-three issues of my State in front of our hon. Finance Minister.Sir, I want to know how far this Government believes in the principle of cooperative federalism. What appears to me is that cooperative federalism is now under threat. I am carrying with me five letters of the hon. Chief Minister of West Bengal addressed to the
Prime Minister of India, all concerned with the State affairs but certainly connected with the economic affairs of the country.
Sir, MGNREGA has been discontinued. For the last eight months, MGNREGA funds have been blocked for the State of West Bengal. I along with ten MPs, including Prof. Sougata Ray, interacted with Shri Giriraj Singh ji and officials for one long hour. In that meeting, it was decided that a few proposals and ideas of the Central Government would be accepted by the State, and for that the Minister from the State would be sent. Our State Minister came three weeks back and had a discussion with Shri Giriraj Singh ji. Yet, MGNREGA
funds of more than Rs.6,500 crore have been kept blocked, and this is most unwarranted. Sir, the West Bengal Government has accepted all the proposals. The Minister came and met the Central Minister. I want to draw the attention of the hon. Finance Minister to this. I will hand over the letters to her. Our Chief Minister had written that we have funds due from the Government of India to the tune of Rs.1,00,968 crore, and the details were attached. This is a letter addressed to the hon. Prime Minister by the Chief Minister of West Bengal. The date of the letter is August 5, 2022, and I authenticate the letter. Sir, when we are raising our voice here for MGNREGA, the Chief Minister is writing to the Prime Minister saying that she is anguished by the statement made yesterday in Kolkata by … the President of BJP, that the funds had not been released to the State Government, he admitted it, on account of non-submission of Utilisation Certificate for the funds received under MGNREGA in the last three years. That was the complaint he made publicly. But what the Chief Minister is writing to the Prime Minister is that this is nothing but a blatant lie intended to gain political mileage at the cost of lakhs and lakhs of rural poor in the State who are passing through most distressing times due to non-payment of wages for their work; this is most unfortunate and sad. The Chief Minister wrote this to the Prime Minister. I will hand over this letter to the hon. Finance Minister. Sir, in addition to the release of total dues to the Government of West Bengal, we have another proposal to the Government of India. Everybody knows about basmati rice which is very famous throughout the world. Basmati rice is exempted from 20 per cent customs duty. There is one variety of rice called Gobindobhog which is produced in West Bengal, which is famous throughout the world and it is of no less quality than basmati rice. We would urge that the customs duty on Gobindobhog rice, as is done in the case of basmati rice, be withdrawn. If this decision is taken, thousands and lakhs of farmers will bebenefited.जी सर। आपनेग्ाूंट पर सबको सनु धिया। यह12 घूंटेका सबजेक्ट नहीं हैऔर न ही यह र्चार घूंटेका है। आपनेइसको 12 घूंटेका कर धदया है, इसधिए मैंभी इसका मौका उठा िेताह ूं। I am here since 12th Lok Sabha. So, I know what you want. Sir, I told you that I will place only a few letters from the Chief Minister addressed to the Prime Minister. I will give these letters which are all connected with the State issue.Sir, I come to the issue regarding Ganga erosion. I raised it in the All-Party meeting. You said that you are trying to provide Half-an-Hour Discussion to the Opposition. This is a very important
issue. Ganga erosion is कटाई, नदी की जो कटाई होती है। There is extremely worst situation in our State in Malda, Murshidabad and Nadia. If any BJP MP is here, Nishikant ji is here, he will also admit that this erosion is seriously and devastatingly ruining the area. Adhir ji represents Baharampur constituency which also falls in Murshidabad district. Sir, in Murshidabad, there is the Farakka Barrage Project. This is a Government of India’s project. After setting up of this huge project, this erosion has started taking place. I would request the
Government to direct the Farakka Barrage Project to take positive steps by which we can be saved from this erosion and from this कटाई problem. This is a very positive issue which I want to mention. Cooperative federalism is a part of our Constitution. What we feel is that the Eastern Region, after Independence, is now the worst sufferer of regional imbalances, and West Bengal is also there. Why does the Government not take efforts to develop the Eastern Region vis-à-visour State of West Bengal as a priority sector? West Bengal should not be made a target because we are in power. We are for the interest of the country. We want to stand by the Government. But at every
step and every moment, if attempts are made to create economic blockade of the whole State, it is not tolerable. So, our allegation is that the Government of India is trying to create economic blockade of the State of West Bengal and from that they should withdraw their vision
and withdraw their ideas. Let them extend the hands of cooperation. The letters which I have mentioned here, I will hand them over to the hon. Finance Minister by which she can have a look and can send a reply. There is nothing wrong in this… Sir, I am reading a letter only.
It is a letter …अध्यक्ष महोदय, हम धमधनस्ट्टर को तो देसकतेहैं? I can hand it over to the Minister …
