February 13, 2019
Sudip Bandyopadhyay’s concluding speech in 16th Lok Sabha on behalf of All India Trinamool Congress
FULL TRANSCRIPT
Madam, on behalf of my party, All India Trinamool Congress Parliamentary Party, I rise to speak to express our hearty gratitude to you from the core of our hearts. The 16th Lok Sabha was full of excitement, tensions, anxieties, agitations, few good quality speeches, few unwanted, untimely un-expected economic decisions and many other activities brought life to the house.
Madam, sometimes you were successful to bring the situation under control and sometimes you could not, but your patience is remarkable and heartily praiseworthy.
In parliamentary democracy I always express my view – when you convene the meetings of all-party leaders – that the House belongs to the Opposition. But in this House we couldn’t feel this vibe because government of the ruling party with their majority, their brute majority actually, tried to gag the voice of the Opposition many times. But you stood up and you gave the opportunity in many occasions that Opposition had to be taken care of.
So we express our gratitude, Madam. I’m personally grateful to you. When I was sent to jail during the 2016 Winter Session in Parliament, during the demonetisation period when I took a major lead and Parliament could not be held for a day. You were the only person who talked with my wife. I have no other family; we are a two-member family. And you enquired about my health condition which was very badly affected. God has saved me from a serious and dangerous condition.
So, Madam I wholeheartedly feel that I don’t know what will happen after the election, whether they will come to this side or we will go to that side – we have an expectation that we will go that side. So, naturally we will miss you that time. I will also be interested to know from you personally that whether you will be contesting again in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.
I always want that you stay with good health. Long live Sumitra Mahajan – this is my prayer to God that our personal attachment, which we set up, I am of the opinion that it will hopefully continue. Thank you.
