August 5, 2024
Derek O’Brien charges the government with running away from discussing the Home Ministry and Defence Ministry. Initiating the discussion on the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy. And the 456 Effect!
Sir, we will be a constructive Opposition, and initiate this Discussion on New and Renewable Energy. All the Ministries are important. But on this one in particular, what we do today, say today and act on today will have an effect on our children’s children. We will offer some constructive suggestions. But before I come to the details of the Ministry, I have to place on record the ‘4-56 effect.’ ‘4-56 effect’ kya hota hai? It was 4th of June and ’56.’ It was on the 4th of June and that is why we are discussing this Ministry. On the 4th of June, ’56’ got cut down to size. That is why, in spite of 15 opposition parties requesting this Government to discuss the Home Ministry, this Government is nervous to discuss the Home Ministry. Despite all of us here in the Opposition wanting to discuss the Defence Ministry — we read that picnics are happening on the border and they are coming over from China — this Government does not want to discuss the Home Ministry or the Defence Ministry. We discussed all this in the Business Advisory Committee, but it was not brought here. But in the spirit of our constructive opposition, we will still initiate this discussion and we will still give you some suggestions. Sir, I have three specific points. The first one is to the Minister. I am suggesting a mantra for your Ministry. ‘Think nationally, act locally.’ Consult with four stakeholders. These are: Local governments, State Governments, communities and the private sector. Consult with them in the spirit of cooperation. Unfortunately, this spirit of consultation is antithetical to your thinking — not yours, Sir, but theirs — because they know everything about every subject. My second suggestion is this. At least after the ‘4-56 effect,’ stop these grand announcements: ‘International Solar Alliance,’ ‘One Sun, one World,’ etc. These are all big announcements. But zero action! Let me give you only one example. There is PM-KUSUM. It is a decentralised programme for small farmers. Through you, Sir, I ask the Minister this question. This programme for 10,000 mw was announced in 2019 by this Ministry. What have they achieved of the target? Ten per cent? No. Five per cent? No. The target they have achieved is below three per cent. Same is the problem with the Green Hydrogen Mission. Big announcements. Our suggestion to you is this. Reduce dependency on these countries: China, Thailand and Vietnam. Discuss and come up with policy decisions. You are not running the Gujarat Gymkhana. You are running the nation — India. Sir, these are our constructive suggestions. We want this Government to come back sometime here to discuss Home and Defence. If not in this Session, come in the next Session. If you don’t want to discuss them, no problem, we will discuss Home and we will discuss Defence when we will be sitting there next year and you will be sitting here next year. Thank you, Sir.
