February 5, 2024
Pratima Mandal’s Motion of Thanks on the President’s Address
Thank you, Sir. I rise to speak on the Motion of Thanks on the Presidential Address. Madam President made her comments immediately over the issue of mock Parliament performed by the suspended Opposition Members from both the Houses when we were suspended because of our demand from the hon. Home Minister to give his statement regarding the safety and security issue of the Parliament House. This is first time in the Indian history that 146 Opposition Members were suspended and the present Government has passed several important Bills without any discussion. This is a huge threat to our democracy. But I am surprised by the shocking silence maintained by our hon. President over the heinous crime committed against two tribal women in Manipur. The situation in Manipur is still unstable even after eight months of the incidents. It is astonishing that there is no mention about the Manipur issue in her speech. Madam President did not say anything, not a single word when women wrestlers were being manhandled and inhumanly dragged by cops during their peaceful protest while the entire nation expected a remark from her. Where was our hon. President when the country’s sportspersons were returning their Padma Shri, Arjun Awards and medals? The country witnessed the rapists and murderers of Bilkis Bano case being garlanded after their unjustified release much before the completion of their imprisonment term. Bilkis Bano deserves respect and justice for what she suffered and it is the opposite where instead of siding with the real victim we are silently watching as the criminals walk free. Thankfully, the Supreme Court ordered otherwise and overruled/overturned that ruling. But being a constitutional head, a woman and a mother, Madam President do you not think that you should have raised your voice for what is right and just? And on other critical issues of national importance, like rising unemployment and inflation, Madam President continues to remain silent. Madam President mentioned women empowerment but I would like to mention here that the country’s one and only woman Chief Minister, our Chief Minister, Mamata Bandyopadhyay, made sure that there are one-third reserved seats for women in West Bengal State Legislative Assembly and 50 per cent reserved seats are there for women at Panchayat level much before the Women Reservation Bill was passed in the Parliament House. Now, coming to the report of Global Hunger Index of 2023, it gives India a rank of 111 out of 125 countries. This indicates an alarming level of hunger severity in the country that has been boasted by high GDP growth for past years. Additionally, the NCRB report of 2023, which was released very recently, shows crimes against Scheduled Castes went up by 13 per cent and against Scheduled Tribes by 14.3 per cent. Reserved seats meant for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes are lying vacant in different Government institutions and departments. Appropriate action is not being taken to fill up these vacant posts. Child rape cases also witnessed a staggering 90 per cent increase from 2016 to 2022 as per analysis of NCRB data conducted by a child rights NGO. It is clear that in reality when it comes to the actual well-being, socio-economic development and empowerment of India’s people, there is really not much that has progressed, if not deteriorated as it was. Sir, please give me one minute. But, somehow, Madam President chose to overlook these issues and remained silent and, in this context, I would like to quote the Father of our Nation, Mahatma Gandhi, who said, “Silence becomes cowardice when occasion demands speaking out the whole truth and acting accordingly”. Her silence on crucial matters of the country and on multiple incidents of blatant injustice indicates that she has sadly picked the wrong side and through these short interventions, it is my humble attempt to urge Madam President to open her eyes and speak up for what is right.
