Author: aitc

Thank you, Chairperson Madam. There is nothing to oppose. But I have a few suggestions. Of course, the Railways (Amendment) Bill, 2024 is intended to modernise India’s Railway governance by making the Railway Board more autonomous and improving its decision-making process. This Bill repeals the 1905 Act and incorporates provisions related to the Railway Board into the 1989 Act. The Central Government invests its powers and functions with respect to railways in the Board itself. The question is regarding merger of two Acts — whether the repealed Act will meet the challenges that the Indian Railways faces in terms of operational delays, accidents and safety initiatives, bureaucratic inefficiencies, slow technical adoption and complexity of PPA model and investments, and relaxation of powers to Zones. We hope and expect that it will be done. That is the reason why modernisation has been brought through this Bill itself. Now, there are a few questions. There are questions about accidents. It is reported that an average of three consequential train accidents per month over the past five years, apart from 18 accidents, have been reported in the first five months of 2024-25 alone. As per the CRS investigation report of October, 2023, the Commissioner of Railway Safety, a statutory body under the Ministry of Civil Aviation that probes train accidents, has recommended in no uncertain terms, Kavach, in some shape or form, to save lives, even in stretches not yet included in its rollout plan. During the Budget Session also, I had pointed out this fact without reading this report. When I delivered the speech regarding Kavach, I said that. But at that time, I was not aware of this report. In 2023, the total number of passenger train accidents were 33 and the number of goods train accidents were 15; whereas, in 2021-22, accidents recorded were 21. Now, I come to major accidents. There have been 200 major train accidents with 145 involving derailments. Northern Railway has recorded the highest number of accidents in the past five years with 25 accidents, followed by Central Railway with 22 accidents. Now, I come to the Economic Survey. The Economic Survey of 2023-24 which was released on July, 22, indicates limited progress on safety-related works such as deployment of Automatic Train Protection System, Kavach and overhaul of signalling systems at all stations. My next point is with regard to the C&AG’s analysis of railway accidents. I am just going through the C&AG’s analysis. Between 2017 and 2021, derailments accounted for 1,392 accidents or 69 per cent of consequential train accidents. The next point is about the deficit of funds. That is also a C&AG’s report. The CAG of India also found a deficit of Rs. 1,03,395 crore for track renewal, sparking worries about the financial position. There is a question because of merger. Capacity constraints and operational inefficiencies necessitate improved capacity management and infrastructure development. It is just in a suggestion form. It is not to criticize. Take it as a suggestion. Overcome the outdated technology and infrastructure. The regularity framework poses significant hurdles to modernizing and enhancing the efficiency of the Indian Railways. Reducing operating cost and increase in passenger amenities can free Railways from network congestion. These are the few suggestions. Sir, I will renew two things, which I have said earlier also. Again, I am renewing. There is a need for an extension of Metro Railway from Howrah to Sheoraphuli. There is also a need for double line set up from Howrah to Amta. Single line is there. Kindly consider this. I have already talked about the safety of Grade IV staff in foggy weather. Kindly consider this also. I have not criticized you. Today, I have given some suggestions to you for consideration. And my request to kindly now implement it now. I am grateful to you.

Namaskar. Thank you for providing me the opportunity to speak on the Railway Amendment Bill. I pay my respect to Shri Shri Ramkrishna Thakur & Maa Sarada. I am grateful to the people of Arambag Lok Sabha constituency. They have elected me and sent me to the Parliament. Whenever a discussion like this takes place, we get to hear about the Double Engine Government- which is wheezing past all the places— hundred percent work has been done everywhere. We also get to hear the slogan in this Parliament— “Sabka Sath, Sabka Vikas”. The birthplace of “Bharat Pathik” Shri Raja Ram Mohan Roy is Khanakul which is situated in the Arambag Constituency. Raja Rammohan Roy was the first train passenger, yet there is no rail service available in his birthplace. School students are drawing images of Rail to manifest their inner wishes. They have a hope inside their hearts and they are waiting for the day when rail services will start. They are painting murals on the wall and they are drawing this on their notebooks as well. They are dreaming of the day when they will be able to commute to their schools and colleges by rail. Will the minister kindly state how long the students and the common people have to wait? Rail services should immediately start from Pashkura to Chandrakona. There is a famous Rajbanshi village called Narajole. To provide services to the common man and to keep the illustrated historic places alive, rail service should be started. The Honourable Railway Minister is present here. I will request him not to repeatedly attack our Honourable Chief Minister Mamata Bandopadhyay and not to accuse her on the matters related to land encroachment, rather he should take the initiative to quickly complete the work between Tarakeswar to Bishnupur. I would like to state another issue. It would really help the cancer patients If you could start a train from Arambag to Mumbai so that they can reach the Tata Memorial Hospital with ease. Or if you can start a train from Arambagh to Bangalore. Even if it is a bi-weekly train, it will benefit the patients and kindly try to provide stoppages to Arambag, Sheorafuli, and Tarakeswar stations. A member just said that there have been no railway accidents. How wonderful! I don’t know if he reads any newspapers, and I wonder if someone can say such a…(Not recorded) just to snatch some applause. When we used to play as a child, we would make the train sounds- “Ku Jhik Jhik”. Those who are shouting about Double Engine Government like a member did a few minutes back, should know that the common man knows the real state of the Double Engine- whether it is good or bad. I am requesting the Railway Minister to pay more attention to the Railways since the Railway is an extremely important mode of transport in our country. I would say a few concluding words. If the ministry can find a way to quickly confirm the tickets for the patients, then that will benefit the family of the ailing person. I would thank you for providing me the opportunity to speak again.

Thank you Honourable Speaker Sir for letting me speak on the Bill. I also thank the people of Mathurapur Constituency for their love and support, today I got the opportunity to speak in the Parliament. Honourable Speaker Sir, through you I would like to draw the attention of the Railway Ministry. We get to hear about many new projects like the Amrit Bharat Station, Vande Bharat Express, Bullet Train etc. Practically, infrastructure and service are the two main components of Railways. There are many places where infrastructure exists, but there is degradation of service. Honourable Speaker sir, in reality, we see the only lifeline that common people have is the Railways. But the Railway Ministry acts indifferent towards the security of the common people. Seems like they are not serious enough about passenger safety. Honourable Sir, the trust and confidence of the common people towards the Indian Railways is at rock bottom. During the tenure of previous governments, the senior citizens used to get a concession on their long travel ticket fares. Now this concession has been withdrawn. I believe this should be reintroduced as soon as possible to help the common people. Honourable Sir, the way current railway services are deteriorating, the way the number of employees in the Railway services are being lessened, is similar to how they are curtailing the number of railway compartments. We have seen, that train gets canceled anytime and this has become a practice. Common people are finding themselves in huge trouble because of this. Still, we don’t see the railway department taking any major steps to change this. With each passing day, the Railway fare is increasing, but the services are degrading. Lakhs of people are commuting daily via train by risking their lives. We have heard a lot about new technologies. We have heard about Kavach. But in reality, we haven’t seen those being implemented and the common man is deprived of those facilities. Frequently we wake up to the news of some train accident, someone dying a mother losing their children to an accident, a brother losing their sibling or a child losing their father. This is unfortunate for us. I believe the railway department should prioritize more on passenger safety. The small halts and stations lack in providing proper service to the passengers. Honourable sir, in this regard I would mention the Kakdeep and Kashinagar stations in my constituency. There is infrastructure, yet no train stops there, thus the people can’t avail the services to this date. The common man has pleaded many times but the Railway ministry paid no heed to them. The previous member of Parliament also demanded this several times. The common people have demanded to increase in the number of platforms in Madhabpur station, but to no avail. The common man has to commute daily through the unmanned level crossing risking their life. I would request the railway ministry to please look into these matters with urgency and help the common people. We have been told this time and again that in West Bengal, we haven’t provided land for the work of Railways. West Bengal has been labeled like this. However, I believe that this is a lie. I can state with utmost responsibility that from Lakshmikantapur to Namkhana, land has been identified for the doubling of Railway lines. The Railway Department has not yet started the work. We have told them repeatedly, yet no work has been done. From Jaynagar to Raidighi, land has been identified for creating a new line. That has been proposed in the budget during the tenure of the then Railway minister Mamata Bandopadhyay. That work is yet to begin. We know, that many trains in West Bengal that were stopped during the COVID-19 pandemic haven’t been started again. Through you Honourable Speaker Sir, I will request the railway ministry to resume the services of these trains which were stalled during the COVID Pandemic. Honourable Sir, in conclusion, I would like to request the honorable Railway minister to not discriminate against West Bengal and the projects within the Mathurapur Constituency which were included in the railway budget presented by the then Railway Minister and current Chief Minister of West Bengal Mamata Bandopadhyay should be started without delay as in the new rail line expansions between Jaynagar to Raidighi and Lakshmikantapur to Dhanganga, Namkhana to Bakkhali, Kakdwip to Gangasagar. I have said this numerous times and I have also informed the honourable minister through a letter. I would conclude my speech by thanking you once again.

सभापकत जी, अध्यक्ष जी ने िहा था कि तीन कमनट में अपनी बात ित्म िरनी है, इसकलए मैं अपनी बात तीन कमनट में समाप्त िरूूंगा। सभापकत जी, मैं कजस कर्षय िो उिा रहा ह ूं, उससे पूरा सदन और सूंभर्त: पूरा देश त्रस्त है। महोदय, हर रोज किसी भी समय टेलीिोन आते हैं कजसमें लाइि इूंश्योरेंस, प्रोपटी डीलसव, लोन्द्स, बैंि सकर्वसेज िे एम्प्लाइज द्वारा तिलीि दी जाती है। यह और िोई नहीं िर रहा है, सकर्वस प्रोर्ाइडसव िे कडकस्िब्यूटसव पैसा लेिर लोगों िो व्यकिगत जानिारी बाूंट रहे हैं, कजसमें आपिा नाम, आपिा पता और अलग-अलग सेंसकटर् इूंिोमेशन देते हैं। र्षव 2017 में एि जजमेंट जकस्टस िे.एस. पुट टस्र्ामी जी र्सेस कद यूकनयन ऑि इूंकडया, कजसमें उन्द्होंने िहा था – “… A data controller shall not disclose personal information to third parties, except after providing notice and seeking informed consent from the individual for such disclosure. Third parties are bound to adhere to relevant and applicable privacy principles. Disclosure for law enforcement purposes must be in accordance with the laws in force. Data controllers shall not publish or in any other way make public personal information, including personal sensitive information.”. महोदय, मैं अपने बचे हुए डेढ़ कमनट िे समय में अपनी बात समाप्त िर लूूंगा। आप देकिए कि अलग-अलग जगह से हूंकटूंग नम्बर आते हैं। बैंगलुरु से 080 से िॉल आएगी, इूंदौर से 0731 से िॉल आएगी, अहमदाबाद से 079 से िॉल आएगी, गुरुग्राम से 0129 से िॉल आएगी, नोएडा से 0120 से िॉल आएगी। जो लोग व्यकिगत रूप से िोन उिाते हैं, जैसे मैं िोन जरूर उिाता ह ूं क्योंकि मेरे सूंसदीय क्षेत्र से लोग मुझे िोन िरते हैं, मेरे कििेटसव दोस्त िोन िरते हैं, मेरे दोस्त होते हैं या मेरे जानिार होते हैं। हम सभी िो अपने घर िे अूंदर जाने िे कलए दरर्ाजे से घूंटी बजानी पड़ती है लेकिन िोई भी आदमी िभी भी आपिा नाम लेिर उस सेंसकटर् इूंिोमेशन िे साथ जो कि बेची गई है, उसे माध्यम से िोन िरिे आपिो कडस्टबव िर सिता है। िई बार हम सूंसद िे महत्र्पूणव िाम िर रहे होते हैं, हम घर में महत्र्पूणव पाररर्ाररि िाम िर रहे हो सिते हैं, लेकिन ये लोग िभी भी हमें कडस्टबव िर देते हैं। यह बहुत गूंभीर मामला है। उच्चतम न्द्यायालय िा आदेश आ जाने िे बाद मैं डू नॉट कडस्टबव में रकजस्टडव में ह ूं, किर भी टेलीिोन रेगुलेटरी अथॉररटी आि इूंकडया एि टूथलेस टाइगर, कबना दाूंत और कबना नािून िा नरकसम्हा है।सभापकत जी, मैं चाह ूंगा कि ऐसी िम्पकनयाूं जो बार-बार िोन िरिे मेरी कनजता पर या देश में अन्द्य लोगों िी कनजता पर प्रहार िर रही हैं, उनिे ऊपर तुरूंत सूंज्ञान लेिर िोई िायवर्ाही िरनी चाकहए। ऐसी टेलीिोन िम्पकनयों िो तुरूंत बूंद िरना चाकहए और जेल भेजना चाकहए।

Hon. Chairperson, Sir, in connection with the Banking Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2024, I wish to speak on a few points. First of all, I come to clause 3 of the Bill which seeks to amend Section 5 of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949 and says “…in section 5, in clause (ne), in sub-clause (i), for the words “five lakhs of rupees”, the words “two crore rupees or such other amount…..”. Earlier, if you had five lakhs of rupees, you could have become a Director. Now, this amount is being enhanced to two crores of rupees. Whom do you want to bring in? Do you want to bring in big industrialists, big capitalists and not the poor people, not the middle-class people? Then, whom do you want to bring in here, in the main Indian economy that is called banking? You have taken a different route altogether to bring them here. Middle class people cannot be Director now. Only the rich people can be Director.The RBI’s control or supervision is being curtailed by this Bill. Instead of ‘last Friday’, ‘last day’ will be substituted. Why? Banks, whether private or Government, are only scared about the RBI’s supervision. People are having faith on the banks because ultimately RBI is the controlling authority. RBI is at the top. You are decreasing it. Instead of every week, now it will be done only at the end of the month. Heavy work will come on the RBI. You have not increased the strength of the RBI’s staff. How can it be supervised? I am completely disputing this and opposing this. Regarding nomination of four members, Section 45ZA has been amended. Four persons will be nominated as if through the nomination successor’s rights are being given, which is completely contrary to well settled principles of law. In the case of Ram Chander Talwar and another versus Devender Kumar Talwar and others reported in 2010, Volume 10, Supreme Court Cases 671, while interpreting the same provision the Supreme Court has said Section 45-ZA merely puts the nominee in the shoes of the depositor after his death and clothes him with the exclusive right to receive the money lying in the account. It gives him all the rights of the depositor so far as the depositor’s account is concerned. But it by no stretch of imagination makes the nominee the owner of the money lying in the account. It needs to be remembered that the Banking Regulation Act is enacted to consolidate and amend the law relating to banking. It is in no way concerned with the question of succession. All the monies receivable by the nominee by virtue of Section 45-ZA would, therefore, form part of the estate of the deceased depositor and devolve according to the rule of succession to which the depositor may be governed.By bringing four nominees you are inviting a battle between the successors. This is completely contrary to all succession laws. Nominee, for the time being, holds the money. Why are you bringing four nominees? I am opposing this. The proposed amendment Bill is contrary to the judgment.In view of the amalgamation, merger of the six banks, the total staff of Canara Bank, Central Bank, and Indian Bank has been decreased to 40,392. A total of 40,392 employees’ services has been terminated due to the merger of the six banks. The 2023 banking crisis was a major event that affected the banking sector and the economy globally. It was the most significant system-wide banking stress since the great financial crisis, which has brought to focus the risks to banking stability. Though, we were not in a recession, but projecting its effect, the Reserve Bank of India had perhaps seen incipient delinquency in personal loans when it first advised the banks and the NBFCs to strengthen their surveillance mechanisms to address rising risks in the system. Deposits in the banks and the financial institutions have been declining with households as they allocate their savings to mutual funds. Today, everywhere in the banking system savings are decreasing and investments are more in mutual funds. Why is it so? It is because of the rate of income tax. If you are in mutual fund, then for five years it is 10 per cent tax. If you have fixed deposit for five years in the savings bank account, then it is 33 per cent tax. Therefore, all are going for mutual funds. Of course, the income tax principles and policies are the prerogative of the hon. Finance Minister. But I will request you to look into the matter. In the case of mutual fund, if I keep for five years in mutual funds by taking some risk, I may get 20 per cent and from the benefit I have to pay 10 per cent tax. Whereas if I keep a fixed deposit for five years, I have to pay 33 per cent tax. Kindly consider this point in the next Budget. The GNPA ratio for agriculture was 6.2 per cent while the GNPA ratio for personal loan was 1.2 per cent. This reduction of NPA is not due to higher recoveries. Mr. Patra was saying that the Finance Minister will say about the NPA and very strongly they are saying that the NPA has decreased. It is not because of the recovery of the NPAs, but because of striking off the NPA itself. This is the nice way in which things are being done. It is jugglery of words by striking off the NPAs. Nowadays, it has become a common feature.Basically, in the name of amendment, the Central Government is trying to interfere in the State Cooperative Banking system in respect of nominations and to provide for an increase in the tenure of the Directors in the Cooperative Banks. The Bill will increase the scope of the exception clause, which could lead to more conflicts of interest of the State Government and also interfere with the independence of the State Cooperative Banks. The Bill also aims to redefine the concept of substantial interest for bank Directorships. I have already touched upon this point, and I will not repeat it. India’s foreign debt in 2014 was Rs. 49 lakh crore, which has increased to Rs. 205 lakh crore in 2024. देश आगे बढ़ रहा है। कितना बढ़ रहा है? उधारी में देश आगे बढ़ रहा है। देश आगे बढ़ रहा है, लेकिन उधारी में बढ़ रहा है। उधारी िा बोझ बहुत भारी हो गया है, लेकिन बढ़ रहा है। According to Trading Economics global macro models and analysts expectations, the Government debt to GDP in India is expected to reach 88 per cent of GDP by the end of 2024-2025 fiscal. External debt in India increased to 682,300 USD million in the second quarter of 2024 from 663,800 USD million in the first quarter of 2024. But a gap in loan growth and deposit growth, the SBI continues to lose market share in deposits over the years. Now the question is, how much is the interest rate on borrowing? Will it be funded? What will be the guaranteed return of investment? What will happen if SBI fails to repay on time? The RBI is informed that Rs 3,207 crore was lost because of 5,082,000 cases of cyber fraud. He was talking about cyber fraud between 2020 and 2024 financial years. Sir, who suffers? Who? It is not the rich people. It is only the poor and the middle-class people. They are the sufferers of the cyber fraud. Sorry, till today the Central Government and its mechanism, whether it is CBI, ED, or whatever the instrument is, could not detect anyone. Very unfortunate! This is the fraud of cybercrime. The number of cyber fraud incidents has increased from 75,800 in 2023 to 2,92,800 in 2024. Just take it. That means more than 2,00,000 cases have been increased only in a year. What is going to happen in 2025? Today I was hearing a speech. I do not know whether the hon. Prime Minister was giving the speech or not. On the television he was talking about cybercrime. I request the hon. Prime Minister to save this country from cybercrime. Take an effective step. किर्फ बातों-बातों में िुछ नहीं होता है, िाम िरना होता है, िाम िीकिए, िुछ तो िाम िीकिए। The real growth in an economy is built on bank credit going to large industries and infrastructure projects. Deposit mobilization has been lagging credit growth for some time now. As of 23rd August, 2024, credit offtake in the Indian banking sector was Rs. 169.5 lakh crore, a 6.2 per cent increase from December 2023. According to the latest RBI data, over the past decade, the share of public sector banks has dropped from more than 75 per cent since 2012 to less than 60 per cent of the overall system. There is a need to give top priority to cyber security issues to check financial fraud. An IT management advanced system for fraud detection is a must for building robust cyber security measures. There is a need for strict regulatory compliance to adherence to stringent regulations for data privacy of customers and industry-specific laws like anti-money laundering practice. The banking Bill is a ‘donkey passage’ towards privatization of the Indian banking sector. Prima facie, it is to improve bank guarantee and investor protection, but actually a slow pace for setting targets of minimum holding in public sector banks from 51 per cent to 26 per cent.