Author: aitc

Sir, under Rule 72 (1), I rise to oppose the introduction of the Criminal Procedure (Identification) Bill, 2022. I do not want to repeat the arguments put forward by learned Members, Shri Manish Tewari and Shri N. K. Premachandran.
Sir, you will know from common sense that it is the basic principle of law that nobody is found guilty unless proved in a court of law. The second right that people have is, if somebody is arrested, he has to be produced before the court within 24 hours and he has a right to be represented by a lawyer. Now, so far, since when the original Bill is there 1920, it has been going on. Suddenly, it comes to the brain of the Home Minister that he must make it stricter and he must take finger prints, iris photographs and biological samples. Why? Sir, why should there be narco analysis brain mapping? अचानक क्या ज�रत पड़ गई, क्या अचानक क्राइम बढ़ गया है ? Sir, you know that, from Articles 20 to 24, all the Articles of the Constitution deal with the human rights of the people. This law which allows for narco
analysis, which allows for taking biological specimens and taking photographs of iris violates the basic human rights and is against the principles of the Constitution. सर, आपनेअभी कहा िक अपनी बात को िबल पर चचार् के समय मेंउठाइए। लेिकन इं ट्रोडक्शन के नाम पर एक गलत िबल आपके सामनेलाया जाए, तो यह सरासर हाउस के िखलाफ होगा, इससेहाउस का नु
कसान होगा। इसिलए मैंआपसेअजर्करता ह�ँिक इसका इं ट्रोडक्शन मत होनेदीिजए। होम िमिनस्टर आए, ं वेएक्सप्ले न कर।
ें श्री टेनी जी क्या समझाएगं े, होम िमिनस्टर को समझानेक� ज�रत है। धन्यवाद

Thank you, hon. Chairperson Sir, for giving me an opportunity to speak on the Finance Bill. Sir, we are slowly coming out of the coronavirus pandemic, and everyone was anticipating this Budget and the Finance Bill to be a booster dose for the economy in the endemic or post pandemic era. But in reality, the booster dose was meant only
for the rich. The poor and the middle class have got only a dose of high taxation, increasing fuel prices, and rising inequality. The Government talks about increasing GDP. I feel, it means gas, diesel, and petrol, the prices of which are increasing. I would point out a few announcements that have been made through the Finance Bill. The Budget seeks to lay the foundation for achieving the vision of the hon. Prime Minister for India, and also making India a preferred choice for the world to do business. The Government has been shifting the goalpost. First, they spoke
about doubling farmers’ income by 2022; then, they talked about housing for all by 2022; and then, they talked about achieving a 5 trillion-dollar economy. I would want the Minister to answer whether these targets have been achieved or not. If it has been achieved, please give the data about all this. Sir, the Finance Minister has not proposed any change in the basic tax rates and maintained status quo for all types of assessees based on the last year.
However, it is proposed to extend the cap of surcharge at 15% for any long-term capital gains earned by Individuals and HUFs, which is currently applicable only to the capital gains on listed shares and dividend income, whereas the maximum surcharge for balance income was 37%. Sir, there has been a demand for clarity on admissibility of Input Tax Credit for expenses incurred towards CSR activities as well as expenses incurred in the wake of COVID-19. Since such supplies are being procured in the course of business and mandated by law, industry opines that availment of ITC of GST charged on such supplies should not be in dispute. Sir, there have been delays in processing GST refunds under various categories leading to working capital crunch to businesses, whereas there is a statutory timeline of 60 days within which refund amount must be disbursed. In view of the same, the Government may consider introducing granting provisional refund to the extent of ninety percent of the total claim within seven days of filing such refund
claims. Sir, as regards textile industry, while the Government has deferred increase in GST rates, the textile industry is facing several challenges,especially rising prices of cotton in the international commodity market. The key players in this sector have urged the Government to remove five per cent import duty on raw cotton. This move will help stabilize the costs and impart much needed support to both big and small businesses. Similarly, there are specific sectoral expectations on overall rationalization of customs duty rates specifically on raw materials in key sectors like steel, aluminium etc. to check input cost and inflation. On the other side, certain sectors like pulp and paper are seeking imposition of import duties on specific sourcing material to create a level-playing field, protect domestic industry, and further make them globally competitive. Sir, in this Budget, we have not seen how much black money has come back due to demonetisation. सर, भारत क� जनताबैंकों क� लाइनों मेंखड़ी रही, लेिकन आज तक इस देश मेंिकतनी ब्लैक मनी वापस आयी? जब लोग बैंकों क� लाइनों मेंखड़ेह�ए तो सौ से अिधक लोग मरगए, लेिकन िकतना काला धन वापस आया, इस चीज का कोई भी डाटाहमारेपास नहीं है ? हम यह भी जानना चाहतेहैं। Another thing is, there is no roadmap for giving employment to the unemployed youth in this country. इस देश के कुछ मं ित्रयों नेकहा हैिक अगर आप िशि�त
हो, आपकेपास नौकरी नहीं है, तो आप पकौड़ेतलो, चाय क� दकान ु खोलो, यह भी सही बात नहीं है।…(व्यवधान) आप अपनेसमय मेंबोिलएगा। Sir, high price of fuel क�वजह सेहर कमोिडटी के दाम बढ़तेजा रहेहैं, यह भी सोचने वाला िवषय है। कोरोना के समय मेंअचानक लॉकडाउन क� वजह सेिदल्ली सेकाफ� प्रदेशों में माइग्रें ट्स वकर्सर्घर गए थे, तो िजनक� रास्तेमेंडेथ हो गई, उनमेंयह देखा गया िक जो मे न अिनर्ंग पसर्न्स थे, उनक�ही डेथ होगई, तो उन प�रवारों केसाथ क्याहोगा, उन प�रवारों क� कोईहे ल्प क ी
जाएगी या नहीं, इस िवषय केबारेमेंभी फाइनैंस िबल मेंकुछ मैंशन नहीं िकयागयाहै। मैंयह जानना चाहती ह�ंऔर यह कह कर अपनी बात को िवराम दे ती ह�ं । धन्यवाद।

सर, पनपशकांत िबुेजी नेवहबताकर अिनी स्िीच स्टाटट की, जो उनको िता हैपक अिोपजशन क्या कहगे ा। अिोपजशन को र्ी िता हैपक वेक्या कहगेंेपक बीजेिी सरकार की अच्छी हैऔर कांग्रेस पकतनी खराब ह।ै Sir, coming to the Finance Bill, 2022, every year the Central Government introduces the Finance Bill along with other documents of the Union Budget. The
Finance Bill is brought to seek the Legislature’s approval for giving effect to the various tax proposals, including direct and indirect taxes, of the Central Government. These documents discuss the key provisions that are part of the
Finance Bill, 2022. Now, I come to the main tax proposals in the Finance Bill. First is rationalisation of surcharge. The Budget noted that there are several work contracts that require the formation of a consortium. The members in such consortiums are usually companies. Such consortiums or association of persons are subjected to a graded surcharge of up to 37 per cent on their income. Please note that the surcharge on domestic companies with income between Rs.1 crore and Rs 10 crore is seven per cent while for those with income above Rs 10 crore is 12 per cent. The Budget proposes to cap the surcharge levied on the income of consortiums or association of persons at 15 per cent. Also, the long-term capital gains tax on listed equity shares is subject to a maximum surcharge of15 per cent.
However, other long-term capital gains tax is subjected to a graded surcharge up to 37 per cent. It has been proposed to cap the surcharge on long-term capital gains from transfer of any type of asset at 15 per cent. Next, I come to the strategic disinvestment of Public Sector Companies. According to Section 79 the Income Tax Act, 1961, in case of change in the shareholding of a company in the previous year, any loss incurred prior to the previous year cannot be set off against the income of the previous year. This is applicable for companies where the public does not have a substantial interest. The Finance Bill, 2022 seeks to amend the Income Tax Act to provide that Section 79 will not apply to an erstwhile Public Sector Company. However, the holding company of the erstwhile Public Sector Company must continue to hold at least 51 per cent of the voting power immediately after the strategic disinvestment Now I come to tax on virtual digital assets. Virtual digital assets have gained popularity, and the volume of trading in such assets has substantially increased. In addition, a market is developing where payment for transferring virtual digital assets can be made through another such virtual digital assets. The Finance Bill proposes to tax any income from transfer of virtual digital assets at 30 per cent. No deduction related to any expenditure or allowance or setoff of
any loss will be permitted while computing the income from transfer of such assets. Moreover, any loss from transfer of virtualdigital asset will not be allowed to be set off against income under “any other provisions of the Income Tax Act”. Such losses will also not be allowed to be carried forward to subsequent assessment years. The proposed amendment will come into effect from April 1, 2023. Please note that the Central Government has circulated certain
amendments to the Finance Bill. The proposed amendments drop the word “other” from the clause, “any other provisions” regarding setting off of losses, as stated above. This may imply that the loss from virtual digital assets cannot be set off against the gains in such assets as well. Sir, taxpayers will be permitted to file an updated return on Income Tax within two years of the Assessment Year. They will have to pay 25 per cent penalty on tax, and interest due, if it is filed in the year after the Assessment Year, and 50 per cent penalty in the second year. Co-operative societies have to pay Alternate Minimum Tax (AMT) at 18.5 per cent rate. It may be noted that the Taxation Laws (Amendment) Act, 2019 reduced the minimum Alternate Tax Rate payable by companies at 15 per cent. To provide parity between co-operative societies and companies, it has been proposed to reduce the AMT rate to 15 per cent at which co-operative societies pay Income Tax. These amendments will be applicable from April 1, 2023. The Finance Bill also proposes to change the Customs Duty on a number of items. For example, the current Customs Duty on microbial fats and oils and their fractions is 30 per cent whereas the new Customs Duty will be 100 per cent. Similarly, the current Customs Duty on umbrella is 10 per cent and the new Customs Duty will be 20 per cent; on imitation jewellery, current Customs Duty is 20 per cent whereas the new Customs Duty will be 20 per cent or Rs.400 per kilogram, whichever is higher. The current Customs Duty on single or multiple loudspeakers as well as headphones and earphones is 15 per cent, but the new Customs Duty on these items will be 20 per cent. On smart meters, current Customs Duty is 15 per cent and the new Customs Duty will be 25 per cen. The current Customs Duty on both solar cells and solar modules is 20 per cent, and the new Customs Duty will be 25 per cent and 40 per cent respectively. There are certain non-tax proposals in the Finance Bill also. The Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934 is being amended to enable RBI to issue its digital currency. सर, मैंपसिट यहबोलकर अिनीबात खत्म करना चाहतीह ं पक क्या अमेंडमेंट होताहै, क्या पबल आतेहैं, क्या िाइनेंस पबल ह, ै िेश केबहुत सारेगरीबों को कुछ नहीं िता है। उनको िता र्ी नहीं करना हैपक िापलटयामेंट मेंक्या पडस्कशन हो रहा है। उनका पसिट यही क्वेश्चन हैपक िेट्रोल, डीजल, गैस पसलेण्डर के प्राइस कब कम होंगेऔर कैसेकम होंगे? उनको पसिट कब का ही आंसर चापहए, यह पडस्कशन और येसब उनको कुछ नहीं चापहए, इसका कुछ मतलब नहीं है, उनको कुछ लेना-िेना नहींहै। सर, पमपनस्टर सेपसिट यहिूछना हैपक काग्रं ेस को जो र्ी िोष िीपजए या बीजेिी पकतना अच्छा कर रही ह, ै उसमेंहम लोगों को कुछ लेना-िेना नहीं है। हम लोगों का र्ी यही क्वेश्चन हैपक कब इसके प्राइस कम होंगे? कब, कब, कब? थैंक्यू।

चे यरमै न साहब, धन्यवाद। मैंदो िमनट मेंअपनी बात कह�ं गा। मैंआपके माध्यम सेस्पोट्र्स िमिनस्टर सेकुछ कहना चाहता ह�ं
। मैंस्पोट्र्समे न को �रप्रजें ट करता ह�ं , इसिलए मैंअपनेिलए नहीं, इं िडया के सभीस्पोट्र्समे न को सपोटर्करनेके िलएबोलूं
गा। उन लोगों को सपोटर् िमलता है।वेलोग गरीब हैं। सर, फस्टर्पॉइं ट यहहैिक जो िखलाड़ी ओलिम्पक गए थे, उन सबकोगवनर्में
ट सेपेंशन दे ते हैं। पेंशन इतनी कम थी िक एक हजार �पयेया दो हजार �पयेमेंखाना भी नहीं िमलता है। हमारी �रक्वे स्ट हैिक करीब बीस हजार �पयेदेदीिजए और ज�रत पड़ेतो एमपीज़ का पैसा लेकर दे दीिजए। उनको उन पैसेसेखाना भी नहीं िमलता है। ओलिम्पयंस लोग इतनी तकलीफ मेंहैं। ओलिम्पयन लोगों केपास खानेके िलए भी पैसा नहीं है। िमिनस्टर साहब आप कुछ क�िजए। सर, दू
सरी बात यह हैिक पूरेभारत मेंस्पोट्र्स मेंअजर्नु अवाडर्िमले। उन लोगों को ट्रेन का पास िमलता था। उनको हसबैं ड और वाइफ का पास िमलता था, वह बं द हो गया है। सभी परानु े प्ले यसर्बह�त गरीब हैं। हमारी आपसेिवनती हैिक आप हमारेिलए नहीं, उनके िलए ज�र कुछ क�िजए।

Sir, I thank you for giving me the opportunity to speak in the ‘Zero Hour’, Sir, approximately 2.2 million people in West Bengal, and 95 per cent of the total population of the adjoining States, are directly associated with beedimaking industry. A 65-bedded Tarapur Central Labour Hospital in Jangipur was set up by the Union Ministry of Labour in 2000. It was inaugurated by the former President, Shri Pranab Mukherjee. It was built on 40 acres of land. There was a 50-bed Gynaecology and Paediatric Unit with seven doctors. There were operation theatre, laboratory, various machineries and other things. Later in 2003, 15 more beds were added. Beedi workers and their family members were able to avail treatment free of cost in this hospital against their identity cards issued by the Ministry of
Labour. Day by day the condition of the hospital deteriorated and now only two doctors are left. Beedi workers and other people who were availing treatment in this particular hospital are not able to get a good treatment over there. Due to this reason, they have to go to the State hospitals which are far away from this place. There is a sub-divisional hospital which is 30 kilometres away from Jangipur. There is also Malda Medical Hospital which is 40 kilometres away. So, they have to travel a very long distance.

Sir, I rise to participate in the discussion on the Demands for Grants under the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and
Waterways for 2022-2023. India is strategically located on the world’s shipping route with a coastline of approximately 7,517 kms. Maritime transport handles around 70 per cent of India’s trading in terms of value. It has 12 major ports and 200 non-major ports. As compared with other ports across the world, the numbers are not
encouraging in India. Due to the lack of a deep seaport with 20 metres draft, mother vessels coming to India from anywhere in the world have to unload their cargo at transhipment ports like Colombo or Port of Singapore to load them into small ships and then send it to the Indian ports. This puts an extra burden of around Rs. 16,000 per TEU. Furthermore, all the ports are saturated and this leads to poor functioning. There has been a sharp indication that the design of existing ports is inadequate to meet the current requirement for quick turnaround and handling of increased volumes. This causes delay in the feeding and evacuation of cargo, and consequently lowering the efficiency and productivity of vessels. There are around 14 institutions providing naval architecture degree to
about 700 graduates per year in India whereas the country needs about 10 times more naval architecture and shipbuilding engineers per year. It is also predicted that there will be an eight per cent increase in demand every year. With many of the students leaving India, the shortage of skilled architects will affect the industry. Therefore, the intake capacity must be increased, and women must be promoted in the field. Instead of modernising the ports, the Government’s Rs. 8 lakh crore Sagar Mala Project is causing some irreversible damage. Environmental effects on the coasts with issues like coastal erosion as well as severe problems of degradation are being noticed. The Government is highlighting about the Sagar Mala Project, but its drawbacks should not be overlooked. Around 352 ports had been identified to be implemented as major ports. A target of 3,200 million tonnes of port capacity to handle 3,000 million tonnes of cargo was set to be reached by 2020. But in 2021, the total capacity stood at
2,562.85 MTPA. Furthermore, the development of road network, electricity, and overall infrastructural development is also the need of the hour. Port productivity and efficiency also depend upon the quality and reliability of road and rail connectivity and adequate storage and handling facilities. The lack of expressway connectivity between major ports as well as industrial clusters and high fuel cost make hinterland transportation inefficient and slow. Also, the
container freight stations and businesses need to be organized efficiently through good management practice in space utilization. India has domestic industries, which can produce some of the raw materials required in shipbuilding, especially when India has competitive steel manufacturing, light engineering, and IT industries, which can offer the required products at an economical cost. Thus, these should be boosted. Rather, the Minister must highlight the Government’s steps in this regard. In the 2020-2021 Budget, the hon. Finance Minister had announced that by 2024 the ship recycling capacity of the country would be doubled. The Minister had asked for a 60 per cent raise in this year’s Budget in order to fulfil the aim, but the raise is negligible. Rather, the worrying fact is that 48 per cent of Alang’s capacity remains unutilized. The main reason for it is non-compliance with environmental norms. Until and unless that is done, it will never get any ship from the entire Europe, and at this rate the target will never be reached. Rs. 100 crore was allocated towards ship building research. What has been the outcome of the project? There has been no mention about it since. Also, the allocation of Rs. 100 crore to Sagarmala indicates that the Government is relying heavily upon the private sector for its implementation, which is unacceptable. Talking about the problems being faced by the shipping industry, the ABG Shipyard scam comes to the forefront.  It is the same company for which the BJP Government of Gujarat had allotted 1.21 lakh sq.mtr. of land at Dahej, Gujarat at 100 per cent reduced rate. Despite the adverse report of CAG, the land was sold at Rs.700 per sq. mtr. instead of Rs.1,400. The company was caught in one of the highest scams, that is, of Rs.22,892 crore in 2016 but the FIR was filed very recently in February, 2022. Why is the delay? What is the current situation of the case? How is the Government planning to bring back the lost amount? I would request the hon. Minister to address this issue in his reply.
Along with these problems, the currentproblem being faced by the traders revolves around the ongoing war. There have been sanctions on the Russian ports which are important to the Indian market. Not only that, huge number of
obtaining containers are stuck in Russia leading to a dearth of the same. Freight rates have gone high. Perishable items of exports like fruits such as grapes are getting destroyed. In such a scenario, the traders and farmers are severely affected. I would like to request the Minister to look into the matter and also enlighten the House on the steps taken by the Government to combat the effects of war on shipping and its dependent industries. Here, I would like to ask the hon. Minister whether 21 stranded sailors near the Black Sea were rescued or not. This I say so because I did not get any update regarding the same. The shipping and port industry is plagued with regulatory and permissionrelated obstacles. Here, I would like to take the opportunity to mention that the Government of West Bengal has created a single window channel for all the works related to the non-major ports. Even the Tajpur port, which will be completed within three years, due to the efforts of our hon. Chief Minister, Mamata Bandyopadhyay, will boost the economy of the State. Similar steps should be taken for the major ports falling under the responsibility of the Central Government. The Waterways Authority of India has found out 25 out of 111 national waterways fit for cargo or passenger movements. The National Waterways No.44 on river Ichhamati is one of these. I would like to know from the Minister about the status of the construction work of the same. According to the detailed project report, it should have been completed within 24 months since the beginning of construction. Moreover, there are ferries already running in the areas along Bashirhat and Itinda. So, what will be the future of these ferries once the said waterway is constructed. Once the cargo transportation becomes operational, there is bound to be water pollution. How will that be taken care of? In 2020-21, the share of major ports had declined to 54 per cent while that
of non-major ports increased to 46 per cent. In the upcoming future the nonmajor ports will be handling more cargo and the Government in its 2021 Bill is centralising the power even more. The need of the hour is to decentralise and
give the State Governments their due share of power for a better future. With these words, I am concluding the speech, with thanks to the Chair for allowing me to complete my speech. I hope that the Minister will address the
issues which I have raised here