Tag: federalism

Derek O’Brien speaks on The Jammu & Kashmir Reservation (Amendment) Bill, 2019

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FULL TRANSCRIPT

Sir, today is a sad day. This morning, again in bus accident in Jammu & Kashmir in a gauge, 33 people lost their lives. Last week approximately 21 people lost their lives. These accidents keep happening and all of us, we tweet our condolences. The government of the day offers a package and then we get ready for the next accident and then life goes on. All of us need to work towards reducing these kinds of accidents, so that families don’t have to grieve like they are grieving today. 

Sir, two quick pints before I get into the resolution and the Bill; whenever I go to Jammu & Kashmir I am always requested that whenever you speak about Jammu & Kashmir, charcha jab hota hai, Ladakh aur Leh ka naam aap please lijiye Parliament mein.  So that is what we will all do. 

Sir, another quick point before we get to the meat of the debate. Sir, as Opposition members we always feel that when senior ministers come and respond to us, some of the points we raise maybe responded to because then we feel its a two-way debate. So, that is my request to the Home Minister today as well; because we raised, as an Opposition, some important points in the Motion of Thanks. One was on the Women’s Reservation Bill. Sir we didn’t get an answer. On the breakdown of institutions we didn’t get an answer. On electoral reforms, I’m a little more hopeful because the Prime Minister discussed it in his speech and now I am told that the Rajya Sabha is taking it up as a discussion on at least electoral reforms, especially the state funding of elections and the collegiums which must be set up for the EC. And, of course, federalism.

I am very hopeful that the Hon’ble Home Minister will answer some of these questions, because I remember on the May 17, 2019, he did have a historic press conference where he answered some questions on behalf of the Prime Minister. 

Sir, the Prime Minister talks to us about ‘One Nation, One Election’, one of the electoral reforms and many speakers before this have also brought it up. If you are having the parliament election, why didn’t you have the state election? Same booth, same time of the year, everything is the same. In fact, Rajnath Ji assured this House in January, “if the EC wants to have, we will have it”. Hon’ble Home Minister in the Lok Sabha said again, “if the EC wants to have it, we will have it”. On March 10, 2019 the elections were announced. On March 11, 2019 the EC appointed three observers. The House must know this, Sir, for Jammu & Kashmir. On April 15, 2019 these three observers of the EC submitted a report and in that report which was submitted by the EC it was said that it was conducive to polls. 

My party will support this resolution to have elections because we do believe that if this spirit of April 15, their observation, is taken, then in six months along with the other States, we should have polls. Let us not pass the buck to the EC because I don’t want to discuss the EC because there iss Rule 238 and we can discuss that matter. 

Sir, the second one, in the Other House, the Home Minister mentioned that three families have run the state of Jammu & Kashmir for the last 60 years. Yes, may be the HM would like to clarify in his reply that in the next 10 years, or 20 years, given an opportunity that his party will not touch any of the parties which are run by these three families. Let him give us an assurance on the floor of the House. Because his critics then might say, yes that for 60/70 years three families have run one state of Jammu & Kashmir but currently the nation is run by two families. 

My fourth point is regarding the Governor. This is another very important issue which I seek clarification on. Just after Pulwama, the Governor of the State of Jammu & Kashmir said, “Laparwahi huyi hain.” Kisne kiya yeh laparwahi? Who was responsible for this failure?

Sir even though I have to repeat that point again, in the last two years, out of 10 Bills passed, four were Ordinances. That number has to come down. Another Minister came and said last week, that we have to pass these Ordinances because the House was not running. You can not imply that the opposition is disrupting the House. The Government has to run the House with the Opposition. 

Now, Sir, come to the next point, which is Article 1 of the Constitution. “India that is Bharat is a Union of States”. Sir, now, on federalism, because the extension President’s Rule, affects the power of the State. Sir, with your permission I would speak for the next few minutes in Bangla.

এই যাকে আমরা বলি Federalism, যুক্তরাষ্ট্রীয় কাঠামো, এটাই সংবিধানের Spirit. জম্মু ও কাশ্মীর হোক, This is the core of federalism and since we have the Home Minister here, Sir, আম্বেদকরজী বলেছেন, আমি বলিনি, কংগ্রেস বলেনি, বিজেপি বলেনি, আম্বেদকর যেটা বুঝিয়েছেন, যখন যুদ্ধ হচ্ছে না, তখন সংবিধান হচ্ছে unitary. That means, only in times of war, the Constitution is unitary. Otherwise, Sir, it is federal in nature rest of the time. Centre must have hands off the State. কিন্তু, Sir, আজকে আমি স্বরাষ্ট্রমন্ত্রীকে জানাতে চাই, এই Federal spirit কাশ্মীর হোক, বাংলা হোক, উত্তর প্রদেশ হোক, কেরল হোক, বিহার হোক, মধ্যপ্রদেশ হোক, আপনি সাতদিনে বাংলায় দুটো অ্যাডভাইসরি পাঠিয়েছেন, আপনি কিন্তু উত্তর প্রদেশে কোনও অ্যাডভাইসরি পাঠাননি ওখানে ২৫ জন মারা যায়, বিহারে ১৩০ জন মারা যায়, আপনি কোনও অ্যাডভাইসরি পাঠাননি। Sir, the essence of Kashmir is exactly this. To leave the states alone.

Sir, this is a council of States so allow me to use examples of my State to make my point. 

কিছুক্ষণ আগে এখানে বিজেপির থেকে যিনি বললেন যে আমি কোনও রাজনীতি করব না, তারপরে কংগ্রেসকে ঠুকে দিলেন ৫০ বছরের জন্য। কংগ্রেস কংগ্রেস করলেন। আমি এখানে রাজনীতি করছি না, বাস্তব বলছি। দুদিন আগে বিজেপির বড় বড় বাংলার নেতা কি বললেন? “আপনার জন্য অনেক কিছু অপেক্ষা করছে। সংসদ চলছে বলে এখন নখ দাঁতগুলো দেখতে পাচ্ছেন না।”

I urge The Home Minister that he is not only BJP’s Home Minister, he is the Home Minister of all the States in India. Sir, what you say in an election campaign 

স্বরাষ্ট্রমন্ত্রী যেই হোন, তাঁকে শ্রদ্ধা করি, করতেই হবে। প্রধানমন্ত্রীকেও করতেই হবে। এটা আমাদের পরম্পরা। উনি বাংলায় এসে বলেছেন বাংলায় নাকি দুর্গাপুজো করতে দেওয়া হয়না। সরস্বতী পুজো করতে দেওয়া হয় না। বাংলায় ২৭ হাজার দুর্গাপুজো হয়, বড় করে বিসর্জন হয়, বাংলায় অনেক কিছু হয়। গঙ্গাসাগর মেলাও হয়। 

Sir, you are asking me why. I also don’t want to do Hindu and Muslim; they are all Indian citizens. Now, let me tell you about the second Bill you all bringing for the international border. There also we from the Trinamool Congress are supporting the Government, because we believe Indian citizens must be given all the benefits and rights. In UP, support the 125 families who were forced to leave because of harassment; a BJP leader has only complained about this. So I ask this government, through you, to support them. Why do you want to leave them out just because they are Hindus or Muslims? 

Sir, the NRC affects 23 lakh Bengali Hindus. Bengali Hindus are committing suicide in the Assam detention camps; support them also. 

Sir, if people want to look at Kashmir through the prism of Kashmir and not through the prism of Constitution of India and try and heckle me in the middle of my speech, I won’t stop. 

Five Hindu Bengalis were shot in Dibrugarh; a delegation of Trinamool lawmakers went to see them. Sir, why is the government targeting Indian citizens through NRC, be them a large number of Hindus and Bengalis?

Sir, my last two points before I finish. Sir, this is called the Council of States, if we as representatives of different states, are going to be told every 90 seconds ‘why are you discussing your state’ then tell us; we will start discussing the Union of India. Ambedkar Ji said, it’s only in times of war do we look at this Constitution as unitary. Rest of the time, it is federal.

Sir, Amit Shah Ji spent two days in Jammu and Kashmir as the Home Minister of India. I have got the diary, as reported in the Media. On the first day whatever he did and the first two hours of the second day whatever he did. It was all development package; everything which the Home Minister of India needed to do. Eighty thousand crore is a good figure but Rs 80,000 crore or even Rs 180,000 crore, Sir, can’t heal hearts. That’s a different kind of healing which is needed.

Our Hon’ Home Minister on the first one and a half days played the role of a Home Minster but on that second day when those cheques were distributed, those were given to BJP workers who were killed. PDP workers were killed, NC workers were also killed. As I said, he is not the Home Minister, but the BJP President as well. But at times like this, Sir and no talks with any political parties <interruptions>

Sir, let me then end with a true story. When I was in Jammu and Kashmir, as part of the Parliamentary Committee, we went to buy some kurtis. There we met a tailor and his son was there. So, I was asking him and trying to understand. I said what is the problem (this was one year ago) and how can we solve it. He said, “Jab tak Jammu and Kashmir tanav main rehega, uska faida ek political party ko baki 28 rajya main milta rehega. 

Very interesting point he said, Sir.

 

Manish Gupta speaks on the open physical threats to federalism by BJP leaders in Bengal and them announcing ‘President’s Rule’ and more after this Parliament session concludes

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FULL TRANSCRIPT

On 20th June in a public meeting at Paschim Medinipur a BJP leader and Former Union Minister has given an open threat to Bengal Chief Minister. He said, “A lot is waiting for you. The Parliament is still running so the nails and teeth are not being seen. See what happens when the parliament session is over.”

And another person who is the State President of BJP and now the Member of Parliament of Medinipur Constituency, said, “If you do not get the money, do not allow them to live in the village.”

These are the languages of the BJP leaders. They are instigating people to riot in Bengal. They are destroying the federal structure. In a democracy this is not done. 

Open threats to create violence in Bengal. Open threats to impose President’s rule in Bengal. I strongly urge the Government to take this issue seriously.

 

Country facing financial emergency due to demonetisation: Kalyan Banerjee in LS

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Chief Whip of Trinamool Congress in Lok Sabha, Kalyan Banerjee today cornered the government on the issue of demonetisation. During a discussion on the Motion of Thanks on President’s Address, he said the country is facing financial emergency due to demonetisation.

Kalyan Banerjee said that restrictions on withdrawing money violate Article 300 (A) of Constitution of India. Maintaining that Trinamool is not against curbing black money, Kalyan Banerjee demanded to know how much black money has been recovered after demonetisation and how much was brought back from abroad.

“Unemployment increased to 7% in the week following demonetisation and 25 crore daily wage workers lost their employment. 150 people have lost their lives. Cooperative banks were not allowed to exchange demonetised notes. The poorest of the poor take loans from cooperative banks not nationalised banks. Farmers do not have money to buy seeds and fertilizers. They are unable to sell their products. There has been 8% reduction in sales of two wheelers, 18.66% reduction in sales of four-wheelers,” he said.

On the issue of women empowerment, Kalyan Banerjee said that while the Centre allocated only Rs 200 crore for the entire country under Beti Bachao Beti Padhao scheme, Bengal government, under the leadership of Mamata Banerjee, allocated Rs 1000 crore for Kanyashree. He also urged the government to bring the Women’s Reservation Bill.

Kalyan Banerjee slammed the govt on the issue of federalism. He asked under what provisions of law was the Centre bypassing the States. He accused the present Prime Minister of India of acting as an autocrat and taking away powers of the States. He also wanted to know how much money is being spent by the government for publicity.

Calling ‘Digital India’ only a slogan, Kalyan Banerjee said most areas do not have proper mobile networks. He said the minister must prepare the infrastructure before coining slogans. He reminded the government that only slogan-baazi will not solve problems.

The MP also said that year after year tall promises are made in the President’s speech but they are not met.

Trinamool MPs raise matters of public importance during Zero Hour in Rajya Sabha

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Trinamool MPs – Derek O’Brien, Vivek Gupta, Nadimul Haque – today raised several matters of public importance during Zero Hour in Rajya Sabha.

While Derek O’Brien spoke on securing interests of Indian IT firms creating value globally, Vivek Gupta demanded an investigation into the case of missing JNU student Najeeb. Nadimul Haque’s Zero Hour mention on honouring the glory of former sportspersons received support across the aisle.

“We need to protect the Indian IT companies. They play a positive role across the world. The software engineers are a jewel in the crown of Indian and international workforce,” Derek said.

Click here to read the full transcript of his speech.

Vivek Gupta said that the issue of missing student Najeeb is a clear case of political vendetta and wondered if Najeeb will become yet another statistic of missing person.

Click here to read the full transcript of his speech.

Nadimul Haque, in his speech, cited several examples of  several international medalists medallists who have become now drivers, stone quarry worker etc.

Click here to read the full transcript of his speech.

Vivek Gupta also made a special mention on the issue of federalism. “Centre has not given any moratorium to Bengal for debt relief but has helped foreign countries. Centre has done nothing for the shortage of IAS/IPS officers in the State,” he said.

He added, “Centre, of late, has been taking several decision arbitrarily without consulting the States. Centre has decided to remit money to MGNREGA directly. This is a direct attack on States’ fiscal independence.”

Click here to read the full transcript of his speech.

 

দেশের নানা গুরুত্বপূর্ণ বিষয় রাজ্যসভায় উত্থাপিত করলেন তৃণমূল সাংসদরা 

আজ রাজ্যসভায় জিরো আওয়ার চলাকালীন তৃণমূল সাংসদ ডেরেক ও’ব্রায়েন, বিবেক গুপ্তা ও নাদিমুল হক বেশ কিছু গুরুত্বপূর্ণ বিষয়ে সরকারের দৃষ্টি আকর্ষণ করেন।
এইচ ১বি ভিসা ইস্যুতে ডেরেক ও’ব্রায়েন তথ্যপ্রযুক্তি কর্মীদের স্বার্থ সুরক্ষিত করার দাবী করেন। জেএনএউ এর ছাত্র নাজিবের নিরুদ্দেশ হওয়ার ব্যাপারে তদন্তের দাবি জানান বিবেক গুপ্তা। নাদিমুল হক প্রাক্তন খেলোয়াড়দের অর্থনৈতিক অবস্থার উন্নতির প্রসঙ্গ তোলেন যা কক্ষে উপস্থিত সকলেই সমর্থন করেন।
বিবেক গুপ্তা বলেন, নাজিবের নিরুদ্দেশ হওয়া একটি রাজনৈতিক প্রতিহিংসার ঘটনা। তিনি সরকারের কাছে আবেদন করেন নাজিব যেন শুধুই নিরুদ্দেশের পরিসংখ্যান হয়ে থেকে না যায়।
নাদিমুল হক তাঁর বক্তব্যে  আন্তর্জাতিক পুরস্কারপ্রাপ্ত অনেক খেলোয়াড়দের প্রসঙ্গ তোলেন যারা এখন জীবিকা নির্বাহের জন্য পাথরের খাদানে কিংবা ড্রাইভারের কাজ করছেন।
বিবেক গুপ্তা যুক্তরাষ্ট্রীয় পরিকাঠামোর ব্যাপারে একটি ‘স্পেশ্যাল মেনশন’ পেশ করেন। তিনি বলেন, কেন্দ্রীয় সরকার বাংলার ঋণ মুকুবের ক্ষেত্রে কিছু না করলেও অন্যান্য অনেক দেশকে আর্থিক সাহায্য করছে। রাজ্যে আইএএস ও আইপিএস আধিকারিকদের ঘাটতি নিয়েও কিছু করেনি কেন্দ্র। তিনি বলেন, এই সরকার রাজ্যের সঙ্গে কোনও আলোচনা না করে অনেক সিদ্ধান্ত নিচ্ছে।

Withdraw the draconian decision of demonetisation: Trinamool at All Party Meet

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Trinamool Congress today urged the Centre to withdraw the draconian decision of demonetisation for the time being and give people some breathing space.

Trinamool voiced its concerns about this ‘financial emergency’ at an All-Party Meeting ahead of the Winter Session of Parliament. Sudip Bandyopadhyay (Leader of the party in Lok Sabha) and Derek O’Brien (Leader of the party in Rajya Sabha) represented Trinamool at the meeting.

“Trinamool was the first party to submit a Suspension Notice in Rajya Sabha on November 10. We are happy other parties followed us,” Sudip Bandyopadhyay said.

“We outlined the suffering of the common people due to demonetisation. We maintained that a proper plan of action is needed before proceeding. This is a hasty, unprepared decision” he added.

“Trinamool is not in favour of black money. We are the first party to wear black shawls in Parliament as a mark of protest,” said the veteran leader.

Trinamool also raised the issues of surgical strike in Jammu & Kashmir, federalism, state funding of elections and OROP implementation at the meet. The party also demanded that the Citizenship Bill be withdrawn.

As the All Party Meet began, Sudip Bandyopadhyay announced that Trinamool Congress has now been recognised as a National Party. This announcement was greeted with thumping of desks by representatives of all parties.

 

নোট বাতিলের এই হঠকারী সিদ্ধান্ত অবিলম্বে প্রত্যাহার করা উচিতঃ সর্বদল বৈঠকে তৃণমূল

আজ সর্বদল বৈঠকে নোট বাতিলের এই হঠকারী সিদ্ধান্তকে প্রত্যাহার করার এবং সাধারণ মানুষকে আর কিছু সময় দেওয়ার আর্জি জানিয়েছে তৃণমূল।

সংসদের শীতকালীন অধিবেশনের আগে সর্বদল বৈঠকে দেশে অর্থনৈতিক জরুরী অবস্থা চলছে বলে উদ্বেগ প্রকাশ করে তৃণমূল। লোকসভার দলনেতা সুদীপ বন্দ্যোপাধ্যায় এবং রাজ্যসভার দলনেতা ডেরেক ও ব্রায়েন তৃণমূলের প্রতিনিধি হিসাবে বৈঠকে উপস্থিত ছিলেন।

সুদীপ বন্দ্যোপাধ্যায় বলেন, তৃণমূল কংগ্রেস প্রথম দল যারা রাজ্য সভায় সাসপেনশন নোটিস দিয়েছে। আমরা খুশি যে অন্য দলেরাও আমাদের অনুসরণ করেছে।

তিনি আরও বলেন, “নোট বাতিলের জন্য সাধারণ মানুষের চরম ভোগান্তি হচ্ছে। এই প্রক্রিয়া চালু করার আগে একটি সঠিক পরিকল্পনা করার প্রয়োজন ছিল। এটা একটা হঠকারী সিদ্ধান্ত”।

সাংসদ জানান, “তৃণমূল কালো টাকার পক্ষে নয়। আমরাই প্রথম দল যারা সংসদে কালো শাল গায়ে দিয়ে কালো টাকার বিরুদ্ধে প্রতিবাদ জানিয়েছে”।

এদিন সর্বদল বৈঠকে জম্মু ও কাশ্মীরে সার্জিক্যাল স্ট্রাইকের ইস্যু, যুক্ত রাষ্ট্রীয় পরিকাঠামো, নির্বাচনী সংস্কার, ওআরওপি বাস্তবায়ন এই সব বিষয়ও উত্থাপিত করে তৃণমূল কংগ্রেস। এদিন নাগরিকত্ব বিল প্রত্যাহার করার দাবিও জানায় তৃণমূল।

সর্বদল বৈঠক শুরু হওয়ার সঙ্গে সঙ্গেই সুদীপ বন্দ্যোপাধ্যায় জানান, তৃণমূল কংগ্রেস এখন জাতীয় দল হিসাবে স্বীকৃতি পেয়েছে। এই ঘোষণার সঙ্গে সঙ্গে সব দলের প্রতিনিধিরা তাদের অভিনন্দন জানান।

 

Mamata Banerjee slams Centre: Worse than Emergency

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Chief minister Mamata Banerjee on Friday stepped up the ante against the BJP-led Centre, slamming it for unleashing a political vendetta that was “worse than Emergency”.

The CM, who had earlier in a social media post called the 1-day ban on NDTV India “shocking“ and smacking of “Emergency-like attitude“, alleged that the Narendra Modi-government was practically running a presidential form of government that was bent on curtailing democratic rights.

“I am appealing to all political parties. I have to tell all my friends to come together and sit together. Let us fight to gether. If anybody comes, it is up to them,“ she told reporters at Nabanna, the state secretariat. “Nobody should question our patriotism. We all love our country . No one is anti-Indian,“ she added.

“Today somebody is in power, tomorrow someone else will be in power. But they are setting a wrong precedent.If this method is followed, the country will suffer,“ she said.

“Rahul Gandhi was detained. He had gone to meet the family of a deceased jawan. The Delhi CM was detained. We believe in democracy , we respect federalism. But that is under attack,“ she said.

The Centre, she accused, wants to control the media and even the state governments. “The Prime Minister bypasses an elected CM and interacts with the state chief secretary . Is this federalism? If we don’t (fall in line) they will put (central) agencies on your back,“ she said, adding: “ A government needs to act as per its legal mandate. It can’t be fanning communal and sectarian divide.“

On the one-day gag order on a media channel, she said, “Media will do its duty . Even here so many media are critical of me.If they err, you have legal provisions. Let the highest authority decide.”

 

দেশের অবস্থা জরুরির চেয়েও ভয়ংকরঃ মুখ্যমন্ত্রী

শুক্রবার মুখ্যমন্ত্রী মমতা বন্দ্যোপাধ্যায় কেন্দ্রের রাজনৈতিক প্রতিহিংসার সমালোচনা করে বলেন, দেশের অবস্থা এখন জরুরী অবস্থার চেয়েও ভয়ংকর।

এনডিটিভি-র হিন্দি সংবাদ চ্যানেল সম্প্রচারে মোদি সরকারের নিষেধাজ্ঞা জারি করার ঘটনায় তীব্র প্রতিক্রিয়া জানিয়ে বলেন যে এই ঘটনা ‘জরুরি অবস্থার চেয়েও ভয়ংকর’। নরেন্দ্র মোদির সরকার কার্যত মানুষের গণতান্ত্রিক অধিকারকে খর্ব করার চেষ্টা করছে”।

নবান্নে সাংবাদিকদের তিনি বলেন, “আমি সব রাজনৈতিক দলের কাছে আবেদন করছি আসুন আমরা সকলে লড়াই করব।তিনি আরও বলেন, আমাদের দেশপ্রেম নিয়ে কারো প্রশ্ন করা উচিত নয়. আমরা সবাই আমাদের দেশকে ভালোবাসি। আমরা কেউ ভারত বিরোধী নই”।

“আজ একজন ক্ষমতায় আছে, কাল অন্য কেউ ক্ষমতায় আসবে। কিন্তু ওরা ভুল পথ অনুসরণ করছে। এই পদ্ধতি অনুসরণ করে চললে দেশের ক্ষতি হবে”, বলেন মুখ্যমন্ত্রী।

রাহুল গান্ধী ও অরবিন্দ কেজরিঅয়ালকে আটক করার ঘটনার তীব্র নিন্দা করে মুখ্যমন্ত্রী বলেন, “রাহুল গান্ধী ওই জওয়ানের পরিবারের সঙ্গে দেখা করতে গিয়েছিলেন বলে তাঁকে আটক করা হয়েছিল। এমনকি দিল্লীর মুখ্যমন্ত্রীকেও আটক করা হয়েছিল। আমরা গণতন্ত্রে বিশ্বাসী, আমরা ফেডেরালিজমকে সম্মান করি, কিন্তু এই কাজ রাজনৈতিক শিষ্টাচার বিরোধী”।

কেন্দ্র এখন মিডিয়ার পাশাপাশি রাজ্য সরকারকেও কন্ট্রোল করতে চাইছে বলেও এদিন অভিযোগ করেন মুখ্যমন্ত্রী।

তিনি বলেন, “মিডিয়া তার কাজ করবে। নির্বাচনের সময় অনেক মিডিয়া আমাদের বিরোধিতা করেছে। আমরা কোন প্রতিহিংসামূলক পদক্ষেপ নিইনি। দরকার হলে আইনি পদ্ধতি আছে তা অনুসরণ করতে হবে কিন্তু এভাবে কারো মত প্রকাশের অধিকার খর্ব করা যায় না। এটা সংবিধান স্বীকৃত ব্যবস্থা। একে মান্যতা দিতেই হবে”।

 

 

Mamata Banerjee tears into Central Govt. Here are 10 things she said

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Mamata Banerjee tears into the Central Government. Here are 10 things she said:

  • The situation in the country is worse than Emergency now.
  • In the name of cooperative federalism, opinions of States are being bulldozed. This is dictatorship. This is against spirit of Constitution. The Centre is not taking States on board. We have never faced such discrimination before. Is the Centre following Presidential form of government? Where is federalism?
  • The Centre’s Kashmir policy failed. Their diplomacy is a disaster. Pakistan issue has become worse because of the Centre’s failure. I believe apart from Finance, Rail, Defence and External Affairs, Centre should not have any other subject in its jurisdiction. In the name of external affairs, the Centre goes on foreign trips. Rail Budget is also being done away with.
  • If States pay most of the funds, why should the schemes be named after leaders of the ruling party in the Centre. I have never seen a more arrogant Central Government. Do they want to do away with State governments? The Centre wants to control how States spend their Budget money? They want to appoint a person to State treasury. Why? They want to control the functioning of the States even at BDO level. Why will we allow that?
  • Few days ago, the Union Finance Minister paid tributes to Netaji on his “death anniversary”. Are these mistakes or planned actions? Bhashan on social media can get you votes. But what about nation-building? BJP is a hi-tech publicity oriented party. Under Narendra Modi’s government, the entire country has lost freedom again.
  • We are protesting against the Centre’s interference. We are being victimised. We will approach the President of India about the Centre’s undue interference in the business of States.
  • Federal structure is being bulldozed by the unilateral, arbitrary action of the Centre. This is a dangerous ‘red’ signal to stop democratic system. If the Centre does not correct its course, we will be forced to hit the streets.
  • Inflation is up. Development projects for weaker sections are stagnant. There is controversy over GDP numbers. Narendra Modi suddenly went to Pakistan on their PM’s birthday. Surprise visit. Many things happened after that. Total mishandling. In the name of gau-raksha there is violence across the country.
  • The Centre will be strengthened if the States are empowered.
  • Tamil Nadu has also expressed strong opinion on various issues. We will discuss with other Opposition-ruled States. Every party must come together to fight unitedly against the attempts by Modi Govt to thwart the federal structure.

Trinamool condemns CBI raid at Delhi CM’s office

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National Spokesperson of the party and Leader of the party in Rajya Sabha, Derek O’Brien today called the CBI raid at Delhi Chief Minister’s unprecedented and demanded clarification from the Central government.

“Has Emergency been declared?” he asked in a statement posted on the party’s Twitter channel.

Trinamool also gave a notice in Rajya Sabha under Rule 267 to suspend usual business and immediately take up discussion on the CBI raid at Delhi CM’s office.

“This is an issue about the country and the federal structure. This is beyond a party issue. The office of a democratically elected CM has been raided by CBI,” Derek said in Rajya Sabha.

“CBI reports directly to the Prime Minister. Files in Chief Minister’s office have been gone through. he BJP is trying to kill the States. They are destroying federalism,” he added while maintaining that the party was not trying to defend any corrupt official.

Trinamool MPs also raised the slogan “Bachao bachao federalism” in Rajya Sabha.

Tweet by Derek O’Brien:

Tweet by Mamata Banerjee:

Derek slams BJP for ‘cowboy constitutionalism’

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Leader of the Trinamool Congress in Rajya Sabha, Derek O’Brien today slammed the BJP for its ‘cowboy constitutionalism’. He was speaking during a special discussion on the occasion of 125th birth anniversary year of Dr BR Ambedkar and Constitution Day.

He slammed Arun Jaitley, the Leader of the House, for his disparate remarks about the legality of Rajya Sabha. Citing the example of how the Constituent Assembly was indirectly elected by State Legislatures, Derek said that this was a precursor to the Rajya Sabha.

Spree of Ordinances

Derek O’Brien went on to take on the spree of Ordinances under the current government. “For every ten Bills passed, the number of Ordinances under Pandit Nehru was one, during Janata Party rule it was 1.2. During the UPA 2 regime, 1.9 Ordinances were passed for every ten Bills. In the last 18 months, the number has gone up to three. This is another instance of cowboy constitutionalism of the BJP,” he said.

Actions not words

Highlighting the fact that the Constituent Assembly drafted the Constitution in less than three years, Derek rued the fact that several key bills, like Women’s Reservation Bill, were pending now for decades. “It is time for action. Trinamool Congress believes in action. 35% (12 out of 34) of our MPs in Lok Sabha are women,” he said.

Secularism debate

Speaking about secularism, Derek said that the line separating the fringe and the mainstream was fast blurring. Voices of divisiveness, which had gone silent for the last 10-12 years, were speaking up again. “We have to decide which idea of India we will adopt,” he said while slamming the divisive ideology of Guru Gowalkar. He quoted Mamata Banerjee, who in December, 2014, had said, “The Constitution is the only holy book of this great nation.”

Federalism

Derek O’Brien slammed the Centre on the issue of federalism. “On one hand you celebrate the birth anniversary of Dr Ambedkar and on the other hand you cut funds for BRGF which benefits backward castes,” he said. He raised the issue of devolution of funds and criticised the Centre’s decision to delink funds for 8 schemes and tinkering with funds for 24 other schemes.

Constructive suggestion

While concluding his speech Derek gave a constructive suggestion of setting up of CAM (Constituent Assembly Modules) where young students can participate and share their ideas.

 

Click here for the full transcript

Centre running parallel govt through governors: Mamata Banerjee

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Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee Wednesday accused the Centre of running a parallel government in states through governors, and creating a communal charged atmosphere.

At a chief ministers’ conclave on cooperative federalism organised by the Delhi government, she said, “They are using the governor to run a parallel government and scuttle the work of elected chief ministers. I can understand that law and order in Delhi is under the home ministry, but how can the West Bengal Governor write to the Centre seeking central forces for municipal elections there?”

“People from the BJP are threatening us with arrest, saying the Election Commission is under them. The Prime Minister should look into this. One cannot bulldoze states in the name of governance,” she added.

“They (Centre) are making things communal, looking at the religion of people killed in accidents to vitiate the atmosphere. If two people die in West Bengal, the NIA is rushed to the state, but when 100 people died in Madhya Pradesh not a word is said because it has a BJP government. This is not good governance,” Mamata Banerjee said.

She advised the Centre to restrict itself to making policies and administering sectors such as defence and railways and “nothing else”. She also slammed the Centre for disbanding the Planning Commission, which she said was the brain child of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose.

“The government is running without any planning. They have also disbanded the National Development Council where the CMs used to get a common platform. You have formed NITI Aayog and made your own man its chairman…it’s not about our ideological differences but we are having issues in functioning,” she said.