TMC supports Citizenship (Amendment) Bill in LS but slams Centre for Ordinance route

Trinamool MPs today slammed the Centre in Lok Sabha for taking the ordinance route to the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2015. Although they support the Bill, they reject the approach to the amendment.

 

 

“This Government has brought six Ordinances and trying to run the country through an Ordinance Raj” said Saugata Roy in Lok Sabha.

Click here for the full transcript to Saugata Roy’s speech.

Ratna De Nag also raised a concern about the same issue stating the “specific Amendment is expected to replace in Sec 5 of the Citizenship Act, instead of words ‘has been residing in India for one year’ with ‘is ordinarily resident in India for 12 months’. Likewise overseas citizen of India is substituted with overseas citizen of India card-holder. But I would like to put my objection to the way in which it was brought to the House through Ordinance. I object the Ordinance.”

Click here for the full transcript to Ratna De Nag’s speech.

Saugata Roy Speaks on Citizenship (Amendment) Ordinance, 2015 | Transcript

Regarding the speech by Dr Sanjay Jaiswal of BJP where he made a mention of what I had said earlier on the Citizenship (Amendment) Ordinance. Unless he had mentioned my name, I would not have risen and taken the time of the House. On our behalf Ratna De will speak and please allow me two minutes.

Sir, Rule 357 says a Member may with the permission of the Speaker, make a personal explanation, although there is no question before the House, but in the case no debatable matter may be brought forward and no debate shall arise.

Sir, I was told, as I was not here,  the Citizenship Bill was being discussed, while discussing the Bill, Dr Jaiswal made a reference to the points I made while opposing the introduction of the Bill the other day. I had mentioned that this Government has brought six Ordinances and trying to run the country through an Ordinance Raj. So this is not good governance. I am told that Dr Sanjay Jaiswal had stated that in West Bengal MPs are being arrested. He also said the Chief Minister’s companion is being arrested.

Now, when I made the reference I did not mention which ruling party President was arrested earlier.  I also did not mention which ruling party Chief Minister was arrested earlier. I also did not mention how the President of the ruling party was let off by the CBI in a case of rioting and murder. I have not mentioned.

I want these references by Dr Sanjay Jaiswal should be deleted as I was not even in the House when my references were made.

Trinamool’s day in Parliament

After playing the role of the principal Opposition party in the Winter Session of Parliament, Trinamool Congress is again dominating the proceedings of the House in the Budget Session.

After raising a Zero Hour discussion on Mother Teresa yesterday in the Rajya Sabha, Trinamool won the support of the major Opposition parties. The party also slammed the Government during the Motion of Thanks on the President’s Address.

On Friday, Debabrata Bandyopadhyay raised the issue of Santhali language being represented in Devnagari script instead of in Ol Chiki in an advertisement published by the Ministry of Human Resource Development. He called it an insult to the Santhal community and demanded an apology from the Government.

During a Zero Hour discussion in the Rajya Sabha, Vivek Gupta asked the Government to reconsider delinking forest land from the wildlife impact assessment system by the National Wildlife Board and allowing adjustment within a 10 km range of national wildlife zones for such clearances. He said that forest cover can be increased while going for sustainable development, environment and infrastructure.

During a Question Hour in the Rajya Sabha, senior MP Sukhendu Sekhar Roy questioned the Government on why 14 districts have been excluded from the coverage of handloom marketing assistance. Also speaking on the handloom industry, Rajya Sabha MP Vivek Gupta asked the Government why two jute units in West Bengal have been removed from a BIFR assistance scheme and also, why there has been no increase in the number of people in the handloom industry in the state getting health insurance, from the 2012-13 numbers.

Kalyan Banerjee speaks on Motion of Thanks on President’s Address | Transcript

Full transcript of the speech: 

I wanted to appreciate the Presidential Address, but considering the fact that it is nothing but jugglery of words I am not in a position to appreciate that .It could be titled as “batein zyaada, kaam kam”, talk more work less.

The people of the country have seen that the Government has not been able to achieve what they promised during the last 9 months. We have seen their arrogance. Sir, few ministers have arrogated themselves with the power. Before I deal with the clause by clause of the address, Sir, we have long been pursuing for a waiver of the huge debt burden left by the previous Government in West Bengal. We have waited for more than three and half years with no results unfortunately the President’s address did not address our demand or grievance.

Sir, I want to point out that, we appreciate this, that the Government of India through the Ministry of HRD had published a message on the eve of the Marathi Matri Bhasa Divas on 21 February 2015 in one of the national English newspapers in 22 scheduled languages of India. For the Santhali language, Debnagari script is used instead of Ol Chiki script. The script of Santhal community is Ol Chiki script. Please take corrective steps in future.

Sir, Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana it has started already earlier from Panchayat level. In every Panchayat and villages there is no bank. First take steps to open branches of the bank in every village. Sir, in West Bengal, Government has let out of houses to banks at the Village level at Re 1 for the benefit of the villagers.

Sir, under direct benefit transfer scheme, public is getting harassed. They are spending more money to get subsidy. Regarding school toilets we appreciate your view. In West Bengal it is almost covered. But we have a request to the Central Government to take steps for cleaning of toilets. Provide 1% to clean toilets.

Skill India is not a new concept. We have already made a good numbers of ITIs and Polytechnics. Out if 341 blocks in West Bengal, 100 ITIs and Polytechnics are complete and in 100 blocks are in progress.

Housing for all, we appreciate it. But you must clarify what do you mean by that? Housing for all means 125 crore people of the Country? Of one family member? If for one family then how many members? It cannot be a vague one.

So far financial benefits are concerned; financial benefits are being reduced by this Government. In 100 days work, they have reduced it from Rs 1.50 lakh crore to Rs 1 lakh crore. Instead of 100 days, it has gone down to 40-50 days. They have reduced the financial benefit also for construction of Gramin Roads.

So far Land Bill is concerned we are opposing it. Sir, we are very much clear. In 2013 also we opposed the Bill, because the cultivator’s rights cannot be taken away.

Sir, in 2007 our leader Mamata Banerjee fasted for 26 days for Singur near Kolkata. And I am not taking the name, one of the very senior stalwart leader of Bharatiya Janta Party had gone at that time and was with Mamata Di for a few hours. I convey my heartiest thanks to that leader on behalf of my party. I request that Leader, what you stood for that day; today also stand for the grievances of the cultivators. Do not take away the right of the cultivators.

Sir, churches are being burnt. Dharmantakaran is going on at every state. Man ka jo vikash hain, us man ka vikash mein dharm rahte hain. Dharam alag jaga mein nahin rahta hain.

During the Christmas vacation, I went to Turkey. I had one guide who told me that Turkey is a secular country. He told me that there are 98% Muslims in Turkey. I asked him, what is your religion? He told me that he was a Muslim. He also asked me what my religion was and I told him that I was a Hindu. He told me that our religion is the origin of all religions. He told that our religion has two important features which were, not to kill any life and the second one was to love each and everyone in this world. He said that he respects our view. Hinduism says to respect and tolerate all religions of the world. That is the foundation of the Hindu religion.

In Turkey, I was thinking that if the message of that Muslim guide could be conveyed to Members of the Ruling Party, our country would have gone in the correct direction and in the correct path.

Sir, I would request the Hon’ble Prime Minister, first decide your vision, then take your decision. Kindly, do not be a prisoner of indecision in this country in respect of religion, emotion and religious thoughts.

Works related to girl child is good, but what have you done? Are you asking for only advertisement, propaganda? What have you done? Rs 100 crore allocated to girl child’s benefit. In our State, our Chief Minister, only for one State, has allocated Rs 850 crore allocated for the Kanyashree scheme. If you want, we are ready to cooperate for the benefits of the women of this country.

I read, long back, during World War II, all citizens of the country had gone to war. One professor was in his library, studying. A soldier entered his library and wanted to kill him. When the professor asked why the soldier wanted to kill him, the soldiers said that all had gone to war for the country while the professor was in his library. The professor asked what the soldier meant by the country and the soldier described the country and the culture. The professor said, victory is our game, peace is preserved, history is made not in battlefields but in educational institutions. Education is the sea bed of culture. It has to be improved. But allocate money. Don’t go by prachar. Don’t go by advertisement. Go by work that will fulfill the purpose. We will request the Hon’ble Prime Minister. You have undertaken a job, finish it.

Someone was referring to Swami Vivekananda early in the morning. Kindly convey to the Hon’ble Prime Minister, if you want to build up, if you want to really help the girl child, allocate Rs 50,000 crore for that scheme, in that case it can be done, otherwise not. Otherwise the scheme will be advertisement for the purpose of the Government.

Sir, health is a State subject. Leave it to the State. But allocate money to State Governments so that they can work. During the nine months they are still running for the benefits.

Provident fund employee benefits are not being given to the workers at all.

Contracted laborers in this country do not have security in their employment. In the 15th Lok Sabha, the Standing Committee on Coal submitted a recommendation to the Government that whenever and contract laborer is there for a period of more than five years if it is of pertinent character, frame out a scheme, absorb the contract laborers there. Keep the contract laborers in their workshops decades after decades. Do not exploit them.

Sir, regarding governance procure and transfer, we have done it all in our State. It is not a new thing . We have a question on governance. Do you have any administrative calendar? Do the Prime Minister hold meeting at grass root level for the purpose of good governance? Our Chief Minister has done it. She chaired more than 80 meetings at the grass root level.

Sir, the problem in our country is, where is trust? The Government has to trust the Minister and the administrative officers. Let that trust be built up first.

Sir, what Digital India has been made? Advertisement? Even in Delhi, even in the MP’s houses we do not get any Wi-Fi benefit. If you use MTNL, every minute there is a drop. For a conversation of five minutes, you need to call five times. Digital India is a very good concept but make it effective. Make it available to the people at large.

Power crisis should not remain in the summer. What power benefits have you given? Nothing. In every state, mostly in the Northern States, power crisis is there. Due to the power crisis, water supply is not there. I went to Bangalore a few days back. There people said that there is dearth of water in Bangalore. What has been done? Nothing had been done it is just in the advertisement purpose.

FDI, we are opposing. Do not try to sell the country to the foreign investment. This country has a lot of investors. This country has lots of industrialists and retailers. Do not be an agent of the foreigners.

Deep sea port we are welcoming it. In Sundarbans, the State Government has cleared everything that is concerned with the deep sea port. I am requesting the concerned minister to kindly take steps for the deep sea port.

In respect of the black money, it has become a mockery. Every people of the country laughs towards you when you say that ‘we will recover black money.’ You have spoken; you have made a promise that within 100 days money will be returned back. 100 days have gone, 9 months have gone and the black money has not yet reached. People have not yet got Rs 15 lakhs.

You have got the results. Do not talk about Saradha, you have lost the elections in Bongaon by-elections by more than 2 lakh votes. Do not open your mouth. Your mouth has been shut down by the people of the Bengal. CBI has said in the Gujarat case that there are materials against one person, but now after the election is over materials are not there. Surprising, this is surprising. I was telling in the beginning that few of the Council of Ministers have arrogated themselves with power. Now I say that every members of the Bharatiya Janata Party have arrogated themselves with power. They are have the power and want to bulldoze everything. They have the power and are becoming vindictive, they have the power, so they are putting people behind in jails, they have the power so shut the voice of the persons who are opposing you. This is the Bharatiya Janata Party; this is the ruling party in concern.

Sir, Delhi has given a lesson to them. Bihar is waiting in 2015. You wanted to break through in Bihar and you could not achieve, Bihar is waiting. Come to West Bengal in 2016, we will show you what Mamata Banerjee is. Somebody will be flying from Gujarat; someone will be flying from Delhi. They cannot take the hold of Bengal. ‘Banglar mati durjoy ghati, bujhe nik durbritto.’ Banglar mati te ashun. Delhi se urke kuch nehi hota hai.

Sir, let me tell you one thing, you will be interested. Their party’s President in the State level has lost all elections, since elections. That is the BJP Party in West Bengal. Hindi me ek gana hai Sir, Kuri meri swapne me milte hai, aur unlogo ka swapne me milta hai. Unlogo ke Swapne me rehne dijiye, koi asubida nehi hai.

Again I am saying, come in 2016, come there and let us see your strength and let you see the strength of Mamata Banerjee in West Bengal.

Thank you Sir.

Saugata Roy opposes the withdrawal of Citizenship (Amendment) Bill 2014 | Transcript

Saugata Roy opposes the withdrawal of Citizenship (Amendment) Bill 2014.

Transcript of his speech:

Under Rule 119, I have moved a notice to oppose the motion to withdrawal of the Bill. This withdrawal effort shows the way the Government is functioning.

Madam, I think on 19 Dec 2014 the Government has introduced the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill 2014. Then, within 15 days, they introduced on 6 January, 2015 a Citizenship (Amendment) Ordinance, 2015. Now when they introduced the Bill, did they not think that it needed changes? And I noticed the Bill and the Ordinances. Now the Government cannot bring a Bill to replace the Ordinance because the former Act is still in the House. So, they have come for withdrawing. So, I want a clarification from the Government as to why they are withdrawing a Bill introduced on 19 December and wanting to move another Bill. The Government has not clarified.

I have noticed very carefully, that the Bill and the Ordinance introduced later, they are almost identical. What is the change for which the same Government, within 15 days removes an Act and introduces an Ordinance? This is not the way a Government should function when it brings a Bill to this august House. It should be clear.

When the Bill was introduced, it was introduced by HS Harbhai Parthabai Chowdhury. Now I find that Mr Kiran Rijiju moving this Withdrawal Motion. We would like a clarification from the Government before they go to withdraw the Bill. This is a new style the Government is having. In 15 days it brings an Ordinance to replace the original Bill.

WB CM demands immediate withdrawal of the Land Acquisition Ordinance

West Bengal Chief Minister Ms Mamata Banerjee demanded immediate withdrawal of the Land Acquisition Ordinance, terming it as ‘draconian’.

“Immediately withdraw land ordinance. It is draconian. It will affect the farmers. We have always opposed this,” the Trinamool Congress Chairperson said in a Twitter post.

“We do not support forceful land acquisition. I have gone on 26-days hunger strike in the past for this cause,” she said.

The Land Acquisition Bill was introduced by the Central Government in Lok Sabha today, amid united protests by the entire Opposition.

Trinamool Congress, which had rode to power in the 2011 West Bengal Assembly polls with the anti-land acquisition stand as one of its main planks, opposed the Ordinance in both Houses of Parliament during the day.

The Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition Rehabilitation and Resettlement (Amendment) Bill 2015 was first introduced in the Lok Sabha amid an uproar by the opposition.

Saugata Roy speaks on Motion of Thanks for the President’s Speech | Transcript

Saugata Roy speaks on Motion of Thanks for the President’s Speech.

Transcript of his speech:

Sir, I stand up to speak on behalf of All India Trinamool Congress on Motion of Thanks and stand here in support of my amendments.

I think at this stage this article 87, by which President makes his speech to parliament needs to be freshly thought of. It makes a person speak what he does not believe in. That is President’s speech. The President’s speech has quoted various persons and announced schemes in new name. That includes quotes from Shyamprasad Mukherjee and Din Dayal Upadhyaya. The President’s speech does not have any quote from Gandhiji, Jawaharlal Nehru, Rabindranath or Vivekananda. Now these two persons were just leaders of BJP, they were not national leaders, why should they be quoted in the President’s speech? And also, there is a new scheme has been announced under the name of Nanaji Deshmukh, he was not even a leader of BJP, and a new scheme has been announced by the President in his name. I strongly object to that.

Sir, the President’s speech mentions some new steps. The Government has been busy in dismantling old structures and repackaging old schemes. They have dismantled the planning commission and jettisoned the planning process without any consultation and consensus of the States. But nobody till now knows what the NITI Ayog is supposed to do? How the finances, planned fund for the states will be distributed. Sir, they have discontinued the JNURM for the towns but the Urban Development Mission has not yet been finanlised. Nobody knows what the ‘smart cities’ stand for. So the whole Government seems to be a Work In Progress. Nothing has been finalised. Sir, the Government has only repacked old schemes, the Accelerated Irrigation Benefit Programme has become Pradhan Mantri Sichai Jo, The Nirmal Bharat  Abhiyan has become Swach Bharat Mission, The Prime Minister’s Financial Inclusion Programme which was in the 12th plan document  has become PM’s Jan Dhan Yojana, Rajiv Gandhi Gramin Bidyutikaran Yojana has become the Din Dayal Upadhaya Gram Jyoti Yojana,  the Direct Benefit Transfer scheme has become Pehel , Ganga action plan has become  Namami Ganga. Sir, in this house I have objected for, all new schemes being named after Nehrus and Gandhis Gandhiji and Nehru and I wanted schemes in the name of  Netaji. But, the new government does not think Netaji’s name should be there, and only in the name of small leaders of the party they have named new schems. Din Dayal Upadhyaya has 3 schemes in his name. Din Dayal Upadhyaya Gramin Koushal Yojana,and Din Dayal Upadhyaya Antoday Yojana. So in the name of one leader of their party, who is not a national leader they have named three schemes.

Sir, this Government with the President calling ‘my Government’ is a Government of packaging and photo opportunities. The PM dresses up in Rs 10 lakh suit and his photograph wielding a broom and then he is followed by film actor. There are only photo ops, advertisement and no content in this Government. Sir, what is happening down below is another story. The Prime Minister does not stop with photo ops he also gives sound bites and Mann Ki Baat. Yeh to pura film actor jaisa huya, is me to kahu Pradhan Mantri ka kaam nehi hota hai.

Sir, I want to say that the Government came into power with a full majority raising high hopes among people. A promise to bring back all the black money slashed abroad and to put back Rs 15 lakhs in every householders account. In the hope large numbers of accounts were opened under the Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Jogaja. But 8 months later this hopes are faded away. Now people have reacted. Aap ke non fulfilment of promises ke liye logo ne react kiya. Delhi me aap ka 7 MP seats tha, ab 3 mila. I have never heard that number of MLAs is less than number of MPs in the city of Delhi.

In Bihar they wanted to stop Nitish Kumar from being the Prime Minister, which they could not and in West Bengal, BJP was 3rd in the Parliamentary bypoll, proving that all these big talks and he visit by the BJP President has failed to make any impact in our State.

Sir, another reason for the sharp falling popularity of the ruling party is the intolerance displayed by the ruling party people. In this house we have heard an apology from a lady minister for her intemperate comment on the minorities; we have also heard an apology from a member of the ruling party for praising Gandhiji’s assigns. There have attacks of churches in Delhi and riots in Trilokpuri. Sir, after all these the Prime Minister gave a statement calling for tolerance. The next day after his statement the Viswa Hindu Parisad’s General Secretary spoke about continuing Gharwapsi. This has created fear in the minds of Minorities. And look at what has happened Sir, the Government has spoken of new metros in Ahmadabad and Nagpur. The Government’s thought process runs from Ahmadabad to Nagpur, which is the RSS headquarters. And what did the RSS General Secretary said yesterday, he said that Mother Teresa did social work with an objective of conversion. For an internationally recognised social worker, who has got the Noble Prize for Peace, the RSS General Secretary says this. Now, I would have not commented, but in this house, I heard the Law Minister say that he is proud to be a part of RSS. Is he proud of this RSS General Secretary statement calling names to Mother Teresa that is a point I hope the ruling party will clarify.

Sir, I want to say something, remind you that I came to this house in 1977, as a young boy. I used to sit here, next to me was a member called Ehsan Jaffri, he was a MP from Ahmedabad. He is no longer there; I won’t find him because he was killed in Gujarat riots in Gulbarga Society, one kilometer outside the Chief Minister’s office. How was the Chief Minister? He is our present Prime Minister. I do not want a situation in which something like that happens again. And if it is to happen, the Trinamool Congress people are prepared to sacrifice their lives to preserve communal harmony in the country.

In the former Act during UPA’s time after five years if the project was not built it would be given back to the original owner.  That is being removed in the interest of helping corporate.  We strongly oppose. The new amendment brought to the land acquisition act. They have tried to kill the act through this amendment.

Sir, food security is another important step taken by the UPA Govt. Now Santa Kumar, BJP MP has given report of a committee saying that there should come down to 40% in food subsidy. This government does not care for the poor, for the hungry. They are constantly talking about increasing doing ease of business.

Sir, I saw a statement by Deepak Parekh, he is the Chairman of HDFC Bank. He has said nothing has changed on the ground, citing delays HDFC Bank is facing in obtaining approvals, Mr Parekh said he has seen no improvement in ease of doing business. To raise some capital for HDFC Bank it took more time this time than earlier years to get approvals.  Yes, there is ease of doing business only for Mr Adani. When the Prime Minister went to Australia, the SBI Chairman flew  just to give a $ 1 billion loan to Adani. This is a government of corporate. This government is against the poor people.

Sir, lastly I want to say that our party has always opposed indiscriminate entry of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in vital sectors of the economy.  We have opposed FDI in Retail in UPA Govt.  Now, Prime Minister’s Make In India, is mentioned in the President’s address means entry of FDI. The Govt proposes 49% FDI in Defence, in Railways 100% and 49% in Insurance and entry of FDI in the Housing Sector. We oppose this entry in the country’s security and our quest for self reliance.

They are going to privitise the airports. They are going to de-nationalise coal mines. This is the way the way Govt is proceeding but as you know the coal industry had a total strike protesting against this. The working class will protest against the way in which the government is going.

Last but not the least; education has become a victim of the government’s efforts of saffronisation. A person with doubtful credential has been made Chairman of Indian Council for Historical Research. Now, Prof Amartya Sen resigned from the Chancellorship of the Nalanda University citing government interference in university autonomy.  There is also a danger signal. Instead of developing scientific temper amongst the students the Prime Minister is talking about the plastic surgery done on Ganesh’s neck. If the Prime Minister mistakes myths for real science of surgery then what will the students learns in his Man-Ki-Baath.

Sir, I shall end with two small points;

  • The government has been lucky in international fall in crude oil prices with the coming of American Shell oil in the market but the full benefit is not being passed on the  consumer and the government has used the windfall to make up for this budget deposit.
  • Sir, I may mention in this regard, the whole speech does not mention anything about the treatment, about the National Rural Mission. In our state we have started Fair Price Medical Shops in all the government hospitals

Sir, lastly the President’s speech denotes a shift in foreign policy. It does not mention SAARC or BRICS but calls American President’s visit historic. The need for non aligned movement in the present uni-polar world and need to face challenges posed by terrorist’s forces like ISIS and Al Qaeda are left out. All the bonhomie the Prime Minister calling American President by name surprised everybody. What happens, the President goes back and gives us a lecture of maintaining tolerance in this country. This country under the present Government bowed down to the Americans. Lastly I want to say let the BJP realise that the popularity graph is falling. They should get their act together and restrain the hotheads and fringe elements and lunatics of the party for doing things which are communal. Let them remember this is country which offers unity in diversity.  This is a country which has composite culture and not merely Hindu culture. Let them work at the government as they have got a majority but let them remember this country believes in Unity in diversity as mentioned in a great poem by Tagore.

 

Center responsible for border security: Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar | Transcript

During the Question Hour in Lok Sabha today, Trinamool MP Dr Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar asked the Centre why it is not collaborating with the State and passing on information regarding infiltration in the borders.

The Central Government is responsible for the protection of the Nation’s border and gathering of Intelligence to stop infiltration. The responsibility lies with central agencies and forces like BSF, IB, RAW, SSB among others.

The border of Bengal lacks proper patrolling and is not properly protected with wire-fences which lead to infiltration of unwanted persons into the State.

The Union Minister of State for Home Affairs admitted a lapse on part of the Centre in fencing the borders. Earlier, the MoS Finance had said in Lok Sabha that Sarada money was not channeled to terrorist activities.

From the Minister’s statement it is quite clear that the responsibility of the Burdwan incident lies with the Central Government as it failed to perform its duties.

 

Trinamool opposes Land Ordinance in the Parliament

Trinamool MPs in both the Rajya Sabha and the Lok Sabha today protested against the Land Acquisition Ordinance at the entrance to Parliament. The Trinamool Congress also gave notice for suspension of Question Hour in the Rajya Sabha today and pressed for a debate on the issue.

The issue was debated in the day’s proceedings. Trinamool was the only party to protest against it since the beginning, when the Bill was tabled.

In the Rajya Sabha, Trinamool Chief Whip Mr Derek O’Brien pointed out that in the last eight months, the Government has made a record for passing the least number of Bills compared to the number of Ordinances. He also pointed out that earlier Parliament followed the 3 D’s – Deliberate, Debate, Decide. The Government now only decides, he said, while opposing the Ordinance.

“We are happy that other parties have accepted the fact that the Land Acquisition Ordinance is not right for the farmers. We will not let this Bill pass,” said Derek O’Brien.

In the Lok Sabha, AITC MP Mr Saugata Roy pointed out that the Land Ordinance was the most anti-farmer and anti-poor legislation possible. While opposing the Ordinance, he pointed out that this legislation, if brought in, will be a death bed for farmers.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had said the situation under the present government was worse than that during the Emergency period, and her Government would not implement the proposed amendments under the Land Acquisition Act. She had instructed her party workers to stage a symbolic protest against the Ordinance by burning copies of the Bill.

On December 31, 2014, the Trinamool Congress had staged protest rallies in West Bengal and burnt symbolic copies of the Centre’s Land Ordinance, which was described as “black”.

Street rallies were organised by the party at Esplanade and Khidderpore in Kolkata, and at the block-level across the State as a mark of protest.

Trinamool Congress workers carried placards which read “We won’t accept the black Land Ordinance of the Central Government”. They also sported badges bearing the inscription, “We are not accepting the black Land Ordinance”.

Saugata Roy’s intervention in Lok Sabha during the introduction of Land Acquisition Bill | Transcript

Sir,

Under rule 73/1, I oppose the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition Rehabilitation and Resettlement Amendment Bill, 2015. This is the most anti-farmer, anti-poor legislation possible. In one stroke they added Part 3(A); in which for five different types of project, they have taken away the social impact assessment requirement and also the public purpose part. Chapter 3 which relates to food security is also done away with.

These bills if brought in will be a death bed for farmers. This will be a great help to corporates who want to grab the lands of the poor farmers. We shall oppose this Bill with all the force. There is an agitation outside in Ramleela Maidan. Throughout the country people are agitating. Even we were protesting outside the parliament today.

Thank you.