Tag: Lok Sabha

Trinamool Congress turns 20 – Looking back at the journey

Posted on | by aitc | Leave a Comment on Trinamool Congress turns 20 – Looking back at the journey

It is now 20 years since All India Trinamool Congress was formed. From a small regional party in 1998, when it was formed under the leadership of the firebrand leader, Mamata Banerjee, Trinamool Congress is now a force to reckon with in national politics.

Over these 20 years, there have been numerous memorable moments, and it would not be a feasible idea to list all of them here. However, let us take a look at 20 crucial events along the timeline of 20 years, events which have proved to all and sundry that Trinamool Congress always strives to serve the common people, come hell or high weather.
1. Formation of the party

Trinamool Congress was founded on January 1, 1998, and Mamata Banerjee was chosen as the leader of the party. In that year too, the party fought the general elections for the first time and significantly, won eight seats in the Lok Sabha from Bengal.

2. Railways Minister

After the 1999 general election, Mamata Banerjee became the Union Railways Minister, which she remained till 2001.

3. Winning the Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC)

In 2000, Trinamool Congress fought in the election for the Kolkata Municipal Corporation for the first time, and won overwhelmingly. For the first time, the Kolkata Mayor was a Trinamool candidate.

4. First Assembly elections

In 2001, Trinamool Congress fought the State Assembly election for the first time, and won in 60 seats.

5. Keshpur and Garbeta massacres

On January 4, 2001, Trinamool workers were massacred in Chhoto Angariya by the workers of CPI(M).

6. Jago Bangla

In 2004, the official mouthpiece of All India Trinamool Congress, Jago Bangla was first published. It is a weekly publication.

7. Singur Movement

In 2006, the then State Government forcibly acquired 1,000 acres of prime farmland from farmers in Singur for a car factory. Trinamool Congress, led by Mamata Banerjee, started a huge movement to compel the government to return the plots to the unwilling farmers.

8. 26-day hunger strike

Trinamool Congress Chairperson Mamata Banerjee undertook a hunger strike, which lasted for 26 days, against the forcible acquisition of 1,000 acres of farmland in Singur for a car factory by Tata Motors.

9. Nandigram Movement

In a re-run of Singur, in 2007 in Nandigram, the then State Government, tried to forcibly acquire agricultural land. A movement built up, again led by Trinamool Congress. On March 14 of that year, police fired indiscriminately on protesters, killing 14 people.

10. Panchayat election win

In the 2008 Panchayat election, Trinamool Congress put up a great show, forming the Zilla Parishad in East Midnapore and South 24 Parganas districts.

11. Lok Sabha win

In the 2009 general elections, Trinamool Congress won 19 of the 42 Lok Sabha seats from Bengal.

12. Second KMC win

In 2010, Trinamool Congress won the Kolkata Municipal Corporation for a second time, winning handsomely.

13. Assembly election win

In 2011, Trinamool Congress won a historic Assembly election, bringing to an end 34 years of Left Front rule. It formed the first Ma-Mati-Manush Government in Bengal under the leadership of Mamata Banerjee.

14. Decimation of Left in Panchayat polls

In 2013, Trinamool Congress won 13 out of 17 Zila Parishads in the State, decimating the Left Front completely.

15. Winning majority of the seats in Lok Sabha from Bengal

Achieving another milestone, in 2014, Trinamool Congress won 34 of the 42 seats in the Lok Sabha election, which is currently the fourth highest in the Lok Sabha.

16. 33% female MPs in Lok Sabha

In the 2014 election for the Lok Sabha, Trinamool Congress hit another milestone – 12 women became Members of Parliament (MP).

17. Victory in Municipal polls

In 2015, Trinamool Congress retained the Kolkata Municipal Corporation, as well as winning 77 other civic body elections. Trinamool Congress has thus proved its name – ‘trinamool’ means ‘grassroots’ – as it now has holds power in the majority of elected bodies in Bengal at all levels, and has brought about a golden reign of governance.

18. Second Assembly win

In 2016, Trinamool Congress won the Assembly election for a second consecutive time, this time more overwhelmingly than ever. The party, under the strident leadership of Mamata Banerjee, won 211 of the 294 seats, decimating the opposition with the power of the people. Mamata Banerjee became the Chief Minister for a second consecutive term.

19. Singur land returned

After the historic judgment by Supreme Court on August 31, 2006, the land acquisition at Singur was termed unconstitutional. Fulfilling her promise, Mamata Banerjee returned the land deeds to farmers in Singur in September.

20. National party

In recognition of the growing influence that Trinamool Congress is having in national politics, in 2016, the Election Commission recognised the party as a national party. Trinamool Congress thus became the seventh national party.

 

২০ বছরের স্মৃতি রোমন্থন

দেখতে দেখতে সর্বভারতীয় তৃণমূল কংগ্রেস ২০ বছর পেরিয়ে গেল। অনেক উত্থান পতনের মধ্যে দিয়ে বাংলার রাজনীতিতে নিজের জায়গা পাকাপাকি ভাবে তৈরী করে নিয়েছে তৃণমূল।

শুধু তাই নয়, বিগত সাড়ে ছয় বছর ধরে বাংলার শাসনভারে গ্রহণ করে মা,মাটি, মানুষের সেবায় নিমজ্জিত তৃণমূল। বাংলার পাশাপাশি দেশের রাজনীতিতেও নিজের গুরুত্ব বুঝিয়ে দিয়েছে মমতা বন্দ্যোপাধ্যায়ের নেতৃত্বাধীন তৃণমূল কংগ্রেস, প্রায় নিজের জন্মলগ্ন থেকেই।

২০ বছরে এই দলের ইতিহাসে আছে অগণিত স্মরণীয় মুহূর্ত। দেখে নেওয়া যাক সেরকমই ২০টি অবিস্মরণীয় মুহূর্ত।

১. দল গঠন

১৯৯৮ সালের ১লা জানুয়ারি তৃণমূল কংগ্রেস দলটি তৈরী হয়। মমতা বন্দ্যোপাধ্যায় দলের নেত্রী নির্বাচিত হন। প্রথম বার লোকসভা ভোটে অংশ নিয়ে ৮টি আসনে জয়লাভ করে এই দল।

২. রেল মন্ত্রীত্ব

১৯৯৯ সালের পুনরায় লোকসভা নির্বাচন হয়। ১৯৯৯ সালের লোকসভা নির্বাচনে মমতা বন্দ্যোপাধ্যায় ভারতবর্ষের রেল মন্ত্রী হন, তিনি ২০০১ সাল পর্যন্ত রেল মন্ত্রী ছিলেন।

৩. কলকাতা পুরসভা জয়

২০০০ সালে কলকাতা পুরসভা ভোটে অংশগ্রহণ করে বিপুল ভোটে জয়লাভ করে তৃণমূল। এই প্রথম কলকাতার মহানাগরিক হন এক তৃণমূল সদস্য।

৪. প্রথম বিধানসভা ভোট

২০০১ সালে প্রথমবার তৃণমূল কংগ্রেস বিধানসভা ভোটে অংশগ্রহণ করে ও ৬০টি আসনে বিজয়ী ঘোষিত হয়।

৫. কেশপুর ও গড়বেতার নারকীয় হত্যাকান্ড

২০০১ সালের ৪ঠা জানুয়ারী মেদিনীপুর জেলার ছোট আঙারিয়ায় তৃণমূল কর্মীদের কুপিয়ে খুন করে হার্মাদরা।

৬. জাগো বাংলা

২০০৪ সালে তৃণমূল কংগ্রেসের মুখপত্র ‘জাগো বাংলা’ প্রথম প্রকাশিত হয়। এটি একটি সাপ্তাহিক পত্রিকা।

৭. সিঙ্গুর আন্দোলন

২০০৬ সালে টাটা কোম্পানির গাড়ির কারখানা তৈরীর জন্য সিঙ্গুরের ১০০০ একর জমি বলপূর্বক অধিগ্রহণ করে নেয় তৎকালীন সরকার। অনিচ্ছুক কৃষকদের জমি ফিরিয়ে দেওয়ার দাবীতে আন্দোলন শুরু করেন মমতা বন্দ্যোপাধ্যায়।

৮. ২৬ দিনের অনশন

সিঙ্গুরের অনিচ্ছুক কৃষকদের স্বার্থে এবং গ্রামবাসীদের ওপর সিপিএম হার্মাদবাহিনীর নারকীয় অত্যাচারের প্রতিবাদে তৃণমূল কংগ্রেস নেত্রী ধর্মতলায় অনির্দিষ্টকালীন অনশন শুরু করেন। ২৬ দিন পর, মাননীয় রাজ্যপাল ও বিদ্বজ্জনদের অনুরোধে অনশন প্রত্যাহার করেন তিনি।

৯. নন্দীগ্রাম আন্দোলন

সিঙ্গুরের মতো নন্দীগ্রামেও বেসরকারি কেমিক্যাল হাব তৈরী করার জন্য অনিচ্ছুক কৃষকদের থেকে বলপূর্বক জমি ছিনিয়ে নিতে বিজ্ঞপ্তি জারি করে তৎকালীন সরকার। তৃণমূল কংগ্রেসের নেতৃত্বে শুরু হয় আন্দোলন। ১৪ই মার্চ ২০০৭ সালে পুলিশ নির্বিচারে গুলি চালিয়ে (সরকারি হিসেবে) ১৪ জন গ্রামবাসীর প্রাণ কেড়ে নেয়।

১০. পঞ্চায়েত জয়

২০০৮ সালে পঞ্চায়েত নির্বাচনে অংশ নিয়ে সারা রাজ্যে বিপুল ভোটে জয়লাভ করে তৃণমূল কংগ্রেস। ব্যাপক ফল করে তৃণমূল কংগ্রেস। পূর্ব মেদিনীপুর ও দক্ষিণ ২৪ পরগনা জেলা পরিষদ দখল করে তৃণমূল।

১১. লোকসভায় জয়

২০০৯ সালে বামবিদায়ের ঘন্টা বাজিয়ে লোকসভা নির্বাচনে ব্যাপক জয়লাভ করে তৃণমূল। রাজ্যের ৪২টি আসনের মধ্যে তৃণমূল কংগ্রেস ১৯টি আসনে বিজয়ী হয়।

১২. পুরসভা জয়

২০১০ সালে বিপুল জনসমর্থন নিয়ে পুনরায় কলকাতা পুরসভা দখল করে তৃণমূল কংগ্রেস।

১৩. বিধানসভা জয়

৩৪ বছরের অপশাসন ঘুচিয়ে, বাম সরকারকে পর্যুদস্ত করে মা মাটি মানুষের আশীর্বাদ নিয়ে প্রথমবার মমতা বন্দ্যোপাধ্যায়ের নেতৃত্বে তৃণমূল কংগ্রেস সরকার বাংলার শাসনভার গ্রহণ করে।

১৪. জেলা পরিষদ জয়

২০১৩ সালে বামেদের কার্যত নিশ্চিহ্ন করে দিয়ে পঞ্চায়েত নির্বাচনে ১৩টি জেলা পরিষদ জয় করে তৃণমূল কংগ্রেস।

১৫. লোকসভা নির্বাচনে বিপুল জয়

২০১৪ সালের লোকসভা নির্বাচনে রাজ্যের ৪২টি আসনের মধ্যে ৩৪টিতে জয়লাভ করে তৃণমূল কংগ্রেস। দেশের চতুর্থ বৃহত্তম দল হিসেবে উঠে আসে তৃণমূল।

১৬. ৩৩ শতাংশ মহিলা সাংসদ

২০১৪ সালের তৃণমূলের নির্বাচিত লোকসভার সাংসদদের মধ্যে ৩৩ শতাংশ মহিলা সাংসদ। সংসদে মহিলা সংরক্ষণ বিল বহু বছর ধরে আটকে। তা সত্ত্বেও মমতা বন্দ্যোপাধ্যায় বুঝিয়ে দিলেন ইচ্ছে থাকলে উপায় হয়।

১৭. পুরসভা জয়

২০১৫ সালে কলকাতা পুরসভা সহ রাজ্যের ৭৮টি পুরসভা নির্বাচনে বিপুল জনসমর্থন নিয়ে জয়লাভ করে তৃণমূল কংগ্রেস।

১৮. দ্বিতীয়বার বিধানসভা জয়

২০১৬ সালে ২৯৪ আসনের মধ্যে ২১১ আসন জিতে দ্বিতীয় বারের জন্য বাংলার শাসনভার গ্রহণ করে মমতা বন্দ্যোপাধ্যায়ের নেতৃত্বাধীন তৃণমূল কংগ্রেস।

১৯. সিঙ্গুরে জমি ফেরত

কথা দিয়ে কথা রাখলেন মুখ্যমন্ত্রী মমতা বন্দ্যোপাধ্যায়। ৩১ আগস্ট, ২০১৬ তে সুপ্রিম কোর্ট ঐতিহাসিক রায়ে সিঙ্গুরের জমি অধিগ্রহণকে অসাংবিধানিক আখ্যা দেয়। এরপর মমতা ববন্দ্যোপাধ্যায় সেপ্টেম্বর মাসে সিঙ্গুরের কৃষকদের জমি ফিরিয়ে দেন। সিঙ্গুর ফিরে আসে শস্যের ভাণ্ডারে।

২০. সর্বভারতীয় দলের স্বীকৃতি

২০১৬ সালে দেশের সপ্তম সর্বভারতীয় রাজনৈতিক দল হিসেবে স্বীকৃতি পায় তৃণমূল কংগ্রেস।

 

The inception of Trinamool Congress – Looking back at January 1, 1998

Posted on | by aitc | Leave a Comment on The inception of Trinamool Congress – Looking back at January 1, 1998

Mamata Banerjee had carried out numerous movements in the interest of the people over a period of time, but simultaneously she was realising that to take her movement ahead, she needed a separate platform to raise her voice against the barbaric rule of the CPI(M). Being with the Congress party was becoming a hindrance.

It was this idea and need which gave birth to the Trinamool Congress on January 1, 1998. In 1997, when the Congress convention was going on at Netaji Indoor Stadium, Mamata Banerjee organised an outdoor convention. She believed in working for grassroots people. She wanted to work for common people. That is why she and her compatriots chose the name Trinamool.

The time she chose was the end of the 11th Lok Sabha and the beginning of the 12th Lok Sabha. As a politician of much experience and stature, she understood that it was the right time to launch the party and feel the pulse of the electorate, as people were in admiration of her having seen her work.

Trinamool Congress was established on January 1, 1998. “A silent revolution is taking place in West Bengal. The people are on the verge of writing history… A new epoch will start”, said Chairperson Mamata Banerjee.

On the day of the inception of Trinamool Congress, Mamata Banerjee sketched the logo of the party which signifies ‘grass root’ (two saplings on the grass). She thought if the Election Commission approves the logo then she will achieve two goals: one, the launch of her party and two, of simultaneously taking the philosophy of the party and explaining to the people her deep thought behind the logo, which was the message of secularism, “Ek e brinte duti kusum, Hindu Musalman, ekjon tar noyonmoni onno ti tar pran” (two buds on the tree, Hindu and Muslim. If one of them is the eye, then the other is life).

The Election Commission did approve the logo but had also issued a stricture which read if the Trinamool Congress failed to get six-percentage of votes in the 12th Lok Sabha elections, then the pre-symbol will be cancelled. Trinamool Congress well passed the cut-off percentage and the party was born.

 

ফিরে দেখা ১লা জানুয়ারী, ১৯৯৮ – কি করে তৈরী হল তৃণমূল কংগ্রেস?

মমতা বন্দ্যোপাধ্যায় তাঁর রাজনৈতিক জীবনের প্রথম থেকেই একের পর এক গণআন্দোলন করেছেন মানুষের স্বার্থে। তবে যত সময় গড়িয়েছে, তিনি ধীরে ধীরে বুঝতে পারছিলেন যে অত্যাচারী সিপিএম-এর নৈরাজ্য থেকে বাংলা ও বাংলার মানুষকে মুক্তি দিতে হলে তাঁর একটি পৃথক মঞ্চ চাই, যেখান থেকে তিনি তাঁর নীতি, সিদ্ধান্ত, বার্তা মানুষের কাছে পৌঁছে দিতে পারবেন, যা তিনি কংগ্রেস দলে থেকে কিছুতেই করতে পারবেন না। এই চিন্তা থেকেই ১৯৯৮ সালের ১লা জানুয়ারি জন্ম নেয় তৃণমূল কংগ্রেস।

১৯৯৭ সালে যখন নেতাজী ইন্ডোর স্টেডিয়ামে কংগ্রেস সম্মেলন চলছিল, মমতা বন্দ্যোপাধ্যায় তখন জনসমক্ষে এক পৃথক সম্মেলনের আয়োজন করেন। তিনি সবসময় তৃণমূল স্তরে সাধারণ মানুষের জন্য কাজ করায় বিশ্বাসী ছিলেন। এই জন্যই তিনি, ও তৎকালীন তাঁর সহ রাজনৈতিক যোদ্ধারা, নতুন দলের নাম রাখেন তৃণমূল।

১১তম লোকসভার সমাপ্তি ও ১২তম লোকসভার শুরু – এই সময়ের সন্ধিক্ষণের সময়টাই তিনি বেছে নিয়েছিলেন। অভিজ্ঞ রাজনীতিবিদ হওয়ার কারণে তিনি অনুধাবন করতে পারেন এটিই সঠিক সময় একটি নতুন রাজনৈতিক দলকে জন্ম দেওয়ার। তিনি এও বুঝেছিলেন, এটি সঠিক সময় সাধারণ মানুষের প্রবণতা বোঝার, কারণ অনেক দিন ধরেই প্রচুর মানুষ তাঁর পরবর্তী রাজনৈতিক পদক্ষেপের জন্য উদগ্রীব ছিলেন।

তৃণমূল কংগ্রেস তৈরী হয় ১৯৯৮ সালের ১লা জানুয়ারি – “পশ্চিমবঙ্গে একটি নিঃশব্দ বিপ্লব শুরু হচ্ছে। মানুষ নতুন ইতিহাস তৈরির দোরগোড়ায়-এক নতুন কাল সৃষ্টি হবে”, নেত্রী মমতা বন্দ্যোপাধ্যায় বলেন।

তৃণমূল কংগ্রেস প্রতিষ্ঠার দিন, মমতা বন্দ্যোপাধ্যায় দলের প্রতীক আঁকেন – ঘাসের ওপর জোড়া ফুল। তৃণমূল দলটি যে ধর্মনিরপেক্ষতায় বিশ্বাসী, সেটিও প্রতিফলিত হবে এই প্রতীকে। ‘মোরা এক বৃন্তে দুটি কুসুম হিন্দু মুসলমান, মুসলিম তার নয়নমণি হিন্দু তাহার প্রাণ।’ এই ছিল এই প্রতীকের বার্তা।

নির্বাচন কমিশন এই প্রতীকটি অনুমোদন করে, কিন্তু, একটি শর্ত দেয়, আগামী লোকসভা নির্বাচনে যদি তৃণমূল কংগ্রেস যদি ৬শতাংশ ভোট না পায়, তাহলে এই প্রতীক বাতিল করে দেওয়া হবে। তৃণমূল খুব সহজেই এই বাধা অতিক্রম করে এবং জন্ম নেয় তৃণমূল কংগ্রেস।

Winter Session Week 1: Trinamool plays constructive Opposition

Posted on | by aitc | Leave a Comment on Winter Session Week 1: Trinamool plays constructive Opposition

During the first week of the Winter Session of Parliament, Trinamool Congress played the responsible Opposition by participating in debates, as well as cornering the government on issues of public importance.

The week began with MPs staging a dharna inside the Parliament complex against the proposed Financial Resolution and Deposit Insurance (FRDI) Bill. Another dharna was organised on December 21 against linking of Aadhaar to various social sector schemes.

Inside the Parliament, the party MPs spoke on important issues like delaying of the introduction of the anti-people FRDI Bill, leakage of sensitive data related to Aadhaar, stubble burning in north India, renewable energy and supplementary demands for grants.

Here is a brief summary of what Trinamool Congress MPs did all through the week:

 

LOK SABHA

Question Hour

Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar asked a Supplementary Question on the importation of onions, and its quantity and price.

Aparupa Poddar asked Supplementary Questions on over-exploitation of groundwater, and cloud harvesting.

Sudip Bandyopadhyay asked a Supplementary Question on Air India.

Dinesh Trivedi asked Supplementary Questions on solar power generation.

Mumtaz Sanghamita asked Supplementary Questions on National Health Accounts.

Bills

Kalyan Banerjee spoke on the proposed shifting of the head office of the profitable Hindustan Steel Workers Construction Limited (HSCL) from Kolkata to Delhi.

Pratima Mondal spoke on the issue of manual scavenging.

Kalyan Banerjee spoke on The Repealing and Amending Bill, 2017.

Saugata Roy spoke on The Central Road Fund (Amendment) Bill, 2017.

Idrish Ali spoke on The Central Road Fund (Amendment) Bill, 2017.

Kalyan Banerjee spoke on The Requisitioning and Acquisition of Immovable Property (Amendment) Bill, 2017.

Aparupa Poddar spoke on The Indian Forest (Amendment) Bill, 2017.

Saugata Roy spoke on Supplementary Demands for Grants – Second Batch for 2017-18.

Saugata Roy spoke during a discussion on natural calamities in various parts of the country.

Zero Hour

Aparupa Poddar spoke on cyber-security issues related to Aadhaar.

Ratna De Nag spoke on the demand for reducing the criteria to avail disability pension.

Tapas Mondal spoke on groundwater management.
RAJYA SABHA

Zero Hour

Sukhendu Sekhar Roy spoke on the leakage of sensitive Aadhaar data of more than 130 million people.

Vivek Gupta spoke on pollution due to stubble burning in north India.

Question Hour

Nadimul Haque asked Supplementary Questions on the infrastructure of AIIMS and on possible actions against government hospitals for cases of medical negligence.

Bills

Vivek Gupta spoke on The Companies (Amendment) Bill, 2017.

Nadimul Haque spoke on The Indian Institutes of Management Bill, 2017.

Point of Order

Derek O’Brien made a Point of Order regarding the delaying of the introduction of the “anti-people” FRDI Bill to the Budget Session.

Sukhendu Sekhar Roy made a Point of Order, asking the government to assure the House about the setting up of special courts for those who have willfully defaulted Rs 8.5 lakh crore of public money.

Derek O’Brien made a Point of Order on blacking out of RSTV on December 21.

Special Mention

Vivek Gupta spoke on privacy issues arising due to Aadhaar.

It turned out to be a productive week for the party. It raised various issues touch the common man’s life.

 

From onion prices to Aadhaar to FRDI Bill: Trinamool in Parliament today

Posted on | by aitc | Leave a Comment on From onion prices to Aadhaar to FRDI Bill: Trinamool in Parliament today

Five Bills, four Zero Hour mentions, two Points of Order, two questions – that’s the productivity of Trinamool MPs on the third day of the Winter Session of Parliament. From onion prices to Aadhaar to FRDI Bill – Trinamool raised issues of public importance in both Houses.

Let us take a quick look at Trinamool’s day in Parliament today.

 

RAJYA SABHA

Derek O’Brien made a Point of Order regarding the delaying of the introduction of the “anti-people” FRDI Bill to the Budget Session.

Sukhendu Sekhar Roy made a Point of Order, asking the government to assure the House about the setting up of special courts for those who have willfully defaulted Rs 8.5 lakh crore of public money.

Sukhendu Sekhar Roy made a Zero Hour Mention on the leakage of sensitive Aadhaar data of more than 130 million people.

Vivek Gupta made a Zero Hour Mention on pollution due to stubble burning in north India, demanding to know from the Central Government what concrete steps it would take to prevent this from recurring.

Nadimul Haque asked Supplementary Questions on the infrastructure of AIIMS and on possible actions against government hospitals for cases of medical negligence.

Vivek Gupta spoke on The Companies (Amendment) Bill, 2017.

Nadimul Haque spoke on The Indian Institutes of Management Bill, 2017.

Vivek Gupta made a Special Mention on Aadhaar.

 

LOK SABHA

Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar asked a Supplementary Question on the importation of onions, and its quantity and price.

Kalyan Banerjee spoke on the proposed shifting of the head office of the profitable Hindustan Steel Workers Construction Limited (HSCL) from Kolkata to Delhi, and the resultant loss of employment by 100 employees.

Pratima Mondal spoke on the issue of manual scavenging – about the death of 107 manual scavengers this year, their dehumanising working conditions and the fact that the “government’s flagship programme, Swacch Bharat Abhiyaan has also failed to tackle this issue”.

Kalyan Banerjee spoke on The Repealing and Amending Bill, 2017.

Saugata Roy speaks on The Central Road Fund (Amendment) Bill, 2017.

 

Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar asks a Supplementary Question on import of onions

Posted on | by aitc | Leave a Comment on Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar asks a Supplementary Question on import of onions

Wholesale price inflation rose to 3.93 per cent last month, mostly due to rise in onion and tomato prices, among other vegetables, with a rise up to 59.8 per cent. But onion was the highest at 178.19 per cent price rise.

Hon Madam, the Minister has said that he cannot control the prices and also restricted export of onions. My question is whether onion is being imported or brought from outside. What quantity of onions is being bought at what price and from which country?

Thank you.

Trinamool MPs protest against FRDI Bill in Parliament

Posted on | by aitc | Leave a Comment on Trinamool MPs protest against FRDI Bill in Parliament

Trinamool MPs from both Houses today protested near the Gandhi statue inside Parliament complex against the proposed Financial Resolution and Deposit Insurance (FRDI) Bill.

The MPs were carrying placards against the proposed Bill that would endanger the savings of common people in banks. They also chanted slogans and demanded immediate withdrawal of the draconian Bill.

Last week, Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had written to the Union Finance Minister regarding the FRDI Bill. She wrote that the proposed bill would take away the savings of common people entrusted to banks. The common people are anguished at what the bill could do to ruin their lives through the activities of the proposed Financial Resolution Corporation, she added.

 

এফআরডিআই বিলের বিরোধিতায় সংসদে ধর্ণা তৃণমূলের

আর্থিক ক্ষেত্রের খসড়া বিলের বিরোধিতায় আজ সংসদে ধর্ণা দেন তৃণমূলের। লোকসভা ও রাজ্যসভা – দুই কক্ষের অধিকাংশ সাংসদরাই ছিলেন এই ধর্নায়।

ফিনান্সিয়াল রেজলিউশন অ্যান্ড ডিপোজিট ইনশিওরেন্স (এফআরডিআই) বিল শেষ পর্যন্ত আইন হলে, তা হবে গরিব ও মধ্যবিত্ত মানুষের আর্থিক সুরক্ষায় বড় ধাক্কা। এই মর্মেই স্লোগান তুলে এই বিল প্রত্যাহারের দাবি জানান সাংসদরা।

গত সপ্তাহেই এই বিলের বিরোধিতা করে কেন্দ্রীয় অর্থমন্ত্রীকে চিঠি দেন মুখ্যমন্ত্রী মমতা বন্দ্যোপাধ্যায়। তার যুক্তি, এই বিলের ফলে ব্যাঙ্কিং পরিষেবার উপর আমজনতার বিশ্বাস ভেঙে চুরমার হবে। মুখ্যমন্ত্রীর অভিযোগ, কিছু লোকের স্বার্থরক্ষা করতে গিয়ে সাধারণ মানুষের সারা জীবনের সঞ্চিত অর্থ কাড়ার বন্দোবস্ত রয়েছে এই বিলে।

খসড়া বিলে প্রস্তাব, কোনও ব্যাঙ্ক দেউলিয়া ঘোষণার মুখে থাকলে, ঘুরে দাঁড়ানোর চেষ্টা হিসেবে গ্রাহকের আমানতের টাকা তাঁদের অনুমতি না-নিয়েই বাড়তি সময় আটকে রাখতে পারবে তারা। প্রয়োজনে তা বদলে দিতে পারবে শেয়ার, ডিবেঞ্চার, বন্ড ইত্যাদিতে। এই বিষয়গুলি নিয়ে চিঠিতে প্রশ্ন তুলেছেন মুখ্যমন্ত্রী।

 

Saugata Roy opposes the introduction of The Financial Resolution and Deposit Insurance Bill, 2017

Posted on | by aitc | Leave a Comment on Saugata Roy opposes the introduction of The Financial Resolution and Deposit Insurance Bill, 2017

FULL TRANSCRIPT

Sir, Rule 74 states, when a Bill is introduced or on some subsequent occasion, the member in charge may make one of the following motions in regard to one’s own Bill, namely:—

(i) that it be taken into consideration; or
(ii) that it be referred to a Select Committee of the House; or
(iii) that it be referred to a Joint Committee of the Houses with the concurrence of the Council; or
(iv) that it be circulated for the purpose of eliciting opinion thereon:

Provided that no such motion as is referred to in clause (iii) shall be made with reference to a Bill 4[if it contains only provisions dealing with all or any of the matters specified in sub-clauses (a) to (g) of clause (1) of article 110 of the Constitution]:

Provided further that no such motion shall be made until after copies of the Bill have been made available for the use of members, and that any member may object to any such motion being made unless copies of the Bill have been so made available for two days before the day on which the motion is made and such objection shall prevail, unless the Speaker allows the motion to be made.

Here the Minister is referring to a Joint Select Committee under Rule 74(iii). My colleague had explained in detail as to how the whole principal of Standing Committee’s is being circumvented, superseded, bypassed by the Government in its quest to get majority in both Houses.

The same thing actually happened in the case of Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code. I remember when that Bill was brought in Lok Sabha I objected saying that it should not be passed. Then the Government felt that it would not get a majority in the Rajya Sabha. So they sent it to a Joint Select Committee, the fear being that it will not be passed in Rajya sabha. If the Joint Select Committee presents a report, then both Houses get morally bound by it.

Now in the whole process we are weakening the foundation of the Standing Committee system. Normally the practice is that, any legislation concerning any ministry, any department is automatically referred to a Standing Committee, unless it is a small amendment or an inconsequential amendment. Any Bill of a substantial nature is referred to the Standing Committee. As my esteemed colleague Bhartruhari Mahtab has so eloquently stated, that process should not be given a go by.

We have no complaint about the personnel of the Bill because we ourselves are members of both the Committees. We are conscious of the power of the Standing Committee. We have a Finance Committee headed by Veerappa Moily who has given important reports on most of the matters. Why should that Standing Committee be bypassed, be insulted, be overridden by the Government’s desire to bring a Bill?

And then look out how the Bills are coming. On the last but one day, you are bringing a Bill and then a Motion without any scope of discussion. Like, in the earlier Bill, our esteemed colleague NK Premachandran spoke eloquently on how he had no time to study the Bill so that proper opposition to introduction can be made.

You are sitting in the Chair, Sir, and you have long parliamentary experience. Please see that the niceties of parliamentary behaviour are maintained by the Government. If the Chair does not protect us, who will protect the House? Who will protect the Constitution? Who will protect the Rules?

That is why, we seek refuge in your infinite powers from the Chair to support us.

Thank you.

75 years of Quit India Movement: Trinamool MPs make stirring speeches in both Houses

Posted on | by aitc | Leave a Comment on 75 years of Quit India Movement: Trinamool MPs make stirring speeches in both Houses

Trinamool MPs Sukhendu Sekhar Roy and Sugata Bose made impressive speeches in both Houses of the Parliament during a special discussion to commemorate the 75th anniversary of Quit India Movement.

In Rajya Sabha

Sukhendu Sekhar Roy began his speech quoting Gandhi Ji’s iconic slogan, “Karenge ya marenge” and Nehru’s clarion call of “We shall fight to the finish” at Congress’s historic session in Bombay on August 8, 1942.

He referred to the contributions of several leaders – Jayprakash Narayan, Ram Manohar Lohia, Sucheta Kripalani among others – to the movement. He also read out portions from a leaflet issued by the Bihar Pradesh Congress in September, 1942.

He fondly remembered the clarion call of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, “Chalo Dilli”. He said this movement will stay alive in our hearts as long as the tricolour flies high atop the ramparts of Red Fort.

He also referred, with a heavy heart, to the Mir Jafars at that time, who colluded with the British to defeat the August Kranti Andolan. He said such Mir Jafars still exist in the country. He said BJP was following the British policy of ‘Divide and Rule’, against which Mamata Banerjee has launched the ‘BJP Bharat Chhoro’ movement at Tamluk, which saw active participation by people in the Quit India Movement.

 

CLICK HERE TO READ THE FULL TRANSCRIPT OF HIS SPEECH

WATCH HIS FULL SPEECH BY CLICKING HERE

 

In Lok Sabha

Sugata Bose, in his eloquent and stirring speech, called August 9 a ‘red letter day’ in Indian history. He reminisced how his own father was severely wounded as he led a procession of students on the streets of Calcutta in September, 1942.

He highlighted the role played by Adivasis and peasants. Netaji had wanted to be in India by August, 1942, he said. “Had the armed thrust of the Azad Hind Fauj coincided with the rebellion of the Quit India Movement, then the history of India might have taken an even more glorious turn,” he remarked.

Sugata Bose lamented that there was a “gap between sankalp and siddhi in 1947”. He said, “We got independent India but not united India.” He said that the 75th anniversary of Quit India Movement, and the 70th anniversary of independence, call for “soul-searching introspection, rather than chest-thumping celebration”.

“The final five and a half months of Gandhi Ji’s life constituted a message for the predicament we face in India today. Today we see irreligion masquerading as religion,” Sugata Bose said. He reminded the Government of Gandhi Ji’s message to the then Government in mid-November, 1947: “No Muslim in the Indian Union should feel his life unsafe”.

“The 75th anniversary of Quit India Movement, and the 70th anniversary of freedom may be an apt occasion to ponder the relation between the past and the future, the old and the new,” was his message for the Prime Minister.

Sugata Bose also quoted Swami Vivekananda’s vision for India, one of religious harmony and tolerance. He quoted verses penned by Tagore – passages from the song which later was adopted as the National Anthem – to give a strong message against cow vigilantism and communal violence.

He appealed to the Prime Minister to “stop the engines of coercion on its tracks”. We need to be clear about what our sankalp is for 2022, he remarked and demanded “strong action against those who are spreading the poison of hatred and killing in the name of religion”.

We have to make sure we do not have a dominance of one community and one language, Sugata Bose said, adding: “We must counterpose an alternative and a better vision of a new India based on cultural intimacy of all communities of the country.”
“We must celebrate and respect our differences to rise above them. We must avoid all temptations to be chauvinistic and jingoistic,” was his message for his colleagues in the Lok Sabha.

 

CLICK HERE TO READ THE FULL TRANSCRIPT OF HIS SPEECH

WATCH HIS FULL SPEECH BY CLICKING HERE

Ratna De Nag speaks on The National Institute of Petroleum and Energy Bill, 2017

Posted on | by admin2 | Leave a Comment on Ratna De Nag speaks on The National Institute of Petroleum and Energy Bill, 2017

FULL TRANSCRIPT

Thank you, Deputy Speaker Sir, for giving me the opportunity to speak. The National Institute of Petroleum and Energy Bill, 2017, aims to set up an Indian Institute of Petroleum and Energy at Vishakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh. It also declares the institution as one of national importance.

I appreciate the aim of the Bill as it provides high-quality education and research focussing on the theme of petroleum and hydrocarbons energy. The Government is going to pump in Rs. 655.46 crore to achieve this goal. It is stated that the budgetary support for capital expenditure is expected to spread out till 2022-23. Would the Hon Minister state what the plan of action in place is, particularly when our aim is very challenging and amount to be spent is so high?

Sir, the said institute is expected to be a domain-specific energy institute that will serve as the fountainhead of a nurturing, world-class technical human resources capable of serving as leaders and innovators in the field of petroleum technology and energy. What fieldwork has been put in place as of now or proposed to be put up for taking the issue further?

Sir, the said institute isn’t just extending high-quality education but also conducting advanced research in all aspects related to the conventional hydrocarbons. I appreciate the exalted aim. Will the Hon Minister state how he intends to go about this and what initiatives have already been put in place to achieve this aim of quality education and conducting advanced research in petroleum?

About the constitution of the Board of Governors responsible for the general superintendence, direction and control of the affairs of the institute, will they have a General Council of the institute, inter alia, to review both policies and programmes from time to time and suggest measures for the improvement, development and expansion of the institute.

I would like to know from the Hon Minister what measures have been put in place to make the functioning of the institute transparent and accountable? Will the institute have autonomy to steer clear of the impending issue that we face while navigating towards an institute of excellence and that is important in setting a benchmark for other institutions in other fields like agriculture and science et al?

Coming back to the aims of the Bill, what is the stand on this thing? How prepared are we? What are our challenges in the field of petroleum energy? Have we analysed them? Where are we placed vis-a-vis other countries in terms of technology and state-of-the-art innovations in the field of petroleum energy? There is a need to have a relook and a fresh look at the whole gamut of issues and concerns involving providing education and research when our institutions find hardly any place of excellence in hundred out of two hundred best institutions of the world.

There is an urgent need to bring in foreign faculty, who are experts and who know what is happening and what new developments and innovations are taking place in the realm of petroleum energy sector. I hope the Hon Minister endorses this view that there is a lot of room for improvement; and what you would do to strive towards making the National Institute of Petroleum Energy as Centre for Excellence in the real sense of the term and not make it as an achievement of the government of the day (that it has gifted an institute to the state and forget patronising and monetary aid).

Sir, I am representing Bengal. Would the Hon Minister consider setting up an Institute of National Importance to cater to the emerging and challenging needs in the domain of petroleum energy in Bengal?

Lastly I request the Hon Minister to withdraw the decision taken by the Ministry to stop the subsidy for LPG.

Thank you very much.

Saugata Roy speaks on The Indian Institute of Petroleum and Energy Bill, 2017

Posted on | by aitc | Leave a Comment on Saugata Roy speaks on The Indian Institute of Petroleum and Energy Bill, 2017

FULL TRANSCRIPT

Sir, I rise to support the The Indian Institute of Petroleum and Energy Bill, 2017. Before I speak on the Bill, I have two questions for the Minister. One is why the Government increased the price of subsidised LPG by Rs 4 per cylinder and why it will be done every month? This is an anti-people decision. Sudip Bandyopadhyay has spoken earlier on this issue. I also say that, this anti people decision should be withdrawn.

My second question. This Bill was cleared in the Cabinet on April 12, 2017 and this Bill has now come to Lok Sabha. Why did the Minister go and lay the foundation stone of the campus even before it was cleared by the Cabinet? He should not have done that. Laying a foundation stone before even the Bill has been passed by the Cabinet should not have been done by him.

So, having said this, I say that this institute is very essential. It is being set up in Vizag which already had a petroleum refinery. It is close to the Krishna-Godavari Basin where oil has been found. It is also close to Kankinara where HPCL is setting up a new petrochemical complex. So, it is ideally situated. Government of Andhra Pradesh has given 200 acres of land at Sabbavaram, where the Minister went to lay the foundation stone.

IIT Kharagpur has a course on petroleum and teach a subject called Exploration Geophysics. They are mentoring the institute and already four professors are working there and more professors will be appointed after consultation with the IIT professors. The student intake is 50 for petroleum engineering and 50 for chemical engineering. Already 96 students are studying in the institute and the courses are very important.

This Indian Institute of Petroleum and Energy is being set up as a follow-up of the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act, 2014, where it was promised that Andhra will have a new Indian Institute of Petroleum and Energy and in fulfillment of that objective this has been done.

Now, Sir, I want to say that it is very essential not only to develop petroleum sector but also to develop alternative sources of fuel. India is already deficient; we are importing 70 per cent of our petroleum products. That is why research on non-conventional hydrocarbons as well as new sources like liquefied natural gas, biofuels and renewables should be conducted in India; we need to reduce our dependence on imported fuel which is causing a huge outflow in foreign exchange.

Now as far as the institute is concerned, which is being structured like the IITs, the minister has to bring another Bill so that it can be declared as an Institute of National Importance because that has to be included in Entry 64 of the Schedule 7 under Union List. I request the minister to examine if a separate Bill needs to be introduced for this purpose.

The first ordinance of the institutes will be set up by the Central Government. The first statute and ordinance will be made by the Central Government and thereafter the power will go to the board. Central Government also provide for the General Council of the institute and also provide for the Board of Governors.

In this connection I want to invite the minister’s attention to the Indian Institute Of Management Bill which was passed in this House recently. There the government has withdrawn from the IIMs altogether. They said all decisions will be taken by the Board of Governors and the president will not be a visitor on the IIMs. I want the Minister to follow this path; free this new institute from the apron strings of the Government. Let all these things be decided by the Governing Council of the institute itself.

Sir, as I said that it is of great importance to find more petroleum sources. I request the Minister, since he is here, that it is said that the Bay of Bengal basin is floating on oil. Oil [exportation] had started in the Sunderbans area of Bengal. But that was given up. I think Schlumberger or some American company was doing it. Now it has been given up. I would urge him, so that [exportation] for petroleum can take place in the Bay of Bengal basin.

Sir, the Cabinet has approved Rs 65.46 crore as capital expenditure and given Rs 400 crore as endowment fund. As the Bill states clearly that this will be slowly reduced. In coming days, slowly the central government grant would be reduced and expenditure or shortfall will be made from the endowment fund for which only Rs 400 crore has been allocated. The idea is that ultimately the institute will be raising some of the finances for its own sources and I hope that the Minister would do the needful in this matter so that the institute is not short (of funds).

About Rs 1000 crore is being given for the development of the institute, and so, as I said, it is good that the Government of India is investing so much money in energy research. By 2020-23 capital expenditure would come down to Rs 4.16 crore. The initial capital expenditure is for constructing the buildings, the laboratories etc. So, slowly it will taper down. Then the institute will run from its own income and its endowment fund.

There is already an Indian Institute of Petroleum at Dehradun where ONGC is headquartered. This new institute will provide courses for undergraduate studies. I request the Minister to also initiate the postgraduate courses immediately, and also the courses which are already being offered at IIT Kharagpur. Start doctoral research also.

This is a good step. It fulfills the aspirations of the people of Andhra Pradesh. It is in keeping of the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act and it meets the challenge of India’s energy needs in the future.

With these words, I support this Bill.