Abhishek Banerjee to represent Trinamool at UN

Trinamool Congress’ youngest MP Abhishek Banerjee is likely to be part of a delegation of Indian parliamentarians visiting the United Nations’ New York headquarters from October 19-30.

It is significant because soon after assuming power, the current Prime Minister had scrapped this practice, which has been a norm since Jawaharlal Nehru’s times. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had registered her protest forcing the Centre to rethink its decision.

Abhishek was named by Sudip Bandyopadhyay , Trinamool Congress leader in Lok Sabha.

“We nominated Abhishek because he is the youngest MP in the party . This delegation provides a rare insight into the workings of United Nations general assembly . It will help him,” he said.

Party MPs Derek O’ Brien, Nadimul Haque and Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar have been part of similar delegations. Abhishek Banerjee, National President of All India Trinamool Youth Congress, is the second youngest MP in Lok Sabha.

WB CM to confer Tarana-e-Hind on poet Iqbal

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee will felicitate Waleed Iqbal, the grandson of famous poet Allama Iqbal, at a three-day international literary festival organised by State’s Urdu Academy from May 29.

Known for his poem Saare Jahan Se Achcha , also referred as Tarana-e-Hind, Muhammad Iqbal, or Allama Iqbal, is considered one of an important poets of the pre-Independent India.

Ms Banerjee, the chairman of the West Bengal Urdu Academy, is very fond of the poem Saare Jahan se Achcha. She will confer Tarana-e-Hind award on the poet’s grandson.

“The West Bengal Urdu Academy is making all efforts to make the event a success. The event will also help in the spread of Urdu language in the State,” Md. Nadimul Haque, Trinamool Congress MP to Rajya Sabha, said.

A section of the library of the West Bengal Urdu Academy will be dedicated to literature of Iqbal during the festival starting May 29.

Nadimul Haque demands creation of special category under Arjuna Awards for the differently-abled | Full Transcript

Full Transcript

Sir, recently our country has lost a brilliant sportsperson in the form of Masudur Rahman Baidya, who was not only an exceptional swimmer but also an inspiration and hope for millions of people. Despite being differently-abled, he has shown the world that if you have the will power, you can dominate millions of hearts.

A person with double amputation below the knee, he has conquered the English Channel in 1997, the Strait of Gibraltar in 2001 and the Palk Strait in July 2010. He certainly deserves special recognition from the country. We, as a country, have not been much generous towards differently-abled sportspersons.

The efforts one undertakes to be in the field, whatever it be, need special applaud from us who enjoy that tremendous performance. The ace swimmer had said in last December that we are a part of society, given the responsibility, we too can deliver, just like we are doing at various disabled games.

Sir, the West Bengal Government and, specially, our Chief Minister, Mamata Banerjee, has taken various initiatives for the recognition of differently-abled sportspersons. She has also expressed her solidarity with the family of Masudur Rahman Baidya, who passed away on 26th April at the age of 46 years.

Through this august House, we demand from the Government that there should be a special category of Arjuna Awards for differently-abled athletes and sportspersons, and it should be named after Masudur Rahman Baidya.

Sir, this special recognition will inspire several differentlyabled brothers and sisters, and they will get encouragement and special recognition while living their dreams to play the game, be it any game.

Nadimul Haque speaks on The Repealing and Amending Bill, 2014 | Full Transcript

 Full Transcript

Sir I rise to speak on the Repealing and Amending Act of 2015. Since 1950 , this is one of the periodical measures by which enactments which have ceased to be enforced or have become obsolete or the retention whereof a separate and independent Act is unnecessary. Then such enactments are repealed or as the case may be, it is used to repel any formal defects in any enactment which comes to the notice during its administration.

Sir, while giving a written answer to my question on April 24, 2015, in this House, the minister had stated there were a huge number of obsolete laws which are of no use in current scenarios. According to a two-member committee formed by the PMO there is need to repeal about 637 laws as soon as possible. Obviously this is a worrisome situation that requires urgent and proper attention of the Government.

Regarding this Bill Sir, I have a few suggestions. As it is clear by the name of this Bill the Amending and Repealing work has been clubbed together. Many times it can cause ambiguity so in my view there should be separation of amending and repealing in all such bills Sir.

Also Sir, it is seen that most Bills to be repealed are mainly Appropriation Acts. Since these acts are used for temporary use –in most cases one year- why are we making so much effort to repeal such Acts? There should be Automatic Repeal Clause in such Acts which are replaced or repealed by the same Acts. The Legal Department has cited that due to Section 6A of the General Clauses Act 1897, there is hindrance in the way of Automatic Repeal Clause at the drafting stage of any Bill. So, I request the Government of India to make amendments in the said section of the General Clauses Act 1897.

Sir, we shouldn’t continue with British procedures which are causing administrative delays and making our task cumbersome.

My last suggestion Sir in this is regarding the face that there is no uniformity in repealing the obsolete laws. The Select Committee on this Bill has made the same observation regarding this Sir. The last repealing Bill was passed in the year 2001 and the next such bill has come to the House in 2015. There is a gap of nearly 15 years. I request the minister to make provisions for some fixed time interval for repealing of such obsolete laws so that unnecessary burdens can be removed from the government books.

Sir, at the effect of such Repealing and Amending Acts is only to remove dead matter from the Statute books and it has no legislative effect, on behalf of my Party, the All India Trinamool Congress, I support the Bill. Thank you.

Trinamool MPs slam the Government on the Railway Budget 2015-16

Trinamool MPs Derek O’Brien and Nadimul Haque slammed the Railway Budget 2015-16 in Rajya Sabha, calling it anti common people.

Derek O’ Brien raised the issue of allocation of funds for pending projects in Bengal and gave suggestions regarding passenger and falling freight issue. He pointed out the current document was almost identical to the Vision 2020 document made in the time of Mamata Banerjee as Railway Minister.

Derek O’Brien pointed out that on counts of doubling, gauge conversion, growth of freight loading, growth of passengers originating, Railways performed much better during the tenure of Mamata Banerjee as the Railway Minister, rather than in 2013-14. He also asked the Minister to have a relook on the accounting system, which presently works on a system, which is 95 year old. He reiterated the stand of not supporting FDI in Railways.

“Freight in the Railways has come down from 60% to something like 30%. This is a big loss. I want to make here is that you have to stop competing with road and become a partner of the roads. Like Procter and Gamble (P&G), you should become Prabhu and Gadkari (P&G). Both of you have to work together,” saying that there should be unity in rail and road sector.

He criticised the Government for cutting down the allocations for metro projects and workshops and hollow promise of ‘look east’. He urged the current Government to preserve the only steam engine train run in Darjeeling which is a national heritage.

Click here for the full speech of Derek O’Brien.

Nadimul Haque called this Budget as anti poor. He termed this to be a joke on the poor people. He slammed the Government for not looking towards the backward region of the country. Despite the fact, that oil prices have decreased, the Government has increased the freight fares, which will hurt the common people and prices of essential goods will increase.

“Railway along with being a  National Asset is also a strategic Defense Asset where the PPP model will only benefit corporates. Railway is th elifeline of India’s large population, do not treat it just as a commercial entity”, he said.

Click here for the full speech of Nadimul Haque. 

Nadimul Haque makes Special Mention on increased representation of minorities in PSUs | Transcript

Full transcript:

Sir, through you I wish to mention about worrisome low trend of representation of minorities in the public sector employment as well as in the central police forces which is only 7.8% and 9.9% respectively now.

Sir, there have been many studies conducted regarding the socio-economic condition of minorities and recommendations have been submitted to the Government and in those reports, it has been argued that minorities especially Muslims continue to be left out of both government jobs and the urbanisation wave.

Moreover, basic advantages of a better sex ratio and higher birth rate have been wasted due to lack of health facilities in areas dominated by Muslims and a high school drop-out rate. Sir, nearly six months have passed since the submission of Post-Sachar Evaluation Committee’s report but no action has been taken by the Government.

Sir, I wish to request the Government, through you, that it must incentivise both private and public sector companies to undertake large scale and strong affirmative action initiatives in skill trainings and employment opportunities for minority and especially Muslim youths. Also, there should be Government led planned recruitment drives in the time bound manner for them.

Finally, I wish to conclude by saying that the true idea of India resides in representation by we all, and it must be respected.

Thank you.

Trinamool raises matters of national importance during Zero Hour in RS

Trinamool Congress member in Rajya Sabha, Derek O’Brien today expressed concern over Maharashtra government banning consumption of beef, saying the ban would not only have an economic impact but the punishment for eating the meat has become more than that for sexual harassment.

Raising the issue during Zero hour, Mr O’Brien said the issue should not be looked through the “religious prism” as lot of people besides minorities, including Dalits and those in the Northeast, ate beef which is “poor man’s protein”.

The ban, he said, would lead to a hike in prices of other meat like fish and chicken and affect the livelihood of people associated with the trade.

It was going to affect farmers, he said, adding that Maharashtra faces 55 per cent shortage of fodder and banning slaughter of sick and old animals would aggravate the crisis.

“The fine for sexual harassment case is less than eating a particular meat within the confines of one’s home,” he said adding the ban would “change the fabric of the Constitution”.

As BJP members opposed his submission but Deputy Chairman PJ Kurien ruled that a member has a right to raise any issue of public interest and those who disagree should give notice and raise it appropriately.

Click here for full speech of Derek O’Brien.

 

Nadimul Haque questioned the Government’s decision to reduce the numbers of Nirbhaya Centres. He said that the decision was a shameful one and the Government should take up the issue seriously as it is of national importance.

Click here for full speech of Nadimul Haque

Nadimul Haque raises concern on reduction of funds for Nirbhaya Centres | Transcript

Full transcript:

The Government is going to reduce number of ‘One Stop Rape Crisis Centre’ for women i.e. the Nirbhaya Centre which was recommended by the Justice Verma Commission.

The Government has reduced the budget allotment for these crisis centres from around Rs 245 crore to just Rs 18 crore and has decided in building on 36 centres despite promising to build 660 such centres.

The Minister for Women and Child Development had informed the House about Nirbhaya centres. Now the Government is backing out.

Sir, this is a sensitive issue. This reduction is shameful.

Our party stands for empowerment of Maa, Mati, Manush. West Bengal Government has launched several women’s police stations and fast-track courts for speedy justice. The Government must take the issue of rape crisis centres for women seriously.

Trinamool plays constructive Opposition in Parliament

Trinamool played the role of a constructive Opposition in Parliament today. A day full of activities for the party, the MPs raised matters of national importance, made their objection known on Bills which were against public interest and rendered support to the Government to pass a Bill which would be beneficial for the people.

Trinamool Congress MPs today slammed the Central Government in the Zero Hour and the Question Hour in both Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha. In Lok Sabha, Saugata Roy condemned the statement of the Jammu and Kashmir CM and demanded a clarification from the Prime Minister. In the Rajya Sabha, Derek O’Brien raised the concern regarding the way the Government is handling issues of legislative procedures. Sukhendu Sekhar Roy also raised his concern of how land marked for Air Traffic Control is now being replaced to build a shopping mall.

Nadimul Haque spoke on Motion of Thanks on the President’s Address in the Rajya Sabha. He highlighted the issue of reduction of allocations in MNREGA and also the social sector spending. He said that unity in diversity was the guiding principle of Trinamool, he said that the Central Government has failed to keep its promise in all aspects.

In Lok Sabha, Saugata Roy opposed the Introduction of Insurance Bill, which the Cabinet promulgated on 26 December, 2014. He also slammed the Government for ushering in an era of Ordinance raj. “Are we subjected to a system where there is a Constitutional Imbroglio,” he asked the Government.

Saugata Roy also moved amendments to extend the penalty for illegal mining. He urged the Government to take steps to protect the right of the tribals. He demanded that the time period for mining leases be brought down to 30 years.

Ratna De Nag supported the Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Bill, 2015 in Lok Sabha as it will create employment for large number of drivers. She also requested the Government to help the poor drivers of the e-rickshaw and e-carts, either in getting a loan from the Bank in zero interest or less interest or by giving them some subsidy.

During a Short Duration Discussion on losses incurred by farmers due to non seasonal rainfall, Debabrata Bandyopadhyay demanded that farmers be given crop insurance.

Trinamool MPs also made Special Mentions in Rajya Sabha on important issues.

Nadimul Haque speaks on Motion of Thanks on the President’s Address | Transcript

Full transcript:

Deputy Chairman Sir, main aapka shukraguzar hun ki aapne Sadr e Jamuliya ke Motion of thanks mein bolne ka mauka mujhe diya. Maine kafi Members ki baate suni, lehaza mai apni baat jaise aap ne kaha, mukthasar o jamm rakhunga.

Sir, nayi sarkar ko takriban nau mahine ho gaye, aur hum sabh jante hai ki nau mahino mein bahut saare umidein puri ho jaati hai. Hum ne socha tha barsat mein barse gi sharab, ayi barsat to barsat ne dil tor diya.

Main shuru hi me yeh puchna chahta hoon, ‘kya huwa tera wada?

Main yehi sawal uthana chahta hoon, ki sarkar ke waado aur action me itna farak kyun hai? Aur yehi farak kisi ek mamle tak mehdut nahi balki har shobe pe nazar aata hain. Ab MGNREGA ko hi le jiye. Is Guarantee Scheme se ab ‘Guarantee’ shabd gayab ho gayi hain.

Jab ke social sector aur public work programme main iska shumaar duniya ki badi scheme main hota hai. World Bank ne bhi isko tezi tarrakki ki missal scheme ka bhi darja diya hai. Leken maujuda sarkar ne kya kiya? Sarkar ne is scheme ke tehad, blocks ki share ghata diya hai aur mazdoor or saman ke ratio me bhi tarim kiya hai . Kaya eh behtar nehi hota, ki yeh saab karne ke wajah agar sarkar rehsatto aur gram panchayat ki madad karti, ta ki MGNREGA ke zariye productive assets paida kiya ja sakta hai.

Yeh kehana galat nehi hoga, ki Presidential Address mein social sector ko nazar andaz kiya gaya hai. Jaha health budget mein Rs 6000 crore ki katauti ki gayi, wohi defense budget main Rs 13000 crore ki kami hai. Hadd to yeh hai ki pichle 9 mahino main petrol aur diesel par lagi excise duty main char martaba izafa huya hai.

Chairman Sahab, yehe sara House janta hai ki jis din budget pesh kiya gaya, usi raat tel ki kimat me fir izafa kiya giya. Khas dhyan mein rakhne ki baat yahi hai ki agricultural growth ab negative ho gaya hai.

‘Chaman main fasle bahar aayi, aur guzar bhi gaayi, main fikhiri mein raha, aashiya banane ki.’

Saab, Sadr-e-Jamuliya ne apni speech main cooperative federalism ka zikr kiya hai. Mere aur hamari party ke khayal mein federalism ko sirf cooperative hi nahi operative bhi hona chahiye.

Kehne ka maksad hai, Marqazi Hukumat yani Central Government ko riasaton se bhi shikhna chahiye.

Saab, aaj apko ilm hoga ki magri Bengal ki hukumat ne Kanyashree nami scheme launch kiya hai jiske tahat ab 22 lakh ladkiyo ko faida pahunchaya hai. Hamara lakshya hain ke agle do barso mein is figure ko 44 lakh tak pahunchaya jayega. Aap ko yeh jan kar khushi hogi ki UNICEF ne bhi Kanyashree ki tarif ki hai aur ab yeh scheme UNICEF ki partnership ke sath chal rahi hai.

Kya yeh behtar nahi hota ki Markazi Hukumat bhi riyasaton ki kamyab schem sare mulk mein lagu karein? Afsos ki baat yeh hain ke pichle jamuryan ke parade mein Kanyashrre ke tableau ko nikalne ki ijazat nahi di gayi.

Chairman Saab, main Bengal ki Ma Mati Manush sarkar ko salaam karta hun ki usne koi aise kadam uthaye aur welfare projects shuru kiye jiski wajah se Jangalmahal ilakon mein extreme left wing violence main zabardast kami ayi hain. Left Wing tashuddhut ek kamyab muquabla ke liye aise ek dum par apni ek kaumi yah national model banaya ja shakta hai. Aur jaha jahan yeh violence hota hai, wahan use lagu kiya ja sakta hai.

Chairman Saab, hali mein Hukumat ne Land Acquisition Ordinance ka ikhtala kiya hai. Isse kabl, Land Acquisition Act mulk mein lagu tha. Ordinance ke jariye Act ki koi protective provisions ko hatha diya gaya hai. Maslan, social impact assessment ki ab zarurat nahi, sattar pratisad tasir khandanon ki izazat ki zarurat nahi. Is Ordinance ke tehed ab multicrop aur irrigated zameen ko bhi haseel kiya ja sakta hai. Yeha mei kehna zaroori samaztha hun ke Trinamool Congress wahi party hai jisne UPA II mein bhi Land Aquisation Bill ki bukhaifat ki thi.

Akhir mein mein yeh kahunga, ki hamare mulk mein kasrat mein wahdhat ki mishal di jati hai, yani unity in diversity. Hamare mulk ki yeh ek nishani hain aur yeh unity sirf baton tak mehdoot nahi, balki action mein bhi zahir honi chahiye.

Sir, before me a Senior Leader has said, Unity in Diversity can be beautiful in action like the Indian cricket team. Hamari party ne Parliament mein ek alag kism ki Unity in diversity ka muzhara kiya hai.

Hamare pehle speaker ek Christian the, dusre Hindu aur tisra mein apke samne khada hun. Yeh koi mansuba ya planning ke tahad nahi kiya gaya lekin aisa hua. Yehi hamare mulk aur hamare democracy ki khubsurati hain.

Main apni baat ek sher ke saath khatam karta hun:

Waqt bhi dekha hai tarif ki nazaron ne
Woh Waqt bhi dekha hai tarif ki nazaron ne
Lamhon ne khata ki thi, sadiyon ne saza payi

 

Translation:

Deputy Chairman Sir, I thank you for giving me this opportunity to speak on the Motion of Thanks on the Presidential Address. I have heard all the Members and as asked by you will keep my speech within the time frame alloted.

Sir, the new Government has been in power for nearly nine months now. We all know it is good enough time to culminate some of the expectations. But alas, the government has failed to live upto our expectations.

Firstly, I would like to ask what happened to the promises that were made?

Why is there a difference between your promises and your actions? It is not just me but everyone in the country is beginning to notice this difference.

For instance MGNREGA. Unfortunately, ‘Guarantee’ in this ‘Guarantee Scheme’ has been neglected. This Scheme which was taken up as an example by the World Bank has now lost its essence due to the change in the labour to material ratio and reducing the allocation of blocks for this Scheme. Wouldn’t it have been better instead of doing this, the Government helped the Gram Panchayats to create productive assets?

It would not be wrong to say that in the Presidential Address the social sector has not been mentioned. The health budget has been reduced by Rs 6000 crore whereas the Defense Budget is short by Rs 13000 crore. The irony is the night of when the Union Budget was tabled, the petrol and diesel prices were once again increased. The agricultural growth has also now turned into negative.

Sir, the President in his speech has mentioned about cooperative federalism. My party and I think federalism should be both cooperative and operative. I mean to say that the Central Government should also learn from the states.

Sir, you may be aware in Bengal under the Kannyashree scheme, launched by the local Government, has benefitted 22 lakh girls. Our aim is to reach out to 44 lakh girls in the next two years. You will be happy to know UNICEF has appreciated the Scheme and now has partnered with it as well.

Sir, I salute the Ma Mati Manush Government in West Bengal for bringing out such welfare scheme through which the extreme left wing violence in Jangalmahal has been reduced. This model can be adopted by the Central Government too, to combat the common issue in other states of the country.

Sir, recently the Union Government has announced Land Acquisition Ordinance. There was already a law in practice before in the country. Through this ordinance the government has removed the protective provisions in the law. Through this Ordinance it will be easy to capture multicrop and irrigated lands without the consent of the farmer families. Trinamool Congress is the only party which had opposed the Land Acquisition Bill of UPA II Government.

Sir, our country is an example of Unity in Diversity. Before me a senior Leader has said, Unity in Diversity can be beautiful in action like the Indian cricket team. My party practices this as the speaker before me was Christian, the next Hindu and I am standing before you Sir. This is not planned course of action, but the beauty of our country and democracy.

Main apni baat ek sher ke saath khatam karta hun:

Waqt bhi dekha hai tarif ki nazaron ne
Woh Waqt bhi dekha hai tarif ki nazaron ne
Lamhon ne khata ki thi, sadiyon ne saza payi