Parliament – Page 28 – All India Trinamool Congress

From demonetisation to railways and online trolls – Trinamool MPs raise several issues of importance in Parliament

Posted on February 8, 2017 | by aitc | Leave a Comment

It was a busy and productive day for Trinamool MPs in Parliament today. The day began with dharna on the completion of 90 days since demonetisation. The MPs highlighted the sufferings of the common people due to restrictions on cash withdrawal and demanded all restrictions be removed immediately.

Trinamool had given a Notice of Suspension of Business under Rule 267 to discuss the limits on withdrawal of cash. Speaking on the issue, Chief Whip of the party in Rajya Sabha, Sukhendu Sekhar Roy said: “Three months have passed since the Government announced demonetisation.”

SS Roy reminded the House that the PM had asked for 50 days for situation to normalise but 90 days are over and cash crunch is still there. “Our party is against the restrictions on cash withdrawal. Govt must immediately remove these restrictions,” he added.

Read the full transcript of his speech

Dola Sen raised the issue of electoral reforms in her Zero Hour Mention in Rajya Sabha. She said, “The issue has been part of my party’s DNA, its very existence, since it was established on 1st January, 1998. In last 18 yrs, Trinamool has dedicated first section of every manifesto to electoral reforms.” She said solution to electoral reforms is state funding through Election Commission.

Read the full transcript of her speech

During Question Hour, Leader of the AITC Parliamentary Party in Rajya Sabha, Derek O’Brien raised the issue of online trolls. He said: “In today’s digital medium, everyone from civil society, every citizen can be a journalist because you can broadcast from your mobile phones.” He wanted to know if the government is planning to issue an advisory for high Constitutional authorities, including the Prime Minister of India, who are following unknown people on the digital medium.

Read the full transcript of his speech

MP Ahamed Hasan Imran raised the issue of job losses due to demonetisation during Question Hour. He asked the government, “what steps have been initiated for rehabilitation and compensation of the workers who have lost their jobs in the manufacturing sector due to demonetisation.”

Read the full transcript of his speech

During Question Hour in Lok Sabha, Mathurapur MP CM Jatua raised the issue of railway connectivity in Sunderbans. Arambagh MP Aparupa Poddar asked a question about railway safety mechanisms. Balurghat MP Arpita Ghosh raised the issue of internet penetration in rural areas.

Read the full transcript of CM Jatua’s speech

Read the full transcript of Aparupa Poddar’s speech

Read the full transcript of Arpita Ghosh’s speech

Ahamed Hasan Imran’s Question regarding the rehabilitation of those who have lost their jobs in the manufacturing sector due to demonetisation

Posted on February 8, 2017 | by admin2 | Leave a Comment

FULL TRANSCRIPT

As per data mentioned by the All India Manufacturing Association, the country’s manufacturing sector has suffered a lot due to demonetisation. Thousands of workers engaged in the sector have been rendered jobless.

Sir, my question is, what steps have been initiated by the government for rehabilitation and compensation of the workers who have lost their jobs in the manufacturing sector due to demonetisation.

Trinamool’s Derek O’Brien’s Question in Rajya Sabha on advisory regarding online trolls

Posted on February 8, 2017 | by admin2 | Leave a Comment

FULL TRANSCRIPT

Sir, the question and the answer both refer to the word ‘journalist’, and I suppose it is in the traditional term of a journalist being a print journalist or a television journalist. Sir, in today’s digital medium, everyone from civil society, every citizen can be a journalist because you can broadcast from your mobile phones. Sir, in this digital age, since you can broadcast from your mobile phone, there is a generation of people known as ‘trolls’ who broadcast very negative, abusive stuff, murderous threats and misogynistic stuff, and the kind of editorials which go out can also lead to deep communal differences.

My specific question, Sir – in this digital age, when every citizen can be a journalist and broadcast this kind of negativity – is whether the Minister and his Ministry is planning to issue an advisory for high Constitutional authorities, including the Prime Minister of India, who are following unknown people on the digital medium.

I don’t say they have to know everybody – the Prime Minister himself is not sending out any negative messages but the people who he is following on digital media, are sending out bile, and very venomous stuff.

My question is, would the Government consider sending out an advisory to high Constitutional authorities, or to everybody in a responsible position, to not to follow these unknown trolls who are spreading rape threats, communal threats and misogynistic threats under the guise of anonymity.

CM Jatua’s Question in Lok Sabha on railway connectivity in Sunderbans

Posted on February 8, 2017 | by aitc | Leave a Comment

Thank you Madam Speaker for allowing this Supplementary Question. I come from the southernmost part of West Bengal, which is the Sunderbans area. The Railways stands as a good communication medium in the area.

In 2009, when Mamata Banerjee was the Railway Minister, she introduced several programmes in the Sunderban areas. There were several projects which were initiated; I will not be naming all of them. Although the surveys were done, no progress was made after that. In one case Madam, from Namkhana, Chandannagar and Bakkhali, it is hardly 18 – 19 km, the money was sanctioned and work had begun when Mamata Banerjee was the Rail Minister itself. Thereafter, nothing has been done.

I know we are discussing the safety measures of the railways; it is good to hear that Hon’ble Railway Minister has taken several actions on safety matters. But the Sunderbans area does not have a line, so where is the question of safety? And this is only 19 km for which money was allotted and work had begun. I want to know from the Railway Minister when this work of extension will be started and be completed. Thank you.

Arpita Ghosh’s question in Lok Sabha on internet penetration in rural areas

Posted on February 8, 2017 | by admin2 | Leave a Comment

FULL TRANSCRIPT

Thank you, Speaker Madam. Mera jo MP quarter hain wahaan pe WiFi pariseva sahi nahi hua hain, optical fibre charo taraf chhahel raha hain. Mera jo Balurghat constituency hain woh ek rural area hain. Abhi Mantri sahab bata rahe the ke rural area pe kaam zada ho raha hain; mera constituency mein abhi tak line proper nahi hua hain, adha din line kharab rehti hain.

Mujhe ek baat samajh me nahi aa raha hain. Yeh sarkar optical fibre ki baat kar raha hain, cashless economy ki baat kar raha hain, internet ki baat kar raha hain, toh is pe jor diya jai ke kaise Government kaam karegi, kyuki private parties agar itna achha kaam kar raha hian toh kaise government nahi kar sakti hain. Pradha Mantri ji vigyapan mein aa raha hain. Mere constituency Balughat mein kab tak yeh pariseva thik ho jayegi, sahi matlab se kabse ye chalu ho jayegi.

Aparupa Poddar’s question in Lok Sabha on railway safety mechanism

Posted on February 8, 2017 | by aitc | Leave a Comment

Thank you, Speaker Madam, for allowing me to speak on this question. Railway is a very important medium of transport; it is the cheapest medium of transport. When our Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee was Railway Minister she had done many works for the people.

I want to ask whether the Government has conducted any survey to assess the safety mechanism of railways in the last 3 years and if yes details should be given.

I have raised the demand for a railway gate at Kamarkundu a couple of times. State Government has already removed encroachment but it is pending.

Trinamool stages dharna outside Parliament, protest in the House after three months of demonetisation

Posted on February 8, 2017 | by admin2 | Leave a Comment

Trinamool Congress MPs from both the Houses of the Parliament staged a dharna today outside the Parliament protesting against demonetisation, which completed three months today.

In the Parliament, the party gave notices in both the Upper and the Lower Houses to discuss on the issue that had led millions of poor people in great distress.

In Rajya Sabha, Trinamool MP Sukhendu Sekhar Roy demanded Suspension of Rules in order to discuss forthwith the limits on cash withdrawal even after 3 months of demonetisation. He pointed out that in November, the PM had asked for 50 days which eded on December 30. Now three months have passed. Deposit and withdrawal limits after the announcement are still being imposed, causing hardship and inconvenience to common man. People are unable to withdraw one’s own hard earned money, he pointed out. He said that Trinamool Congress is against the restrictions on cash withdrawal and the Government must immediately remove these restrictions.

The Trinamool MP pointed out that over 120 lives have been lost due to demonetisation and many daily wage workers, labourers and farmers have lost their livelihoods. The down trodden and poor continue to suffer.

Trinamool Congress Chairperson Mamata Banerjee was the first person to react against this ‘Draconian Policy’ of the Centre back in November 8, 2016, the day it was announced. Today, in a series of tweet, Mamata Banerjee said that “Demonetisation-Remonetisation” has derailed the nation and the step was “visionless, missionless and directionless”. Here is her full statement.

Dola Sen’s Zero Hour mention on the need for electoral reforms and state funding of elections

Posted on February 8, 2017 | by admin2 | Leave a Comment

Thank you Honourable Deputy Chairman for this opportunity to raise an issue today, which has been part of my party’s DNA, its very existence, since it was established on 1^st January, 1998. In the last 18 years, the first section of every manifesto, which the Trinamool has introduced for every election, has been dedicated to electoral reforms.

We believe that the solution to electoral reforms is state funding. State funding of elections have been done in various countries. Whatever model can be used, we need to sit down, get a consensus among all political parties and take steps towards this in a time bound manner.

This Government is only doing decorative gimmicks. It has capped donations to political parties from Rs 20000 to Rs 2000. This is not a solution. The Finance Minister has introduced electoral bonds. How is this a solution? Electoral bonds cannot be the solution. Corporate A or Individual A will buy certain bonds and that shall be passed on to the political parties.

The biggest problem here is that in this age where privacy laws in India are so poor, there is scope for leaks. In October 2016, 21 lakh debit and credit cards’ information was leaked. How will the identity of donors who fund elections and political parties be anonymous? This is not at all a solution.

My party, Trinamool Congress is now a national party. We really believe in finding long-term solutions for this. We need to

Do electoral state funding through election commission
Come up with a transparent system
Bring about a consensus on this
Do not rush through anything right now

The style of the government – everything they do is short term. I hope for this, they will take a long-term view.

Ordinance on demonetisation was uncalled for: Trinamool in Lok Sabha

Posted on February 7, 2017 | by admin2 | Leave a Comment

Speaking on the Specified Bank Notes (Cessation of Liabilities) Bill, 2017 in Lok Sabha, Trinamool MP called the Ordinance (which this Bill will replace) as “unnecessary and uncalled for”.

Quoting the RBI Act, Section 26(1) and (2), Saugata Roy questioned the Centre under what provision of law can the government restrict people from accessing their bank accounts. He said it was in violation of Article 300(A) of the Constitution.

He said that the Prime Minister’s reply during the Motion of Thanks to the President’s Address did not have any adequate answer on what was the rationale behind demonetisation. He accused the government of changing goal posts from black money to ‘Digital India’.

“In a country where there are 5.1 lakh villages, you have got only 1.36 lakh bank branches. We have got 2.18 lakh ATMs. 40 percent of whom do not work and 40 percent of whom do not have cash. You are subjecting the poor people to this. I mentioned yesterday by taking away cash from the economy you have breaking the backbone of the society,” Saugata Roy said.

He added: “Counterfeit notes are only 0.03% of total circulation. To get Rs 400 crore out of system, they cancelled Rs 15.44 lakh crore. Total amount of black money in cash is only 6%. People convert it into gold, real estate or keep it abroad. The government has failed to bring back black money from abroad.”

He asked the government if lengthy speeches in Parliament will bring back the lives of the 150 people who died due to demonetisation. He said that people of India will reply to this heartless and reckless step.

Tapas Mandal speaks on The Payment of Wages (Amendment) Bill, 2017

Posted on February 7, 2017 | by admin2 | Leave a Comment

FULL TRANSCRIPT

Sir, Iss Bill ke virodh mein nahin hain hum, lekin kuch kuch iss Bill mein hain jiske bare mein hum question kar sakte hain. Kyunki jo Bill hain, jo pehle Ordinance tha, and that was the 26th ordinance made by the Government since inception – inn logon ka aur iss Government ka loktantra par kitna vishwas hain isi se hi pata chalta hain.

Minimum wages ke bare mein kuch iss Bill pa nahin hain. Saare desh main unorganised sector mein bahut log kaam kar rahe hain, jin logon ko bahut kam tankhwa milte hain. Yeh minimm wages ko badana chahiye – iska pravdhan iss Bill pe nahin hain. Iss Bill pe yeh nahin kaha gaya ki hamara Paschim Bangal mein bahut saare tea workers hain, jute workers hain, jin logon ko tankhwa nahin mil rahe hain.

Mamata Bandyopadhyay ne bahut bar keh chuke hain, hamare mananiye sansadon ne baar baar yeh mudda uthaya hain iss Sansad mein. Lekin Government ka dhyan iss par nahin hain.

Iss mauke pe main phir appeal karta hoon, hamare tea workers ke liye, jute workers ke liye aap rupiya bheje jis se un log zindagi achhe se jee sakey. Yeh jo kanoon tha 1936 ka – 80 saal purana ek kanoon – jis mein rupiya milne ka ek hi tarika tha, jab paid through coins or cash. Abhi iss mein kya mila? In addition to the existing payment modes, unka account mein rupiya jayega aur cheque mein jayega. Toh kiya iss mein jo exploitation ho raha hain, kam ho jayeja? Yeh mera sawal hain. If you want to continue and maintain transparency in transaction modes, at least make it digital, and not retain payment through cash or coins. Yeh nahin hona chahiye. Yeh hamara kehna hain.

Hamare iss Bill pe jo kuch hain hum sweekar karte hain, lekin jo nahin hain iske bare mein thoda sa vichar kare, kyun ki jo companiyan hain, industry hain, woh log exploit karte rehte hain. Uske bare mein kya action lena hoga, kya mudda uthana hain iske bare mein koi provision nahin hain. Iske bare mein the Government should think about, and they should take some stringent actions against those who are violating the laws. Iss ke liye hum kehte hain ki to take actions to set up an institute that will monitor the transparency in mode of payment, and if there is any discrepancy they can sort it out, and take actions according to the law. Yeh hamare kehna hain.

Yeh jo Bill hain hum swagat karte hain lekin hamare desh mein itne saare workers hain, itse saare sramik hain organised aur unorganised sector mein, un logon par dhyan digiye. Hamare tankha bahut hain, hamare salary bahut hain lekin jo aam aadmi hain, jo garib hain, jinke liye Mananiye Pradhan Mantri ne sawal uthate hain, unka koi nahin hain. Un par dhyan digiye,, unka tankha badhaiye, aur unko jo minimum wages de rahe hain usko bhi badhaiye – aap ka bhala hoga, hamare liye achha rahega, desh ka bhala hoga. Isi shabdo ke saath mein aap ko dhanyavad deta hoon. Dhanyavad.