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Sir, as per the provisions of Section 26 of Section 2 of the Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934, the Government, on the recommendation of the central bank, may declare that any currency of any denomination of any series would not be legal tender.
In the light of this provision, my question is, whether the horse was before the cart, that is to say, whether the RBI sent the recommendation on its own, or the RBI was directed by the Government to send the recommendation?
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Madam, yesterday in a public meeting the BJP leaders, including the observer of BJP in West Bengal, had said all leaders of Trinamool Congress will be arrested by CBI and will land up in Bhubaneshwar jail. He also said that West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee will be arrested. How can BJP and Narendra Modi misuse the CBI for political vendetta? We are protesting strongly. We protest against the misuse of CBI for political vendetta. Jo humse takrayega, chur chur ho jayega.
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Madam, wastage of fruits and vegetables are reported. There is a need to ensure more investment in improving the cold storage chains and preservation of infrastructure across the country to stop loss of food and vegetables.
Madam would the Minister state the benefits acquired in the last two years or since the implementation of the central sector scheme for cold chain and value addition infrastructure which was aimed at stopping loss of fruits and vegetables.
Thank you, Madam.
Trinamool Congress today raised the issue of threats to Trinamool leaders by BJP functionaries in Bengal.
In Lok Sabha, Chief Whip of the party, Kalyan Banerjee raised the issue during Zero Hour. He said: “How can BJP and Narendra Modi misuse the CBI for political vendetta? We are protesting strongly.”
Leader of AITC Parliamentary Party in Rajya Sabha, Derek O’Brien informed the House that Trinamool leaders are being threatened by BJP leaders in Bengal.
“In a democracy this is not done. There are open threats by BJP functionaries in Bengal. In a democracy, agencies are controlled by the government not by a party”, he said.
He lodged his protest in strongest terms and the party MPs staged a walkout from Rajya Sabha.
গতকাল কলকাতার এক জনসভায় যেভাবে বিজেপির কিছু নেতা তৃণমূলকে হুমকি দিয়েছে তার প্রতিবাদে আজ দলের সাংসদরা সরব হন সংসদে।
লোকসভায় তৃণমূলের মুখ্যসচেতক কল্যাণ বন্দ্যোপাধ্যায় জিরো আওয়ারে বলেন, “বিজেপি এবং নরেন্দ্র মোদী সিবিআইকে তাদের রাজনৈতিক প্রতিহিংসার জন্য অপব্যাবহার করছে। আমরা এর তীব্র প্রতিবাদ করছি।”
রাজ্যসভায় তৃণমূলের পরিষদীয় দলনেতা ডেরেক ও’ব্রায়েন বলেন, “বাংলায় বিজেপি নেতারা তৃণমূল নেতাদের হুমকি দিচ্ছে। গণতন্ত্রে এহেন আচরণ কাম্য নয়। যেকোনো গণতন্ত্রে কেন্দ্রীয় সংস্থাকে নিয়ন্ত্রণ করে সরকার, কোনও দল নয়।”
তিনি এর তীব্র প্রতিবাদ করেন এবং তৃণমূলের সাংসদরা রাজ্যসভা থেকে ওয়াকআউট করেন।
Trinamool Congress MPs from both the Houses of the Parliament staged a dharna today in front of Gandhi ji’s statue in the Parliament complex on the need for electoral reform and State funding of elections.
Electoral reforms has been part of Trinamool’s DNA, its very existence, since the party was established on 1st 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.
Trinamool Chairperson Mamata Banerjee had earlier criticised the Centre’s move to introduce electoral bonds; she had said that a decision on political funding should have be taken after obtaining opinions of all political parties.
“There should have been discussion with all political parties on the issue of political funding, electoral bonds. They should have taken opinion of all political outfits. We have long been demanding electoral reforms and state funding of elections,” she had commented.
নির্বাচনী সংস্কার ও ‘স্টেট ফান্ডেড’ নির্বাচনের দাবীতে আজ তৃণমূল সাংসদরা সংসদ চত্বরে গান্ধী মূর্তির সামনে ধর্ণা দেন।
১লা জানুয়ারি ১৯৯৮ সালে দল গঠন হওয়ার সময় থেকেই নির্বাচনী সংস্কারের কথা বলে আসছে তৃণমূল। বিগত ১৮ বছর ধরে তৃণমূলের সকল নির্বাচনী ইস্তেহারের প্রথম ভাগ নির্বাচনী সংস্কারের জন্যই নির্ধারিত থাকে।
গত সপ্তাহে তৃণমূলনেত্রী মমতা বন্দ্যোপাধ্যায় কেন্দ্রীয় সরকারের ‘ইলেক্টোরাল বন্ডের’ সমালোচনা করে বলেন, “স্টেট ফান্ডেড ইলেকশন’ ও নির্বাচনী বন্ডের বিষয়ে কেন্দ্রের সব দলের সঙ্গে আলোচনা করা উচিত। আমরা দীর্ঘদিন ধরে নির্বাচনী সংস্কার ও সরকারি তহবিলে নির্বাচন লড়ার দাবী জানিয়ে এসেছি।”
Deputy chairman saab, aapka bahut bahut dhanyavad kuynki aapne ye mauka diya hai yaha khade hoke bolne ka.
Sir, ek chhatra hai, Najeeb, jo kayi mahino se lapata hai. Mera Zero Hour uske bare me hai. Najeeb ka matlab hai woh jo sarahaniya hai. Lekin Najeeb ke mudde pe JNU mein jo ho raha hai woh sarahaniya nahin hai. Warden ke report ke mutabik ye ghatna ghati 14 October 2016 ko, jis mein Najeeb aur kuch chatron shamil the. Woh chatro kissi rajnaitik dal se sambandh rakhte the, main uska naam nahi lena chahta hoon, aur waha ek jhamela hua.
Sir, wahan students, security guards, warden-in-charge, sab ne isko dekha aur iska report di gayi. Magar ashcharya ki baat ye hai ki Vice-Chancellor se le kar jo bhi adhikarik is university ke hai, kissi ne bhi is par koi action nahi liya. FIR bhi darj karne ke liye ladke ka Maa ko jana pada.
Sir, iske pehle ki sarkar bole ki ye university ka antargat mamla hai aur hum is mein hastakshep nahi karte, mai batana chahta hoon ki law and order sarkar ka mamla hai. Dilli ka law and order Kendra ka mamla hai.
Kya hum Najeeb ko sirf ek gumshuda statistics banne denge? Main kendriya sarkar se janna chahunga, aapke madhyam se, ki Najeeb ko khojne ke liye kya koi special prayas ki gayi hai? Ya ki woh sirf ek absent student jaise reh jaye ga? Jabki yeh clear cut political vendetta ka case hai aur hum dekh rahe hain ki kis tarha desh mein political vendetta cancer ki tarha fail rahi hai.
Agar sarkar mein koi hai toh unki toh prayas ye hona chahiye ki Najeeb ko kaise jald se jald khoja jaye, unke logon ke saath baat kiya jaye aur uski Maa ke sath baat kiya jaye. Ascharya ki baat ye hai ki Vice Chancellor ne uski Maa ke sath milne se mana kar diya hai. Sir, agar un mein samvedna nahi hain, woh to kendriya sarkar jaga sakti hai.
Sir, mera aapke madhyam se yeh hi request hai ki sarkar is pe koi uchit enquiry karaye, pata toh lagaye ki Najeeb ke gumshuda hone ke peeche ye kya karan hai. Mazein ki baat ye hai ki jo Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad is mein involved hai unse puchtach bhi nahi ki gayi. Agar unka koi special status hai toh ye bhi hum log ko batana chahiye.
Sir, ye political vendetta bada issue hote jaa raha hai. Main aapke madhyam se kendriya sarkar ke dhyan mein lata hoon ki ispe dhyaan dena chahiye, ispe uchit karvahi kiya jaye aur uchit statement diya jaye humein ki political vendetta par sarkar ka kya roop hai.
Dhyanyavad.
Sir, I thank you for giving me this opportunity. Sir, I want to speak about the tragedy of those who made our nation proud, that is our ex-sports persons.
Jab apno ne diya dard toh duniya se kya kehna
Yun toh lakhon dard mile hain humein par iss dard ka kya kehna
Sir, while the nation is celebrating our recent win in Cricket against England there is a sad state of affairs which I like to bring to the notice of the House through you, Sir. A nation must honour its heroes – be it a soldier, a seller or a sports star. Wherever they go they are the ones who carry our country’s pride and calls with them.
But are we doing enough to honour those who make our nation proud? Are we taking care of those athletes who won middle through us? Though the Ministry of Sports has always talked about the efforts to improve sports facilities in the country it is important that they also start talking about the efforts to honor ex-sports persons who brought glory to our nation.
Sir, I am deeply saddened by the way they have been pushed to the margins of the sports in history and by the fact they have to spend their lives in poverty struggling to make ends meet.
Sir, Sarwan Singh a gold medalist in the 110 meters hurdles at 1954 Asian Games worth as a taxi driver and finally as an agricultural laborer at the age of 70.
Yusuf Khan was the part of the gold medal winning team in soccer as 1962 Asian Games.
At the same games Makhan Singh won the relay games. Both led poverty stricken lives after retirement.
Gopal Bhangra in 1978 a world cup participant had worked in a stone quarry.
Kabaddi champion Shanti Devi sells vegetables and Sita Sau who won two bronze medals at 2011 special Olympic games in Athens now sells golgappas.
Sir, I have named just few, though there are numerous such cases. A small amount of monthly pension is now granted to our sports person under the sports fund pensions to meritorious sportsperson. But we need ask ourselves is it enough?
Beta kaisa bhi ho jaye per, Maa toh maa hi hoti hain
Tu jhak ke dil mein dekh kabhi hum kitne dard sahete hain
Maa hum bhi tere bete hain
Maa hum bhi tere bete hain
Trinamool MPs – Derek O’Brien, Vivek Gupta, Nadimul Haque – today raised several matters of public importance during Zero Hour in Rajya Sabha.
While Derek O’Brien spoke on securing interests of Indian IT firms creating value globally, Vivek Gupta demanded an investigation into the case of missing JNU student Najeeb. Nadimul Haque’s Zero Hour mention on honouring the glory of former sportspersons received support across the aisle.
“We need to protect the Indian IT companies. They play a positive role across the world. The software engineers are a jewel in the crown of Indian and international workforce,” Derek said.
Click here to read the full transcript of his speech.
Vivek Gupta said that the issue of missing student Najeeb is a clear case of political vendetta and wondered if Najeeb will become yet another statistic of missing person.
Click here to read the full transcript of his speech.
Nadimul Haque, in his speech, cited several examples of several international medalists medallists who have become now drivers, stone quarry worker etc.
Click here to read the full transcript of his speech.
Vivek Gupta also made a special mention on the issue of federalism. “Centre has not given any moratorium to Bengal for debt relief but has helped foreign countries. Centre has done nothing for the shortage of IAS/IPS officers in the State,” he said.
He added, “Centre, of late, has been taking several decision arbitrarily without consulting the States. Centre has decided to remit money to MGNREGA directly. This is a direct attack on States’ fiscal independence.”
Click here to read the full transcript of his speech.
Trinamool Congress MPs today showed solidarity with the Indian IT firms creating value globally. The MPs gathered in front of Gandhi statue inside Parliament complex carrying placards. “Secure the interests of Indian IT firms creating global value”- the placards carried by the Trinamool MPs said.
The party also raised the issue during Zero Hour in the Rajya Sabha. Leader of the Parliamentary Party in Rajya Sabha, Derek O’Brien said that software engineers are a jewel in the crown of Indian and international workforce and their interests must be protected. The H-1B visa order will adversely affect the Indian IT companies, he added.
Derek O’Brien said, “75% of Fortune 500 companies have operational support from Indian IT companies. From 2011-15, American job market grew at 1.5% while India IT companies grew by 10%. We need to protect the Indian IT companies as they play a positive role across the world.”
Click here to read the full transcript of his speech
Earlier Trinamool Congress Chairperson Mamata Banerjee had expressed her concern over the issue. She had tweeted: “News about H-1B visas is concerning. We must protect our IT companies and professionals and give them full support. IT professionals are our pride and inspiration. We stand shoulder to shoulder with our brothers and sisters.”
ভারতীয় তথ্য প্রযুক্তি সংস্থাগুলির পাশে দাঁড়ালো তৃণমূল কংগ্রেসের সাংসদরা। আজ সংসদ চত্বরে গান্ধী মূর্তির সামনে প্ল্যাকার্ড হাতে নিয়ে সাংসদরা জমায়েত হন। সারা বিশ্বে সমাদৃত ভারতীয় তথ্যপ্রযুক্তি সংস্থাগুলির নিরাপত্তা নিশ্চিত করার দাবি জানান তৃণমূল সাংসদরা।
রাজ্যসভাতেও জিরো আওয়ারে তৃণমূল কংগ্রেস এই বিষয়টি উত্থাপন করে। রাজ্যসভায় তৃণমূলের পরিষদীয় দলনেতা ডেরেক ও’ব্রায়েন বলেন, ভারতীয় সফটওয়্যার ইঞ্জিনিয়র’রা শুধু ভারত না বিশ্বের সফটওয়্যার কর্মীদের মধ্যেও রত্নসম। তাদের নিরাপত্তা আমাদের নিশ্চিত করা উচিত। নতুন H-1B ভিসা নীতি এই সকল তথ্যপ্রযুক্তি কর্মীদের ব্যাপকভাবে ক্ষতি করবে বলে মনে করেন তিনি।
ডেরেক ও’ব্রায়েন আরও বলেন, “পঁচাত্তর শতাংশ Fotune 500 সংস্থাই ভারতীয় তথ্যপ্রযুক্তি সংস্থাগুলির থেকে প্রয়োগগত সহায়তা নেয়। যেখানে ২০১১ থেকে ২০১৫ সালের মধ্যে আমেরিকায় কর্মসংস্থান বেড়েছে ১.৭ শতাংশ সেখানে প্রয়োগগত সহায়তা প্রদানকারী তথ্যপ্রযুক্তি সংস্থাগুলির বৃদ্ধির হার ১০ শতাংশ। আমাদের উচিত ভারতীয় তথ্য প্রযুক্তি সংস্থাগুলিকে নিরাপত্তা প্রদান করা কারন তারা সারা বিশ্বে একটি ইতিবাচক ভুমিকা পালন করে।”
গত সপ্তাহে বাংলার মুখ্যমন্ত্রী মমতা বন্দ্যোপাধ্যায় এই বিষয়ে তাঁর মতামত জানান। তিনি টুইট করে বলেছেন, “এইচ১ বি ভিসা সংক্রান্ত যে খবর সামনে আসছে তা অত্যন্ত উদ্বেগের। আমাদের তথ্য প্রযুক্তি কর্মী ও সংস্থাগুলিকে রক্ষা করা উচিত। তাদের পূর্ণ সমর্থন দেওয়াই আমাদের কর্তব্য।ভারতে বিশ্বমানের তথ্যপ্রযুক্তি কর্মী রয়েছেন। তাদের নিয়ে আমরা গর্বিত। তাদের সুরক্ষিত করা আমাদের কর্তব্য।”
The first week of the first part of the 2017 Budget Session of Parliament started on January 31 with the President’s Address.
On February 1, the Leader of the Party in the Rajya Sabha, Derek O’Brien gave his Motion of Thanks speech on the President’s Address, where he highlighted Trinamool Congress’ views on the severe shortcomings of the BJP-led Central Government.
Earlier that day, he had given a Notice under Rule 267 regarding the political vendetta being carried out against Bengal by the Centre, during which speech he had also spoken out against the apathy of the Centre to the 135 deaths that have occurred across the country till now as a result of the promulgation of demonetisation. (You can read the full notice here)
On the same day, in the Rajya Sabha, Md Nadimul Haque asked a question on the empowerment of rural women.
February 3 began with the Trinamool Congress Members of Parliament (MPs) protesting inside Parliament complex against the political vendetta by the Centre.
Derek O’Brien demanded Parliament observes a minute’s silence for the unfortunate victims of demonetisation.
On the same day, the Leader of the Party in the Lok Sabha, Saugata Roy, intervened to oppose the introduction of Specified Bank Notes (Cessation of Liabilities) Bill, 2017.
Later, he raised the issue of misusing of CBI for political purposes by the Central Government, during which time BJP MPs disrupted the House, leading to the adjournment of the Lok Sabha.
Thus, the first week saw Trinamool Congress protesting strongly against the unfair policies and actions of the Centre.
