After UN, Sudip Bandyopadhyay to visit European countries

With the blessings from Hon’ble Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, Leader of All India Trinamool Congress Parliamentary Party in Lok Sabha, Sudip Bandyopadhyay will be embarking on a tour to European countries this summer.

The countries that Sudip Bandyopadhyay will be visiting include Belarus, Germany, and Austria. He will be accompanying the Speaker of Lok Sabha. Member of West Bengal Legislative Assembly, Nayana Bandyopadhyay will also be accompanying him.

It may be mentioned that in 2017, Sudip Bandyopadhyay had addressed the United Nations General Assembly, with 193 nations attending the session. He has spoken about how the international community needs to step up its efforts to promote an environment free from sanctions and embargoes.

In the past, Trinamool MPs Abhishek Banerjee, Derek O’Brien and Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar have visited the United Nations on various occasions.

Reject outright the Opposition’s malicious campaign and unfounded allegations: AITC MPs in letter to President of India

A delegation of AITC Parliamentary Party, along with the family members of party workers killed by BJP in pre-poll violence, today called on the Hon’ble President Ram Nath Kovind at Rashtrapati Bhavan. Every family member described in detail to the Hon’ble President the horrors unleashed upon them by the Opposition.

Reproduced below is the memorandum in full.

 

May 3, 2018

To
The Hon’ble President of India
Rashtrapati Bhavan
New Delhi

Respected President,

At the outset, we, the Members of the Parliament, belonging to the All India Trinamool Congress, would like to convey our highest regards to you.

We would like to apprise you of some issues which have been brought to your kind notice very recently by the Members of the Ruling political party at the Centre, which are distorted and misleading in nature.

Respected Sir, Panchayat election is a local election, where more than 58 thousand booths throughout West Bengal will go for the polls on 14 May 2018. At the time of filing nomination papers, the BJP started spreading rumours and misleading the people, saying that opposition parties are not being allowed to file nominations. This was spread through one particular ‘sponsored’ media group.

The fact that the Opposition has not been able to submit nominations is not at all true, as more than 96 thousand nominations have been filed by the Opposition parties. If they have not been allowed to file nomination papers, how is it possible that more than 2 lakh nominations in total have been filed? Out of these, more than 96 thousand are from the Opposition. During the period of filing nominations, the entire administration from district level to the block level, along with the police officials worked together for the common people.

Respected Sir, few incidents, however, did take place. These have been over-projected through one particular ‘sponsored’ media group to tarnish the image of the Government, which has worked wonders in West Bengal after being voted to power in 2011.

Before 2011, political violence was the maximum in West Bengal. In Jangal Mahal itself, more than 300 people were killed. At that time, man-days lost due to bandhs and strikes were about 78 lakh.

The picture changed dramatically after the All India Trinamool Congress Party came to power in 2011. While Darjeeling and Jangal Mahal are totally peaceful, there is zero man-days loss in the State of West Bengal.

Respected Sir, you would no doubt appreciate that West Bengal now has become Number One in the country in the spheres detailed below:

  • Number One in man-days generation and total expenditure under 100-Days’ Work
  • Number One in Bank Credit Flows to the MSME Sector
  • Number One in the Ease of Doing Business
  • Number One in Minority Scholarships
  • Number One in Minority Loans (for self-employment)
  • Number One in Rural Housing
  • Number One in Rural Connectivity
  • Number One in Skills
  • Number One in Transparency and e-Tendering

 

In order to tarnish the image of West Bengal and to mislead the people by citing some incidents, the BJP got themselves involved in lynching and killing by hiring people from outside the State and fomenting communal violence.

Respected Sir, you will be shocked and saddened to learn that 5 murder cases took place very recently and all the persons killed belong to the All India Trinamool Congress Party. The list of persons killed is given below:

  1. On 11.04.18, around 17.00 hrs, some supporters of TMC Party assembled near Beliaghata Bridge Party Office under Shasan Police Station, Basirhat Police District to celebrate the uncontested victory in c/w the Falti Beliaghata Gram Panchayat. During the celebration, one Rajab Ali of Uttar Falti stabbed one Saifar Rahaman of Dakshin Baidyapur and fled away. The said Saifar expired on the way to hospital.
  2. On 22.04.18, around 05.00 hrs, one Abdul Ali Mondal along with three others all of Nityananda Kati under Basirhat Police Station, North 24 Parganas allegedly murdered one Amirul Mollick of the same area by slashing the throat and dumped the body in the drain near his house. The deceased belongs to TMC Party.
  3. On 14.04.18, around 16.30 hrs, one Kala Das of Fulbari along with 15 others restrained and assaulted one Bablu Sarkar, member of TMC, of Kethi near Nabaganj Bazar under Ghoksadanga Police Station of Coochbehar district, with the intention to kill, while returning home riding a bike. He was taken to the nearest hospital where he succumbed to his injuries on 20.04.2018. Arrest-03.
  4. On 23.04.18, around 11.30 hrs., while one Dildar Khan along with his wife was proceeding towards Suri-I BDO Office under Suri Police Station, Birbhum for filing nomination in respect of his wife as a TMC candidate in c/w ensuring Panchayat Election 2018, some armed BJP supporters led by one Shyamsundar Lorain shot dead the said  Dildar Khan over political rivalry.
  5. On 19.04.18, one Ajit Debnath of Sundarpore Satberia, PS Gopalnagar was shot at night while at home; hesubsequently succumbed to his injuries in hospital on 22.04.18. His wife Padma was also injured in the attack; however, she survived.

 

It is very unfortunate that we have to bring this to your kind attention that in each and every murder, as described above, the BJP is involved.

Respected Sir, we do sincerely hope and know that your high office would appreciate the true situation on the ground perpetrated by a section of political parties opposed to peaceful democratic processes in Bengal. We appeal to you in the best interest of peace and democracy, to outright reject their malicious campaign and unfounded allegations.

With regards,

Yours sincerely,

Members of Parliament
from All India Trinamool Congress Party

Shri Sudip Bandyopadhyay
Shri Derek O’Brien
Dr Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar
Shri Md Nadimul Hague
Shri Sunil Kumar Mondal
Smt Pratima Mondal
Dr Uma Saren
Shri Partha Pratim Ray

 

Sukhendu Sekhar Roy makes Point of Order on The Prevention of Corruption Amendment Bill

FULL TRANSCRIPT

Sir, when this House reassembled at 3.30 PM yesterday, the Hon’ble Deputy Chairman, who was on the chair, said, “This Bill (that is, The Prevention of Corruption Amendment Bill), that is, the one which I had allowed the House to move had been passed by the Lok Sabha and transmitted to this House, and therefore I ask the Minister to move the Bill. He has already moved the Bill.”

Therefore, the Minister was allowed under the premise that it had been passed by the Lok Sabha and transmitted to the Rajya Sabha. But from the records it appears that this Bill was introduced in the Rajya Sabha on August 19, 2013. Then this Bill was referred to the Standing Committee on Law and Justice on August 23, 2013. Then on February 6, 2014, the Standing Committee submitted its report. Thereafter, a Select Committee was constituted on December 11, 2015 and the Select Committee given an extension on April 29, 2016 and this Select Committee, chaired by Mr Bhupendra Yadav, submitted its report on August 11, 2016 and the Government introduced the BIll on April 4, 2018.
Therefore, the order passed by the Chair allowing the Minister to move the Bill was under wrong premises and so you should recall that order.

 

Sukhendu Sekhar Ray demands voting on The Prevention of Corruption (Amendment) Bill, 2013

FULL TRANSCRIPT

I have asked for division. No voting process can be held in the din. The lobby has to be cleared. Without clearing the lobby, or stopping the din, no voting exercise can be done. I repeat, I have asked for division.

Writing-off NPAs of Public sector banks a scam: Mamata Banerjee

In response to the answer given by the Centre on writing-off Non-Performing Assets of public sector banks, Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said this is a big scam.

In reply to a question asked by an MP from Bengal, the Centre today said that Non-Performing Assets of public sector banks to the tune of Rs 2,41,911 crore from the Financial Year 2014-15 till September, 2017 have been written-off.

The Chief Minister said that she was shocked to see that at a time, when the farmers in the country are crying and committing suicide for their loan burden and asking for waiver of farmers’ loan, the Government of India have not even considered that.

“This is unbelievable. We raised the issue of Non-Performing Assets right at the time of demonetisation. Now the cat is out of the bag and reality bites,” she said.

She further said, “Even in Parliament reply, the Government of India says that the details of credit information by a public sector bank cannot be disclosed. Why is this confidentiality? Whom is the Government trying to protect?”

She demanded an immediate disclosure of the complete list of defaulters of public sector banks, whose loans have been written off.

 

 

রাষ্ট্রায়ত্ত ব্যাংকগুলির ঋণ মকুব আসলে একটা কেলেঙ্কারি, বললেন মুখ্যমন্ত্রী

 

ঋণ মকুব নিয়ে আজ সংসদে পেশ হওয়া একটি প্রশ্নের জবাবের প্রেক্ষিতে ফেসবুকে সরব হলেন মুখ্যমন্ত্রী মমতা বন্দ্যোপাধ্যায়।

বাংলার এক সাংসদের প্রশ্নের জবাবে কেন্দ্র জবাব দিয়েছে যে ২০১৪-১৫ অর্থবর্ষ থেকে ২০১৭র সেপ্টেম্বর মাস অবধি রাষ্ট্রায়ত্ত ব্যাংকগুলি ২,৪১,৯১১ কোটি টাকা ঋণ মকুব করেছে। স্তম্ভিত মুখ্যমন্ত্রী বলেন, একদিকে যখন দেশের কৃষকরা দেনার দায়ে কাঁদছেন, এবং আত্মহত্যার পথ বেছে নিচ্ছেন, এবং ঋণ মকুবের দাবী জানাচ্ছেন, সরকার সেই দাবী গ্রাহ্যই করছে না।

তিনি আরও বলেন, “অবিশ্বাস্য। নোটবন্দির সময় আমরা ‘নন পারফর্মিং অ্যাসেট’ এর ইস্যু তুলেছিলাম। এখন ঝুলি থেকে বেড়াল বেরিয়ে পড়ল। রূঢ় বাস্তবটি জনসমক্ষে এল।”

মুখ্যমন্ত্রী বলেন যে সংসদে পেশ করা জবাবেও কেন্দ্র বলছে রাষ্ট্রায়ত্ত ব্যাংকগুলির ক্রেডিট সংক্রান্ত তথ্য প্রকাশ করা যাবে না। তিনি জানতে চান এই গোপনীয়তার পেছনে কারণটা কি।

রাষ্ট্রায়ত্ত ব্যাংকগুলির ঋণ খেলাপকারীদের তালিকা অবিলম্বে প্রকাশ করার দাবী জানান তিনি।

মমতা বন্দ্যোপাধ্যায় বলেন, এটা একটা বিরাট কেলেঙ্কারি।

Trinamool MPs stage protest against Air India disinvestment

The All India Trinamool Congress (TMC) MPs on Monday staged a protest in the Parliament premises against the disinvestment of national carrier Air India (AI).

Trinamool Congress MPs raised slogans saying that Air India is a national asset and disinvestment shows that there is possibly a scam going on.

Last week, Trinamool Chairperson Mamata Banerjee had criticised the Central Government’s plans to sell Air India. She had tweeted, “I am sorry to read in the media about the Government inviting expression of interest for selling Air India, the jewel of our nation. We strongly oppose this and want this order to be withdrawn immediately. This Government must not be allowed to sell our country.”

এয়ার ইন্ডিয়ার বিলগ্নিকরণের সিদ্ধান্তে ক্ষুব্ধ তৃণমূল

এয়ার ইন্ডিয়ার ৭৬ শতাংশ বিলগ্নিকরণ করার মন্ত্রীসভার সিদ্ধান্তে ব্যাপক ক্ষুব্ধ তৃণমূল। এই ইস্যুতে সোমবার সংসদ চত্বরে ধর্না দেন তৃণমূল সাংসদরা। সোমবার সকাল সাড়ে দশটায় সংসদ চত্বরে মোদি সরকারের বিরুদ্ধে আওয়াজ তোলেন তৃণমূল কংগ্রেসের সাংসদরা। তারা জানিয়ে দেন, এয়ার ইন্ডিয়ার বিলগ্নিকরণ মোটেই মেনে নেওয়া হবে না।

স্বয়ং দলনেত্রী মমতা বন্দ্যোপাধ্যায় এ ব্যাপারে প্রতিবাদ জানিয়ে তোপ দেগেছেন। ট্যুইট করে সমালোচনা চড়িয়েছেন মোদি সরকারের বিরুদ্ধে।

মমতা বন্দ্যোপাধ্যায় লেখেন, “সংবাদমাধ্যমে দেখলাম কেন্দ্রীয় সরকার এয়ার ইন্ডিয়ার বিলগ্নিকরণের সিদ্ধান্ত নিয়েছে। খুবই দুঃখজনক। এয়ার ইন্ডিয়া দেশের সম্পদ। এর তীব্র প্রতিবাদ জানাচ্ছি। এই সিদ্ধান্ত অবিলম্বে প্রত্যাহার করতে হবে। এই সরকারকে আমাদের দেশটা বিক্রি করতে দেব না।”

 

Vivek Gupta’s Farewell Speech in Rajya Sabha

FULL TRANSCRIPT

Sir, sab se pehle aapka bahut bhaut dhanyawad jo aapne mujhe is karyakaal mein bolne ka mauka diya. Kuch logon ko dhanyawad dena zaruri hai, Sir, zyada kuch nahin kahunga.

Sabse pehle parampita parmeshwar se shuru karunga. Mera leader, meri Didi, Mamata Bandyopadhyay jinhone mujhe yahaan behja, mujhe yahaan mauka diya, mere parivar ke log, Rajya Sabha mein mera leader, Derek Bhai, mere jitney bhi colleagues hain.

Sir aap, aapke pehle Hamid Ansari ji, Deputy Chairman Kurien Sahab. Jab bhi harsh words unhone kahaan tha but woh harsh words nahi the. Woh strict rehte the time ke liye, hum logon ko dekh ke hi 30 second kum ho jata tha. Secretariat ke jitne bhi log the, security vale, Central Hall mein hum logon ko chai, coffee pilaya; humare LAMP jo humare saath kaam karte the, notice office, question office, bill office, media sabka, aur yahan pe humare ‘lozenge-purna’ hai, Jaya ji unko bhi dhanyawad dena chahunga.

Sir, zyada kuch nahi kahunga. Sir is gate se jab hum log andar aate hain toh karib 130 crore logon ki ummeed aur ashaon ko lekar aate hain. Mujhe umeed hai ki, Sir… mera karyakal khatam ho raha hai par jo mere colleagues yahan reh jayege woh is asha aur umeed ko pura karne ki puri puri cheshta karenge. Unke liye kuch kuch main khali ek nivedan chodke jaa aha hoon ki personal attack aur character assassination yeh dono se jitna dur raha jaye utna acha hai. Hum log yahan rajneeti karne aaye hain, ek doosre ki dushmani, karne nahi aaye hain.

Sir, ek aapka chahida, ummeed hai ki jum log sab chahite hai, magar backbenchers ke liye aapki ek sympathy rehti thi… toh main aapse khali guzarish karna chahunga ki backbenchers ke liye jo sympathy hai usko aap barkarar rakhiyega. Hum log ke prati thoda leniency dikhayega. Aaj bhi Sir, woh hi ho raha hai, jo shuruwat mein bol rahein the unko lamba samay mila aur hum logon ko bola gaya do minute mein sametne ke liye.

Main chahunga ki mere jitney bhi colleagues hai, hum log jitna bhi bolein thoda sa respect deke hum logon ko sun liya jaye. Aur Sir, vachan se ya karam se kabhi bhi maine kisi ko bhi takhleef di toh uske liye main kshama maangta hoon.

Sir, aakhir mein, main bhi culprit hoon, mujhe bhi kabhi kabhi Well pe jana padta hai, kyunki, Sir, vedna aisi rehti hai ya peedha aisi rehti hai hum logon ki usko zaahir karne ke liye humein kabhi kabhi Well mein aana padta hai. Aur jo prjatantra ismein jo gatirodh aa jata hai iske liye main ek pankti main kehna chahunga, ‘dhool chadhi bhi thi magar hum aayna saaf karte rahein’.

Thank you Sir.

 

Derek O’Brien for Trinamool speaks during Farewell to Retiring Members in Rajya Sabha

FULL TRANSCRIPT

Sir, for those members who have retired and have been re-elected, to them our heartiest congratulations. Those members who are retiring today or in next few days, I think today is their special day. I do not think we need to make this into an eulogy and make it all sound so sad. It has been a wonderful six years, or more than six years, for them. So we wish them good health and happiness.

I think many of the names have already been read out. I felt like reading out all the 43 names – but because of the shortage of time, even if I do not read it out, that is the spirit of this day, Sir.

There are three MPs from Bengal who are retiring today. I would like to specially mention them. Of course, I must mention my colleague Vivek Gupta. Normally at the age of 41, you do not have the word ‘retired’ after you; he became an MP at 35 and he is retired for the moment at 41. Vivek, you have been a wonderful colleague. Thank you for what you have done in the last six years.

There are two other members of Parliament from Bengal who are retiring and I wish them very well. To Kunal Ghosh, who is here, I wish happiness in the future. And one person who has made a great contribution in this House in so many ways is Tapan Sen from CPI(M). I think it would be very appropriate to say that we may be political rivals but we are not political enemies. Tapan Da you have been a wonderful colleague and we will miss you.

And of course, everyone else including the two Deputy Chairmen, K Rahman Khan and Prof Kurien. I think someone said, it is a nice time to retire when people ask why is he or she retiring and not when is she or he retiring. That is the most appropriate question.

I share optimism here, and I join the Leader of the Opposition here, we are not so pessimistic about Parliament. Parliament is a great place to be, some great talents are here. We keep saying Parliament is going down the drain, it is not going down the drain. This is a happy place to be for parliamentary democracy.

So, for all of you who are retiring, join us regularly, for coffee, for toast, for everything else and keep one room. Never pay, let the MPs pay.

Thank you.

 

Names of Trinamool RS candidates from Bengal announced

Chairperson Mamata Banerjee today announced the names of four Rajya Sabha candidates from Bengal at the extended core committee meeting of the party.

The candidates are: Nadimul Haque, Subhashish Chakraborty, Abir Ranjan Biswas and Dr Santanu Sen.

The party will support Congress candidate Abhishek Manu Singhvi for the fifth seat, Mamata Banerjee said, adding that the decision was taken keeping larger interests in mind.

 

তৃণমূলের রাজ্যসভা প্রার্থীদের নাম ঘোষণা করলেন মমতা বন্দ্যোপাধ্যায়

আজ নজরুল মঞ্চে তৃণমূলের বর্ধিত কোর কমিটির বৈঠকে বাংলা থেকে রাজ্যসভার চারটি আসনের প্রার্থীর নাম ঘোষণা করেন দলনেত্রী মমতা বন্দ্যোপাধ্যায়।

দল যাদের মনোনয়ন দেবে তারা হলেন: নাদিমুল হক, শুভাশীষ চক্রবর্তী, আবির বিশ্বাস ও ডঃ শান্তনু সেন।

পঞ্চম আসনে কংগ্রেস প্রার্থী অভিষেক মনু সিংভিকেই সমর্থন করবে দল, ঘোষণা করেন মমতা বন্দ্যোপাধ্যায়। বৃহত্তর স্বার্থের কথা মাথায় রেখেই এই সিদ্ধান্ত, বলেন তিনি।

Derek O’Brien speaks during a discussion on Women’s Day

FULL TRANSCRIPT

Sir, I didn’t give my name to speak because I think men need to speak more on issues concerning women. I agree with what Anu Agha ji said, that this cannot be just one day.

I have two practical suggestions to offer, which goes beyond a speech.

Sir, my party – the All India Trinamool Congress – without any reservation bill, has 34 per cent female MPs. We all want the Bill, but this is a practical way and Mamata Di has shown the way.

Sir, in Bengal, we have the Kanyashree scheme, which has benefitted 47 lakh girls. It’s a tried and tested programme. In this atmosphere of federalism, I suggest that we implement this programme nationally.

Good wishes and good luck to not just women but to all men, to treat women better. There is an old saying that ‘behind every successful man, there is a woman’. This is cliche. Today’s it’s changed. The new saying is, behind every successful man, there is a nationalised bank.

Thank you, Sir.