India will muddle through another year of hopes belied and aspirations unfulfilled: Trinamool on Union Budget

Posted on February 9, 2017 | by aitc | Leave a Comment

During a discussion on the Union Budget, Kalyan Banerjee (Lok Sabha) and Sukhendu Sekhar Roy (Rajya Sabha) spoke on behalf of the party.

Both of them cornered the government on the declining economy, lack of jobs, black money, demonetisation and failed promises of the government.

Lok Sabha

Chief Whip of Trinamool in the Lok Sabha, Kalyan Banerjee said that India will muddle through another year of hopes belied and aspirations unfulfilled. He called the Budget controversial and said it does not provide any roadmap for the future.

He asked the government why the cost and ‘benefits’ of demonetisation were not being shared. He wanted to know from the Finance Minister how much black money has been receovered post demonetisation.

On the effect of demonetisation, Kalyan Banerjee said, “The supply chain of leather industry in Bengal is in shambles. So is jute, tea, textile, handloom and handicrafts. Fact remains that Moradabad, Ferozabad, Meerut known worldwide for their glass bangles and sports goods are in miserable shape with maximum units closed. The unorganised sector of India provides 80 percent of jobs and demonetisation has destroyed that.”

Accusing the govt of playing jugglery with words he stated that private sector investment has declined over the last three financial years. “Investors are ineligible or unwilling to borrow and banks are unable to lend. Therefore credit growth to all industries is at all time low and turned negative in October, 2016,” he added.

On government’s penchant for cashless society, he had to say: “This year there has been very good cultivation, but the farmers are not able to sell their crops due to non-availability of cash. You may speak about the cashless society, but you cannot change a 70 year old system with the stroke of a pen overnight. We support cashless, but not in one day or two days, it will take time. Our rural economy is based on cash flows, we cannot shut our eyes to the reality.”

He said demonetisation has destroyed the rural economy: “The Budget has given credit to farmers, which will never reach them because 92 percent villages have no bank in India. The government’s demonetisation policy have already destroyed the cooperative system by not providing them cash which is the mainstay of farmers for credit.”

Full transcript of his speech

Rajya Sabha

Chief Whip of the party in Rajya Sabha, Sukhendu Sekhar Roy said the Budget speech is full of rhetoric and the figures of increase in allocation are deceptive. He said, “ Export has lost momentum. Budget has no word on how the situation can be combated. Nothing has been said on the mounting NPAs over the years.”

He added that people are tired of hearing the growth story. He cited that India accounts for 1 in 3 people living below international poverty line. 800 million lndians live on 1.8$ per day and we talk of growth figures. More than 60% of the wealth is in the hands of only 1% people.”

Puncturing the government’s claims on FDI he said it is alarming that FIIs are constantly selling in equity and fixed income market since November 8, 2016 (when demonetisation was announced). He accused the ruling party of knowing in advance about demonetisation; that is why they bought hundreds of acres of land across States in cash, he added.

“People are suffering due to demonetisation. But government has no answer as to how much black money has been recovered and how much fake currency has been seized,” SS Roy said. “Workers in informal sector, plantation labourers, small traders, MSME – all have been destroyed,” he added.

Sukhendu Sekhar Roy wanted to know from the Finance Minister under which provisions of law were limits of cash withdrawal put in place. He said while ATMs still do not have cash, the Finance Minister claims there was no cash crunch for a single day in the last three months.

Reminding the BJP of their electoral promise of doubling the income of farmers, he wanted to know how much profit farmers have made in the last 2.5 years. He also said the BJP’s promise of bringing back black money from abroad was a jumla.

On electoral reforms, SS Roy said that Trinamool has always demanded state funding of polls through Election Commission. He said the measures introduced by the Finance Minister (capping of donations at Rs 2000 and introduction of electoral bonds) would not serve any purpose and were aimed at helping big parties at the cost of smaller parties.

Full transcript of his speech

Dola Sen speaks on The Payment of Wages (Amendment) Bill, 2017

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

FULL TRANSCRIPT

Honourable Chairman Sir, Thank you for letting me speak on this important Bill.

Sir, India has a 472 million labour market. Out of this, 90% of the workforce is in the informal and unorganised sector. It contributes 45% of the GDP. However, workers are deprived of the benefits of formal employment like provident fund and health insurance (like ESI), bonus, dearness allowance etc. Many workers complain that employers pay them less than the minimum wages mandated by States anc Centre. This is today’s reality. I am sorry to say, the Central Labour Directorate has not been able to exert the law of the land.

Sir, it is important to protect the interests of the workers and labourers. I am glad that a reformed labour code will ensure that wages reach the workers in a timely manner.

However, this Bill states that all wages must be transferred to the bank account of the employer, unless the Government specifically notifies a certain amount, which may be paid in cash. This may pose a difficulty for many who still do not have bank accounts.

This Government constantly talks about cashless India, Digital India. However, does the Government know how many people have bank accounts? The harsh reality is that 80% of women don’t have bank accounts in India. More than 50% of workers do not have bank accounts till date.

To add to the misery of the workers, the restrictions on cash withdrawal have still not been removed by the government. How will the poor worker stand in the ATM queues during his work hours to withdraw money? How will he pay service to banks? Sir, Political parties can receive Rs 2,000 cash donation but the poor worker cannot.

For example, I want to add, if an entrepreneur has to pay Rs 2 crore as wages or salaries of workmen per week, say on Saturday. He is also entitled to withdraw only Rs 24,000 from his bank account per week. Obviously there are no needs for lockout. Factories after factories are being closed due to lockouts affecting the workers.

Sir, in Bengal, there are over 4 lakh people working in the tea gardens. There are over 5 lakh people working in the jute mills. Over 1.5 crore people are associated with tea industry, over 2.5 crore people are associated with jute industry. These workers and labourers could not be paid their wages due to demonetisation.

Sir, demonetisation has caused hardship to all workers and labourers. After 3 months of pain and agony, over 25 crore daily wageworkers have lost their jobs. Unemployment has increased to 7%.

There is a need to provide a comprehensive social security system for workers in the informal sector. The Government cannot make the poor worker suffer because of its own agenda to go cashless and Digital.

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.

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.

Sukhendu Sekhar Roy questions the government on demonetisation in Rajya Sabha

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

FULL TRANSCRIPT

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?

Parliament: Trinamool raises the issue of threats by BJP functionaries in Bengal

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

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.

বিজেপি নেতাদের দেওয়া হুমকি নিয়ে সংসদে প্রতিবাদ তৃণমূলের

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 MPs stage dharna on the need for electoral reforms and state funding of elections

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

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 সংস্কারের দাবীতে সংসদ চত্বরে ধর্ণা তৃণমূল সাংসদদের

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।”