Rajya Sabha – Page 25 – All India Trinamool Congress

Trinamool’s Derek O’Brien speaks in RS on the widespread religious fundamentalism prevailing in the country | Full Transcript

Posted on August 1, 2016 | by admin2 | Leave a Comment

Sir, it is impossible to speak on the subject in three minutes but I will because it is zero hour, thank you.

There is an urgent need to curb religious fundamentalism Sir, this has been a dangerous situation over the last one week, the last few days, the last few months and months; two years in fact. Sir, the first time it happens; we can call it a mistake. Second time it happens, we can call it a bigger mistake. Third time it happens, we can call it a blunder, but if it happens time and again, I have to say Sir, it is a decision.

I believe this is not happening because of a mistake, this is a decision of this Government, Sir. Otherwise, the Defense Minister of the country would not have said what he said yesterday. The Dalits are suffering; so many of us went and saw what happened there. Sir, for just 15 rupees people are killed, just because they are Dalits. In Haryana, Sir, people are being forced to eat cow dung. There are people dying in different parts of the country, Sir. This is not just an aberration, this is a decision of this government.

Sir, let me tell you. I am a gau sevak, we are all gau sevaks but in the name of gau sevaks don’t cross the line and become gau rakshaks, Sir. This is a situation which has gone beyond the borders of the country. And the government must be aware because this is not a fluke or an aberration. Sir, they must listen to what the United Nations Human Rights Council Special Report on Minority Rights had to say about our country. They have called this “caste-affected discrimination happening in India with minority like characteristics.” The government must listen to the US Commission on International Freedom.

Yesterday an MP from the ruling party goes and calls someone ‘an idiot’. Why? Just because I disagreed with you. So what if we disagree with you? Be open hearted, I would say you read Article 48 of the Constitution. Sir, this is not the country we are used to living in. I have said this once and will keep saying again that the smaller you are in this country, the smaller your caste, the smaller the minority, the more oppressed you are, the more this country gives you the opportunity to express.

But this government, the ministers in the government, the people associated with the ruling party, are shooting their mouths off every day. I want to challenge this government and say that the Prime Minister needs to come and say that these are not mistakes, this is not the thinking of the government.

The Prime Minister must come here and assure us that we can live in the India we know – ‘unity in diversity’.

Thank you Sir.

Monsoon Session Week Two: A purposive week for Trinamool in Parliament

Posted on July 30, 2016 | by admin2 | Leave a Comment

Trinamool Congress raised various issues in both the Houses of the Parliament during the week and urged the Government to take appropriate steps.

In the Upper House, the Trinamool Congress utilised the Zero Hour, the Question Hour, the Calling Attention Motions to the fullest and took part in several discussions.

Question Hour

Trinamool Leader of the Parliamentary Party in Rajya Sabha Derek O’Brien urged Centre to set up a committee to address concerns of debt-stressed States during Question Hour (http://goo.gl/3fds2m). Later in the week he again the Government what steps it was taking to make medicines affordable prices, and ensure that prices are not affected by FDI (http://goo.gl/q1rvwx)

MP KD Singh also questioned the Government on allowing of taxis in private airports (http://goo.gl/4G8Qsr).

Saugata Roy questioned the Centre on its stand on small tea gardens during Question Hour in LS (http://goo.gl/tTWlJN) and also the shift of Tea Board HQ from Kolkata to Assam (http://goo.gl/ljJOm2).

Ratna De Nag raised a question in LS regarding the mechanism of preventing banned drugs from being sold in the country (http://goo.gl/TPE8tn).

Prasun Banerjee’s question to the Central Government was on popularising football in India by strengthening the federation (http://goo.gl/4sHqmB).

Mumtaz Sanghamita, during Question Hour in Lok Sabha raised the issue of investment in development of airport/airstrips and also questioned the government on the withdrawal of the Air India flight from Durgapur where it is much needed (http://goo.gl/PMCrGU).

Zero Hour

MP Dola Sen, during the Zero Hour spoke regarding the demand for elimination of unmanned level crossings in the country (http://goo.gl/UPOHjq).

Sukhendu Sekhar Roy raised the issue of scholarships for minority students being during Zero Hour (http://goo.gl/cGA8gL) and Ratna De Nag raised the demand of expanding the subway at Bhadreswar station (http://goo.gl/xOmMDM).

Aparupa Poddar demanded allocation of funds for pilgrimage to Tarakeswar during Zero Hour and also introduction of special trains during the annual pilgrimage to Tarakeswar (http://goo.gl/lYvQqf). Whereas Pratima Mandal spoke on the need of a level crossing at Piyali railway station to ensure easier movement of vehicles and students across the Piyali River (http://goo.gl/8JDnDd).

Nadimul Haque in the week, during Zero Hour he raised the demand for release of scholarships to minority students (http://goo.gl/STr8ID) later in the week.

Special mention

Trinamool MP Md Nadimul Haque during a Special Mention urged the Government on the need for a law against spitting in public places (http://goo.gl/92m0FN).

Trinamool MP Ahamed Hassan Imran, during a Special Mention raised the issue of reduced Central funding of schemes (http://goo.gl/Gfbxf4) which is against the spirit of cooperative federalism. He later spoke on drug pricing during a Calling Attention Motion.

In a Special Mention Dola Sen spoke on the need to replicate successful models in combating Left Wing Extremism (http://goo.gl/2UEbM6).

Discussion

During a Short Duration Discussion on the situation arising out of the rise in prices in the country (http://goo.gl/k9nsWa), Derek O’Brien pointed out that Government is very good at communicating on social media sites. But when it comes to basic issues like price rise, they have forgotten the people that gave them this historic mandate in 2014 people that brought them to power.

The Trinamool Leader of the Party in Rajya Sabha also raised the issue of Aadhaar card being made mandatory for receiving Government benefits and pointed out that there are a lot of people who are suffering and not getting pension and several other benefits (http://goo.gl/VqpX6e).

Trinamool Chief Whip at Rajya Sabha, Sukhendu Sekhar Roy took part in a short duration discussion on Andhra Pradesh Reorganization Act, 2014 (http://goo.gl/cB9KIs) where he demanded that assurances made by the then Prime Minister on the floor of the House must be fulfilled.

In Lok Sabha, the Trinamool Congress Trinamool Chief Whip Kalyan Banerjee took part in several discussions including The Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2016 (http://goo.gl/OTGrfx), on The Lokpal and Lokayuktas (Amendment) Bill (http://goo.gl/HZpoba), on The Benami Transactions (Prohibition) Amendment Bill, 2015 (http://goo.gl/9d7qHI) and protested the issue of Aadhaar card being made mandatory, during a short discussion (http://goo.gl/ThrEhX).

Trinamool MP Dr Sugata Bose took part in several discussion including the Lokpal and Lokayuktas (Amendment) Bill (http://goo.gl/iugFHh).

Sugata Bose, while speaking in LS regarding an enabling regulatory architecture in higher education institutions stated that Jadavpur University from West Bengal is in the 500-600 range of the world rankings of the TIME’s higher education supplement. On the subject of education (http://goo.gl/1nz5Df) Saugata Roy also spoke in Lok Sabha on The Institutes of Technology (Amendment) Bill, 2016 and stated that IIT Kharagpur was a pioneer in the field and for the first time it started courses in naval architecture. Aeronautical engineering and agricultural engineering which were not taught anywhere else in the country (http://goo.gl/ENKkWp).

Saugata Roy raised the issue of Chinese incursion in Uttarakhand (http://goo.gl/4w9Lau). While speaking on The Benami Transaction (Prohibition) Amendment Bill, 2015 Saugata Roy mentioned that the Bill should not become another cursive instrument in the hands of revenue department to forcibly collect taxes (http://goo.gl/QZj9NP).

During a discussion on price rise in Lok Sabha, Saugata Roy criticized the central government stating their motto seems to be imposing cess on everything under the Sun (http://goo.gl/k9ITy5).

Ratna De Nag spoke on The Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2016 during which she stated that even after 69 years of independence; we are unable to stop child labour in our country (http://goo.gl/HDsRVU) whereas Aparupa Poddar mentioned that child labour is a highly social evil and the root cause of child labour is poverty (http://goo.gl/l5xuvV).

Nadimul Haque took part on a discussion on The Compensatory Afforestation Fund Bill, 2016, and stressed on the Trinamool Congress’ view on the ‘Rights of the Forest’ (http://goo.gl/uuhZGP)

SS Roy speaks on the Private Members’ Resolution on the review of death penalty

Posted on July 29, 2016 | by aitc | Leave a Comment

I have two points to make. Mr D Raja has attracted the attention of the nation through this Private Members’ Resolution, which is very sensitive and humane, in view of the fact that many countries in the world have started reviewing whether death sentence should continue or not.

Now, Sir, what happened in our country? Some of my Samajwadi Party friends have mentioned about how our freedom fighters were hanged during the time of the British. I don’t want to travel back in history. But we have seen that Maharaja Nanda Kumar, who revolted against Warren Hastings, was hanged in a case of forgery of documents. This has also happened in our country.

Now, from that period we have travelled ahead. Now, Sir, the time has come because our apex court, our Hon’ble Supreme Court, has also opened its doors in the wee hours to review or to look into the decision-making process of the President of India whether he has considered the clemency petition of an offender who has been convicted with death punishment. So this situation has arisen, Sir. In the background of that situation, when different countries in the world have started reviewing the death penalty, I would request the Government through you, Sir, that, keeping in mind that the Supreme Court has also said, and with an eminent lawyers like Ravi Shankar Prasad Ji and the Hon’ble Law Minister present here, in three to four cases that in the rarest of rare cases only this should be applicable, possibly we should go beyond that and this matter should be referred to the Law Commission for an appropriate review of the entire gamut of the situation arising out of which we are discussing the continuance or discontinuance of death penalty.

Sir, I would urge upon the Government through you to refer the matter to the Law Commission in order to review the entire thing and make its recommendation so that this Parliament can discuss this issue in future again and come to a conclusive decision.

Thank you, Sir.

SS Roy’s Point of Order on the powers of the NITI Aayog

Posted on July 29, 2016 | by aitc | Leave a Comment

Article 280 has been referred to regarding the Finance Commission, and its expiry at the end of every five years. We know all the modalities. Previously, the other things were being done by the Planning Commission, now it is being done by another extra-Constitutional authority, that is, NITI Aayog. Most of the financial powers have been usurped by the Finance Ministry, and they are allocating the funds to the States at their whims and fancies. I want to ask whether this system should continue.

Special Mention | Vivek Gupta | Demand for adopting West Bengal model to reduce number of suicides by farmers in country

Posted on July 28, 2016 | by admin2 | Leave a Comment

Sir, the latest National Crime Records Bureau data showed that farmer suicides in the country have reduced from 11,772 farmers in the year 2013, to 5,650 farmers in the year 2014. This implies a reduction of more than 50 per cent in the number of suicides.

For the year 2014, there has been a change in the definition of a farmer while computing such suicides. It includes only those farmers who own and work on the field and who employ workers for farming activities. It does not include the agricultural labourers in this definition. Hence, I would like to draw the attention of the House towards the fact that this farmers’ suicides data for the year 2014 does not really show the complete picture of farmer suicides in the country.

The total number of farm labourers who committed suicide in the year 2014 was 6,710 farmers. If this number is added to the farmer suicides reported in 2014, it adds up to 12,360 suicides. This number is, in fact, higher than the total number of suicides for the year 2013, which was 11,772 suicides. The change in methodology seems to present a skewed picture of the real situation of farmer suicides in the country. I would like to draw the attention of the House on this issue.

In Bengal, not a single farmer suicide has taken place. The Central Government would do well to learn the Bengal model and use it in rest of the country to save lives.

Sukhendu Sekhar Roy speaks in RS during a discussion on Andhra Pradesh Reorganization Act, 2014

Posted on July 28, 2016 | by admin2 | Leave a Comment

Sir, I rise to speak during a short duration discussion on the Andhra Pradesh Reorganization Act, 2014. The assurances made by the then Prime Minister on the floor of the House must be fulfilled. We support the demands of Andhra Pradesh.

However, Sir, there are ten big States which are currently suffering from huge debt burden. The debt burden of Maharashtra is Rs 3.76 lakh crores, that of Uttar Pradesh is Rs 3.27 lakh crores while the debt burden of Bengal is Rs 3.08 lakh crores. Gujarat has a debt burden of Rs 2.29 lakh crores while Tamil Nadu has a burden of Rs 2.35 lakh crores in debt and so on.

The Centre must help these debt-stressed States or else this will lead to a serious economic problem. Moreover, the Centre has stopped funding 39 major schemes and reduced its share in 59 important schemes. So, the financial burden on States has increased.

Additionally, Sir, the Centre owes Bengal almost Rs 6000 Cr as compensation due to CST since 2011. That must be released immediately. It is our right. We are not asking for any assistance and Centre will not do us any favour by releasing those funds.

Lastly, the Centre recently accepted the recommendations of the 7th Pay Commission. States have their own pay commission. Sir, with such an economic burden, it may soon become difficult for States to pay salaries to government employees. I would like to urge the Centre to help the States so that the gap is bridged.

Sir, we support the demands of Andhra Pradesh once again and also urge that the demands of other States must also be accepted.
Thank you, Sir.

Derek O’Brien speaks in RS on the issue of Aadhaar card being made mandatory for receiving govt benefits

Posted on July 28, 2016 | by admin2 | Leave a Comment

Sir, the issue that has been raised today is not only affecting Bengal or Uttar Pradesh. My colleague Dilip Tirkey ji from BJD has also given a Notice. This is a big issue. This government keeps on talking about cooperative federalism but when it comes to action, it does not pay heed to the opinion of the States.

Sir, there are a lot of people who are suffering. They are not getting pension and several other benefits. Sir, this issue of Aadhaar card subsumes all other issues, such is its importance. Minister’s response is unacceptable. We should immediately begin a discussion on this.

Trinamool slams Centre for making Aadhaar mandatory for receiving govt benefits

Posted on July 28, 2016 | by admin2 | Leave a Comment

Trinamool Congress, along with the Samajwadi Party, Biju Janata Dal and the Janata Dal (United), today gave a Notice of Suspension of business in the Rajya Sabha to take up a discussion on the issue of stoppage of services to people who do not have Aadhaar cards.

In Lok Sabha, the Chief Whip of the party, Kalyan Banerjee raised the issue during Zero Hour.

Speaking on the issue, the leader of the party in Rajya Sabha, Derek O’Brien said, “This Govt talks of cooperative federalism but in action it bypasses the opinion of States. Across the country, people are suffering. They cannot get various services and facilities like pension, LPG and kerosene.”

Kalyan Banerjee demanded in Lok Sabha that the mandatory provision for Aadhaar card should be waived until there is 100 per cent coverage of Aadhaar in the country. He said in West Bengal over one crore people were yet to receive Aadhaar cards and were thus being denied benefits of various schemes.

Chief Whip of the party in Rajya Sabha, Sukhendu Sekhar Roy reminded the government that the apex court of the country, in a judgment in October, 2015, had said Aadhar should be voluntary and not compulsory.

West Bengal Chief Minister has been vocal on the issue of Aadhaar. In West Bengal, 40 per cent people are yet to receive Aadhaar cards and the Chief Minister has written several times to the Centre not to make Aadhaar mandatory unless 100 per cent coverage is achieved.

Continued protests by Trinamool and other parties led to the adjournment of the Rajya Sabha more than once.

Trinamool raises matters of public importance in Parliament

Posted on July 27, 2016 | by admin2 | Leave a Comment

Playing the role of a responsible Opposition, Trinamool Congress MPs today spoke on various issues of public importance in both Houses of the Parliament.

Speaking in Rajya Sabha during the Zero Hour, Md Nadimul Haque raised the issue of the plight of four lakh minority students in Bengal who were not receiving their scholarships. He urged the Centre to allow States to electronically transfer the funds through Direct Benefit Transfer.

Dola Sen spoke on the urgent demand for elimination of unmanned level crossings. In her speech she highlighted when Mamata Banerjee was the Railway Minister, due to her untiring and sustained work towards rail safety, the index for train accidents decreased significantly from 0.29 per million train km in 2004-05 to 0.17 in 2009-10.

In the Lok Sabha, Saugata Roy demanded that the powers of Tea Board Head Office in Kolkata not be curtailed in the name of decentralisation and said people of Bengal will protest severely against any attempts to shift the headquarters of Tea Board outside Bengal.

During Question Hour, Derek O’Brien asked the government in Rajya Sabha to enlist their plans to make life-saving drugs affordable for common people. In Lok Sabha, Prasun Banerjee wanted to know from the government what initiatives were being taken by them to popularise football in India.

Leader of the party in Rajya Sabha, Derek O’Brien today initiated a short duration discussion in the Rajya Sabha on the issue of price rise. “The Government has to be responsible for bringing down the prices of commodities in the markets,” he said. Citing the example of Sufal Bangla scheme and task forces formed the Bengal Government to keep a check on prices, Derek O’Brien advised the Centre to follow successful models from the State to control inflation.

During a discussion on the Benami Transaction (Prohibition) Amendment Bill, 2015 in Lok Sabha, Kalyan Banerjee and Saugata Roy appealed to the government not to amend the current Act and instead bring a fresh Bill altogether to deal with benami property.

Finally, at the end of the day’s proceedings in the Rajya Sabha, Dola Sen made a Special Mention on the successful Bengal model in combating Left-Wing extremism and asked the Centre to follow the footsteps of the State in dealing with issue elsewhere in the country.

Ahmed Hassan Imran raised the issue of reduction of central funding of several key schemes and said this was against the spirit of cooperative federalism. He asked the Government to explain how State Governments are to carry on with these welfare programmes, and ensure development in the States without adequate funds.

Special Mention by Ahamed Hassan Imran: Reduced Central funding of schemes is against the spirit of cooperative federalism

Posted on July 27, 2016 | by admin2 | Leave a Comment

The Central Government often talks of cooperative federalism, however, the actions of the Centre over the past two years, have not reflected this and States continue to receive step-motherly treatment from the Union Government.

On the one hand, the Government of India increased the devolution to the States from 32% to 42%, as per the recommendations of the 14th Finance Commission. On the other hand, there have been large cuts in budgetary allocations to key Ministries and reductions in the funding of Centrally Sponsored Schemes. This has affected the development initiatives of the States.

The Centre has withdrawn its financial support from 39 major schemes like the National e-Governance Action Plan, police modernisation and the Backward Regions Grant Fund. The Government has also scaled back its share in 58 key welfare schemes like Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana, National Food Security Mission, Sarva Siksha Abhiyan, among others.

Sir, With the abolition of the Planning Commission, States have lost an important platform to voice their concerns and raise matters of public importance. Now, only select issues are raised at sub-groups of the Niti Aayog at the behest of the Centre. Often, the Centre takes unilateral decisions, choosing to ignore the recommendations of the Niti Aayog, as was evident in the restructuring of funding pattern for universal sanitation programme on December 1, 2015.

Sir, The Government must explain how State Governments are to carry on with these welfare programmes, and ensure development in the States without adequate funds. Increased devolution of tax funds will not help if they are countered by additional funding cuts across the board.

Thank you, Sir.