After participating in Parliamentary discussions, Trinamool MPs to visit Una, Gujarat

A three-member Trinamool parliamentary delegation will visit Rajkot and Una on Saturday July 23.

After raising the issue in Parliament and participating in the debate, now it is time to further assess the situation on the ground and meet those affected. The delegation comprises Derek O’Brien (Parliamentary party leader in Rajya Sabha) and Lok Sabha MPs Dr Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar and Ms Pratima Mandal.

Earlier in the week Mamata Banerjee had called the Una incident ‘organised crime’ and had said, “The incident in Una is organised crime against Dalits. I urge the Central government to treat Dalits with care and give full protection. This is unacceptable”.

 

Statement issued by Derek O’Brien, Chief National Spokesperson

তৃণমূল সাংসদরা যাচ্ছেন গুজরাতের উনা পরিদর্শনে

তৃণমূলের তিন সাংসদের প্রতিনিধি দল আগামী ২৩শে জুলাই (শনিবার) রাজকোট ও উনা পরিদর্শনে যাবেন।

সংসদে বিষয়টি নিয়ে বিস্তারিত আলোচনায় অংশগ্রহণ করার পর এবার তাঁরা পরিস্থিতি মূল্যায়নে গুজরাত যাবেন। প্রতিনিধিদলে থাকছেন ডেরেক ও ব্রায়েন (রাজ্যসভায় সংসদীয় দলের নেতা), লোকসভার সাংসদ ডঃ কাকলি ঘোষ দস্তিদার এবং প্রতিমা মণ্ডল।

গত সপ্তাহে মমতা বন্দ্যোপাধ্যায় বলেন, “উনার ঘটনা দলিতদের উপর সংগঠিত অপরাধ৷ এই পরিস্থিতি মেনে নেওয়া যায় না, কেন্দ্র দলিতদের নিরাপত্তার দিক। এই ধরনের ঘটনা সমর্থনযোগ্য নয়”।

 

তৃণমূলের জাতীয় মুখপাত্র ডেরেক ও ব্রায়েনের বিবৃতি

Derek O’Brien’s supplementary question on missionary schools

Sir, before I ask my question, I want to use this opportunity to congratulate the Minister as this is the first time he is here representing his new ministry. Now I’ll ask the question.

Sir, there are two points. This is a draft education policy, and here in the answer it is also given that these are some inputs; so I’m quite sure the Minister will seek other inputs.

The concerns are two and I want the Minister today to clarify once and for all these two concerns and set the matter to rest. It is common knowledge that education is number twenty-five on the concurrent list. So will the Minister assure this House, even though there have been 2 lakh 50 thousand meetings held, as my colleague said, that the States’ powers, at no point, will be interfered with? As I say this, Sir, there are over 12,000 Christian missionary schools in this country who are very concerned. These Christian missionary schools do not teach only Christians. They teach Hindus, Muslims, Jains, Buddhists, everyone in short. So many of us have been to missionary schools. They are not Christian missionary schools, they are secular missionary schools run by Christian missionaries.

The issue here is, I would like the minister to put all doubts to rest and to say that he will take everybody along in the general sense. I don’t want to get into specifics now, but this is a concern for so many of us who, from different religions, have passed out of these schools. And some of the schools are not only run by Christian missionaries; they are run by missionaries of other minority communities including the great work done by the Ramakrishna Mission.

Thank you, Sir.

Vivek Gupta’s Zero Hour Mention on potential fungal infections of rice and wheat

Through you I want to bring to the notice of the Hon’ble Minister for Agriculture today that India is facing a very serious threat of wheat blast and rice blast. Already the disease has reached Bangladesh and that is where the origin has been confirmed. Sir, since 1985, this is the first time the disease has reached South Asia; that is why, there is no knowledge about the disease.

Sir, the disease is also caused by a fungus called Magnaporthe oryzae, about which India has no knowledge. It is reportedly because of the repeated and excessive use of nitrogen in our fertilizers. Sir, it spread very fast but the Government has already gone ahead and said there is no reason for any panic, that this is a wheat fungus and we can take care of it. The disease is also known to resist chemical treatments and genetic treatments.

Sir, the damages in various countries because of this disease is enough to feed 60 million people every year. Already, 15,000 acres around West Bengal on the Bangladesh side have been damaged. Whether it is a matter of a few months or days or weeks, we don’t know, when this will reach Bengal and the other parts of India.

Sir, through you I would request the Hon’ble Minister to urgently take steps to prevent this from reaching India and to make the farmers aware on how to combat this disease because of farmers will also be affected. Also, Sir, some states of these diseases also mix with rice and wheat in such a manner that it remains undetected, and it is only detected when it is consumed by humans, and then they ultimately die.

Sir, every Indian eats about 4 kg of wheat every month. So, this is a potential danger for which the Central Government needs to take resolute action along with providing necessary financial and technical assistance to State Governments to deal with such an impending danger.

Thank you, Sir.

 

Trinamool raises the issue of crimes against Dalits in RS

On the third day of the Monsoon Session of Parliament, Trinamool raised the issue of recent crimes against Dalits in Una.

Speaking on behalf of Trinamool, leader of the party in Rajya Sabha, Derek O’Brien said: “This is organised crime against Dalits. We must suspend all business and take up a discussion on the issue.”

Following Trinamool’s lead, other political parties including the BSP also demanded a discussion on the crimes against Dalits, leading to adjournment of the House.

In the afternoon, condemning the language used against BSP’s Mayawati, Derek O’Brien said: “My sentiments are with the whole House. I would say this is not a women’s issue but men’s issue. The problem is with men making such comments. Thanks to technology we could raise this issue today. Someone from the treasury benches must stand up and condemn the language used against a woman member of the House.”

Earlier in the day, West Bengal Chief Minister had also expressed her concern about the ‘organised crimes’ against Dalits:

Trinamool dominates Parliament on Day 2 of Monsoon Session

Trinamool dominated the Parliamentary proceedings on the second day of Monsoon Session in both the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha.

Playing a responsible Opposition, Trinamool MPs spoke on matters of national importance and took part in debates on important Bills.

The day started with the leader of the party in Rajya Sabha, Derek O’Brien raising the issue of the site of Dr APJ Abdul Kalam’s resting place lying in utter neglect and slow progress of the work of building a memorial for the late President of India.

In Lok Sabha, leader of the party Sudip Bandyopadhyay demanded answers from the government on low conviction rate in case of cyber crimes. During Question Hour in Rajya Sabha, Nadimul Haque asked the government about its plans to tackle the menace of spitting.

During a Calling Attention Motion in the Upper House of the Parliament, MP Ahmed Hassan Imran grilled the government on its flood management programmes and demanded that the compensation criteria for States be revisited.

Vivek Gupta participated on behalf of the party in a discussion on the Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2012 in Rajya Sabha while Dr Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar and Dr Ratna De Nag participated in discussions on The Indian Medical Council (Amendment) Bill, 2016 and The Dentists (Amendment) Bill, 2016 respectively in Lok Sabha.

 

Vivek Gupta speaks on The Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2012

Sir, mein aapke madhyam se kuch bolu, use pehle samvidhan ki do dharao ka Mantriji ka dhyan akarshan karna chahta hoon. Dhara number 24 hain ‘Prohibition of employment of children in factories, etc.’ Aur dhara number 23 jo hain woh bahut interesting hain – ‘Prohibition of traffic in human beings and forced labour.’

Sir, 18 saal hone se pehla hum bachhe ko vote nahin dene dete kyun who sahin galat ka faisla nahin kar sakta. 18 saal hone se pehla hum use shaadi karne nahin dete kyun ki uska mansik sthithi nahin hota hain shaadi karne ki. Toh Sir, 18 saal hone se pehle hum usko kaam karne ke liye kaise majboor kar sakte? Sir, mujhe yeh nahin samajh me aata ki 18 saal se pehle who kaise yeh sthithi mein aa jata hain ki faisla kar sake ki mujhe kaam karna chahiye ya nahin karna chahiye aur hazardous hain ki nahin hain? Sir, yeh choice toh un bachhe ko honi chahiye. Hum log kyun choice kar rahe hain ki who hazardous hain ki nahin?

Sir, jaise pichle class bachho ko repeat karwa jata hain jab woh lessons nahin sikh sakte, usi tarah 2012 mein kuch galtiyan jo pichli sarkar kit hi, iss sarkar ka dhyan akarshit karna chahunga main aapke madhyam se. Shayed Mantriji inn galtiyon ko sudhar de.

Sir, pichle saal main eek special mention diya tha isi subject mein. Usme maine sarvakar ko chetavni aura agar karne ka cheshta bhi kiya tha ki, Sir, artiste aur family enterprise main jo hain inko chor di gayi hain. Sir, maaze ki baat yeh hain ki jo hazardous industries hain woh family enterprise mein exempt ho jati hain. Maslan ke taur pe, carpet weaving, jisme kain baar bachhon ke haath mein suin ghus jaate hain, beedi banana, ghar ka kaam karna aur agricultural work. Sir, agriculture mein kuch kuch mein batana chahunga. Agriculture ko non-hazardous main rakha giya hain jab ki insecticides aur pesticides spray karna agriculture ka part hain.

Hamara Debu da hain, former IAS officer, aaj unhone ek maazedar cheez batayi jo mujhe bhi nahin pata thi. Bachho ko jan kheti-bari mein kaam kana hota toh unko mitti patne ke liye ya mitti mein haath sarna parta hain, ki unko nadi mein utarke kaam karna parta hain. Sir, yeh non-hazardous hain, phir bhi kayin bachhe beh jaate, kayin bachhe mitti mein dab jaate, mar jaate hain, magar woh non-hazardous reh jata hain. Iss liye mein chahta hoon, Sir, ki aap ke madhyam se Mantriji ka dhyan akarshit ho iss par bhi.

Sir, 12 lakh bachhe jo hain woh abhi bhi hazardous industries mein kaam karte hain, aur yeh kanoon hone ke bavjoot. Sir, aapke madhyam se mein Mantriji ko puchna chahta hoon ki, 12 lakh bachhon ko hum bacha nahin pa rahe hain, implementation yahan toh ho nahin pa raha hain, yeh kanoon main aur dhilayin agar ho jayegi to implementation mein aur barah nahin baj jaye.

Sir, antarrashtriye community jo hain woh bhi hum par hus raha hain, kyun ki kayin baar unho ne hum logon se agraha kiye hain ki International Labour Organisation ke convention number 182 mein, jis mein child labour ko eliminate karne ki baat hain, na hum uss pe ratify kar rahe hain na uspe koi jawab de rahe hain. Sir, mein chahunga aap ke madhyam se ki Mantriji iss mein bhi kuch roshni dale, iss pe bhi kuch jawab de.

Sir, ek maaze ki baat aur hain. Abhi Naqviji  ne kaha ki Standing Committee ki report number 40, usi report main ek bara maazedar observation hain. Yahan par toh hum sirf child aur adolescent kar rahe hain, kayin usko juvenile bola giya hain; par usse bhi ascharyajanak baat yeh hain ki har alag alag Act mein child ko alag alag define kiya gaya. Kahin uski umar 14 batayi jaati, kahin uski umar 16 batayi jati, kahin uski 15 batayi jati hain, uske definition alag alag hain. Mein chahungi ki Mantriji isi Act ke madhyam se child ko ek definition mein bandhe.

Sir, Mantriji shayed jante Right to Education jaise positive steps mein, child labour ghatke 12.6 million se 4.3 million ho gaya. Sir, ek last problem main batana chahunga iss Bill mein. Sir, sexual exploitation aajkal ek naya term aaya hain. Jab 1982 mein yeh Bill banaya giya tha tab sexual exploitation kiya tha hum log nahin jaante they. Adults ke liye sexual exploitation ka kanoon aa gaya lekin bachho ke liye iss Bill mein – yeh jahan kaam karenge, chahein family mein kare, chahein artist mein kare, jahan pe bhi kare inko sexual exploitation ho sakte hain – uske liye is Bill mein koi pravadhan, koi prevention nahin rakha giya hain.

Sir, mere kuch sujhaav hain iss par, ki child ko age mein nahin bandhe par school leaving ka darje diya jaaye, ki jab tak woh school se par ke na nikle, unko koi kaam mein nahin liya ja sakta. Jab district magistrate ko monitoring ke liye kaha ja raha hain, Sir, main chahunga ki local MP yak kam se kam uss elake se joh bhi MP hain unko bhi rakha jaaye, kyun ki who MP us area ko, logon ko samajhte hain.

Sir, hamari Didi ka maanna hain ki bachhe komal phool hote hain, jinko khulne ka mauka honi chahiye. Sir, inko skill development diya jayen, naukri karane ki vajaye inko training diya jaayen ta ki yeh bhi flourish kar sakey.

Sir, kuch Bangal ka examples dena yahan zaroori hain. United Nations ne hamari Didi ne ek programme launch kiya hain jiska naam hain Kanyashree. Sir, Kanyashree kiya hain? Kanyashree yeh tha, Sir, ki hamare logon ko larkiye jo hain unki jaldi shaadi ho jaati hain, yeh aam sachhayi hain. Unko delay karna bahut zaroori tha. Hum log chahte they ki woh pare, likhe, aapne poore potential realise kar sakey. Jab larkiya school mein parai-likhai kar rahin hogi, 18 saal tak, tab unko ek lumpsum rupiya mil sakega aur tab tak unko en mahina bhatta bhi milega. Sir, iska bahut bara asar aaya hain kyunki jisko sacrifice kar diya jaata tha, shaadi karayi jaati thi, woh rukh gayi hain, unko bacha di gayi hain aur woh kam se kam aapni bhavishya khud tair kar rahin hain.     

Isko United Nations ne appreciate kiye hain aur Central Government ne bhi appreciate kiya hain. Iska kuch asar ‘Beti Padhao, Beti Bachao‘ mein bhi dekhne ko milta hain. Sir, Yuvashree ek aur karyakram hain. Sir, iske baad hamari Didi ne aur ek interesting karyakram launch kiya hain, uske naam hain Sabuj Sathi. Ausatan mein dekha giya hain ki ek ghanta ek ladki ko samay lagta hain school pahunchne mein. Iske karan zyaadatar bachhe school chor deti. Toh iss ek ghante ko kum kaise kiya ja sakte hain? Toh iske liye Didi ki brainchild hain, un logon ko cycle diya gaya hain. Ab 10 minute se kam mein bhi inn bachhe school pahunchte aur school dropout rate Bangal mein toh bahut kam ho gaya hain. Agar isko Central Government nationally adopt kare toh bahut fayda ho sakti hain, aur inke social development ka bhi khaya rakha jaaye.

Sir, Aparajita bol ke malnourished children ke liye ek programme chalu kiya gaya hain jiske tahat Doordarshan bachhon ko awareness dila raha hain ki bachho ko parao, bachhe ko kaam pe mat lagao.

Sir, anth mein char liney aur bolna chahta hoon. Bachhon ki awaaz mein aapko samvodhan kar raha hoon, Sir: ‘Zara sa kaam hoon mein/ Phir bhi namukammal hoon mein/ Yahan miley hain sabhi/ Unko taalne wali.’

Thank you, Sir.

Ahamed Hassan Imran’s speech during Calling Attention Motion on floods

Last year, according to international estimates, India lost $3 billion due to floods. Sir, I have a few specific questions for the Honourable Minister.

My first question is regarding Flood Management Programmes.

The former Planning Commission laid down Flood Management Programmes in consecutive Five-Year Plans. Now that the Planning Commission has been disbanded, what is the status of this programme and has the Government introduced any new protocols to improve it?

My second question to the Minister is regarding compensation criteria.

 

When Cyclone Komen hit Bengal, the State Government had the foresight and initiative to set up 3000 relief camps across the 12 affected districts, giving shelter to 2.14 lakh people.

However, in the allocation of funds to the State government to mitigate damages caused by a natural disaster, pre-emptive measures and the costs thereof is not taken into account by the Centre. The amount of compensation is only based on the number of lives lost.

We had raised this in the previous sessions of Parliament as well. I would like to ask the Minister whether the Government will consider this while deciding on relief packages, especially since it will incentivise and greatly support States in taking proactive and necessary steps to control damage caused by such disasters.

My third question is regarding the steps being taken to strengthen existing institutions that handle disasters in the country.

In the Winter Session, we had raised the issue of the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) being “ill-prepared” to handle disasters. This was clearly mentioned in a report of the CAG (Comptroller and Auditor General of India). Similarly, the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) has also been reported to be ill-equipped and the funds allocated to it have remained grossly underutilised.

The NDMA was set up in 2005 and the NDRF in 2006. After nearly 10 years, why is the Government complacent in dealing with disasters, considering that our country is often plagued by natural calamities?

My fourth question is regarding a coordinated approach in dealing with disasters.

Flood disaster and its impact on the lives of people, infrastructure and the economy of the State is a multi-pronged issue. It would, therefore, require the combined effort of Finance Ministry, Home Affairs Ministry, Water Resources Ministry and even the Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Ministry.

Has the Government taken any steps to devise an integrated inter-ministerial approach, not only through meetings but for actual groundwork? Or, would the Government considering building an inter-ministerial mechanism which will work along with the concerned State Government, and be activated on receiving reports of floods?

 

Trinamool’s Derek pushes for quick completion of neglected Kalam memorial

Sir, Aaj Guru Purnima ka din hain. Today is the day when we pay homage to our gurus and those who have taught us the good things in life. But are we really doing this, Sir? Five hundred miles away from Chennai, in Rameshwaram, one of our greatest gurus, one of our greatest teachers, is laid to rest. Next week, on 27 July, one year will be completed since he passed.

Besides a tin roof, no work is visible on the site. There have been troubling reports of the site lying in a state of neglect and disrepair. Stray animals and birds defecate in and around the site. Plastic and papers are strewn all over the place. It is a total mess. I am referring to the burial place, the memorial ground of none other than our former President, Dr APJ Abdul Kalam.

Sir, this issue is above politics, this is about paying tribute to Dr Kalam. I am looking for a solution. The Central Government, through an empowered committee of Ministers, and the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) had undertaken this task. From what we read, the buck is being passed around by the Central government claiming more land is needed from the State.

Sir, I am not blaming anybody. The purpose of Zero Hour is to have some action, to get something done. I am not here to blame the Central Government nor am I here to blame the AIADMK or the DMK, we want some action. I am glad that I have brought this up today because the Defense Minister is here.

If the problem is solved then we will have the memorial for the great Kalam ji who said, “to succeed in your mission you must have a single dedicated mission to your goal’”. So let us have a single mission today, please don’t fight, let the Defense Minister answer and let us get this memorial going.

D Bandyopadhyay’s remarks on the Regional Centre for Biotechnology Bill, 2016

Sir, as already stated in the Bill, India had entered into an agreement in 2006 with UNESCO regarding the establishment of the Regional Centre for Biotechnology Training and Education in India to serve the member countries of UNESCO. In the light of the agreement, the Central Government set up the Regional Centre for Biotechnology Training and Education in Faridabad, Haryana, through an executive order in 2009.

Now, this Bill seeks to provide legislative backing to the Regional Centre. It also confers upon it the status of an institution of national importance. Once it gets the recognition through this Bill as an institute of national importance, it would be empowered to impart scientific and technical education and also to grant degrees. It would also be able to facilitate transfer of technology and knowledge in the SAARC region and in Asia, and create a hub of biotechnology expertise and promote cooperation at the international level. I, on behalf of my Party, support this Bill.

Government mishandled J&K: Trinamool’s Derek in RS

Celebrate democracy. Deliberate democracy

On the floor of this house we get a chance to both celebrate democracy and sometimes deliberate democracy. Two months ago, we had a famous win in Bengal, and that was a great chance to celebrate democracy. Incidents in J&K over the last two weeks bring us here today to deliberate democracy.

Mishandled the situation in J&K

Sir, first let me tell you what I and my party have been thinking after studying the situation these past two weeks. We can use many expressions – bungled the situation, mishandled the situation, or mismanaged the situation. But I think the most appropriate expression we want to use is the Union Government mishandled the situation and they have to realise that they mishandled the situation. Because ordinary have lost their lives; not all of them, but ordinary people have, which is sad. We must extend help to all these families belonging to these ordinary citizens. There was an incident about a class X student, which I read in the Indian Express. It could have been any one of our sons and daughters.

Digital India, not Divisive India

Sir the irony of this is how our people there are expressing themselves. The Home Minister is here Sir. They are expressing themselves through the social media; and who are the champions of the social media? Those people who came to power riding the social media in 2014. Now what are they using the social media for? To wish each other happy birthday – one minister is wishing the other minister happy birthday. Wish each other happy birthday, we don’t mind, if it’s a happy occasion. But if you want a Digital India then make sure you understand the Digital medium otherwise Digital India can very well become a Divisive India. And no preachers there. From whatever we have read, this is all being done on the internet. So my appeal to the Home Minister through you, Sir, is, understand the power of these media. Young people are on these media. You have to harness the power of the media correctly and not only for PR.

The Jangalmahal model of development and healing for J&K

Sir, my second point: security arrangements and hard policing, Yes, very good. Please continue with security arrangements and hard policing if you want. But along with that there needs to be a political process. There needs to be a dialogue. It is disappointing when the Leader of the House here stands up and talks to us about numbers; that he was put in that position. I don’t care whether you are put in the position or you want to be put in the position. Now you please handle the situation as we expect you to handle the situation – so political process and dialogue, along with security arrangements and hard policing must go together.

If I could give an example from admittedly a very different situation, in Jangalmahal, West Bengal, where our government inherited a Maoist insurgency but also poor developmental conditions and genuine political grievances. Through you, I want to ask the Home Minister to you look at Jangalmahal. We used tough policing measures, without compromise, but also showed the sagacity to usher in an honest political and developmental conversation. Today, Jangalmahal is healing appreciably.

It’s not only about Soil, it’s about Soul

What is this situation in Kashmir about? Land? Soil? No, it is about the people of Kashmir. It is not about the soil, it is about the soul of Kashmir. That’s what we have to focus on – the soul, and bring these people together and make them feel that they are part of us. Kashmiris have a stake in India and Indians have a stake in Kashmiris. There can be no other way. When you see a Kashmiri boy or girl working in Goa in a call centre or working in Bengaluru or in Kolkata, you feel a little extra special. We don’t ask them, are you from Kashmir, or are you not from Kashmir. So it’s about the soul. And I urge this Government, along with the hard policing, the strict measures, to please keep that soul of Kashmir in mind.

Sir, Atal Bihari Vajpayee said, “We will talk within the framework of insaniyat (humanity and humaneness).” Sir, I would urge this Government to begin the dialogue process with our own people, our young people. Please, it is very important for the Government to accept that they have mismanaged the situation. Please don’t shy away from this. And yes, everyone has been magnanimous to get behind you this time. Accept that Sir.

UN Secretary General statement wipes out PMs frequent flyer miles

All the Prime Minister’s frequent flyer miles, accumulated during the last two years, and that’s a lot of frequent flyer miles, all got washed out by one statement on the 11th of July by the United Nations Secretary General. This is what he said: he called on all parties to “exercise maximum restraint to avoid the violence and I hope that all concerns would be addressed through peaceful means.” This is a very telling statement.

I want to end with the issue of pellets. Sir, it makes for a sad story that in this day of technology, when it is common knowledge that the same kind of pellets were used in Tunisia in 2010 or in 2014 in Egypt, and got heavily criticized by the international community, here again they go and use the same pellets.

Yes Sir, it is not only the land, not only the soil, not only the grass, it is about the soul of Kashmir. I urge this Government to protect that soul. Kashmir’s soul, India’s soul

Thank You Sir.