Mumtaz Sanghahmita speaks on The Criminal Law (Amendment) Bill, 2018

Mumtaz Sanghahmita speaks on The Criminal Law (Amendment) Bill, 2018

Posted on July 30, 2018 | by aitc | Leave a Comment

FULL TRANSCRIPT

Thank you, Sir, for allowing me to speak. This Amendment Bill is basically dealing with the increase in the duration of punishment according to the age of the victim, and this would act as a deterrent. There is also provision in the Amendment for reducing the period for preparing the evidences and for getting the victim’s point of view from three months to two months, and for the accused to be put on trial within six months.

My point is this criteria of age. Rape is rape whether it affects a two-year-old girl or a 100-year-old lady. Yes, I’m supporting the view that the former is a more heinous crime. Another point is that in the Amendment, it is written as above 16 or above 12 but the punishment will be extended throughout his life. On this point, since nowadays prisons are called correctional homes, and a rapist also suffers from a psychological disease, why can’t we put them to trial in a psychiatric or psycho-analytical home, and according to the findings, extend their sentence?

The other important point is about death penalty. When all over the world there are two schools of thought towards the imposition of death penalty, why are we going back to the primitive death penalty? We are not thinking about rehabilitation.

Gang-rape is a purposefully done act and it has been seen that it is usually committed by people from poor socio-economic background, and in some cases, there is an angle of revenge involved, as seen in many gang-rapes of Dalits. So we also have to look into this.

I also support the Member who has spoken about women police being asked to investigate cases of rape. As a gynaecologist, I know that it can sometimes be difficult to prove a rape, and hence more the need for female police personnel.

Thank you, Sir.

Amendment moved to The Criminal Law (Amendment) Bill, 2018

Sir, one point. Evidence may be lost in the process of giving treatment to a rape victim. Hence, it should be that kits should be made available to hospitals to enable the collection of body fluids with swab, after which the treatment may start.

Mamata Banerjee slams Centre over Aadhaar

Posted on July 29, 2018 | by aitc | Leave a Comment

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee today questioned the Centre for making Aadhaar compulsory for availing services and whether the decision has brought down the number of terrorists infiltrating in the country.

She said that the Centre has made Aadhaar compulsory for everything yet this decision has not been able to bring down the number of terrorists entering the country.

Mamata Banerjee has time and again criticised the decision of making Aadhaar mandatory and had said that linking of personal details with Aadhaar number was “dangerous” for individuals and society.

Source: Millennium Post

No farmers suicides have happened in Bengal: Mamata Banerjee

Posted on July 29, 2018 | by aitc | Leave a Comment

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee proudly claimed in the Assembly that under the rule of Trinamool Congress there have been no farmer suicides in Bengal (due to crop-related reasons), when, unfortunately, there have been over 12,000 suicides by farmers all over the rest of India.

This stark contrast is the result of the developmental projects being implemented, many of which are conceptions of the Chief Minister. A significant impact of these policies has been the increase by 3.2 times of the average annual income of farmers.

She went on to say that the Centre talks big on farmers’ insurance to cover crop losses due to natural disasters: the reality is that the State pays 60 per cent of the amount while the Centre pays only 40 per cent. A related point she raised: if the State pays the majority portion, why should the picture of the Prime Minister be there on the form?

Mamata Banerjee also said during her reply that the Bengal Government has given complete compensation of losses to 30 lakh farmers. The Government has set up cold storages and Krishak Bazars across the state, the latter helping in selling as well as storing of a farmer’s goods.

The Government has also removed the mutation fee for farmlands, and this should be model to be followed by the rest of the country, she said, to give some relief to the so many affected farmers.

Source: Sangbad Pratidin

State Govt to start five more universities

Posted on July 29, 2018 | by aitc | Leave a Comment

The Bengal Government has decided to open five more universities, taking the total number of universities in the State to 28.

One university is going to be set up in the district of Purba Medinipur. The other four universities will be Jalpaiguri University, Alipurduar University, South Dinajpur University and Murshidabad University.

This was announced by the Education Minister recently. It has also been decided that the proposed university in Purba Medinipur district will be named after Mahatma Gandhi.

There are universities in the State named after Kazi Nazrul Islam and Iswarchandra Vidyasagar. Now, the state is going to get a university named after Mahatma Gandhi. This shows the liberal and secular face of the Trinamool Congress Government.

The Bengal Government under the leadership of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has taken up several steps in the past seven years for the development of infrastructure for higher education.

With the steps to set up four more universities in the northern districts, the students from those regions will be benefitted as well. They will no longer have to travel all the way to Kolkata or some other place for pursuing higher education.

Source: Millennium Post

Adivasi lands will never be seized: Mamata Banerjee in Assembly

Posted on July 29, 2018 | by aitc | Leave a Comment

On Thursday, July 26, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee announced a momentous decision: Adivasi lands will never be seized by the State Government. This has the potential to become a path-breaking decision with respect to the respect to the rest of the country, wherever Adivasi issues crop up.

There would no acquisition of land belonging to the Adivasi population of the State, be it for whatever reason. Development and industrialisation will never be at the cost of the rights of the indigenous peoples of the State to their ancestral lands.

In this connection, it needs to be mentioned that as Chief Minister, Mamata Banerjee has done for the Adivasis of Bengal what no predecessor of her has done. From improving access of tribal children to education to introducing the Ol Chiki script for writing Santhali to getting various developmental projects of the Government to reach them, the tribal population of the State, be it in the Jangalmahal region (where they live primarily) or in the other pockets, has benefitted comprehensively and has thus been able to partake of the fruits of progress that Bengal under Mamata Banerjee has experienced.

Source: Pratidin, Aajkaal

People will oust BJP from power in 2019: Abhishek Banerjee

Posted on July 28, 2018 | by aitc | Leave a Comment

National President of Trinamool Youth Congress and MP Abhishek Banerjee today took on the BJP at a rally in Medinipur. He also countered the Prime Minister’s ‘syndicate’ allegations against the party and said Trinamool is people’s syndicate, and that the people will dislodge the BJP from power in 2019.

Highlights of Abhishek Banerjee’s speech:

We are not a rich party like BJP. We do not have enough financial resources. We could not erect shades at this rally venue, like the BJP did by selling the country for crores of money. Those who cannot even erect a pandal properly are dreaming of winning in Bengal. The soil of Medinipur is one of struggle and fighting. This soil does not tolerate lies. People of Medinipur have not learnt to bow down.
Those who have come to this rally, braving the downpour, have come here not to listen to political speeches, but with the resolve to oust BJP from Delhi in 2019.
The Prime Minister addressed a rally here in this venue on July 16. It was titled ‘Krishi Kalyan Samabesh’. But one could hardly spot a farmer that day. They brought people from UP, Bihar, Odisha, and 10 districts. We have the details.
BJP does not understand the pain of farmers. The highest number of farmer suicides occurs in Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh. If the Prime Minister really cares for them, he should organise a farmers’ rally in these States. More than 12,000 farmers have committed suicide. Seven farmers were killed, in the same way like Nandigram, in Madhya Pradesh. Nearly 80 children died in a hospital in Gorakhpur due to lack of oxygen. More than 120 people died due to demonetisation, while waiting in queues.
The Prime Minister did not utter a word on development. He only uttered lies after lies. There is autocracy going on in the country. Everyday names of stations are being changed, Red Fort is being given away to private entities, Taj Mahal is being insulted. Farmer suicides are increasing. Yet, the PM and BJP President are giving bhashan.
The Prime Minister said, Trinamool is running a syndicate. We are a syndicate of the people. Our syndicate ended the 34-year old misrule of the Left. The syndicate brought peace of Jangalmahal and Darjeeling. In the days to come, the syndicate will dislodge BJP from power.
We are ready to give our lives but we will not these people dupe the people of Bengal. We will not allow communal tension in the State. We believe in Hinduism of Swami Vivekananda not that of Yogi Adityanath. Our Hinduism does not talk of divisive politics, destruction or violence. We also have devotees of Ram in our party, but unlike their Ram Bhakts, we do not organized rallies with arms. Religion for Trinamool is a unifying force, not divisive force.
I want to ask the BJP what they have done for Hindus? They started a project to clean the Ganga, and allocated crores of rupees, but they could not even clean a pond. They only use Hinduism for politics.
We are not atheists ike the CPI(M). We do not indulge in politics over religion like the BJP. They allege that Mamata Banerjee indulges in Muslim appeasement. I want to tell them, Mamata Banerjee has worked for the development of both Furfura Sharif and Dakshineshwar. She has brought a tide of development to Gangasagar as well as Tarapith.
The Prime Minister said Durga Puja is under threat. He does not know Mamata Banerjee has started the Bisarjan Carnival at Red Road. My advice to the BJP is to first take care of the pandal and then think of Bengal. In 2018, the pandal broke. In 2019, the government will break.
Our leader has fixed our target from the July 21 rally stage. Her message was 42 out of 42 in 2019, BJP finish. This should be our motto. We did not concede ground to the CPI(M), neither will we concede ground to the BJP. Let us resolve to protect the unity, culture, harmony of Bengal with our lives. Let us rid Bengal of the dirt called BJP, in a democratic way.
Let them fight us politically. Those who think they can win in Bengal by communally polarising the people, I want to remind them that people of Bengal cannot be brought for money. This is our Bengal, our pride.
They say they will win 22 seats in Bengal. We have to ensure that they don’t even win in 22 booths. A secular government will be formed in India in the coming days. That government will be for the common people, the farmers. That government will work for the progress in every sphere.
The only clash in Bengal will be one between 10 crore people of Bengal versus the BJP, not Hindu-Muslim clash.
Today is the death anniversary of Mahasweta Devi. She had a deep connection to this district. My deepest respects to her.

Preserving trees is an essential duty: Mamata Banerjee at Vanmahotsav

Posted on July 27, 2018 | by aitc | Leave a Comment

Trees are extremely important for preserving the fabric of the environment, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said at a programme on Vanmahotsav at the State Assembly premises today. She stressed on the usefulness of trees, for the fabric of the environment was coterminous with the fabric of our society, both existing in their multitude of variety yet essentially in a state of harmony.

Salient points of her speech:

50 lakh saplings will be distributed by the State Forest Department for planting across Bengal.
The State Government is distributing saplings through the Sabujshree Scheme too, wherein a sapling is given to the mother of a child born in a Government facility. These are valuable trees, whose wood can be sold after the child attains 18 years of age to fund educational and other needs of the child.
Without greenery there will be no life, no joy and laughter, and consequently, no peace and prosperity. Trees and plants are a salve for the eyes, and by extension, the mind.
We never try to divide people, be it on the basis of religion or anything else. We believe humanity is one, people are one and the same everywhere.
We abhor any form of artificially-created division. Thought, religion, language, colour of skin – these are points of difference for sure, but we are ultimately tied by the blood which flows in us, which has the same colour for every person.
We, the people of our great country, have been taught about the essential unity of humanity through the words and works of people like Rabindranath Tagore, Mahatma Gandhi, Kazi Nazrul Islam, Netaji, BR Ambedkar, Matangini Hazra and Pritilata Waddedar, Birsa Munda, Raghunath Murmu, Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, APJ Abdul Kalam and many others.
Rabindra Tagore had expressed in our national anthem, ‘Punjab Sindhu, Gujarat, Maratha, Dravida, Utkala, Banga’. We hail from different places and regions, we hail from different castes and creeds, but we are essentially the same.
Unity in diversity is the fundamental thought behind our society.
In a similar way, there are so many types of trees. But one is as much essential as the other, they live in harmony with each other. Respect trees as much we respect each other.

Saugata Roy makes an intervention on The Trafficking of Persons (Prevention, Protection and Rehabilitation) Bill, 2018

Posted on July 26, 2018 | by aitc | Leave a Comment

FULL TRANSCRIPT

Actually I have two small points; I do believe that this offence of trafficking is not known to the people in general. I saw a Hindi film called ‘Mardaani’ starring Rani Mukherjee which really brought out this problem of child trafficking. Would the Minister please consider promoting a film or films in different languages by noted directors to highlight the problem of particularly child trafficking?

The second question I want to ask that at the national level she has given the task of investigation to the NIA. The national investigative agencies are already overburdened with crimes concerning terrorism. I would like to ask her whether she would consider setting up a different national body for investigating crimes regarding trafficking? That would be very proper instead of burdening the already overburdened national investigative agencies.

Pratima Mondal makes an intervention on The Trafficking of Persons (Prevention, Protection and Rehabilitation) Bill, 2018

Posted on July 26, 2018 | by aitc | Leave a Comment

FULL TRANSCRIPT

I would like to request the hon minister that repatriation process should be taken care off, so that the girls who are getting trafficked, especially from Bangladesh or our neighbouring countries, can go to their homes as soon as possible. I was a chairperson in my district (South 24 Parganas) and I personally experienced that they are being detained year after year. So, please take care of the repatriation process.

Thank you, Madam.

Manish Gupta speaks on The Negotiable Instruments (Amendment) Bill, 2018

Posted on July 26, 2018 | by aitc | Leave a Comment

FULL TRANSCRIPT

Madam Chairman, I stand to support this Bill. I think in the middle of what is happening in the country today, we need to forge and understand new laws, so that, the future of our economic activity is not endangered by persons who have malafide intentions. In this respect, I think this particular Bill will serve the purpose to a certain extent. I don’t think that this Bill will have any great impact on the present situation, except as a step towards further improving the entirety of the problems.

Clause 2 of the Bill introduces Section 143 A, but it identifies two situations. One is the summary trial and other is the summons case. Now, Section 143 also gives power to the courts, to provide for 25 per cent to the complainer, while the case is in progress. A question has been raised, as to how the government arrived at this 25 per cent. It is a very arbitrary figure, and is a very cautious approach. What we need here is a bold approach and 25 per cent, I don’t think will have the desired effect. A much higher amount – like 30 or 40 per cent – would have given a decent incentive to people who issue cheques, which bounce in the banks.

It is very important to identify the causes of delay in the courts. We make laws, we bring up new legislations, but the general situation in delay in the courts has not been substantially solved. Today there are more than 30 lakh cases pending in the subordinate courts, and 35,000 cases are pending in the higher courts. Nobody has calculated when these decisions of the courts or convictions will be handed down, will be appealed again in the higher courts, so that means more time will elapse before justice is done.

However a silver lining is, that, recently in the Economic Survey, there is a chapter on justice delivery and courts. There is thinking in this regard that Our laws on dispute resolution can only be affected as the dispute resolution process themselves. Therefore, it is of utmost important that any legislation that the parties, who are involved in the dispute, must one way or the other be assured that their rights will be enforced in the court in the reasonable time.

The role of banks is important. RBI as the Central Bank has a very important role to play, although they are not involved in the court processes. The RBI’s recent track record indicates, as they have said, they don’t have adequate powers to deal with public sector banks. They have issued new guidelines for state’s assets in all the sectors – cement, power etc.

But the Central Bank cannot absolve itself of being more proactive. The people of India look up to the Reserve Bank. The Reserve Bank promulgates banking regulation. Banks charge Rs 300 for every representation of any bounced cheque. Reserve Bank needs to get more involved. New guidelines are unimaginative. The same guidelines have been recommended for many sectors. But each sector of economy has its own problem. This situation needs to be looked at more closely; even application of Section 421 of the CRPC. So all this will come into play when this Act is applied.

Therefore, although we support this legislation – it’s a step in the right direction – the government must keep on thinking as to what more they can do for the future.