Kalyan Banerjee speaks during Zero Hour on the hike in prices of LPG and kerosene

Kalyan Banerjee speaks during Zero Hour on the hike in prices of LPG and kerosene

Posted on August 3, 2016 | by admin2 | Leave a Comment

Madam, I stand today to speak on a very important issue – the repeated hike in the prices of domestic LPG and kerosene (PDS & non PDS). As a result of these hikes the general people and poor people are seriously affected.

Madam on 1st July, 2014, the average government subsidy on PDS kerosene was Rs 33.89 per liter which has come down nor Rs 11.49 per liter as on July, 2016. As a result madam kerosene price has been increased.

According to the petroleum planning analysis, subsidy of kerosene was dropped 52% from 2014 to 2015-16. Total subsidy of PDS kerosene was Rs 24799 crore during 2014-15. Now it has come down to Rs 11496 crore during 2015-2016.

Madam kerosene quota has been decreased. Our Hon’ble Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has written several letters to the Prime Minister but no response is there. Madam, kitchen is literally on fire now.

And regarding the LPG consumers, as on 5 May, 2016 the total number of LPG consumers registered was 50.39 crore. Now the subsidy has been decreased. In 2014 it was Rs 40569 crore and now it has come down to Rs 16074 crore in 205-16.

Madam the Hon’ble Minister on 6 August, 2014 had given a reply that there was no proposal of the government to raise the price of LPG cooking gas and kerosene per month to but in effect it has been increased.

Do baras pehle jo vada kiya tha jo mann ki baat than, woh abhi kitchen mein nahi ghus raha hai. Woh mann ki baat chala gayi, uska koi kaam nahi hua.

Madam, through you I am just making request (demand) on behalf of 125 crore people of the country that they should increase the quota of the kerosene oil, the PDS quota, and they should decrease the prices of kerosene oil. They should also decrease the prices of LPG. Nothing will be achieved by making advertisements.

Build up India will not be achieved unless kitchen is built up and food comes to us. With this Madam, I am requesting the government to respond on this matter.

Dipak Adhikari makes Zero Hour mention about Ghatal Master Plan

Posted on August 2, 2016 | by admin2 | Leave a Comment

Ami dhanyabad janai amader Mukhyo Mantri Mamatadi-ke jini amar opor bishwas rekhechen. Ami dhanyabad janai amar Lok Sabha kendror protyekta manushke jara amake bhalo beshechen, jara ashirbad korechen, jara dua diyechen, jader jonyo ami ekhane ashte perechi.

I want to thank our Hon’ble Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, who has reposed her faith on me and guided me. I want to thank the citizens of my constituency who have showered their love on me, blessed me throughout and helped me reach here.

Ami je bishoyta niye kotha bolte chaichi she bishoyta goto 64 bochor dhore samasya hoye ache. Amader rajye duto district ache – ekta hochhe Purba Medinipur, ekta hochhe Paschim Medinipur. Ei Purba ar Paschim Medinipur-e 22-ta block-e 20 lakh manuch samashyar modhye ache goto 64 bochor dhore.

The subject that I am going to speak on, is an issue dating back 64 years. There are two districts in my State of West Bengal – West and East Midnapore. 20 lakh people residing in 22 blocks of these districts are suffering due to the problem of floods for the last 64 years.

In 1959, the Man Singh Committee first named a plan called the Ghatal Master Plan. It took 20 years for the Planning Commission to approve the plan, and finally in 1980 the plan was sanctioned; in 1982, the foundation stone was laid. In the same year I was also born. I have grown up so big but the foundation has not turned into Ghatal Master Plan yet.

The plan is such a big proposal, shei jonyo eka Rajya Sarkarer jonyo shombhob na ei plan-ta eka korar. Sheijonyo amader Mukhyo Mantri goto paanch (5) bochor dhore shomane try kore gechen mader prakton ebong bortoman Kendriyo Sarkare kache, jeno ei Ghatal Master Plan-ta hoy.

The plan is such a big proposal that it is not possible for the State Government alone to bear the costs. For the last five years the Chief Minister has been trying hard so that the Ghatal Master Plan becomes a reality soon.

Ami jokhon Dilli-te ashchilam, Ghatal-er kichu lok amake bollo je ei bochor brishtir porimanta onek beshi, abar ei bochor bonya hobe. Toh ei bochor jodi bonya hoy toh amra ki korbo. Madam, bishwas korun amar kache kono jawab chilo na karon goto 64 bochor dhore amra ei jawabta khunjchi je adou ei Ghatal Master Plan-ta hobe ki hobe na.

When I was coming to Delhi, a few people in Ghatal told me that this year the amount of rainfall was very high and they did not know what they will do if the district is flooded. I had no answer, Madam. We are searching for an answer for the last 64 years but we have no idea when this Ghatal Master Plan will materialise.

Through you Madam, I want to know if this Ghatal Master Plan is going to happen, and if it does when is it going to happen and how soon is it going to happen.

Thank you.

Parliament: Trinamool raises the issue of growing religious fundamentalism in the country

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

Trinamool Congress Monday raised the issue of growing religious fundamentalism in the country and demanded that the Prime Minister must assure the country that “we can live in the India we know – unity in diversity.”

Speaking during the Zero Hour, the leader of the party in Rajya Sabha, Derek O’Brien said, “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.”

“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,” he added.

Click here to read the full transcript of his speech

In Lok Sabha, leader of the party, Sudip Bandyopadhyay said, “we Indians are firm believers of secularism and communal harmony. We are also believers that unity and diversity should be our integral national philosophy.”

“India as a country must ensure that every section of the society has the the right to live with prestige and dignity. We also demand that the people who are carrying out violence in the name of gau raksha must be dealt with harshly as per the laws,” added.

Click here to read the full transcript of his speech

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)

Pratima Mandal speaks during Zero Hour in LS on rural post offices

Posted on July 29, 2016 | by admin2 | Leave a Comment

Madam more than 20 years back my father had donated an office room to open a post office in his village with the intention to motivate and encourage poor villages to use the facilities of post offices and at the same time to protect them from the private moneylenders.

Being a public representative of a rural constituency, I have experienced that most of the rural post offices are running either at the house of postmaster or at some villager’s house.

I would like to ask the Hon’ble Minister, through you, Madam, whether the ministry has conducted any survey to know the actual number of post offices running in such a manner and what steps have been taken in this regard.

Dola Sen speaks during Zero Hour regarding the demand for elimination of unmanned level crossings in the country | Full Transcript

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

The tragic incident that happened earlier this week shook us to our very core. Reports are still coming in, but at least seven children were killed and several others injured as their school minibus was hit by a train at an unmanned railway crossing in Auraiye, Bhadohi in Uttar Pradesh. The mini bus of Tenderheart School carrying students up to 10 years of age was hit by Varanasi-Allahabad passenger train. On March, 2016 the Minister of Railways reported that there are 10,440 unmanned level crossings in the country as on April, 2015.

In 2014, a PIL was filed in the Supreme Court of India seeking the elimination of all unmanned railway crossings and in the meantime to ensure the safety of the children on unmanned railway crossings. Yet, as we are witnessing today, accidents and deaths at unmanned level crossings still occur with alarming regularity. Kids with hopes and dreams in their eyes, with courage and ambition in their hearts, have been taken away from us in a cruel twist of fate.

From 2009 to 2014, almost 43% of all railways accidents were at level crossings. Of the 16 railway zones, more than 35% of the level crossings are unmanned. From August 2015 to January 2016, there were 15 accidents at level crossings, resulting in the deaths of 26 people. Studies have shown that increasing train speeds and rapid motorization of rural roads have increased the cases of accidents at unmanned level crossings. A number of these accidents involve buses, often involving school children, leading to a disproportionately high number of fatalities when compared to number of accidents.

It is important to draw attention to the fact that 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. This was despite the increase in traffic from 16,021 trains per day to 18,820 trains. Under her leadership, 1,500 unmanned crossings were eliminated, 172 ROBs and 240 RUBs/subways were constructed. The Government’s Railway budget in 2015 had envisioned the target of eliminating 3438 level crossings by 2016, however only 350 manned level crossings and 1,000 unmanned level crossings were eliminated.

Funds for elimination of level crossings come from Central Road Fund (CRF) as a percentage of cess collected on Petrol and Diesel by Ministry of Finance. The Average Annual Allocation to Railways from Central Road Fund is approximately Rs. 1,100 crore against throw forward of Rs. 31,700 crore. The Government has not fixed a target for 2016-17 and 2017-18.

The Government expenditure on the Ahmedabad-Mumbai bullet train is estimated to be around Rs. 1 lakh crore. How does the Government justify spending this exorbitant amount while tragedies like the one we faced today has become an everyday reality for the country’s citizens. I would urge the Centre to expedite the process of eradicating all unmanned level crossings in the country. This needs to be ensured so that avoidable tragedies like the one that took place today do not keep repeating themselves. Let us not blame each other, but rather work together, towards making India a better and a safer country.

Md Nadimul Haque speaks during Zero Hour on the demand for release of scholarships to minority students | Full Transcript

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

Sir, cooperative federalism demands extensive interaction between the Centre and the States. Feedback from the States must be given equal importance. It is sad that the present cooperative federalism is only in name. it is time we head towards cooperative federalism.

I would like to draw the attention of the House to a very important issue – that is, the demand for the release of pre-matric/post-matric/merit-cum-means scholarship to minority students. It is a matter of great concern that almost 4 lakh minority students from West Bengal have not received their scholarships for 2015-16. Despite being eligible, they were deprived of the benefits because of technical glitches, like slow server speeds, drop-down menus not working and names of many educational institutions missing from the list, while accessing the national scholarship portal.

Besides the technical problems, in certain remote places of West Bengal like the Sunderbans, Purulia, Bankura, and Darjeeling, people have limited access to computers and to good network connections. Sir, West Bengal had recently faced unprecedented floods in 235 blocks of 13 districts. Even after the State Government’s efforts to publicise and help the students with internet access, the benefits are denied due to technical glitches in the national scholarship portal. Sir, despite the State having sent offline data as sought by the Ministry, almost 4 lakh students are still outside the ambit of the scholarship scheme.

Sir, our Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had written to the Ministry of Minority Affairs in August last year regarding this. Even I, on May 5 this year, had raised this issue in the House and was assured by the then Minister of an early solution to the problem. Our Chief Minister has also written to the Hon’ble Prime Minister last week on this matter. However, the problem still persists. I would urge the Centre to allow us, that is, the State of West Bengal, to opt out of the National Scholarship portal and let us disburse the scholarship funds electronically through DBT with appropriate backward linkages to NSP, along the lines of disbursement of scholarships to SC/ST students.

Sir, I would like to end with an Urdu couplet:

Sochta hoon ki anjaam-e-safar kya hoga

Log bhi kach ke hain, rah bhi patrili hain

I would like the Minister to respond.

Ratna De Nag raises the demand of expanding the subway at Bhadreswar station

Posted on July 26, 2016 | by admin2 | Leave a Comment

There is an urgent need to expand the subway at Bhadreswar station at Howrah division, Eastern Railway of West Bengal. Lakhs of common people and railway passengers, not only from Bhadreswar town, but also from the Chandannagar Corporation and Bigadi panchayat commute through this place. The people from the other side of the river Ganges use this subway. Due to the narrow space, accidents have become the order of the day. Under these circumstances I would urge the Hon’ble Minister to expand the subway and save the life of many people.

Thank you, Sir.

Trinamool dominates Rajya Sabha, raises key issues

Posted on December 7, 2015 | by admin2 | Leave a Comment

All India Trinamool Congress was once again seen playing the role of a responsible Opposition in Rajya Sabha today. Trinamool dominated the proceedings of the House during the first one hour as party MPs raised three key issues of public importance.

Leader of the party in Rajya Sabha, Derek O’Brien said, “My colleagues Dola Sen and Nadimul Haque spoke in Rajya Sabha today on three key issues – funds to States, Swaach Bharat cess & education. We believe in deliberate, debate and legislate.”

Dola Sen spoke about the burden Centre’s Swachh Bharat cess is causing on the poor people. “Services that the government is actively championing for the rural poor including mobile and financial services just became more expensive and difficult for them to access,” she said.

Click here for the full transcript of her speech

She also slammed the Centre as she made a Special Mention on the reduced funding for several central schemes. “The Government must explain how State Governments are to carry on critical welfare programmes, and ensure development in the states without adequate funds,” she demanded to know.

Click here for the full transcript of her speech

Nadimul Haque raised an important matter concerning the education sector. He made a Special Mention about the shortage of faculty in Indian universities. “his inadequacy of our faculty appointments and selection systems is gravely affecting the quality of education that students of higher education are receiving,” he said.

Click here for the full transcript of his speech

Meanwhile, in Lok Sabha, leader of the party, Sudip Bandyopadhyay urged the Centre to include Belur-Dakkhineshwar in the list of sites for religious tourism. “Belur is Swami Vivekananda’s dream; Ramakrishna Paramhansa Dev’s name is associated with Dakkhineshwar,” he said.

Sudip Banerjee added that in 2013-2014 & 2014-15 the Centre had not allotted a single rupee for the state of West Bengal. He requested the Centre not to neglect West Bengal and promote spiritual tourism sites in the State.

Click here for the full transcript of his speech

Post lunch, Sudip Bandyopadhyay spoke in Lok Sabha about the prevailing drought situation in the country. He urged the Centre to come up with a positive action plan and requested the government not to neglect the eastern zone of the country

Click here for the full transcript of his speech

In a discussion on the Prevention of Corruption (Amendment) Bill, 2014, Vivek Gupta spoke in RS on the demerits in the Bill brought by the government. He listed how several definitions of corruption do not find place in the Bill. Gupta echoed the view of party Chairperson Mamata Banerjee by calling for electoral reforms.

Click here for the full transcript of his speech

During another discussion on the India-Nepal relations in Rajya Sabha, Nadimul Haque made a passionate case for normalising the ties of the countries. He said that Madhesis were like our brothers and India has a duty towards them. He hoped Government of Nepal would reciprocate the warmth shown by Government of India during Nepal earthquake.

Click here for the full transcript of his speech

Saugata Roy raises the issue of sick jute industry during Zero Hour | Full Transcript

Posted on May 13, 2015 | by admin2 | Leave a Comment

Full Transcript

Madam, I am raising an issue, which I had raised last week regarding the jute industry in West Bengal. This is an issue which affects my colleagues Shri Dinesh Trivedi, whose constituency has 22 jute mills; Shri Kalyan Banerjee, whose constituency has many jute mills and Dr. Ratna De (Nag).

The jute is grown in Murshidabad, Nadia and all other parts up to Raiganj. In Bihar also, it is grown in Purnia, Supaul and many other parts of the State. So, it is a big problem. Over the last two years, the jute industry has been reeling under an existential crisis. This has led to around 25 per cent mills out of total of 56 in the State being shut and nearly one lakh workmen rendered jobless.

Even yesterday, Weaverly Jute Mill in Shyamnagar and Nadia Jute Mill at Naihati closed down making the tally to 11 jute mills closed in 11 days. The livelihoods of around 40 lakh farmer families are endangered due to uncertainty. In the meantime, Bangladeshi jute industry has doubled its size in last seven years and jute products are being hailed globally as an environment friendly alternative to plastics.

The precarious situation has arisen mainly due to the acts of the Central Government such as:

1) Dilution of the Mandatory Packaging Act – introduced by Shri Rajiv Gandhi – from 100 per cent reservation for sugar and foodgrains – 20 per cent for sugar and 90 per cent for foodgrains on strong lobbying by plastic industry;

2) continuous attempts to violate the Act further by sugar industry and procurement agencies:

(a) default in procurement of bags despite mandatory requirements,

(b) attempts to keep jute bags out of the National Food Security Mission,

3) Erosion of the non-governmental market due to heavy imports from Bangladesh aided by

(a) zero duty on imports and

(b) 10 per cent export subsidy by Government of Bangladesh;

4) the procurement of jute bags has fallen from an average of 26.8 lakh bales annually (July to June) in 2013 to 20.3 lakh bales in 2013-14 and 19.9 lakh bales in 2014-15 (July to May);

5) The lack of demand has led to many mills cutting production which has aggravated labour issues, leading to violence and closure.

In the face of the shrinking market and added uncertainty about the future, the jute industry is going through de-growth. Investments in modernisation and product diversification have all but stopped since 2012-13. Joblessness among workers is creating skill deficit while uncertainty over market is discouraging jute farmers from adoption of the best practices developed over long years.

A strong supporting hand by the Central Government by way of stable orders for an extended time period and protection from cheap imports is required. This will lead to modernisation of industry resulting in cheaper and more efficient jute bags, diversification of products to increase market footprint beyond packaging into new areas like consumer bags, geotextiles etc. An environment-friendly and sustainable product like jute, will help solve a lot of national problems like river pollution, depletion of petrochemicals, landfill overload.

Madam, I had raised it last week. There is no response from the Minister. I have been looking for the Minister, Shri Gangwar, for the last three days. He is nowhere to be visible. Will there be any response from him? Or, will mill after mill close down? He is from Bareilly. There are no jute mills or textile mills in Bareilly. He does not care.

The industry is shutting down, putting lives of lakhs of farmers and workers at stake. There is no response from the Government as a whole to this big crisis in the jute industry. The Government remains silent. It is very strange that this is the way the Government is responding to people’s woes and miseries!