December 7, 2022
Sukhendu Sekhar Roy’s speech, felicitating Jagdeep Dhankhar on his assuming the chairmanship of Rajya Sabha
Mr. Chairman, Sir, I have been authorised by my Party to speak. Just now, I have informed the Secretariat about this. Sir, first of all, on behalf of All India Trinamool Congress, I extend the warmest felicitations to your honour for being elected as the hon. VicePresident of India as well as taking over the charge as the hon. Chairman of this august House. For the first four years, we have experienced your style
of functioning when you were the hon. Governor of West Bengal and, personally speaking, I got opportunities of exchanging a few letters with you on some legal and constitutional issues wherefrom I could understand what my friends used to tell me ‘this Governor is a constitutional expert and a legal luminary.’ I found it right from the explanations made by your honour on those communications. Actually, that belief was further strengthened. Now that your honour has taken over the charge of this august House, we submit to your honour with all grace that from now on, we believe, िहन्दी मेंकहावत हैिक ‘आप आये, बहार आई।’ We expect that your elevation to this
position will help to strengthen the conducive atmosphere of this august House and that both the Treasury Benches and the Opposition Benches would get adequate opportunities in the deliberations to be made on various issues, Bills, etcetera. Sir, I have some suggestions to make for your kind consideration. हमने देखा िक लोक सभा मेंकु छ िबलों पर, कु छ मु�ों पर बहुत देर तक चच� होती थी लेिकन कभी-कभी ऐसा हुआ िक राज्य सभा मेंसमय हमेंउतना नहीं िमला। इसिलए जो देश के िलए ज�री मु�ेहैं, उन मु�ों पर ज्यादा समय तक चच� होनी चािहए, खास
करके जो छोटी पा�टयां हैं, उनको दो-तीन िमनट का समय िमलता है। हम भी कभी-कभी ऐज़ वाइस चेयरमैन कु स� पर बैठतेहैं, this time also you have made me as one of the Vice-Chairmen in the Panel. तो छोटी पा�टयों को िलए बहुत ददर्होता है, मैंमहसूस करता हूं िक उनको समय नहीं िमलता है। इसके िलए थोड़ा समय बढ़ाना चािहए, नहीं तो लोक सभा और राज्य सभा के अिधवेशन मेंलोक सभा तो बनी रहेगी और राज्य सभा कहीं परलोक सभा न बन जाये, यह हमारी आशंका है। िजस तरह समय कम होता जा रहा है, जो मैंनेिपछले11 सालों मेंदेखा हैतो इसके िलए मेरा आपसेिनवेदन है। दूसरा, जैसा िक हमारेलीडर ऑफ िद अपोिज़शन नेबताया िक scrutiny of the Bills by the Standing Committees and, at times, by the Select Committees is very important because it is required for a better legislation. Unless the Bills are scrutinised properly, either by a Standing Committee or a Select
Committee, at times, mere discussion here will not be helpful. This is my second submission. My Party’s further suggestion is that we require either one Short Duration Discussion or one Calling Attention Motion per week. There is Rule 267 which is very sparingly adhered to for reasons not known to us. But, there were times when we experienced that on greater issues, national issues, discussion under Rule 267 was allowed very frequently. My only suggestion would be that at least, per Session, one issue under Rule 267 may be taken up. This is my submission, and, Opposition-wise, in a democracy, as you know, the voice of dissent is also to be heard. Otherwise, the idea of participating in a democracy will be a futile exercise. With these words, I wish you all the best for the coming years. Thank you, Sir.
