বাংলায় কিছু না থাকলে ৪০টা দেশ আসত? : মমতা বন্দ্যোপাধ্যায়

আজ নেতাজি ইনডোরে দলীয় নেতা, কর্মীদের বৈঠক হয়। সেখানে মমতা বন্দ্যোপাধ্যায়ের বক্তব্য:

ডিসেম্বর দ্বিতীয় বা তৃতীয় সপ্তাহে সংসদ চলবে। আমরা দিল্লি যাব। সমস্ত সাংসদকে নিয়ে প্রধানমন্ত্রীর কাছে সময় চাইব। যদি সময় দেন ভাল, সময় না দিলে রাস্তাই আমাদের রাস্তা দেখাবে

এবার দিল্লি দখল হবে। আর তিনমাস। কিন্তু আমার ১০০ দিনের কাজের টাকা, আবাসের টাকা, রাস্তার টাকা দিতে হবে। মানুষের টাকা ফেরাতেই হয়। আর মাঝে কোনও কথা থাকবে না

যারা গদ্দার, ইন্ডিয়ার নাম যারা তুলে দিয়েছে, সিলেবাস তুলে দিয়েছে, ইতিহাসকে ভুলিয়ে দিয়েছে, তাদের কোনও ক্ষমা নেই।

ভোটার লিস্ট শুরু হয়ে গিয়েছে। ৯ ডিসেম্বর শেষ দিন। পরিযায়ী শ্রমিকদের নাম যেন তালিকায় থাকে। ভোটার লিস্ট, পোস্টাল ব্যালট এখন থেকে নজর রাখবেন। বাড়ির মহিলাদের বলব, যে সব বাড়িতে ফর্ম পূরণের কেউ নেই, ভোটারকে বিডিও অফিসে নিয়ে যাবেন। বিডিও না থাকলে জেলাশাসককে লিখিত দেবেন। ইভিএম ঠিক মতো দেখতে হবে।

বঙ্গজননী আর মহিলা তৃণমূল কংগ্রেসকে মার্জ করে দিলাম মালা রায় চেয়ারম্যান, চন্দ্রিমা প্রেসিডেন্ট। একসঙ্গে কাজ করবে।

আমাদের ৪টে বিধায়ককে জেলে ভরে রেখেছে। ভাবছে এভাবে সংখ্যাটা কমিয়ে দিই। এবার থেকে আমাদেরও সিদ্ধান্ত চুরির জন্য বদনাম দিয়ে আমার ৪ জনকে জেলে রাখে, আমি তাহলে সিদ্ধান্ত নিচ্ছি দলের পক্ষ থেকে ওদের ৮ জনকে জেলে ভরব। ওদের বিরুদ্ধে যা কেস আছে, খুনের কেস আছে, অন্য কেস আছে। পুলিশ নিরপেক্ষভাবে কাজ করবে।

শান্তিনিকেতনে রবীন্দ্রনাথের নাম মুছে দিল।

ট্রেনের ভাড়া এরা প্লেনের ভাড়ার থেকে বেশি করে দিয়েছে। ইজ্জত চালু করেছিলাম। ১০০ কিলোমিটার পর্যন্ত তিন মাসে মাত্র ১৫ টাকায় যাতায়াত করতে পারবেন। এরা মানুষের ইজ্জত কেড়ে নেয়।

সংখ্যালঘু ভাইবোনের কাছে আমার বিশেষ আবেদন থাকবে, বিজেপির টাকা নিয়ে ২-১ জন ভুইফোঁড় উঠেছে। এমনকী হাইকোর্টের রেজিস্ট্রারের গাড়িকেও ধাক্কা দিয়েছে। ভাঙড়ের খুনেও জড়িত আছে। এরা গিয়ে বিজেপির টাকা নিয়ে সংখ্যালঘুদের কাছে নানারকম মিথ্যা কথা বোঝাচ্ছে। বিশ্বাস করবেন না।

আগে চাষিরা ধানের দাম পেতেন না। রেশনে ভাঙা চাল, অর্ধেক পাথর মিশিয়ে দিত। আমরা এখন চাষিদের থেকে ৫৪ লক্ষ কোটি মেট্রিক টন চাল সরাসরি নিই চাষিদের থেকে। বিনা পয়সায় সকলকে রেশন দিই।

আমরা নিজেদের থেকে ১১ হাজার রাস্তার কাজ করছি। আমি আমার সকল সাংসদকে বলব, গ্রামীণ রাস্তা করুন তহবিলের টাকায়। যার এলাকায় যা পড়ে। বাংলার বাড়িও হবে। সরাসরি মুখ্যমন্ত্রীতে যারা আবেদন করেছেন, ৯০ লক্ষ লক্ষ্মীর ভাণ্ডার, ৯০ লক্ষ বিধবা ভাতা তৈরি রেখেছি।

বাংলায় কিছু না থাকলে ৪০টা দেশ আসত? রাশিয়া, আফ্রিকা, জাপান, নেদারল্যান্ড থেকে প্রতিনিধি এসেছে। ইউকে থেকে ৫২ জন এসেছে। সকলে বলছে বাংলায় ব্যবসা করবে। বাংলাই ডেস্টিনেশন।

৭২ হাজার কোটি টাকা বিনিয়োগ হচ্ছে রঘুনাথপুরের শিল্পনগরীতে। আমরা ৫টা ইকোনমিক করিডর করছি। কর্মসংস্থানের ছড়াছড়ি হয়ে যাবে। আলিপুরদুয়ার, জলপাইগুড়ির অনেক পাট্টাই তৈরি।

৬টা বিজিবিএস-এ আমরা প্রায় ১৫ লক্ষ কোটি টাকার মতো ইনভেস্টমেন্ট পেয়েছি। তার মধ্যে ১০ লক্ষ কোটি টাকা খরচও হয়ে গিয়েছে। বাদবাকিটা প্রসেসে চলছে। গতকাল আমাদের সপ্তম বিজিবিএস শেষ হয়েছে। আমরা অভাবনীয় সাফল্য পেয়েছি। বিনিয়োগ প্রতিশ্রুতি এসেছে ৩ লক্ষ ৭৬ হাজার ২৮৮ কোটি টাকারও বেশি। আমাদের জিএসডিপি চারগুণ বেড়েছে। রাজস্ব চারগুন বেড়েছে। টাকা না দেওয়ার পরও। মোট বাজেট বরাদ্দ ৩.৮ শতাংশ বেড়েছে। এই ইনভেস্টমেন্টগুলো থেকে ইতিমধ্যে ১ কোটি লোকের কর্মসংস্থান হয়েছে। শুধু এমএসএমইতে আলাদা আমার ১ কোটি ৩৬ লক্ষ লোকের কর্মসংস্থান হয়েছে। মুখ্যসচিবকে বলেছি, শ্বেতপত্র তৈরি করে সকলের হাতে দিয়ে দিতে।

জনগণের টাকা দিয়ে একটা মন্দির করে ভাবছ ইতিহাস তৈরি করলে? কই দক্ষিণেশ্বর মন্দিরের স্কাই ওয়াক করে দিয়েছি। জনগণের থেকে টাকা তো নিতে হয়নি। তারাপীঠে কাজ হয়েছে।

দুর্গাপুজো ইউনেস্কো হেরিটেজ পেল, বাংলার সম্মান বাড়েনি? ইউনেস্কো পশ্চিমবঙ্গকে টুরিজম ও কালচারের ওয়ার্ল্ড ডেস্টিনেশন করেছে মুখে দেখে?

পাবলিক সেক্টর সব বিক্রি করে দিচ্ছে। রেল বেচে দিচ্ছে। দিল্লির মেট্রো আমার করা, মুম্বই রেল বিকাশ কর্পোরেশন আমার করা, কলকাতার যত মেট্রো রেলের প্রজেক্ট। আমি ২ লক্ষ টাকার প্রজেক্ট দিয়ে এসেছিলাম। করব আমরা, তোমরা গেরুয়া রং লাগাবে। গেরুয়া তোমাদের নয়। গেরুয়া ত্যাগীদের, ভোগীদের নয়।

আজকে বাংলায় একটা হিংসা হলে, প্রি-পোল ভায়োলেন্স, পোস্ট পোল ভায়োলেন্স। আর আপনাদের সময় হলে তখন কী হয়? তখন ক’টা মানবাধিকার দল যায়, কমিশন যায়?

একটাই ট্যাক্স জিএসটি। রাজ্য কোনও ট্যাক্স তোলে না। সবটাই কেন্দ্র তুলে নিয়ে চলে যায়।

আমাদের অ্যালেয়েন্সের নাম দিলাম। বলল কী হবে? নামটা আমার কাছ থেকেই এসেছে। আমি বললাম, ইন্ডিয়া। কারণ, আমাদের দেশের নামও ইন্ডিয়া। পরের দিন থেকে ইন্ডিয়া চেঞ্জ। তাহলে বুঝুন। ভারত তো আমরাও বলি। কিন্তু কনস্টিটিউশন অব ইন্ডিয়া এটা বদলাবেন কী করে?

প্রতিটা জেলা, ব্লক যেভাবে পুজোগুলো নিয়ে এসেছে, উত্তরণ হয়েছে, আগামিদিন কলকাতার পুজো কমিটিগুলিকে ভাবাবে।

Come and do business here: Mamata Banerjee

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee today inaugurated the seventh edition of the Bengal Global Business Summit (BGBS) at the Biswa Bangla Convention Centre (BBCC) in New Town. She gave a 47-minute speech, touching on the economy, politics, society and other topics.

She began her speech by thanking each industrialist who was on the dais. She also thanked the representatives of 35 countries who are taking part in the two-day conclave aimed at bringing investments to the state.

Highlights of her speech at the programme:

Everybody appreciates that Bengal is a land of culture, heritage, education, women’s empowerment and farmer’s rights. There is no discrimination here.

We celebrate Christmas like Durga Puja in Bengal. I have personally attended Ramadan gatherings and performed the rituals with Muslims. They also invite me during the celebrations (the prayers on Red Road during Id). I go and take part in the festivals of Jains and Sikhs.

Former India cricket captain-turned-businessman Sourav Ganguly will be a brand ambassador for the state.

Bengal’s economy is growing at 8.41 per cent and its GDP would touch $212 billion this fiscal.

At the last six editions of BGBS, proposals amounting to $190 billion have been received, and projects worth $121 billion have already been launched or are at various stages of implementation.

We have identified 12 areas that can be game-changers for Bengal. These policies will facilitate the process and Bengal will reach new heights

We are ready with the Tajpur deep sea port. It’s a project worth Rs 25,000 crore. I invite all to participate in the tender process.

There is only one tax in the country, and the Central government collects and gives the states their share. But we are not getting our share.

There is a rumour that Bengal is a place of violence. This is a narrative of some political parties.

I invite you all to come and do business here.

I don’t want the country’s honour to be hurt, that’s why I am keeping quiet: Mamata Banerjee

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee today joined in the Bijoya Sammelani celebration of the party in Bhowanipore.

Here are the highlights of her speech made there:

If I want I can earn Rs 1,5 lakh per month. I am a seven-time MP. I can get a pension of Rs 1.25 lakh every month. But I don’t take even a paisa.

For 34 years, rice was not bought from the farmers by the government. It took me 10 years to correct that. We have culled out one crore improperly allotted ration cards, ration cards which were used during the Left rule not only to get rice but also to cast fake votes. This culling out took me seven to eight years. We have digitised ration cards.

Jyotipriya is not in good health, he has high blood sugar. If he died in prison, I would file an FIR against the BJP. The central agency is trying to torture him into revealing names.

I don’t want the country’s honour to be hurt, that’s why I am keeping quiet.

The state is due Rs 7,000 crore in lieu of 100 Days’ Work, money which the poor workers are not getting. The Centre has also not given us our due under Awas Yojana. On the other hand, it is deducting GST from the state and taking away that money.

I don’t want anyone’s sympathy. That’s why I didn’t get a stadium named after me. I don’t need any publicity.

They are changing and chopping history, playing the politics of hate: Mamata Banerjee

Highlights of Mamata Banerjee’s press conference on October 26:

This is not a political press conference. When the limit has become limitless, I am forced to speak out.

The Enforcement Directorate is torturing people in the name of probes and raids … TMC minister Jyotipriya Mallick is unwell. We will lodge an FIR against BJP if anything happens to him during the ED raids. I want to ask whether there has been a single ED raid at any BJP leader’s residence.

When you raid the houses of all ministers, where’s the (state) government left? … This is a dirty game, and they (the BJP) are pathological liars.

(Referring to the raids) They are tumbling down ghee bottles and oil bottles, taking pictures of saris and cosmetics in the name of raids.

Like Mohammad bin Tughlak, the BJP is attempting to change the country’s history by making a series of ill-conceived decisions, including demonetisation and the introduction of GST.

NCERT is planning to use the name ‘Bharat’ instead of ‘India’ in school textbooks.

The Lok Sabha election is due after five months. Elections in five states are nearing. Now, the son of a chief minister (Rajasthan chief minister Ashok Gehlot’s son Vaibhav Gehlot) was summoned (by the ED). My question is, will the country be run this way?

Kya atyachar, kya anachar chal raha hai? BJP is playing a dirty game in the name of ED raids on opposition leaders across the country ahead of the Lok Sabha elections. BJP says it wants ‘Sabka Sath Sabka Vikas’, but actually means ‘Sabka Sath Sabka Satyanash’.

They are changing laws at any time. They are calling standing committee meetings whenever they want. They are suddenly saying to change the name ‘India’ and start using ‘Bharat’. Why are you so scared? What will you do if we start using the name Bharat instead of India or with India?

I respect the chair. I am not quoting anybody. I am only questioning the BJP. Aur kitne ko jail mein bharenge? Sabko jail mein bharke dekho. Fir bhi tumko vote nahi milega (How many more will you send to jail? Send everyone to jail, even then you will not get votes).

Fight us politically. But don’t be a pathological liar. I respect the judiciary. But there are some lower courts. Instruction is coming from the PM’s house. Kya karega, transfer kar dega. Jisko chief justice banna hai, nahi banayega (What to do? They will transfer you. Instruction is coming on who should be chief justice or who should not be).

We will launch agitations if plaques without Tagore’s name continue to remain in Santiniketan. Tagore built Visva-Bharati, yet there is no mention of him on the plaques on the university getting the UNESCO World Heritage status.

We will not be afraid, we will not die a thousand times before dying: Mamata Banerjee

Abhishek Banerjee and other senior Trinamool leaders were released from the Mukherjee Nagar Police Station after being detained for two hours.

Mamata Banerjee’s reactions on the incident:

Today is a black day for democracy. The BJP’s hatred for the people of Bengal and indifference to the rights of the poor have clearly come out today.

They are blocking the funds means for paying the poor. When our party leaders went to Delhi to protest against this, they were assaulted by Delhi Police. The police bundled them away in their vans like criminals.

All this because we dared to speak truth to power. Their pride has made them blind.

They have crossed all limits trying to stop the voice of Bengal. But we will not be afraid, we will not die a thousand times before dying.

Derek O’Brien’s speech on The Constitution (128th) Amendment Bill, 2023 (Womens Reservation Bill) in the Rajya Sabha

Chairman: Derek O’Brien, seven minutes

Ten minutes Sir

Chairman: Mr KC Venigopal has taken time of other Members.

Who?

Sir, what are you doing? Are you making a mockery of this?

Chairman: Is something wrong with you?

Sir, I have got 10 minutes for my party to speak. Why are you doing this?

Chairman: Sit down and listen to me. It has been … virtually you are referring… Dola Sen 10 minutes, your total time is 24 minutes. You have 14 minutes left. Seven each. You can take only 14 minutes.

Just hear me out Sir, if I’m saying something wrong, just please hear me out Sir, please. Sir, my party has 24 minutes, of which 14 minutes have been used. 10 minutes by Dola Sen, four minutes by Masusam Noor. 24 minus 14 is 10.

Chairman: Okay take 10 minutes

Sir, I have not started and it is already 1.25 pm.

Sir, I support the Women’s Reservation Bill. But when will this government learn that this is a Parliamentary Democracy and not an army commando operation? In an army commando operation, you need secrecy, you need surprise, you need stealth. In a Parliamentary Democracy, you don’t. You need cooperation, you need sharing. Why do you bring this Parliamentary bulletin Special Session without an agenda where the agenda will be added later? Why do you have an all-party meeting on Sunday and don’t mention a word about this Bill? Why do you have a Cabinet meeting and this morning we are given four hours to submit amendments?

Sir, honestly I appeal to them, such parliamentary democracy with such secrecy hurts a democracy. We know why it is being done and for the last three days, one man’s story is being told. Fair enough. Today, I want to begin with a quote, ‘Sir, we want the Women’s Bill to be introduced. We want nothing short of the Women’s Bill. We want a specific date. We want an assurance that the Women’s Bil is brought. This is a matter of shame that it hasn’t been brought. We want a specific time frame.’ This is very nice today. This was said by somebody in the Lok Sabha on the 14th of July 1998. It was a woman MP. Today, she is the three-time Chief Minister of Bengal. She is the founder-chairperson of the Trinamool Congress and she has already got 40% of women MPs already in the Lok Sabha. From July 14, 1998, let this woman’s story be told. In 2006, a 26-day hunger strike, no reservations, struggling and fighting for her rights as a woman. In 2014, she set a record because the Bill didn’t get passed, so what did she do? She gave 41% of tickets in the Lok Sabha to women MPs. The BJP President, the first speaker was saying that this is the shortest way to bring women to Parliament. No Sir, this is not the shortest way; you did not need the Bill. Bring them, show us and bring them to Parliament.

Now you come to the life of this woman. In 2019, she set a record. Not only does she get 40% women, tickets, 39% of Lok Sabha MPs (from Trinamool) are already sitting in the Lok Sabha. Why do I say this? It is one thing to give the women tickets, it is another thing to make sure you give them tickets which are winnable. Sir, we have heard one man’s story. One woman’s story needs to be told today in this new Parliament building. I will tell you more, my last date, the men came for the 2021 Assembly elections in Bengal with money, with media, with muscle power, with misogyny and mocker her, ‘𝘋𝘪𝘥𝘪 𝘖 𝘋𝘪𝘥𝘪’. You even tried to smash and you broke her foot, smashed it to injure her, yes! She gave you the answer truly like a woman, softly <interruptions> The woman answered her how? The woman didn’t answer, the people of Bengal and India provided the answer. After the election what happened? The Health Minister of Bengal, the Finance Minister of Bengal, the Land Minister, the Industry Minister, and the Commerce Ministry are all headed by women. You could not find one woman in your 16 Chief Ministers to make Chief Minister and you are coming and telling us what to do about women. Take some of our advice.

Now we will give you, like how we gave in 1998, you are trying to implement in 2045 or whatever; listen to two pieces of advice from us and take it in good spirits. Because women, at least my Chairperson has a vision which I look up to. So here is one suggestion.

If you are so keen, and it’s past 2 PM already, so, nobody can submit any amendments – as we are all saying, the Congress party, the Trinamool, the DMK, the AAP, all of us. We, INDIA, we are saying bring this in 2024. So, all you need to do to bring this in 2024 is remove 334(A) from your existing…We will start in, we will start in 2024. If you are, one second sir, if you are finding that difficult to do, here is another solution. At least try, 2024 – an open challenge from my party, you bring one-third of women elected from your party and show us. Bring! Bring and show us. I guarantee you we will bring one-third of women, with your bill, without your bill.

Sir, some people have a sense of humor and I am sure we haven’t lost our sense of humor here, because the joke going around is there is a typographical error in the bill, that actually it is 2024, should actually…. actually meant 2034. Now, I don’t know whether that’s true or false, but I have got a second suggestion. This very nice, sir, idea this morning of having ladies sit there for 15 minutes, 16 minutes, all through the day. So, here’s an idea which may not happen in ’24 but think about it – it’s coming to you from my party as a suggestion. Get everybody on board, have proper discussion on the subject and then bring one-third women reservation also in RajyaSabha. We will all support. It can’t be done in a hurry but bring it. Today you may think it’s a crazy, zany idea, but no. It is possible, if not in the next 6 years, in the next 10 years. The question is sir, for all the speeches we hear is the BJP really serious about empowering women? Because all the struggles and oppression faced by women is not because of women. It’s because of men and their outlook of men to women. I don’t want to spend time, wasting my time on a former wrestling chief, leave that. I am quoting from the Hindustan Times, “People in air-conditioned rooms in Delhi, cannot decide public policy, this bill will drown the Indian political system if it goes through. If men develop feminine traits, they become Gods. If women develop masculine traits, they become Rakshas. Western ideas of women’s liberation should be properly analyzed in the Indian context.” Said by who? I will tell you who said it. You can build a new building sir, but I request all of you to first change your mindset. This was said by the current Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh.

Sir, in conclusion, in conclusion, I am happy I am allowed to conclude today, in the old house at least I wasn’t allowed, but I am happy. Sir, I wish to conclude by remembering my favorite woman of all time – my Maa. My mother, who’s no more. Maa would always tell me, that you know Derek, this world is divided into only two kinds of people – the talkers and the doers. So, some people will talk – 15 crore into your…. One something, 15 lakhs into your bank account, farmer income trebled, after demonetization this will happen, after that will happen. There is one difference sir, the talkers and the doers. There is only one difference, because there are only two kinds of people, so there is a talker and there is a doer. There is a male Prime Minister of India. There is a simple woman, who is a Chief Minister of Bengal.

Thank you so much.

Aparupa Poddar’s speech during the discussion on“India’s glorious space journey marked by successful soft landing of Chandrayaan-3″

Madam Chairperson, I am thankful to you for allowing me to speak on the success of Chandrayaan-3 in this Special Session and in this New Parliament Building. I stand here today to speak on behalf of my party, All India Trinamool Congress. It makes me immensely proud as an Indian that we achieved this paramount feat. This feat that we have achieved shall inspire millions and millions of kids across the country to be scientists and astronauts. As our hon. Chief Minister Ms. Mamata Banerjee said, ‘We are indeed in the super league of space. We must remember it as an achievement of our scientists, and every bit of credit for Chandrayaan-3 should go to them. It was a result of collective team work and efforts of our ISRO scientists.’ However, it breaks my heart to see that the Union Government has given all the credit to once political leader. It is the hypocrisy of the Union Government as they appreciate Chandrayaan-3, but they have reduced the budget of the Department of Space in 2023-24 by eight per cent in comparison to the last year’s expenditure for Space Science receiving a cut of 32 per cent even after delivering missions like Chandrayaan-3 and Aditya-L1. While our very own ISRO is achieving these marvellous achievements, it has 303 vacancies for various scientists and engineers in electronic, mechanical and computer science. It also reflects the grave problem of unemployment in our society. The Reserve Bank of India’s monthly bulletin for September shows that our unemployment rate has increased to 8.1 per cent, which is extremely concerning. While we are trying to empower women by bringing in legislations like the Women’s Reservation Bill, only one out of four employees of ISRO are women out of 16,000 employees. There was not even a single woman in the panel that headed the Chandrayaan-3. The Union Government claims that India only achieved success after 2014. We must remember that we have been a democracy over 75 years, and India began its space journey in1960s. It is not today’s effort that has put us on this feat. Consistent efforts for 60 years from the scientists and the people of India have put us on this feat. While the Indian Government’s politics and actions break my heart, I feel proud when I read about the contribution of Anuj Nandi from West Bengal, who designed the camera of the Chandrayaan-3 spacecraft. I feel proud when I hear that a son of a farmer from West Bengal has been empowered to dream and empowered to catch the stars. This was the case of Chandrakant Kumar, the Deputy Project Director of Chandrayaan-2. He joined ISRO in 2001, and like every hardworking Bengali, proved his worth. This depicts our country’s aspirations, and we must work hard to make these aspirations possible. Most of the ISRO employees are not from IITs and IIMs but are from different colleges across the country. It also raises a few concerns in my mind as to why the students from IITs and IIMs prefer to work outside India; why thousands of students dream to study, work and settle abroad than in India? Is the Government giving enough facility to retain the top talent within the country to make the aspiration of youngsters like Anuj and Chandrakant a reality? It is extremely important that we invest more in our space research and give ISRO flexibility in their research and development that they deserve. We must promote academic research across different subjects throughout the country, and not put ED behind those who differ from us. I would like to end with Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam’s quote: “Winners are not those who never fail, but those who never quit”. आप उदमूकी दो लाइनों पर िवज्जहु फरमाइए। “चाूंद सेपदामकीतजए, कहीं चरुा न लेचेहरेका नूर।”

Saugata Roy’s speech during the discussion on “India’s glorious space journey marked by successful soft landing of Chandrayaan-3″ in the Lok Sabha

Sir, I rise to speak on the success of Chandrayaan. I congratulate Shri S. Somanath and all the scientists of ISRO. Sir, I congratulate Shri S. Somanath and all the scientists of ISRO. I want to mention that there are many scientists from Bengal in the Chandrayaan Project. HON. CHAIRPERSON: There are scientists from Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and other States but they are all Indian scientists. Dada, you know the delicacies of things. When we were watching Chandrayaan’s soft landing on the moon on TV, we saw the Chandrayaan and then suddenly the Prime Minister’s photograph came. The whole country wanted to see the soft landing of Chandrayaan and they saw the Prime Minister’s photograph. Why should this happen? The Mission Chandrayaan is not the result of one particular individual’ effort, it is the result of 50 years of scientific work done by hundreds of scientists throughout the country. Sir, I was very pleased to hear Rajnath Singh ji who spoke on scientific temperament. The man who spoke of scientific temperament in this country was Jawaharlal Nehru. Scientific temperament means, you do not accept anything without experiment and logic. Science is knowledge which is certain and systematic. I am, like Rajnath Singh ji, a former professor of physics. But in my physics, while speaking on Chandrayaan, I do not bring Ram Mandir like Rajnath Singh ji did. There is no connection between the two. Sir, I am not yielding. Sir, I want to say that when somebody in top position says that Ganesha had plastic surgery in the ancient days, I do not accept this. … (Interruptions) When somebody says that Kauravas were born through In Vitro Fertilisation, I do not accept this. When somebody says that in Ramayana, the Pushpak Rath was a discovery by the ancient Indians, I do not accept this. I only accept that which is proved by science. Let me make it very clear. Sir, let me give the background. In 1957, the Soviets sent the Sputnik to the space. In 1961, Yuri Gagarin became the first person to go to space. In 1963, Valentina Tereshkova became the first woman to go to space. It was at that time that Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru felt that we must work in the field of space science. In 1962, he set up the INCOSPAR (the Indian National Committee for Space Research) headed by Dr. Vikram Sarabhai, a Cosmic Ray Physicist. Nehru ji died in 1964. In 1969, when Indira Gandhi ji was the Prime Minister, the ISRO was set up. In 1972, when Indira Gandhi ji was still the Prime Minister, the Department of Space was set up. So, whatever is happening today is in continuation to what Dr. Vikram Sarabhai started in 1962. It is his legacy. He unfortunately died in 1971 in Thumba, the place which he liked so much. India got the first success during the launch of Aryabhata which was completely designed and fabricated in India, and launched by a Soviet Kosmos3M rocket from Kapustin Yar on 19th April, 1975. ISRO has successfully launched almost 150 satellites since 1975. ISRO has established major Space systems for communication, television broadcasting, meteorological services, resources monitoring and management, and space-based navigation services. ISRO has its headquarters in Bengaluru. Its activities are spread across various centres. Launch vehicles are built at Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre, Thiruvananthapuram. Satellites are designed and developed at U.R. Rao Satellite Centre, Bengaluru. Integration and launching of satellites and launch vehicles are carried out from Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh. Development of liquid stages including cryogenic stage, a very cold stage, is done at Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre at Bengaluru. ISRO has carried out 125 spacecraft missions and planned several missions including Gaganyaan and interplanetary missions such as Chandrayaan (LUPEX), Shukrayaan, and Mangalyaan (MOM 2). ISRO, our own organisation, has surpassed NASA in efficiency, resourcefulness, and cost-effectiveness. In 2005, NASA lost the solar mission that cost 550 billion dollars. Now, ISRO has launched a similar solar mission, Aditya L1, at a cost of 55 million dollars only. That is one-tenth of the cost of NASA’s mission. There are four types of satellites sent by ISRO. One is the communications satellite which helps our communications; the second is the observation satellite which takes pictures of the earth; the third is the navigational satellite; and the fourth is the astronomical satellite. These works are going on. What is great about Chandrayaan is that so far, we are using rockets to send satellites around the earth. They are called geo-synchronised satellites, which means they are moving at the same speed as the earth, or the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicles which are placed in space. Now, for the first time, we have gone ahead from a satellite. Our rocket has taken a lander and a rover onto the surface of the moon. We failed in Chandrayaan 2. Our lander had crashlanded. This time there was no crash; the lander landed very softly. For one day, it sent messages from the moon, but they have to be jettisoned. We are all very happy that India has achieved this, but we must have things in perspective. We are talking of a moon, not a moon-landing,but sending a lander onto the moon. There is a propulsion module, and there is a landing module. The propulsion module takes it from the earth’s orbit to the moon’s orbit. Then, the landing module goes to the moon surface. आपको याद डदलाना चाहता ह ं डक सोडवयत नेवषड1957 मेंस्पतुडनक भेजा। हमनेमून में अभी एक साफ्ट लैंडर भेजा। वषड1969 मेंआज से54 साल पहलेNeil Armstrong stepped on the moon as a man. He said, small step for me but a giant leap for the mankind. हम लोग 54 साल पीछेहैं। अभी तक हम मून मेंकोई इंसान को लैंड करा सकें, ऐसी टेक्नोलॉजी नहींबनापाये। इसमेंअच्छा काम कर रहेहैं। यह भी सही हैडक स्पेस प्रोग्राम मेंजोपैसा लगताहै, यह िचडकरना मडुश्कल है। डजतेन्द्र डसंह जी काबजट कटताहै, उनका उतनावेट भी नहीं है, बजट मेन्टेन नहीं कर पातेहैं। गरीब देश में, डेवलडपंग देश मेंस्पेस प्रोग्राम रिना मडुश्कल है। यह आसान बात नहीं है। हमेंबैलेंस करके चलना चाडहए। हमारा जो सैटेलाइट डसस्टम है, इसनेबहुत सडवडस दी है। They predict weather; कब तूफान आ रहा है। They predict crop development. GPS in cars also based on satellite tracking. I want to say that Chandrayaan 3 has demonstrated safe and soft landing on the lunar surface. It has demonstrated rover roving on the moon and conducting in situ scientific experiments. What are the technologies present there? The technologies are laserbased altimeters, velocimeters, inertial measurement to measure gyro-based surface, propulsion system, navigational guidance and control, hazard detection and avoidance, and landing leg mechanism. यह सबइंडडया मेंडेवलपडकयागयाहै। यही हमारेडलए गवडकी बात है। गवडसेबोलो, लैंडर पेलोड है, इसमेंचन्द्रा, चन्द्रशेिर के नाम पर चन्द्रा सरफेस थमोडफडजकल एक्सपेररमेंट है। It is to measure the thermal conductivity and temperature. It contained instruments for lunar seismic activity. Then there is Langmuir Probe to estimate the plasma density and its variations. I am concluding. I am not discussing anything controversial. मझुेबोलनेडदया जाए। मझुे यही कहना हैडक हम आगेबढ़ेहैं, लेडकन बहुत दूर जाना पड़ेगा।. You see, nobody has mentioned Kalpana Chawla. She went by the Columbia Space Shuttle. Her craft exploded in 2003, and she along with seven others died. Today, I pay respect to Kalpana Chawla who was an Indian born astronaut. आज क्याहै, एक साल डकसका पूरा हुआ? फ्रैंक रूडबयो नासा केएक एस्रोनॉट हैं, वह एक साल सेस्पेस मेंहैं। एक साल सेइंसान स्पेस मेंहै। He is set to return to earth this fall after setting the record for the longest single spaceflight by an astronaut. He arrived at the International Space Station on 21st September, 2022 and will return home after 371 days in space. Rubio and his fellow crew members conducted dozens of scientific investigations and technology demonstrations. वर्ष1958 मेंनासा का सेट अप हुआ। उस समय सोववयत यूवनयन आगेथा, उसनेपहले स्पूतवनक भेजा।पहले‘Man in Space’ भेजा। लाइका मर गया, लेवकन वेलनटीना टेरश्ेकोवापहुुंच गया। आप लक्ष्य वसनेमा ऋवतक रोशन का देखेंहोंगे, लाइफ मेंएक लक्ष्य होना चावहए। लक्ष्य यहीहै वक हम देश को आगेबढ़ाएगुं े। देश मेंइन लोगों केबीच जो कुसुंस्कारहै, इसेदूर करगेंे। देश को ववज्ञान और टेक्नोलॉजी मेंआगेलेकर जाएगुं ेतभीहमारा काम पूराहोगा। अभी भीइुंटरनेशनल स्पेस स्टेशन घूम रहा है। एस्रोनॉट उधर ही रहता ह, ै घर जैसा ह, ैएस्रोनॉट उधर ही खाता है। फ्रैंक रूवबयो ने ऐसा वकया है। अभी चीन नेएक इुंटरनेशनल स्पेस स्टेशन बना वदया। Americans have gone. Chinese have gone. So, the Chinese are also in the Space Station now. बहुत सारा काम करनाहै। इुंटरनेशनल स्पेस स्टेशन है, उसमेंनासा, रूस, जापान, यूरोप, कनाडा शावमल है। महोदय, हमको यही कहना हैवक हमारा स्पेस मेंरकैं अभी छठा है। हम वकसकेपीछेह, ैंनासा, रूस, जापान, यूरोप, कनाडा और चीन। चीन बहुत आगेबढ़ गयाहै। इस चचाष मेंमैंजवाहर लाल नेहरू को प्रणाम करता ह ुं, इुंवदरा गाुंधी को प्रणाम करता ह ुं, इन्होंनेस्पेस प्रोग्राम को आगेबढ़ाया। मैंडॉ. साराभाई को प्रणाम करता ह ुं। मैंसतीश धवन और यू.आर. राव को भी प्रणाम करता ह ुं वक इन सब लोगों नेवमलकर स्पेस प्रोग्राम आगेबढ़ाया। इसमेंबीजेपी का कोई कुं रीब्यूशन नहींहै, साइुंवटस्ट्स का कुं रीब्यूशन हैऔर इसी लक्ष्य की ओर आगेबढ़ेंगे। धन्यवाद।

Mausam Noor’s speech on The Constitution (128th) Amendment Bill, 2023 (Women’s Reservation Bill) in the Rajya Sabha

Thank you, hon. Vice Chairperson Madam. I come from a party called the All India Trinamool Congress whose founder gave 41 per cent of Lok Sabha tickets to women way back in 2014. I come from a party founded by Ms. Mamata Banerjee which already has 40 per cent of women MPs in the Lok Sabha. I come from a party that already has 50 per cent women elected in the Panchayats and in the Municipalities. I come from a party founded 25 years ago which spoke in Parliament for the Women’s Reservation Bill way back in 1998. Madam, our words were not empty words, our words were put into action. Today, we are glad that the rest of India, including this Government which gave only 12 per cent tickets to women has learnt little from India’s only woman serving as the Chief Minister. The BJP has sixteen Chief Ministers, none of them are women. Madam, we have already implemented the Women’s Reservation Bill in the past. This Government is trying to bring a Bill in the present which it cannot implement in the near future. Mr. Prime Minister, Sir, listen carefully to what I am saying. I am Mausam Noor from Malda, West Bengal. I have been elected twice in the Lok Sabha and now serving my third term in Parliament, in the Rajya Sabha. If you are really serious about this Bill, please give 33 per cent tickets to women in the five upcoming State elections in November this year and in general elections, 2024, next year. Madam, of course, we support this Bill. It is our Bill, it is our idea, it is what we have already implemented. Let me try to explain to you as to how this Bill is fundamentally flawed because this Bill is linked to both delimitation exercise and the Census. It is like writing a cheque with no balance in your account and the cheque is dated not September, 2023, but, maybe 2034. In other words, you cannot cash the cheque now. You can only keep it in your drawer. You will feel good about it, but, you would not have any money in your account. This is exactly what this Government is telling the women of India. Madam, going beyond the words of Parliament, we as a nation need to change our thinking. In the Election Commission of India, of thenine top posts, not even one is a woman. Out of 11,000 IAS officers, between 1951 and 2020, only one out of ten was a woman. Only one out of 10 IPS officers is a woman. Out of 688 Judges, only 83 are women. Only 15 per cent of women hold senior and managerial positions in India. It is heartening that in West Bengal, every district has a police station that is solely run by women. If a woman has to be represented, it has to be a team effort. In conclusion, Madam, I urge the Prime Minister one thing. What is the name of the Lok Sabha MP of yours who shamed us, who harassed our champion wrestlers? On behalf of the women of India, I want to know what he is still doing, sitting here in this new building. Thank you, Madam.

Prasun Banerjee’s speech in LS on India’s space journey, culminating in the Chandrayaan-3 mission

Mahoday, Main do minute bolunga, main sportman hoon. Main football khelta tha. Mujhe Arjun Award mila, Indian Captain ka daitwa mila aur first footballer MP ke roop mein main idhar aaya. Humare Sports MinisterAnurag ji baithe hain. Mujhe yahi kehna hai ki aaj itni khushi ka din hai. Hum chahte hain ki aaj koi ladai na ho aur koi jhamela na ho, aaram se chaliye, aaj koi political baat nahi hogi.

Aaj ek hi baat chalegi ki jo scientist bacche log hain, unko bahut ache se, pyar se hum sab log mil kar rakhein. Pehlebharat varsh mein aisa hua nah hai. Is bar itna acha hua ki hum sabdeh kar, samajh aur seekh rahein hai. Pehle hum log sochte the ki is kaam ko America karega, Russia karega, Japan karega, lekin humare bacche bhi itne sundar hai. Main sach bol raha hoon, haath jor kar bol raha hoon ki un logon hum sabhi mil kar badhai dein. Kisi party ki baat abhi nahi honi chahiye. Sab mil kar karenge. Jaise hum logon ki football team mil kar jeetta hai, vaise he jeetenge. Hum log jeetein bhi hai.

Sir, ek aur baat kehna chahunga, yahan bare bare Minister sahib baithe hain, sabhi ache aadmi hain. Unse vinti hai ki yeh jo team hai, in jitne logonne jo acha kaam kiya hai, un logon ko aap meherbani kar ke Padma Shri dijiye, sabko Padma Shri dijiye. Phir dekhiye kitna sundar chalega. App sabko badhai. Namaskar, aap log ache se rahiye, Jai Hind! Vande Mataram.