Author: aitc

Thank you, Mr. Vice- Chairman, Sir, for having given me the opportunity. महोदय, मेरा सरकार से पश्चिमी बंगाल जैसे राज्य को विकास योजना, जैसे मनरेगा के लिए बकाया धनराशि जारी करने के लिए अनुरोध है। माननीय उपसभापति महोदय, मैं आपको विशेष तौर पर धन्यवाद देता हूं कि आपने मुझे यहाँ पर अपनी बात रखने का मौका दिया है। मैं आज आपका और केंद्र सरकार का ध्यान अपने राज्य पश्चिमी बंगाल से जुड़े अत्यंत महत्वपूर्ण मुद्दे की ओर आकर्षित करना चाहता हूं। महोदय, 2021 में हुए विधान सभा चुनाव के बाद पश्चिमी बंगाल राज्य को मनरेगा योजना के तहत उनका वैध हिस्सा नहीं मिल रहा है। 59 लाख गरीब मजदूर परिवार, जिन्होंने वैध तरीके से काम किया है, उन्हें उनका वेतन नहीं मिला है। वे गरीब परिवार गरीबी रेखा से नीचे आते हैं। महोदय, 20, 25, एवं 50 दिन तक काम करने के बावजूद भी उन्हें उनका वेतन नहीं मिला है। उनका वेतन रोकने का प्रयास न केवल नैतिक मूल्य की दृष्टि से गलत है, बल्कि कांस्टीट्यूशन के मूल एक्ट की विशेषताओं का भी उल्लंघन है। महोदय, अक़सर बढ़ती कीमत एवं व्यापक बेरोजगारी के कारण इन मजदूरों को बिना वेतन अपनी जीविका का प्रबंध करना अत्यंत कठिन हो रहा है। वर्तमान में MGNREGS के अंतर्गत पश्चिमी बंगाल 7 हज़ार करोड़ रुपये पाता है। इसके अतिरिक्त केंद्र सरकार की आवास योजना के तहत जो धनराशि मिलती है, उसको भी रोककर रखा हुआ है। महोदय, इसमें पश्चिमी बंगाल के 11 लाख गरीब परिवारों का पैसा रोका गया है। अगर देखा जाए, तो आवास के बकाये 8 हज़ार करोड़ रुपये रोके गए हैं। इसी तरह से अगर Department-wise आवास एवं 100 दिन का बकाया देखा जाए, तो 15 हज़ार करोड़ रुपये रोके गए हैं। यह अत्यंत दुख की बात है। डिपार्टमेंट- वाइज़ 1 लाख, 70 हज़ार करोड़ रुपया रोका गया। बंगाल की माननीय मुख्य मंत्री सुश्री ममता बंद्योपाध्याय की अगुवाई में मनरेगा के 25,000 वर्कर्स को पैसा दिया गया। 11 लाख नहीं, बल्कि 12 लाख परिवारों को घर के नाम में, बांग्लार बाड़ी के नाम पर 1,20,000 रुपये दिए गए, जिसकी फर्स्ट इंस्टॉलमेंट का पैसा 31 दिसंबर तक दे दिया गया। धनराशि रोकना कांस्टिट्यूशनल एवं फेडरल स्ट्रक्चर का एक गंभीर उल्लंघन है। मैं निवेदन करना चाहता हूं कि आप गरीब विरोधी न बनें, जन विरोधी न बनें, लोकतंत्र विरोधी न बनें।  अंततः मैं आपके माध्यम से केंद्र सरकार से आग्रह करना चाहता हूं कि इन लाभार्थियों की धनराशि का भुगतान तुरंत करें एवं उनके अकाउंट में पैसा मिले और राज्य के अकाउंट में भी पैसा मिले। महोदय,

Thank you, Chairman, Sir, for giving me a chance to speak. My Zero Hour submission today is the need to improve India’s female labour force participation. I am proud to say, as a woman, I was President of the AITC trade union wing for the State for 10 years and for the national level for four years, which is quite unlikely in the mainstream politics as trade union is generally a male-dominated sector. I am thankful to my party, All India Trinamool Congress, and our hon. leader, Ms. Mamata Banerjee. Now, India’s female labour force participation remains critically low. Recent Periodic Labour Force Survey indicates female youth labour force participation is 28 per cent only. Additionally, according to Time Use Survey, 2024, of the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation, females spend 289 minutes, on an average, in a day in unpaid domestic services for household members. Male members spend only 88 minutes in a day in such activities. This presents a significant challenge to both economic growth and gender equality. Expanding vocational training and skill development, particularly in high growth sectors like technology, healthcare and e-commerce, will equip women with industry relevant expertise. Strengthening maternity benefits, investing in affordable childcare, promoting paternity leave can help balance care-giving responsibilities and making it easier for women to remain in the workforce. Moreover, enforcing anti-discrimination laws, ensuring equal pay and fostering leadership opportunities for women will improve workplace retention and advancement. The Union Government must take urgent steps to create employment opportunities, implement policies that support women in the workforce and dismantle systemic barriers preventing their participation. Strengthening access to education, vocational training and workplace flexibility can help bridge this gap and ensure greater economic inclusion for women in India. Sir, according to our Constitution, everyone has equal rights irrespective of religion, language, caste, creed, gender, etc. But, crude reality is not likewise. Starting from agriculture and farming to tea estates, bidi industry, textile sector including jute mill, finishing department and cotton industry, female workers neither get same wage nor even gets the mutual respect. And, obviously, the member of female labour force participation is declining gradually. Somehow, we have this attitude towards women in our mindset. So, even working women have to face this dignity issue by our society. In our State of West Bengal, our hon. Chief Minister, Ms. Mamata Banerjee, is doing a lot for women empowerment and for the social development of women as a whole. That is why Bengal is getting first prize in different aspects at national level and, not only that, Bangla is getting international acknowledgement through various awards by the UNICEF and the UNESCO, which is virtually strengthening our nation’s pride. Thank you, Sir, for allowing me to raise this important issue as Zero Hour submission. I am sure, it will definitely allow all of us to raise the issue of duplication of EPIC voter cards also, which affect both male and female population. Thank you, Sir.

Sir, there are two issues here. There are two important issues here. One is, this is what my Party feels, the Question Hour should remain as the Question Hour. This is number one. It is the only opportunity when a Member gets a direct chance to question the Government and the Government gets an opportunity to reply. Number two is Private Members’ Bills. Private Members’ Bills are very close to the hearts of many Members who do not get a chance. They are not in the first two rows. When the Private Members’ Bills are taken up, that is the opportunity. What Lok Sabha has done, the Lok Sabha has done. But dispelling both the Question Hour and the Private Members’ Bills to discuss the Working of the Ministry of Home Affairs is not the point of view of Trinamool Congress. Thank you.

Thank you very much, Chairman Sir. I am incredibly glad that the hon. Union Home Minister is here as well. Sir, ‘Discussion on the Union Home Ministry’ today is being initiated by the All India Trinamool Congress. And guess, Sir, who does Ms. Mamata Banerjee give the responsibility for initiating this discussion? She gives it to a 38-year-old MP who was thrown into jail Sir, in the last week, we have discussed four Ministries with the cooperation of the Government as well as the Opposition. Most of the questions of the Ministries of ‘Education’, ‘Railway’ and ‘Health’ went unanswered. The hon. Railway Minister even tried to pass a non-existent Railway Budget during his speech, but that is okay. I am glad that, at least, the discussions happened and they happened very smoothly. Sir, today we are discussing the Union Home Ministry in the Council of States. It is a very big deal because law and order is a State subject. It is not meant to be controlled by the Union Government. The role of the Home Ministry is confined to internal security, control of India’s borders and disaster management. The role of the Union Home Ministry is not to interfere with the law and order machinery of the State. Sadly, in the last 11 years, the Union Home Ministry has erased the distinction between the Government of India and the Republic of India. India is a Union of States, all of which together constitute the Republic. However, Sir, the Home Ministry today feels that the Union Government is the sole representative of the Republic and the States don’t mean anything. The Home Ministry today has become a force for battling against States and for any person who tries to disagree with the Union Government. The Home Ministry is like a Zamindar today, which treats States like its personal fiefdom, and anybody who opposes the Government is treated as an enemy of the nation. Certain small States sometimes are not able to stand up to this. But I will promise you, Sir, powerful States like West Bengal will always fight against this Zamindari mentality. Sir, I will give a little bit of background about how this Home Ministry functions and what is the problem, particularly, with respect to my State of West Bengal. In 2021, the Union Home Ministry passed a notification disregarding Parliament completely. The jurisdiction of the BSF on India’s internal borders used to be about 15 kilometres. With this notification, they enhanced the jurisdiction from 15 to 50 kilometres. ç ह)R They did this in the Opposition-ruled States of West Bengal and Punjab. You increased the jurisdiction from 15 to 50 kilometres in Punjab and West Bengal. In Gujarat, on the other hand, Sir, which is BJP-ruled, the jurisdiction of the BSF was reduced from 80 kilometres to 50 kilometres. Inside the borders, it is the job of the State police, but, again, infringing on the rights of States, you have given that power to the BSF to control it. Sir, my State, West Bengal, is unique. We have the longest international border of any State in India. We also share our border with three countries, Nepal, Bhutan and Bangladesh. We are also gateway to the North-East. Anything that happens in these areas, any geopolitical tension, has a direct bearing on us. You would expect that the Union Home Ministry would want to work together with the State, give the State its dues. Sir, there is some data which I want to present here, which just shows how Bengal is being treated. In 2011-12, under the then UPA Government, Bengal received Rs. 44 crores under the Central Modernization Fund. Ten years later, in 2021-22, how much did Bengal get? Zero rupees. In 2013-14, Bengal got Rs. 59 crores. Ten years later, in 2023-24, zero rupees. Between 2020 and 2024, in four years, we should have got Rs. 160 crores by previous estimates. In these four years, we did not get a single rupee from the Union Government. Today, West Bengal has pending dues of Rs. 386 crores from the Union Home Ministry. Forget borders, forget internal security, I will talk about safety of women. I am sure that the hon. Home Minister is also concerned about that. The West Bengal Assembly unanimously passed the Aparajita Bill for the safety of women. That Bill has made its way to the President who will only give assent to it based on the advice of the Council of Ministers, the Union Home Ministry. That Bill is still stuck. We have repeatedly requested for it. It was unanimously passed by all parties, but no approval has been given. Sir, now I will come to my favourite bid because I have had a little bit of experience with this, the Central Agencies. Sure, under previous Governments, the Supreme Court has said that they are a ‘caged parrot’, etc, etc. But the BJP claims to be a party with a difference. So, we thought things would change. But nothing has changed in the last eleven years. .. For the benefit of the hon. Member, Sir, I am now going to read out the glorious record of the CBI. : I did not refer to the CBI or the ED. He is free to do that. Over 6,900 cases of corruption have been registered by the CBI… Over 6,900 cases of corruption registered by the CBI are pending trial. Over 361 corruption cases have been pending for more than 20 years… I am not yielding, Sir…. I am not yielding. I refuse to yield, Sir… Under the rules, I am allowed to refuse to yield. I am not going to yield to him. He can wait. All these things can be said in the reply, Sir. All right, Sir. I would skip CBI and ED and make just one thing clear. I am skipping it. Sir, this is not fair at all. Sir, this is absolutely not fair. Then I want my full 12 minutes to be started all over again. They can say their part. They interrupted me. Sir, I greatly respect you. I am Mamata Banerjee’s Let me now come to the NIA. That is your call…. I am not withdrawing it. . I have lost some of my time. Thank you so much. In 2013, a former Director of the Intelligence Bureau, under the previous Government, said that structural changes to the Intelligence Bureau have not happened since 1980s. At that time, he called for urgent legislative and structural changes to the functioning of the Intelligence Bureau to make it more independent. This was in 2013. That former Director of the Intelligence Bureau, Mr. Ajit Doval, became India’s National Security Advisor in 2014. He has been in that position for the last 11 years. These legislative and structural changes, that he wanted in 2013, we have not seen them happening in the last 11 years. The NIA was originally envisaged as an anti-terror agency. The NIA is busy now running its agendas in different States, locking up Indians for supposedly plotting against the Modi Government. An 83-year old man, a tribal welfare worker and a priest, Father Stan Swamy, we know how he died in prison; we know the story of being denied a straw. This is what the NIA does. Then, there is another very concerning issue which pertains to a lot of Members in the House on all sides. In 2021, there were independent investigations that raised allegations that the Union Government had planted an Israeli software called Pegasus for surveillance on phones of about 300 people, including Opposition leaders, Judges, politicians, Ministers, activists and journalists. My leader, Abhishek Banerjee, was one of those leaders. In 2022, the matter reached the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court had set up a Technical Committee to examine these allegations. There is something very interesting that the Committee told the Supreme Court. It said that through this entire investigation, the Union Government refused to co-operate with the Committee. If Pegasus was used legally, there should not have been any harm and there is no harm in admitting it. If it was used illegally, then, maybe that is the reason that they are hiding it. Otherwise, there is no reason to hide it from the Supreme Court Committee. Anyway, Sir, surveillance happens and agencies are used. Now, I want to come to a subject that rocked this country about four or five years ago, that is, the CAA and the NRC. The hon. Home Minister might remember that he made a very famous speech at that point before the Bill was introduced in the Parliament. He said, “आप क्रोनोलॉजी समझिए।
पहले सिटीजन अमेंडमेंट बिल आएगा और फिर एनआरसी लागू होगा। सिर्फ बंगाल में नहीं, पूरे देश में एनआरसी लागू होगा।” And, then he came to Bengal and said, “Illegal people will be thrown like termites into the Bay of Bengal.” This caused so much concern in India that his own Prime Minister, a few weeks later in the Ramlila Maidan, completely contradicted what he had said, and said, “No, there is no plan to bring a nationwide NRC.” Anyway, लोक सभा इलेक्शन के टाइम स्पीच दी थी। Eventually, in January, 2020, the Citizenship  Amendment Act was notified. The CAA was brought in. It did not help them in the 2021 West Bengal Legislative Assembly elections. So, what did they do? Till last year 2024, that is, even after four years, the rules of the Bill were not issued. Now, if the hon. Minister, before bringing the Bill, had read the report of the Joint Parliamentary Committee, he would have found that the JPC had said that the CAA would benefit only 30,000 people. The Home Minister had claimed that lakhs of refugees would benefit. As of date, what is the reality? Only 350 people have been given citizenship under the CAA. No discussion on the Home Ministry can be complete without making a reference to Manipur. A debate on Manipur has happened in this House. My only point is that Manipur needed a healing touch. With whatever has happened in Manipur under the watch of the hon. Home Minister, I really do not know how he manages to sleep peacefully at night. In submission, I just want to say something very clear. This is purely very parliamentary. I could have said something else, but I will not. Very simply speaking, the Union Home Ministry is meant to be the Union Ministry of Home Affairs. It does not mean that Ministry आप घर से चलाओ। ‘Home’ does not mean ‘ghar’ here…. I do not need any extra time. I just have one parting note to say….. My conclusion, Sir, if I may be allowed to… Sir, multiple people have spoken longer than me. Sir, he called my speech… But you won’t expunge that. . I also object to that, Sir… Anyway, Sir, I want two sentences to conclude. Sir, just two sentences to finish off Only two sentences, Sir. This is my conclusion. You mentioned caste. You are talking about caste! . Anyway, I want to conclude, Sir, by saying only one thing. West Bengal elections are coming next year in 2026. The Union Home Ministry, if it does not drop this attitude, the BJP will become from the State of West Bengal. Thank you, Sir.

Sir, I have a point of order. It is under Rule 29 on ‘List of Business’. Our Party and I have a suggestion. Today, the discussion on the Ministry of Health is going on. It will go on for another three-and-a-half hours. So the discussion on the Ministry of Home Affairs should be taken up tomorrow. It will be a fresh start. We are going to initiate it. So it may be taken up at 2.00 p.m., please.

Sir, I am extremely grateful to you. Yesterday also, I got an opportunity to ask a question. I am happy to hear that NH-6, NH-306 and NH-37 connect Barak Valley to Aizawl, Imphal and Guwahati. It has a chronic problem due to landslide and rainfall. The highest rainfall areas fall in these zones. You have no shortage of funds. I want to know the reason why we have not been able to build all- weather roads for more than ten years in these sections. If you build that, I think, the money will be utilised better and people’s sufferings will be alleviated.

Sir, the country faces serious shortages in the supply of healthy uninfected blood. Many are in danger of serious health risks of contracting diseases from infected blood through blood transfusions. Blood banks are under enormous pressure and often fall short of healthy blood. The country requires 14.6 million units of blood annually, yet faces a shortfall of around 7 million units each year. This is extremely worrying as countless lives, particularly those infected with Sickle Cell Anemia and Thalassemia, depend on access to safe uninfected blood. There have been reports of shortages of the life saving drug for Thalessemics Desferal. India has 1,50,000 individuals diagnosed with Thalassemia major who depend on regular blood transfusion for their very survival. Blood transfusion services are fragmented and contain many inefficiencies. Those who are fortunate enough to receive transfusions sometimes contract HIV. There is a notable and growing reluctance in India for citizens to donate blood. It is vital to spread awareness and to educate people on the benefits of blood donation. If we donate blood, we become healthier. The donor’s health can improve after blood donation by the stimulation of new blood cell production and maintenances of healthy levels of iron. By way of parenthesis, I can say that the device of Zero Hour allows us to raise these urgent peoples’ issues. Yes, Sir. Through you, I want to request the Government to focus on the urgent need for a comprehensive new national blood law that emphasizes voluntary blood donation and implements stringent blood screening protocols including NAT. This would significantly reduce the risk of contracting HIV and Hepatitis through infected transfusions of blood. Unless this is done, those requiring blood transfusions would continue to face life threatening risks. A stark example of this was when 23 children contracted HIV because… they were given infected blood through blood transfusions. Access to safe blood is a cornerstone of modern healthcare playing an essential role in the care and survival of countless citizens.

Sir, the insurance penetration in India is just four per cent. Globally, this number is at seven per cent. This Government has a habit of penalizing our country’s middle class in every way possible. Eighteen per cent GST on life and health insurance is another way of burdening the common man. Let me tell you the chronology. First, my Party, the All India Trinamool Congress, raised this matter in Parliament. Even the hon. Chief Minister of West Bengal, Ms. Mamata Banerjee, wrote a letter to you. This was followed by a letter from your Union Minister to your Finance Minister who raised it directly with her. Yet, there was no change. Soon, one by one, every Opposition party joined the call, demanding to scrap GST on life and health insurance. Instead of addressing these concerns, what did you do? Shift the onus on the GST Council! Sir, the sad reality is that the Union Government holds one-third of the votes while the States have two-thirds. However, the NDA has 21 State Governments under them. Then, what stops them? Why don’t they remove the GST? Now, you will talk about the Group of Ministers. The Group of Ministers had initially recommended exempting the premium on health insurance for senior citizens and term life insurance. We ask you again: Why do you like to neglect the middle class? You boast of income tax being exempted up to Rs. 12 lakh for the middle class. If you generally care, then, remove the GST. The truth is that they don’t understand healthcare. We all saw what happened in Covid. Sir, I urge this Government to stop penalizing the middle class and give us an assurance to scrap GST on health and life insurance. Thank you.