August 12, 2026
Derek O’Brien speaks on the The Kerala (Alteration of Name) Bill, 2026
Full Transcript:
Sir, ‘Santosh’ or ‘Santosham’ means ‘Happy’; and like so many people in Kerala and all of us, we are all very ‘Santosham’ with the new name ‘Keralam’. That shouldn’t be unparliamentary so far. There is a Bengali word called ‘Asantushto’ or *“dissatisfied or angry”. Since we are the Council of States, let me express myself. From a State which has been wanting a name, a new name for the last 8-10 years, ‘Bangla’, and “and we have not got that name yet” We are still with the old name……(Interruptions)…
Sir, when Members of the opposition speak according to the rules of Parliament, this is what happens. Sir, I have only two more points to make. Th second is — and please stop me whenever you think I have gone off the subject or off the Bill. My second point is to ask ourselves when we are passing this Bill in two hours or three hours, what is the quality of the legislation we are passing? We were very happy with ‘Keralam’. And I want to bring a statistic here to this House. Since this Session, 12 Bills have been passed in one of the two Houses. …(Interruptions)… Sir, we are passing these Bills at … …(Interruptions)…
Sir, I am on this. You are in the Chair. …(Interruptions)…
What am I to say (Interruptions)…
The simple point I was making, *…(Interruptions)…
Sir, you must protect me. …(Interruptions)…Sir, please protect me. I have not even started and you are asking me to conclude!
Sir, I would mention four words. You must tell me whether these are parliamentary or unparliamentary. It is on the Bill. I would first give you two words and then two more words. If you tell me that they are unparliamentary, I would sit down.…(Interruptions)…
Okay, okay. MoS, Home is here. That is very good. I would give you two more words. Tell me whether they are parliamentary or unparliamentary.
No, he is piloting the Bill. He is piloting the Bill.(Interruptions)… Who pilots the bill? …(Interruptions)…
Sir, the nation should watch this. When a Member from the Opposition gets up for a three-minute speech, he is interrupted six times.
Thank you, Sir! Good afternoon. Jai Hind!
