Jogen Chowdhury speaks on armed Ram Navami rallies in Bengal

FULL TRANSCRIPT

Sir, this is a very serious issue. What happened during the Ram Navami celebrations in West Bengal is unthinkable and undesirable. Young boys and girls were walking with arms and swords in processions organised by the ruling party in various localities in West Bengal. It is dangerous. While we are giving proper education to our children yet we are training them on how to handle arms. The culture of Bengal – of Rabindranath Tagore, of Sri Chaitanya and Sri Ramakrishna – does not preach such hostility towards anybody. What is this culture of swords and arms that such a party is inflicting in Bengal and India instead of peace, tolerance, love and friendship on the auspicious day of Ram Navami? Such an act is similar to brainwashing of young children by the Taliban. It would be dangerous if such a culture becomes a practice. It will bring unforeseen disaster to our society and country. Such things cannot be encouraged for the sake of politics and power. It should be stopped at once. It will not even help the instigators as the people of Bengal do not support such acts. My earnest appeal to the Government of India is to look into this matter before it goes beyond control. The Hon. Chief Minister of West Bengal has already expressed her strong condemnation against such acts of politics of arms and violence. Finally, I appeal to all that none should bring Lord Rama in petty politics. Ram ka naam badnaam na karo.
 

Trinamool strongly condemns BJP Youth leader’s bounty on Mamata Banerjee’s head

Trinamool Congress strongly condemns the bounty placed by BJP Youth leader on Mamata Banerjee’s head.

Statement by Partha Chatterjee:

There have been many attempts on Mamata Banerjee’s life since the 1990s. We have seen the violent politics of the 70s, we have been through 34 years of CPI(M)’s violent rule. Anyone can make big statements sitting in Delhi. Statements like these are against the political culture of the country. I ask the Centre to immediately arrest this man. Lakhs of Trinamool workers are ready to sacrifice their lives for Mamata Banerjee. We do not want the politics of 70s to return.

 

Statement by Saugata Roy in Lok Sabha:

Yesterday there was a lathicharge on BJP workers in Birbhum district in West Bengal on the issue of Hanuman Jayanti. Lathicharge was done by the police. After that a BJP youth leader has issued a statement that he would give Rs 11 lakh to anybody who would present him Mamata Banerjee’s head.

Madam, I do not want to raise temperatures further. But, this issue is condemnable because Mamata Banerjee is not only the elected Chief Minister of Bengal and a former Member of this House, she is also one who has come up from the ranks from the grassroots.

So, I take this opportunity to bring this matter to your notice and that of the House and I would ask the government to take all possible actions against such men who create such provocation, especially threatening the beheading of a popular Chief Minister.

Thank you.

 

Statement by Sukhendu Sekhar Roy in Rajya Sabha:

One activist of the ruling party at the Centre in West Bengal has publicly described the Hon. Chief Minister of West Bengal as “demon” and has also announced a reward for those who will bring the head of the Hon. Chief Minister, of Rs 11 lakh.

I urge upon all the honourable Members of this House to request the government to condemn this incident because it appears from this fact that the ruling party at the Centre is trying to unleash a reign of terror in West Bengal in the name of religion and other things.

This should be stopped; otherwise the entire country will be engulfed in such tendencies, which would a danger for our parliamentary democracy. I urge upon the government to condemn this incident.

A constitutionally elected Chief Minister has been called a “demon” and an award has been announced for her head. How can it be done by a ruling party activist? This should be condemned and I urge upon the ruling party to condemn the incident.

This is a case of political patronage.

 

মমতা বন্দ্যোপাধ্যায়ের বিরুদ্ধে বিজেপি যুব নেতার ফতোয়ার তীব্র নিন্দা তৃণমূলের

মমতা বন্দ্যোপাধ্যায়ের বিরুদ্ধে বিজেপি যুব নেতার ফতোয়ার তীব্র নিন্দা করল তৃণমূল।

পার্থ চট্টোপাধ্যায়ের বিবৃতি:

৯০ এর দশক থেকে মমতাকে হত্যার চেষ্টা করা হয়েছিল। আমরা ৭০ এর রাজনীতি দেখেছি। ৩৪ বছরের বাম শাসন দেখেছি। এখন দিল্লী/আলীগড়ে বসে কেউ কেউ বড় বড় বুলি আওড়াচ্ছেন। রাজনীতি এইসব কথা বলার জায়গা না। একে অবিলম্বে গ্রেফতার করা উচিত।

আমি কেন্দ্রীয় সরকারকে বলবো অবিলম্বে পদক্ষেপ নেওয়ার জন্য। আমাদের লাখ লাখ কর্মী তৈরি মমতা বন্দ্যোপাধ্যায়কে সাহায্য করার জন্য। এরা আবার ৭০ দশকের রাজনীতি ফিরিয়ে আনতে চাইছে।

 

লোকসভায় সৌগত রায়ের বিবৃতি:

হনুমান জয়ন্তী উপলক্ষে বীরভূম জেলায় বিজেপি কর্মীদের ওপর গতকাল লাঠিচার্জ করে পুলিশ। এরপর বিজেপির এক যুবনেতা বিবৃতি দিয়েছেন, যে মমতা বন্দ্যোপাধ্যায়ের মাথা কেটে আনবে তাকে তিনি ১১ লাখ টাকা দেবেন।

ম্যাডাম, আমি আর উত্তেজনা ছড়াতে চাই না। কিন্তু, এই ঘটনাটি নিন্দনীয়। কারণ, মমতা বন্দ্যোপাধ্যায় শুধু রাজ্যের নির্বাচিত মুখ্যমন্ত্রী নন, তিনি সংসদের প্রাক্তন সদস্যা, সমাজের তৃণমূল স্তর থেকে উঠে আসা এক নেত্রী।

এই ঘটনাটি আমি এই সভার নজরে আনলাম। আমি সরকারকে বলব, এই ধরনের মানুষ যারা এই রকম উস্কানিমুলক কথা বলে, তাদের বিরুদ্ধে প্রয়োজনীয় ব্যাবস্থা নিতে। বিশেষত যখন এরা মুখ্যমন্ত্রীর শিরোচ্ছেদের হুমকি দিচ্ছে।

 

রাজ্যসভায় সুখেন্দু শেখর রায়ের বিবৃতি:

দেশের শাসক দলের এক কর্মকর্তা এক বিবৃতি দিয়েছেন; তাতে তিনি মমতা বন্দ্যোপাধ্যায়কে “শয়তান” বলেন, ও বলেন, যে মমতা বন্দ্যোপাধ্যায়ের মাথা কেটে আনবে তাকে তিনি ১১ লাখ টাকা দেবেন।

আমি সংসদের সকল সদস্যের কাছে আর্জি জানাব তারা যেন সরকারের কাছে দাবি করেন এই ঘটনার নিন্দা করতে। এই ঘটনার মাধ্যমে বোঝা যায় কেন্দ্রের শাসক দল পশ্চিমবঙ্গে ধর্মের নামে দাঙ্গার পরিবেশ সৃষ্টি তৈরি করতে চাইছে।

এই প্রবণতা এখনই দমন করা উচিত, নয়ত দেশজুড়ে এই প্রবণতা দেখা যাবে। এটা  সংসদীয় গণতন্ত্রের পরিপন্থী। আমি সরকারকে আর্জি জানাচ্ছি এই ঘটনার নিন্দা করতে।

একজন নির্বাচিত মুখ্যমন্ত্রীকে “শয়তান” বলা হচ্ছে ও তার শিরোচ্ছেদ করার জন্য পুরষ্কার ঘোষণা হচ্ছে। এক শাসক দলের কর্মকর্তা কি করে এই কাজ করে? এটা নিন্দনীয় ও সরকারকে আর্জি জানাব ধিক্কার জানাতে।

Samabyay Mela to begin today

The Bengal Cooperation Department, under the inspiring leadership of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, is organising the Samabyay Mela 2017 at Netaji Indoor Stadium in Kolkata. It starts today and would continue till April 13.

The fair would remain open from 12 pm to 8 pm on all three days.

The main motive behind the organising of the fair is enabling the achievement of economic self-reliance and thus removing the scourge of unemployment through cooperative societies.

The primary attractions at the fair would be the products for sale made by the cooperative societies and self-help groups of the State, discussions and a question-and-answer session on the cooperative movement, and daily cultural programmes by well-known artistes of Bengal.

The products to be sold include foods and beverages like goyna bori, jam, jelly, pickles, chocolate, aromatic rice, Darjeeling tea, special types of honey, traditional handloom items like tant and silk sarees, handicrafts like sitalpati, madur, dokra, terracotta and masks used in chhau dance, different types of traditional ornaments, patachitra and various items of interior decoration.

 

আজ শুরু সমবায় মেলা ২০১৭

মুখ্যমন্ত্রী মমতা বন্দ্যোপাধ্যায়ের অনুপ্রেরণায় রাজ্য সমবায় দপ্তর আয়োজন করেছে ৩দিন ব্যাপী সমবায় মেলার। মেলাটি চলবে ১৩ই এপ্রিল পর্যন্ত, নেতাজী ইন্ডোর স্টেডিয়ামে। প্রতিদিন মেলা খোলা থাকবে বেলা ১২টা থেকে সন্ধ্যা ৮টা পর্যন্ত।

এই মেলার মুখ্য উদ্দেশ্য হল, সমবায় সমিতির মাধ্যমে বেকারত্ব দূরীকরণ ও আর্থিক স্বনির্ভরতা অর্জন। মেলার মুখ্য আকর্ষণ হবে সমবায় সমিতি ও স্বনির্ভর গোষ্ঠীর তৈরি দ্রব্যাদির বিক্রয়। এছাড়া সমবায় সমিতিগুলির কাজের ওপর আলোচনা ও প্রশ্নোত্তরের আয়োজন থাকছে। স্বনামধন্য শিল্পীরা উপস্থিত থাকবেন প্রতিদিন সাংস্কৃতিক অনুষ্ঠান মঞ্চস্থ করতে।

এখানে যেসকল দ্রব্য পাওয়া যাবে তার মধ্যে থাকবে গয়না, বড়ি, জেলি, জ্যাম, আচার, চকোলেট, দার্জিলিং চা, সুগন্ধি চাল, বিশেষ ধরনের মধু। এর সঙ্গে থাকবে বিভিন্ন ধরনের তাঁত ও সিল্কের শাড়ী, থাকবে শীতলপাটি, মাদুর, ডোকরা, টেরাকোটা, ছৌ-মুখোশ। বিভিন্ন ধরনের অলঙ্কার, পটচিত্রসহ ঘর সাজানোর সামগ্রীও পাওয়া যাবে এই মেলায়।

Nadimul Haque speaks on the need to urgently release funds under BRGF

FULL TRANSCRIPT

Sir, the State of West Bengal has been neglected for the release of various funds. Under MNREGA, the Centre owes us Rs 1546.87 crore, under Swachh Bharat Mission, Rs 1514 crore, under BRGF, Rs 2330 crore, under the food subsidy for 2015-16 and 1016-17, Rs 1584 crore, and further owed under Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan and other schemes. The State of West Bengal owed a total of Rs 10,469 crore. It’s a matter of great concern that these funds are not being released. The BRGF scheme covers 250 districts in 27 States. It is a unique sector fund as it puts the panchayats and the municipalities at the forefront of planning and implementation. In rural areas, it benefits 56 per cent SCs and STs, and 40 per cent OBCs; in urban areas, the figure is 47 per cent and 9 per cent, respectively. We have used the money granted under this fund for the development of the backward districts of Bengal through myriad ways which includes setting up of schools, multi super-speciality hospitals, it is, polytechnics, Kisan Mandis, girls’ hostels and electrification of villages.

Out of the water supply schemes sanctioned for six towns, those for four have already been completed; those for the other two are pending are funds are yet to be released. We have even started innovative programmes like the National Fibre Mission, a rural livelihood generation programme that helps leverage national fibres which are common throughout the State. One of the biggest success stories of the Trinamool Congress in the implementation of this fund has been to ease the Left Wing Extremism in the Jangalmahal region of Bengal, where there has been progress from violence to welfare. Numerous schools and hospitals have been built, and new blood banks, sick newborn care units (SNCUs) and sick rehabilitation centres have been established. However, the BTGS funds have been stopped by the Centre and the payment of Rs 2,330 crore is owed to the State of Bengal. The reasoning behind this is that since the Twelfth Five-Year Plan has ended, al payments under it have been stopped. It is clear that the Trinamool Congress Government attaches serious importance in improving the lives of people in the backward districts, and the money owed to it is absolutely essential for various critical welfare schemes.

I demand the immediate release of funds already mentioned so that the progress in the State of West Bengal can take place.

 

AC mini buses to be flagged off in Kolkata today

State Transport Minister Suvendu Adhikari will flag off a fleet of 10 air-conditioned mini buses today.

Five air-conditioned mini-buses will be flagged off at Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport. Another five such buses will be flagged off from the bus depot of the West Bengal Transport Corporation at Joka.

This is the first time ever in the history of the state’s transport sector when such air-conditioned mini-buses are getting introduced. Five of the buses will be plying on Kolkata Airport to Esplanade route and the other five on Behala-Joka to Esplanade route.

Each of the buses with 30 seats is the first-of-its-kind in the state to have panic buttons, GPS system and surveillance cameras.

 

কলকাতায় চালু হচ্ছে এসি মিনিবাস পরিষেবা

আজ কলকাতায় এসি মিনিবাস পরিষেবার সূচনা করবেন পরিবহণ মন্ত্রী শুভেন্দু অধিকারী। দমদম বিমানবন্দর থেকে ৫টি ও জোকার সরকারি বাস ডিপো থেকে আরও ৫টি বাসের শুভ সূচনা করা হবে।

এই প্রথম রাজ্যে এসি মিনিবাস পরিষেবা চালু হচ্ছে।

৩০-সিট বিশিষ্ট এই বাসগুলি দুটো রুটে চলবে – বিমানবন্দর-এসপ্ল্যানেড ও বেহালা/জোকা-এসপ্ল্যানেড। প্রত্যেকটি বসে থাকবে যাত্রীদের জন্য প্যানিক বাটন, জিপিএস ব্যবস্থা এবং সিসিটিভি ক্যামেরা।

Trinamool spoke up for the people in Parliament, be it the interest rate cut for small savings or the GST Bill

This was an eventful week for Trinamool Congress. On April 5, Trinamool MPs protested outside Parliament against the cut in interest rates for small savings schemes, which has affected a lot of people in the country. Trinamool Congress put forth its views on this issue in the two Houses of Parliament too. The party also moved two Amendments on the GST Bill.

LOK SABHA

April 5, 2017

Bills
Saugata Roy spoke on the issue of interest rate cut for small savings schemes.
Saugata Roy spoke on The Footwear Design and Development Institute Bill, 2017.

April 6, 2017

Bills
Kalyan Banerjee spoke on The Taxation Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2017.

Question Hour
Kalyan Banerjee asked a Supplementary Question on tidal wave energy.

April 7, 2017

Bills
Arpita Ghosh spoke on The Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Bill, 2016.
Ratna De Nag spoke on The Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Bill, 2016.

Question Hour
Arpita Ghosh asked a Supplementary Question on remuneration for Anganwadi workers.
Ratna De Nag asked a Supplementary Question on miscarriages.

 

RAJYA SABHA

April 5, 2017

Bills
Derek O’Brien spoke on the GST Bill.

April 6, 2017

Bills
Nadimul Haque spoke on the interest rate cut for small savings schemes.
Sukhendu Sekhar Roy spoke on the GST Bill.
Derek O’Brien moved Amendments on the GST Bill.

Special Mention
Ahamed Hassan made a Special Mention on the World Bank’s appreciation of the panchayat system of Bengal.

April 7, 2017

Zero Hour
Vivek Gupta made a Zero Hour mention on the delay in the delivery of passports.
Ahamed Hassan made a Zero Hour mention seeking the Centre’s help in combating wheat blast disease in Bengal.

Question Hour
Sukhendu Sekhar Roy asked a Supplementary Question on the speed limits trains passing through the elephant corridors in north Bengal need to maintain.
Manish Gupta asked a Supplementary Question on the dignity of the railway system getting affected by random advertisements.

Thus it was an eventful week for the party in both the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha.

Mamata Banerjee hits out at BJP for brandishing swords at Ram Navami rally

Bengal Chief Minister on Thursday Mamata Banerjee hit out at the BJP for brandishing swords during Ram Navami procession.

At a public rally in Purulia, the CM said: “It is not the culture of the Hindus to carry swords in religious processions and some BJP leaders and workers were found carrying swords and other weapons in the Ram Navami procession on Wednesday. The law will take its course as carrying weapons in Hindu religious processions is illegal. What will happen if people belonging to other religions want to carry weapons in processions,”

She added, “As BJP is in power at the Centre, its followers in the state feel that they can do whatever they like. But this will not be tolerated and law will take its own course as no one is above law,” Mamata Banerjee said the way BJP had carried out Ram Navami procession it appeared as if they had some sort of monopoly over Lord Rama. “For generations, Rama Navami has been observed in Ramrajatala in Howrah and I observed Basanta Puja before I left my home in Kolkata,” the Chief Minister said.

Didi said, “The weapons look good in the hands of Goddess Durga as she used them to kill evil. But, they do not look good and proper in the hands of those who are using religion to divide people.” She added: “Lord Rama had used flowers to worship and his so called followers are using weapons to scare people.”

The CM said people in Bengal believed in the philosophy of love and cooperation. “If I meet with an accident and two men run to the blood bank to donate blood for me then will the doctor ask them which religion they belong to,” she asked. She said the people would foil any effort to divide Bengal on the basis of religion. She asked people not to get provoked by those who “use religion for political benefit.”

 

অস্ত্রের হুঙ্কার বাংলার সংস্কৃতি নয়: মমতা বন্দ্যোপাধ্যায়

পুরুলিয়ায় মুখ্যমন্ত্রী মমতা ব্যানার্জি বিজেপিকে তীব্র আক্রমণ করলেন। বুধবার বাংলার বিভিন্ন জায়গায় অস্ত্র নিয়ে যে সব মিছিল করা হয়েছে সে সম্পর্কে মমতা বলেন, ‘‌এবার থেকে রাজনৈতিক নেতারা অস্ত্র নিয়ে মিছিল করলে, আইন আইনের মতো ব্যবস্থা নেবে। তরোয়াল দেখিয়ে মিছিল করা চলবে না। রাম রাবণ বধ করেছিলেন তরোয়াল দিয়ে নয়। রাম পুজো করেছিলেন ফুল দিয়ে।’‌

মমতা বলেন, ‘‌এরা ধমকাতে এবং চমকাতে মিছিল করেছেন। আমাদের ভদ্রতার সুযোগ নিয়েছেন। কাল যদি অন্য ধর্মের মানুষ তরোয়াল নিয়ে মিছিল করেন তখন কী হবে?‌ দুজনের মধ্যে তো তখন মারামারি লেগে যাবে। ঘরে ঘরে আগুন লাগবে। শিখদের সঙ্গে কৃপাণ, সেটা আমরা বহুকাল ধরে দেখে এসেছি। তঁাদের কখনও এভাবে রাস্তায় দেখিনি। ওটা তো ওঁদের ধর্মের একটা প্রতীক। মা দুর্গার হাতে যে অস্ত্র শোভা পায়, আজ যে নেতারা রাস্তায় সন্ত্রাস করতে নেমেছেন, তাঁদের হাতে অস্ত্র শোভা পায় না।’‌

মমতা আক্রমণ করেন সিপিএম, বিজেপি ও কংগ্রেস–‌কে। তিনি বলেন, ‘‌এরা কিন্তু একে অপরের কোলে বসে দুলছে। সিপিএম, বিজেপি বাংলা থেকে শেষ হয়ে যাবে। ভবিষ্যতে বিজেপিও ভারত থেকে নিশ্চিহ্ন হয়ে যাবে। গেরুয়া ফেট্টি পরে দলের সংগঠন বাড়ানো যায় না। বাংলার সংস্কৃতিকে আগে চিনতে হবে। বাংলার মানুষ এদের ক্ষমা করবে না।’‌ মমতা বলেন, আমার বাড়িতেও রামনবমীর দিন পুজো হয়েছে। কোথাও আমি আমার বাড়ির পুজোর কথা তো বলিনি। লোকের বাড়িতে বাড়িতে অন্নপূর্ণা পুজো হয়েছে। রামনবমীর দিন বিজেপি কোনও পুজো করল না। গেরুয়া ফেট্টি লাগিয়ে স্লোগান দিল, চিৎকার করল। মিছিল করে বলল, আমরা কারা— দাঙ্গা করি। আমরা কারা—ভেদাভেদ করি।’‌

মমতা রামকৃষ্ণ ও বিবেকানন্দের প্রসঙ্গ আনেন। তিনি বলেন, ‘‌এরা যখন বাংলার সংস্কৃতি শিখিয়েছেন, তখন বিজেপি কোথায় ছিল?‌ তখন তো ওদের দলটাই ছিল না। আমরা কেউ কখনই বলি না যে, আমরাই একমাত্র পুজো করি। এটা আমাদের ধর্ম নয়। আমি হিন্দু ধর্ম নিয়ে গর্ববোধ করি। শুধু তাই নয়, শিখ, মুসলিম, খ্রিস্টান, বৌদ্ধ সমস্ত ধর্ম নিয়ে আমি গর্ববোধ করি। আমি যেমন দুর্গাপুজোর উদ্বোধনে যাই, ঠিক তেমনি বড়দিনে গির্জায় যাই, ইদে যাই। এটাই তো বাংলার সংস্কৃতি। রামকৃষ্ণ, বিবেকানন্দ শিখিয়েছেন সকলকে ভালবাসতে হয়। সব ধর্মকে সম্মান করতে।’‌

মমতা এদিন বলেন কংগ্রেস, সিপিএম ও বিজেপি বিধানসভা নির্বাচনে আমার বিরুদ্ধে কুৎসা অপপ্রচার করে শেষ পর্যন্ত কিছুই করতে পারেনি। রাম যেমন অশুভ শক্তি রাবণকে পরাজিত করেছিলেন, আসুন আমরা সকলে মিলে এই রাবণদের (‌গেরুয়াধারীদের)‌ ধ্বংস করার কাজে নামি। আপনারা ঐক্যবদ্ধ হন। ভয় পাবেন না। আদিবাসী ভাই ও বোনেরা কোনও গুজবে কান দেবেন না। আমার ওপর ভরসা রাখুন।

Ahamed Hassan makes a Special Mention on the World Bank’s appreciation of the panchayat system of Bengal

FULL TRANSCRIPT

Gram panchayats are the cornerstones of the Panchayati Raj system. From the time of our country’s independence, Gandhi ji and Nehru ji had envisioned gram swaraj along with purna swaraj. The hallmark of an efficient and transparent gram panchayat is when it attains decentralised and participatory local self-governance. The gram panchayat system of Bengal has been able to deliver the highest standard of services in terms of e-governance, general working and financial management, even in areas outside the purview of the regular work. This has been acknowledged by the World Bank which said, in a letter from its South Asia vice-president that in terms of transparency, the State panchayat system can be easily compared to the best governed institutions in the world, and that this has been maintained for the last six years. to bring transparency to the working of gram panchayats, the Panchayat Department of the State brought an app. The details of all panchayat work carried out by the gram panchayats including the costs incurred as well as photographic evidence are logged in the app which are then verified by the department. In the interest of transparency too, it has been made mandatory by the Bengal Government that all tenders published by the zilla parishads have to be published online in the form of e-tenders. Under the leadership of the Chief Minister of West Bengal, Hon. Mamata Banerjee, the gram panchayats of the State are most transparent and efficient, bringing prosperity to all corners of rural Bengal. I therefore urge the Government to follow the Bengal model to bring transparency and efficiency in the working of all gram panchayats.

Kalyan Banerjee speaks on The Taxation Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2017

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Sir, I do not know from whose mind it has come and it has been changed, but I give you thanks for Clause 2, that is, the extended meaning, after the words “the area of a Customs station”, the words “or a warehouse” shall be inserted. And in your objects and reasons, you said that, in Clause 3 … it is proposed to amend this again to include ‘warehouse’ in the definition of ‘customs area’ to ensure that an importer will not be required to pay the proposed integrated goods and service tax at the time of removal of goods from customs station to warehouse.

This grey area existed for a long period of time and so many interpretations have been made but today you have really clarified and have made a very definite definition and that’s the reason I feel that this part is really very good.

I would like to come to the next point, which is Clause 3, 108A. A person who is responsible for maintaining records of registration or statements of account holding, any other information – it is a liability that they have to maintain this. My second point is about the part where the proper officer considers that the information furnished under sub-section 1 is defective. I would like to know, who is the proper officer? This proper officer has not been defined. You cannot appoint a ‘proper officer’ according to your wish and terms, by any notification.

So far, you have given a chance of giving a reply to them, in case of any defect. But so far 108B is concerned, where you have imposed that if you fail to give the information to the proper officer, every day they have to pay a fine of only Rs 100, which, according to me, a lesser punishment. The punishment should be increased. Why would an authority specified under 108A (1) be failing to discharge statutory duties? If someone fails to discharge statutory duties, that person should be penalised more. All high-ranking officers have been defined under 108 (a) and they are been paid by the State Exchequer, so should they be committing any delay? If they delay, why should there be only a Rs 100 penalty? Why should you not start disciplinary proceedings against them? Why should they not be liable? The officer should give the information immediately. If the penalty is not increased, nobody would be aware of the implications of these statutory things. The officers are bound to do it.

Now, I point out to you the Central Excise Act, as far as Clause 8 is concerned, where the Section A has been amended and Section Survey inserted; wherein, in respect of any goods, if the Central Government is satisfied that the duty to be levied under Section 3 may be increased and that circumstances exist to render immediate action. I say this is an excessive delegation. There cannot be arbitrary exercise of power. In law it is said that absolute power corrupts absolutely. Now, why should you give such an unlimited power, unlimited discretionary power? What are the objective determinations behind the purpose of that? This part gives excessive power, excessive delegatory power, and hence is capable to be abused. Now, so far this part is concerned – Part 3 (b) (i) – this, according to us, gives excessive delegatory power. This should not be there. We are all for constructive criticism; but we are not as such opposing the Bill.

Sir, we understand, this is the Bill and it is the consequential one; these four Bills which have been given in the list, and these Bills are needed. Despite our objections and our Amendments, we have to accept whatever is there, excepting a few things which I have pointed out, and I hope the Hon. Minister of State, who is here, will take care of the points which I have said. You have to understand what the stark reality is at the ground-level. The stark reality is the power with the Central Excise officers, the customs officers, police, etc. If you give them absolute power, with no restrictions, then that power will be abused. Therefore, I request you to keep some safeguards there. One who has committed a fault should be penalised. In my speech I have said so. However, no officer should arbitrarily exercise power. Kindly keep this safeguard in mind.

With this I end my speech.

 

 

Kalyan Banerjee asks a Supplementary Question on tidal wave energy

FULL TRANSCRIPT

There is tremendous scope for the energy from the ocean as we have a long coastline of more than about 7,500 km and 336 islands in the Bay of Bengal and in Arabian Sea. Scientists of the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) have done a few successful pilot projects on marine, tidal and wave mechanical energy projects.

Presently the Central Government wants to set up tidal power plants with economic potential in the Gulf of Cambay, the Gulf of Kutch and the Durgaduani region in the Sunderbans in the Ganges Delta.

My question, through you, Madam, is whether the Government has a proper institutional policy framework and adequate infrastructure with proposals  for funding to achieve the success in the tidal water power sector.