INDIA


manufacturing investment destination in India and one of the top three investment destinations in Asia. Prof. Saugata Roy (AITC) said the government was busy in dismantling old structures and repackaging old schemes. It dismantled the Planning Commission and jettisoned the planning process without any consensus and consultation with the states.


Shri Bhartruhari Mahtab


(BJD) regretted that there was no mention in the Address about the assurance the Prime Minister had given to the people of the eastern region that highest priority would be accorded to bring that region on par with western region in terms of physical and social infrastructure. He demanded special category status for the state of Odisha. Minister Shri M. Venkaiah


Naidu said the focus was on development along with good governance. The government accepted the recommendation of the 14th Finance Commission to devolve 42% of the Union tax receipts to the states. Grants to local bodies and municipalities were also increased. Agriculture and industry were like eyes of a


person and the government would have to take care of both. Shri Abhijit Mukherjee (INC) was of the view that several announcements mentioned in the Address were about the schemes started by the previous UPA government.


Shri Mulayam Singh Yadav


(SP) said poverty was the root cause of uncleanliness and the cleanliness drive would succeed only after poverty was eradicated. The dream to clean Ganga would not become a reality until the tributaries of the river were cleaned. Agriculture provided the largest employment but sadly farmers were not properly mentioned in the Address. Dr. Kulmani Samal (BJD)


requested the government expedite covering all areas in Odisha under the Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana to eliminate poverty, especially in tribal dominated areas. The former Prime Minister of India and JD-S leader, Shri H.D. Devegowda wanted to know what would be the alternative for a person who would lose land. It should not be mere compensation as generations had been depending only on agriculture. Smt. Supriya Sule (NCP)


called for increasing the allocation under the MPLADS Scheme as the existing amount was too limited to meet the targets of various development schemes. Referring to the proposed one- Stop Crisis Centre for women in every state she demanded such centres in every district and block. She requested the government to address the chewing tobacco issue as it was the biggest cause of oral cancer.


Replying to the debate, the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi said cleanliness and sanitation were linked to the dignity of women. Girls were dropped from schools because there were no toilets for them in the schools. Governments would come and go but it was the people who made the country. Every country had his philosophy and the country run on the essence of its philosophy. The issue of corruption should not be discussed along political lines and all should come together to prevent corruption. The Prime Minister believed


that the prosperity and empowerment of the states was absolutely imperative for the prosperity and empowerment of the nation. The government


accepted the recommendations of the Finance Commission giving 42% share of the central revenue to the states. For the first time in independent India, there would be a stage when, in totality, the states would have 62% of the total exchequer of the country, leaving only 38% with the central government. Unity in diversity was India’s identity and strength. Flourishing of all the communities was something which was unique to India. The Indian Constitution


reflected the general behavior, hopes and aspirations of the people and the country would be able to continue moving forward only within the ambit of the Constitution. No one had any right to discriminate against others in the name of religion. ‘India first’ was the only one religion of the government. The government had to follow only one scripture which was the Constitution of India. The government had only one worship which was centered on the welfare of the 1.25 billion countrymen and the government had only one style of working which was Sabka Saath Sabka Vikas (All Together, Development of All).


At the end of the debate that lasted for more than 14 hours running in to several days, all the amendments moved were negatived and the motion was adopted. The government, however,


suffered an embarrassment in Rajya Sabha on 4 March 2015, when the non-NDA parties joined hands to force an amendment to the Motion of Thanks on the President’s Address for the failure of the government to curb high- level corruption and bring back black money allegedly stashed abroad. The amendment, moved by CPI-M members Sitaram Yechury and P. Rajeeve, was accepted with 118 votes in favour and 57 against.


The Parliamentarian | 2015: Issue Two | 129


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