Lok Sabha Debates
Regarding The Law And Order Situation And Violation Of Constitutional Rights In ... on 28 April, 2000
Title: Regarding the law and order situation and violation of Constitutional Rights in Midnapore District, West Bengal.
DR. NITISH SENGUPTA (CONTAI): Thank you, Mr. Deputy-Speaker Sir. Through you, I would like to draw the attention of this House to the explosive and unfortunate situation prevailing in certain pockets of Midnapore district in West Bengal where the constitutional machinery has totally broken down and where fundamental rights are being denied to citizens by a section of the CPI(M) cadre.
SHRI SURESH KURUP (KOTTAYAM): What is he saying, Sir? A State subject is being raised here.
1227 hours (Mr. Speaker in the Chair) DR. NITISH SENGUPTA : This is not a State subject. It involves the Constitution of this country.
SHRI SURESH KURUP : The State law and order situations are not raised here. You should not allow this.
DR. NITISH SENGUPTA : Everything is allowed if you can disturb the proceedings of the House for fifteen days. For us this is not just a State subject. It is a subject of the denial of fundamental rights to the citizens of this country. Murderous gangs of people, totally bloodthirsty people, property-grabbing people are moving around there. … (Interruptions)
SHRI N.N. KRISHNADAS (PALGHAT): He should not be allowed to say all these things.
MR. SPEAKER: The Chair has permitted him. Please take your seat.
SHRI N.N. KRISHNADAS:How can the Chair permit such matters to be raised in the House?
MR. SPEAKER: You are also raising the State subjects.
SHRI N.N. KRISHNADAS : Law and order is purely a State subject. It cannot be allowed to be raised here.
SHRI SOMNATH CHATTERJEE (BOLPUR): Then we should also raise every matter relating to the law and order in the States. Who will answer for the State here?
MR. SPEAKER: Please understand that many times we are discussing the State subjects also in the House. The Chair has already permitted him.
SHRI SOMNATH CHATTERJEE : I would like to know as to who will answer him. The State Government is not represented here. What is all this happening? How can he say all this?
MR. SPEAKER: The Chair has already permitted him.
DR. NITISH SENGUPTA : It is a question of denial of fundamental rights. No free elections will take place if such civil war conditions prevail in parts of the State. … (Interruptions)
MR. SPEAKER: Dr. Nitish Sengupta, it is not at all advisable to raise State matters in the House. You can mention the subject carefully.
DR. NITISH SENGUPTA : If there were a provision in the Constitution for declaring the President's rule in a part of the State, I should say Midnapore should be brought under the President's rule. Rights to life, free expression, free movement, liberty and property of the citizens are in danger there.
SHRI SOMNATH CHATTERJEE : This is a dangerous demand being made on the floor of the House. President's rule is being demanded by a Member who has no sense of responsibility.
DR. NITISH SENGUPTA : You should advise your cadre to bid good-bye to the nuisance being created by them and to read Liu-Shao-Qui’s "How to be a Good Communist".
SHRI SOMNATH CHATTERJEE : You are the trouble makers. You went there to create trouble.
SHRI N.N. KRISHNADAS : They are creating the law and order problem there. Moreover, this is a State matter which should not be allowed to be raised here.
MR. SPEAKER: Then we will have to take a decision that no State matter will be raised in the House. It applies to all the hon. Members.
… (Interruptions)
DR. NITISH SENGUPTA: Sir, you had allowed a circular issued by a State Government to be discussed for about two weeks on the floor of the House. I would say that there is a total misuse of the constitutional machinery there and people have not been allowed to enjoy their fundamental rights by a ruthless, blood-thirsty section of the CPI (M) cadre in alliance with the local police forces. … (Interruptions)
SHRI SOMNATH CHATTERJEE : Sir, I strongly object to what he is saying. It is very unfortunate that he is raising State matters in this House. … (Interruptions)
MR. SPEAKER: Shri Ramesh Chennithala.
… (Interruptions)
SHRI SOMNATH CHATTERJEE : If any Member is irresponsible and can do certain things with the permission of the Chair, then as a matter of right, I shall raise it.… (Interruptions)
श्री मदन लाल खुराना (दिल्ली सदर) : ये चेयर की इजाजत से बोल रहे हैं…( व्यवधान)
SHRI BASU DEB ACHARIA : Sir, how can you allow him to speak on a State subject? I want your ruling on this point. What he has said about the State of West Bengal is a State subject. And matters pertaining to States should not be raised on the floor of this House. So, it should be deleted from the record.
MR. SPEAKER: I have called Shri Ramesh Chennithala to speak.
… (Interruptions)
SHRI SOMNATH CHATTERJEE : Apart from the fact that what he has said is false, he is trying to create a precedent which is dangerous because his Party has no foothold there.… (Interruptions)