The Week in Parliament
CPI(M) Parliamentary Office
The Winter Session of Parliament commenced on December 1 and will continue until December 19. The Opposition MPs have decided to raise several matters, including concerns linked to the special intensive revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, equality, income, the Red Fort blast, labour codes, Delhi pollution, foreign policy, etc. On the first day of the session, the Lok Sabha was adjourned twice due to heavy sloganeering by the Opposition over SIR and “vote chori” allegations.
In the Rajya Sabha, John Brittas raised concern over the implementation of four labour codes. In the name of ease of business, ease of exploitation of workers is unleashed. They want to pave the way for a corporate jungle raj. In Modi raj, it would be hire and fire. The labour codes were passed in a hasty manner without proper discussion in Parliament. Even there was stiff opposition from the BMS and a section of the BJP. That's why these codes were kept in the freezer for a long time. These labour codes will play havoc on the rights and dignity of workers. The threshold for labour law coverage has been raised excluding a large section of establishments. Seventy per cent of establishments and 74 per cent of workers will fall into the vulnerable category. Contract labour will rule the roost. Now this applies only to units with more than 300 workers. The new codes also provide a 12-hour shift. The hard-fought rights of the workers are being forfeited. Should we forget the historic struggle that happened in Chicago in 1886: 8-hour work, 8-hour rest and 8 hours for recreation. In all fascist regimes, the first thing they do is to ban or weaken the trade unions. And that is happening in this country also. The new labour codes dilute the fundamental right of workers to strike. Workers must wait for 60 days before striking, plus 14 days cooling off period. One union with 51% membership to be the sole negotiator sidelining other unions and eliminating representation of diverse groups. The rights that workers have won is not anybody’s gift or concession. It’s the result of years of struggle and sacrifice, blood and sweat. Now the government looks at strike and protest as a criminal activity. The government has introduced “floor wage”. It does not even recognise minimum wage. Any government with a little empathy should have strived for fair wages. This government as usual wants to infringe on the rights of the states. Labour comes under the concurrent list of the Constitution. But the Centre wants to make sure that it will prevail everywhere. I demand that the labour codes be withdrawn immediately otherwise it would meet the fate of the farm bills and the recently introduced Sanchar Saathi. This is my warning to the government. The workers are on the path of agitation and protest. INDIA Bloc parties had led the protest in front of Parliament. The government should see the writings on the wall.
In the Lok Sabha, R Sachithanantham spoke on the Health Security to National Security Cess Bill 2025. The finance minister, while making the introductory remarks, said as per the production capacity of the machinery, cess will be levied on pan masala and other tobacco products. She announced that the amount thus collected would be utilised for health security and national security. These securities are very much needed. There is no second thought on this. But the finance minister should clarify whether the amount collected through cess would be sufficient for ensuring health security and national security. If cess is levied, the amount thus collected will only go to the Union government. As the states have to take care of health and security issues, I urge upon the finance minister that 50 per cent of the amount collected through such a cess should be given to the states. The finance minister said that they would devise schemes for the states with this fund. I wish to state that if 50 per cent of the tax income is provided to the states, they can themselves formulate schemes suitable for them. I urge that taxes on essential items should be reduced and the taxes on corporates and the rich should be increased. We also want to know what happened to the PM CARES fund created during the Covid-19 period. We also wish to know the income and expenditure statement pertaining to PM CARES. Many families in our country are facing difficulties due to cancer, kidney failure and heart-related ailments. When we recommend for providing assistance under the Prime Minister Disaster Relief Fund, they fix a quota for the number of beneficiaries for every month. Whatever be the required amount, they permit only an amount between Rs 1 lakh and Rs 3 lakh. The government failed to control the pricing of drugs. I wish to ask the government to explain the action taken against those who fix and sell medicines at exorbitant rates. National security has become a question mark in the national capital itself. During Operation Sindoor, the minister for home affairs stated that the headquarters of Jaish-e-Mohammed terrorist organisation and other terrorist camps were destroyed completely and terrorism has come to an end. But the Delhi car bomb blast took place only after Operation Sindoor.
In the Rajya Sabha, V Sivadasan spoke on the Central Excise Amendment Bill, 2025. He pointed out that the government should take initiative to reduce the use of cigarettes and other tobacco products. But we also need to realise that living in a single day in Delhi will cause damage equivalent to smoking 15 cigarettes. This is the situation in Delhi. We are discussing tax on cigarettes. But data shows that illegal trade and use of narcotic drugs are increasing day by day. The report shows that some of the ports are the gateway for drug mafia. It should be addressed by the Union government. Along with imposition of higher excise duty on such items, the government should tax the super rich. But they are not ready to tax the super rich. The Union government is not ready to impose inheritance tax or wealth tax upon the super rich. In Kerala, there are two lakh lottery sellers. Many of them are differently-abled and old; they are unable to do any other jobs. The Union government has imposed a higher GST of 40 per cent on them. This is cruelty against the poorest of the poor, against the lottery sellers in the state. Kerala is requesting for reduction in GST on paper lottery owned by the state government. States were guaranteed 14 per cent annual growth rate in GST revenue, else the compensation system continues. Kerala would have received approximately Rs 54,000 crore if the GST compensation system was there. The Union government is increasing their revenue income through different ways. They are collecting tax in various forms, including huge amounts of cess. But they are not considering the financial stability of the states. Cigarettes cause cancer and serious diseases. So, proper education and health awareness is necessary to prevent usage of cigarettes and other tobacco products. Education and health are the primary responsibility of the state. So, the Union government should share more revenue with the states.
In the Lok Sabha, S Venkatesan participated in a discussion on the 150th anniversary of national song Vande Mataram. The Constituent Assembly discussed in detail and decided to accept only two stanzas of this song as the national song, leaving aside four other stanzas. Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore, who composed the tune for this song for the first time, also wrote about it in his novel ‘Ghare Baire’ (The Home and the World). Now, the ruling party has desired to have a discussion on the 150th anniversary of this song. As mentioned by the prime minister, Vande Mataram remained as the soul of the freedom struggle. This is true. Not only this, Jai Hind and Inquilab Zindabad are equally important. Lakhs of people came together with each of these slogans. Unfortunately, those in power today were behind those people against whom these slogans were raised. Even if you happened to participate in the freedom struggle, you wrote apology letters for participating by mistake in that struggle and due to which you were released. Those who raised these slogans were the ones who participated in the freedom struggle. You were always on the opposite side. But now you are insisting on having a discussion. This clearly shows that there lies your politics in action. And I am duty-bound to say this openly to the citizens of this country about your double-standards. I do not know from where you got the original source to authenticate the 150 years of this national song. First, two stanzas were written, and then four stanzas were written in the novel titled Ananda Math. There is no clear mention about the year in which it was written. But you have a need. Four labour codes have affected crores of the labour force of our country, but you are not ready to discuss that in this august House. The aviation sector has come to a standstill, but you are not ready to discuss that. Delhi is very much affected by air pollution, but you would not speak about that issue. The nation needs something else. But your requirement is winning elections. That need for this debate is the upcoming Assembly elections, particularly in West Bengal.
