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03.08.2010
SHRI TATHAGATA SATPATHY (DHENKANAL): After such an earth
shattering speech, I feel humbled. There is no intention on my part to have a
political one-upmanship which we have been seeing and happening here in this
House throughout the discussions on price rise today. Politics is not the only
answer to all the problems and that is probably why we are not able to address the
real situation. A call for Bharat Bandh was given only July 5, 2010. …
(Interruptions)
It was not something led by the political parties. This was a change in the
scenario; it was a movement led by the people of India and the political parties had
to run after the people, to prove that they existed. In my State, my Party, Biju
Janata Dal organized a very peaceful hartal and that was to show the solidarity
with the people of the State. It is said that inflation is the rate at which the prices
rise; this House is supposed to give a voice to the poor of this country, but
unfortunately, we all represent the middle class or the rich. Today, a situation has
come where the middle class has become totally silent because of very personal
interests. The tom-toming of globalization, economic reforms and the so-called
development has shut the mouth of the middle class – either they have ensconced
themselves and become a small group and are directly benefiting from the so-
called development or they are in a stage now where they hope that maybe, some
bits and crumbs will fall their way so that they will be the beneficiaries of this
development that is being spoken about.
But we are all, unfortunately forgetting the real India, the poor, the
downtrodden. We mention them in our speeches. But if you have seen the
atmosphere in the House today, it was a very fine atmosphere, jocular, laughing,
and funny. But rarely – I am pained to say this because I probably have become a
part of this futile exercise – has anyone spoken sincerely on what the true problem
is.
I have noticed that after every Pay Commission Report that is published,
the prices immediately start increasing. That means, the whole nation is waiting to
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