As Lok Sabha resumed regular work on Monday, the MPs sought the government’s intervention on a range of matters, including attacks on minorities in neighbouring Bangladesh, debates over Places of Worship Act and protection of mental health and well-being of young professionals in the IT sector.
Shiv Sena (Shinde)’s Naresh Mhaske said the atrocities against the Hindus in Bangladesh cannot be merely termed as an internal issue of the neighbouring country. He urged the Union government to assert strongly to Bangladesh to hold a fair probe into the atrocities against the minorities.
Joining the issue, Trinamool Congress MP Sudip Bandyopadhyay also sought a statement from the government on the issue. “India should speed up its efforts for this,” he said. “They (minorities in Bangladesh) are being tested, religion is becoming big there… it is a sin to be a Hindu, a Sikh or a Jain (there)… The foreign secretary visited Bangladesh recently…. Why is the government keeping mum? The House is running, let us know what actual developments are taking place,” he said.
“Either the External Affairs Minister or the Prime Minister must come to the House…. We believe this matter must be sent to the government from your Chair, we will get the reply by tomorrow,” said the TMC MP from Kolkata Uttar.
Congress MP Hibi Eden asked the government to take measures to see that mental health is considered a serious issue and that corporates and multinational companies are following labour laws and rules. Taking up the death of a 26-year-old employee, Anna Sebastian Perayil, at an accounting firm “due to work pressure”, he said, “Her death has brought to light the critical issue of extreme work pressure and its impact on the health and well-being of IT professionals.”
AIMIM MP Asaduddin Owaisi raised the issue of fresh bids to convert or change the character of Islamic worshipping places across the country. “At least 12 egregious cases have been filed against masjids and dargahs to convert or change their character. It includes Baba Budangiri Dargah in Karnataka, Bija Mandal Masjid, Vidisha, Madhya Pradesh and Badruddin Shah Dargah in Baghpat. The Modi government must give a clear answer as to its commitment to implement the laws…, “ Owaisi said.
“Historical wrongs cannot be remedied by people taking the law into their own hands. In preserving the character of the Places of Worship Act, Parliament has mandated in certain terms that history in its wrongs shall not be used as an instrument to oppress the present and future. Madam, this was said by the seven-judge constitutional bench in the judgment of Babri Masjid Vs Ram Mandir,” he said.
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