Wednesday, August 9, 2017 / Shravana 18, 1939 (Saka) ______

SYNOPSIS OF DEBATES (Proceedings other than Questions & Answers) ______

WELCOME TO PARLIAMENTARY DELEGATION FROM

SEYCHELLES

HON. SPEAKER: Hon. Members, I have to make an announcement. On behalf of the hon. Members of the House and on my own behalf, I have great pleasure in welcoming hon. Patrick Pillay, Speaker of the National Assembly of

Seychelles and Members of the Parliamentary Delegation from the Republic of

Seychelles who are on a visit to India as our honoured guests. They arrived in

India on Tuesday, 8th August, 2017 and are now seated in the Special Box.

Besides Delhi, they will also visit Jaipur before their final departure from India on

Monday, 14th August, 2017.

We wish them a happy and fruitful stay in our country. Through them, we convey our greetings and best wishes to the National Assembly, the Government and the friendly people of Seychelles.

REFERENCE BY THE SPEAKER

HON. SPEAKER: Hon. Members, today is a momentous day when we are observing the 75th anniversary of 'Quit India' movement. It was on 9 August,

1942, Mahatma Gandhi, the Father of the Nation through his clarion call of 'Quit

India' galvanized the entire Nation to rise in unison to free the country from the shackles of imperialist subjugation.

On this occasion, while paying our homage to the Father of the Nation and to all the martyrs who laid down their lives in the freedom struggle.

The Members then stood in silence for a short while.

ADDRESS BY THE SPEAKER

Special Discussion to Commemorate the 75th Anniversary of the 'Quit India

Movement'

HON. SPEAKER: Hon. Members, today is 9th August. Today we complete 75 years since the 'Quit India Movement' call was given. It is a very important occasion for us. Normally this is the time fixed for the Question Hour but keeping in view the feelings of Members attached to this special occasion, we suspend the Question Hour and start a discussion to allow everyone to mark this day to express their views. On the completion of 70 years of India's Independence and 75 years of most important movement of freedom struggle, the 'Quit India

Movement', I feel proud to remember those moments with all the Members of the

House and the countrymen. On this day in 1942, Father of the Nation Mahatma Gandhi demanded complete withdrawal of Britishers from India by giving a call for the historical 'Quit India Movement', which shook the foundations of the foreign rule and we were able to free our motherland. Though, 'Quit India

Movement' was the last movement before we attained freedom, yet there is a long history of movements for India's freedom. The Britishers established their rule over India, but from the very first day of their rule, efforts for India's freedom were also started. When the Britishers were enjoying the fruits of their colonial rule, the feeling of swaraj was taking shape in the minds of the local rulers, farmers, intellectuals, the common man and the soldiers of different States. Public anger was expressed in various forms against the foreign rule at different places. There was deep resentment against the foreign rule. This included the Pike revolt in

Odisha. They were eager to become torchbearer of freedom movement. We all have heard about Dheeran Chinnamlai, Kattboman of South India and Santhal

Revolt of Jharkhand. Ramsingh Kooka was one of such freedom fighters.

Everyone has heard of the great freedom fighters. However, there have been several freedom fighters about whom very few people know. There are several freedom fighters who laid down their lives for the freedom of the country such as

Matangini Hazra of erstwhile East Bengal, Queen Gaidinliu of Nagaland, Basudev,

Balwant Fadke, an ordinary labourer Babu Genu of Maharashtra but people know very little about them. Bal Gangadhar Tilak of Maharashtra gave the slogan

'freedom is my birth right and I will have it'. Gandhiji said, 'let every Indian consider himself to be a free man'. He expressed this view during Quit India Movement. This shows how small movements in different parts of the country gave shape to the nationwide movement in 1942. 'Do or Die' call during the 'Quit

India Movement' gave an impetus to this struggle. During this movement the

Britishers realised that it was not possible to continue their rule over India. I am extremely overwhelmed by remembering the courage and sacrifice of those brave martyrs who unfurled the tri-color at Patna Secretariat, without fearing the bullets by the Britishers and gave clarion call for the freedom of the country in advance.

Similar acts of bravery reported in other small towns and areas of the country such as, Munger, Murshidabad, Satara, Ballia, who declared themselves free from

British Rule. The 'Quit India Movement' resolution was moved on 8th August

1942 in the late evening in the meeting at the Gowaliya Tank Ground in Mumbai.

On the same night, the 'Quit India' resolution was passed unanimously. In his 90 minute address, Mahatma Gandhi gave a call of 'Do or Die'. The British

Government arrested one after another leader at midnight itself. The nation was certainly shocked by such large-scale arrests but did not succumb, the spirit was kept alive. The greatest success of the 'Quit India Movement' was that this movement shook the consciousness of the intellectuals of the country as well as that of the crores of farmers, workers and youths in the villages which connect them directly with the freedom struggle.

Today, we pay our homage to those unknown braves - in the hearts and minds of whom the feeling of patriotism was ever burning and their eyes were filled with dreams of free India - who were martyred during the 'Quit India Movement'. It is our sacred duty to understand, adopt and publicize the outlook of those braves, stalwarts, the pure souls. To my mind several such names would emerge. Today we will discuss it here. If we listen to the tales of the grandmothers, maternal grandmother, grandfathers, uncles or discuss it in our villages then we would know that every house sacrificed in one way or the other.

Perhaps, someone may have sold his house to save a revolutionary - sacrificed his everything. I have heard that after the speech of Gandhiji when the donation box was passed around then the women promptly took out their necklaces and donated it without hesitation. Even the most ordinary person made supreme sacrifice at that time. In a way, this was the feeling in every household. It is not that this feeling was confined to that time only. I would say that feeling is present even today. We have to rekindle it. I have seen this with my own eyes. I would like to narrate an incident which I heard at that time regarding the reaction of a woman when told about the ban on 'Kesari'. There was a ban on Kesari. There was a discussion going on in my village also. I was told by my grandparents that Kesari had been banned and how Kesari would be available. People of Maharashtra are well aware that it was a passion to read Kesari in those times. Whatever was reported in Kesari had a lot of sentiments. Lokmanya Tilak while writing the article received a massage that his son had died. He uttered only one sentence without a blink while writing the article that one offering had been consigned on the altar of the freedom struggle from his house. I am aware when the British government had put a ban on Kesari stating that nobody would read it then there was a discussion. The Government officers can understand the ramifications today. When this discussion was going on in the house, a lady came forward and suggested that Kesari could be subscribed in her name if it was not to be subscribed in the name of the male member of the house. Now, another fact came to the fore in the discussion that she was not literate. She replied that it did not matter as somebody else could read it out to her but in any case Kesari would be subscribed in the house in her name. This was a general sentiment in the households. This sentiment has not died down even today.

Let me narrate to you something, which I had witnessed myself. Great freedom fighter, Veer Savarkar, though some people raise questions on him, had sacrificed everything for the country's freedom. Renowned filmmaker Sudhir

Fadke whom many of us know very well, was making a film on Veer Savarkar and was travelling from village to village to crowd funding the film. He had a strong passion to bring forth the real story of Veer Savarkar to the people of India. He visited my hometown Indore also and delivered a speech in a meeting. He stated that he wanted to make a film on Veer Savarkar. Everyone donated something or the other. An ordinary woman came forward saying that she did not have much money in her bank account but she donated her gold bangles to make the film on

Veer Savarkar. This sentiment is still alive but it has to be rekindled. The enthusiasm, courage, resolution, faith and self-confidence with which we have attained our freedom, we ought to nurture these values to build a great, prosperous, strong and powerful nation, India of our dreams. Our freedom fighters had given a clarion call in those times asking the

Britishers to quit India. Today as we all are sitting here in this august House as representatives of the people, I feel that we had then asked the Britishers to quit

India but today we need a movement to integrate the country. Such a movement should be carried out from Kashmir to Kanyakumari and various other parts of the country so that we can build a strong and united India. Our freedom fighters had dreamt of India where there will be inclusive development and fruits of development will reach every nook and corner of the country and we have to toil hard to materialize this dream. Mahatma Gandhi had said that the poorest of the poor should be given attention first which was also reverberated by Pandit

Deendayal Upadhyay stating that the fruits of development must reach the person standing last in the queue. This was the concept of Antyodaya.

We all should have this sentiment when we are addressing the nation. We shall deserve to be the representatives of lakhs of people only when we have exalted views and noble thoughts. Lokmanya Tilak said that Swaraj was his birthright and he would have it. Today, we ought to think that Swaraj (good governance) is our ultimate duty and we will materialize it. Today, we will take a resolve for the country. Today, we are commemorating the 75th year of the Quit

India Movement. We had asked the Britishers to quit India and we got

Independence in 1947 after five years. But now we have to take a resolve as to what we are going to do in the next five years when we will be celebrating the 75th year of our Independence. With these sentiments I would request you all to express your views on this subject.

THE PRIME MINISTER (SHRI NARENDRA MODI) initiating said:

We are privileged to remember the August revolution in this august House. Many people among us might be having remembrance of the events of August Kranti and especially what had happened on 9th of August. But the recalling of these events again and again becomes a source of inspiration for all of us. The recall of such events in the social life of a country gives a new lease of life to a nation. Besides, we have a duty towards the future generations to send this message across to them.

Today, the August Kranti is completing 75 years and I consider this an extremely important occasion. The period between the year 1857 and 1947 witnessed different stages and events in the freedom struggle, the era witnessed different feats of bravery and sacrifice. The events of 1942 was the last widespread movement of its kind. The year 1942 brought the country to that precipice wherein the dominant feelings of the nation was that if not now, we will never be able to achieve what we aspire for and this had become the dominant feeling in the minds of countrymen. It was keeping in tune with this mindset that every single individual of the country was connected to the freedom struggle. Earlier, it was felt sometimes that the freedom movement is being lead by the elite class but events of 1942 left no part and no class of our society untouched by it and there was not a single social strata which did not feel that the movement was not their own and they were galvanized into action by the words of Gandhiji. Gandhiji had uttered the words 'Do or Die'. The prevailing public pressure of the time was such that even Bapu, while leading the nation had to find words in sync with the then prevailing public sentiment. Bapu had tried to take the movement to such lofty heights and it was in consequence of this that India had been set free from the bondage of slavery. The Independence of India was not merely an event of Indian freedom. India had become a source of inspiration for the emancipation of so many parts in the world including African and Asian countries where the struggle against colonialism was going on. It was within a few years that all these countries in the world gained freedom and this accomplishment was the best possible outcome of the indomitable willpower of India. Today we are living in the year

2017 and we cannot deny the fact that we have no Gandhi today and we also do not have that towering leadership with us. However, strongly supported by the collective strength of 125 crore countrymen, if we try to fulfill the dreams of

Gandhiji and those freedom fighters then it should not be a difficult job for us. The years 1942 and 2017 have strong parallels in terms of the significance of India in global context and it is precisely for this reason that us taking responsibility becomes of paramount importance. How can we deny that the termite of corruption has been eating into the vitals of the country? However, on this pious occasion we need to take resolution of honesty for leading the country out of this trouble. This is the need of the hour. Poverty, malnutrition and illiteracy are the challenges that the country is facing today. We should not consider them challenges to be tackled by the Government alone. These challenges are before the entire nation, the crisis has been staring the poor people of the country. In such a situation, it is for those who live and die for the country to take a resolve to serve the nation to find common ground of convergence to fulfill our objectives. Even in

1942, there were people of different ideologies but all of them had spoken in one voice of 'Quit India' to be their only path under the leadership of Gandhiji. Today, need of the hour is that we should resolve to get the country rid of poverty, starvation, illiteracy, superstitions etc. Have we left the dream of Gram Swaraj of

Mahatma Gandhi far behind? What is the reason that people are migrating to cities from villages. If we can do something for the welfare of the poor, farmers, dalits, oppressed and deprived people of the society, we will have to do it together. The sense of having rights has been getting forceful among people, may be knowingly or unknowingly while the sense of duty has been disappearing. Breaking rules and laws has become a habit in our way of life. Small incidents are leading to violent acts. Therefore, it is the responsibility of all of us to inculcate a sense of responsibility in the society to get rid of these demerits.

The issue of toilets and sanitation is not a matter of joke. We realize the importance of this when our mothers and sisters have to wait throughout the day for the darkness in the evening in the absence of toilets. Many of our sisters and mothers participated in the freedom movement under the leadership of Mahatma

Gandhi and their contribution to our freedom movement was as important as today in nation building. It is true that the freedom movement from 1857 to 1942 passed through many phases and also witnessed many ups and downs and change in leadership as well. Sometimes, the revolutionaries seem to be dominating and at the other votaries of non-violence and sometimes both ideologies seem to be complimenting to each other. People were gradually associating themselves with the freedom movement. But the change from 1942 to 1947 was not incremental, rather there was an atmosphere of disruption. And that belied all equations and forced Britishers to leave India. If we look back the history of the last 100-200 years we find that the journey of development was incremental and the world was gradually marching forward. But, during the last 30-40 years it witnessed a sudden change and the technology played a major role in this. If we can create the same atmosphere which was there in the country from 1942 to 1947 then from 2017 to

2022 during this period when we will be celebrating the 75th anniversary of our

Independence, we will be able to realize the dreams of our heroes of freedom movement by committing ourselves for the same. The period of time from 2017 to

2022 is a time for shouldering responsibility for all our people. And if we can take

India to new heights before the world then a large community of the world which is in search of a leadership or wants to learn from experiments of others, India is capable of doing that and I think that if we can do this it could be a great service to the country and the world as well.

We have recently witnessed the enactment of the GST. The credit for the passage of the GST does not go to the Government or any party alone rather it goes to the will power of all the Members of the House. We will have to resolve together that we would eradicate corruption in the country during the period from 2017 to 2022. We will together provide the poor all their rights. Similarly, we together will provide more opportunities of self-employment to our youths. We will also eradicate the problem of malnutrition from the country by uniting together. Similarly, we will together remove illiteracy from the country and there could be many such issues on which we all can work together. During the freedom movement the motto was 'do or die'.

Now when we are celebrating the 75th anniversary of our Independence then our motto should be - we will do it and have to do it, come what may. This motto is not of any political party but it is the motto of all the 125 crore people of the country and their representatives. And I am sure that our this resolve will inspire us to realize the dreams of the heroes of our freedom movement during the period from 2017 to 2022. Today, on this August Kranti Day we remember the sacrifices of our great freedom fighters and seek their blessings so that we all together can get rid of the problems afflicting our country and march forward to achieve this objective.

With this hope, I express my gratitude and salute to the heroes of our freedom movement.

SHRIMATI SONIA GANDHI: Today, we have gathered here to refresh the memory of the 'Quit India Movement' which started on this day 75 years ago. I am proud that I am paying homage to several brave women and men of the Indian

National Congress in this august House who participated in the movement and gave their exemplary sacrifice for our Independence. In 1942 in Mumbai, on the clarion call of Mahatma Gandhi the Indian National Congress Committee adopted the Resolution moved by Jawaharlal Nehru and seconded by Sardar Patel in which the British regime was asked to quit India. These very words agitated the entire country. The British Government immediately apprehended the Congress workers.

Thousands of people were kept in jail till the end of Second World War in 1945.

Jawaharlal Nehruji spent his longest time in jail during that time. Several women and men had to go underground to keep this movement going in the country.

Nationalist newspapers were banned and their publication was stopped. Police indulged in oppression of women. Prisoners were beaten mercilessly but despite this the demonstrators did not deter and bow down.

Quit India Movement proved a leading example of revolutionary change in our freedom struggle but we had to give several sacrifices for this. Today, these sacrifices give us an opportunity to remember them with more gratitude and honour. Today, when we are saluting our those martyrs, we should not forget that there were such organizations and persons at that time who opposed the Quit India

Movement. These elements did not play any role in getting us Independence.

When we are celebrating the 75th anniversary of Quit India Movement there are many apprehensions in the minds of our countrymen. This realization is getting deeper whether such forces of darkness are fast re-emerging in the country.

Whether efforts are being made to destabilize the foundation of democracy. Quit

India Movement reminds us of the fact that we cannot afford to let the country be a prison or of narrow minded, divisive and communal mindset. Our freedom fighters waged a war for an inclusive, pluralistic, democratic and equitable India under the leadership of Mahatma Gandhi. This was a vision which they enshrined in our Constitution. But now it seems that clouds of hatred and divisive forces are hovering over the universe. And it seems that secular, democratic and liberal values are in danger. The room for disagreement, discussion and difference of opinion has been decreasing in the public space. At times, illegal forces seem to dominate on the rule of law. Quit India Movement is a memorable moment which gives inspiration to all of us if we want to save our freedom then we will have to struggle against all types of oppressive forces.

DR. M. THAMBIDURAI: Today, we are celebrating the 75th anniversary of Quit India Movement. Many leaders had sacrificed their lives for liberating our country from the clutches of the British. The Quit India Movement also known as the August Movement of India was launched by Mahatma Gandhi in the month of

August 1942 during World War II, demanding an end to the British rule in India.

The majority of leaders fighting for Independence were arrested. Due to the absence of any leader outside, the masses turned violent and burnt Government offices. Civil rights, freedom of speech and freedom of the Press were abolished by the British. The Movement attracted participation of people from varied professions. Tamil Nadu also contributed a lot while participating in the Movement and provided leaders like G. Subramania Iyer, V.O. Chidambaram Pillai,

Subramania Bharati, C. Rajagopalachari, K. Kamaraj, Thiru Satyamurti and

Thanthai Periyar. Many students from various colleges came out and launched an agitation during the Quit India Movement. Although the Quit India Movement was unsuccessful in achieving its main objective in the short run, but in the long run it gave the momentum to get the freedom in 1947. Let see that all our languages of this country are called national languages and not regional languages.

It is the duty of the Parliament to protect all the languages and give equal status to all the languages instead of giving priority to one language.

PROF. SUGATA BOSE: 9th August is a red-letter day in Indian history.

On this day, 75 years ago, ordinary Indians became heroes when they responded to

Mahatma Gandhi's call, 'karenge ya marenge', to make colossal sacrifices in their resolve to force the British to quit India. As our Prime Minister has said in his eloquent and stirring speech, the Quit India Movement turned out to be the biggest civilian uprising in India since the great rebellion of 1857. It was led and orchestrated by middle-ranking leaders because all the top leaders were clapped into jail in the early morning hours of 9th August, 1942. It began as an urban movement of students, youth and workers. In late September, 1942 the uprising spread to the countryside, where huge crowds of peasants attacked all symbols of

British authority, including revenue offices, post offices, police stations and so on.

Everywhere, women played a crucial role in the resistance. Parallel Governments were set up in liberated localities. Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose made common cause with Mahatma Gandhi in 1942. Netaji had desperately wanted to be in Asia by August, 1942. But his submarine voyage from Europe to Asia could not be arranged until February, 1943. Had the armed thrust of the Azad Hind Fauj coincided with the internal rebellion of the Quit India Movement, then the history of our country might have taken an even more glorious turn. Our Prime Minister has announced in his speech that the five years from 2017 to 2022 should replicate the extraordinary journey of 1942 to 1947, from Sankalp to Siddhi. But how can we forget that there was a gap between sankalp and siddhi in 1947. We got independent India, but unfortunately we did not get united India at that time.

Nehru's famous "Tryst with Destiny" speech began with an honest confession. The pledge of freedom, he said, was being redeemed "not wholly or in full measure, but very substantially". The 75th Anniversary of the Quit India Movement and the

70th Anniversary of Independence call for soul-searching introspection rather than chest-thumping celebration. It was the Mahatma's moral force, with ensured that peace reigned in Calcutta on 15th August, 1947; and Hindus and Muslims chanted

"Jai Hind" in unison. Today, we see irreligion masquerading as religion. In the memory of the great patriot Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, Gandhiji had called upon his countrymen to "cleanse their hearts of all communal bitterness. Our Prime

Minister has been talking about building a new India by 2022. We too have a dream for a new India inspired by the great leaders from the past. Today, we need to rekindle the spirit of our great freedom struggle. Our Prime Minister says that the next five years will be transformative. We need to be clear about what our sankalp is for 2022. We have to make sure that we do not have a vision of untrammelled dominance of one community and one language. Let us banish poverty, illiteracy and disease from this great land of ours. Our new India will be the most vibrant economy in the world with its inhabitants enjoying universal access to education and health care. An overarching sense of Indian nationhood will happily coexist with multiple identities of our diverse populace.

SHRI ANANDRAO ADSUL: This is a very important topic. We are commemorating 75th Anniversary of 'August Kranti'. Now, time has come to connect the people of India alongwith the Quit India Movement Celebration.

Gandhi ji had adopted the methods of hunger strike and Satyagraha during the Quit

India Movement. Other freedom fighters had their own ways of participation during this movement. On 9th August, 1942, the clarion call of 'British Quit India' was made. Along with Gandhi ji, Lala Lajpat Rai, Vipin Chandra Pal and Bal

Gangadhar Tilak were other prominent names who participated in the freedom struggle. Similarly, Subash Chandra Bose had his own way of participation in the freedom movement. In 1857, first war of Independence broke out and Tantya

Tope, Nana Fadanvis and Shri M. Shinde participated in it. Rani Lakshmi Bai of

Jhansi was also a prominent name among those freedom fighters. However, revolt of 1857 was ultimately unsuccessful but we cannot forget their sacrifices made during the freedom struggle. During this period, Bal Gangadhar Tilak had started two newspapers namely 'The Maratha' and 'Kesari'. He had also started the tradition of celebrating Shiva Jayanti and Ganesh Utsav. Today, we are commemorating the 70th anniversary of our Independence. So it is my opinion that there should be one leader, one ideology in this country. Moreover, Opposition benches should be appreciated for their valuable suggestions. Our ultimate goal is that this country belong to all the citizens and its uniqueness lies in its unity in diversity.

SHRI THOTA NARASIMHAM: This year we are celebrating the 75th anniversary of the Quit India Movement. From our State of Andhra Pradesh, many freedom fighters participated in the Quit India Movement along with Mahatma

Gandhi. The Quit India Movement began on August 9th, 1942 and India attained

Independence on August 15th, 1947. The five years from 1942 to 1947 were decisive for country's Independence. Likewise, these five years from 2017 to 2022 must play a decisive role for our future. Under the leadership of Mahatma Gandhi, people across India became united and came together with a common mission to uproot imperialism. Similarly, terming Quit India Movement as an important milestone and inspiration, we the people of India, have to take a pledge to create a new India that is stronger, prosperous, corruption free and poverty free Bharat. In this spirit, I request one and all through this august House to make this 'Sankalp

Parva', a great success.

SHRI A.P. JITHENDER REDDY: The roots of Quit India Movement were planted exactly 75 years ago on 8th August, 1942 by Mahatma Gandhiji at the

Bombay Session of All India Congress Committee. The spirit showcased during the Quit India Movement is relevant even in today's time when it comes to social evils which have plagued our society. This time in order to expel the evil forces of communication, casteism, corruption, terrorism, poverty and dirt from the country by 2022, we must show the same spirit. The Gandhian values are more than just relevant today and a movement parallel to that of Quit India Movement, on the lines of Gandhian ideology, will bring harmony and unity amongst the people.

Here, perhaps is our chance to have a re-look at and revamp the All India Services which along with a notoriously aggressive taxation system has continued and has stayed the course throughout independent India. The Indian bureaucracy has since the very early inception been infamous for its complexity of structure, inefficient in the past and being prone to grave corruption. One of the major factors leading to this corruption is the permanency of All India Service Cadre Officers in one State throughout their care. We need to reform this system of keeping the IAS and IPS in one State throughout their career since we already have State cadre officers for serving in the State. This type of administrative reforms, electoral reforms and financial reforms has to be brought in. This is the time to take a Sankalp today to free the country from the clutches of corruption, intolerance, lynching, harassment of common man at the hands of the powerful, safety of girls and work towards attainment of this Sankalp by 2022. Let us pledge to create a new India in the coming five years. Today, we remember all those who have sacrificed their life for

Telangana. Today, we are rebuilding our Telangana properly so that the Telangana people who have been deprived for the last 60 years get back really what they want. I would request that even our country today should be built in a proper and good manner.

SHRIMATI RAMA DEVI: We are completing 75 years of 'Quit India

Movement' on Aug 9, 2017. The martyrs who laid down their lives and suffered lots of torture have immense impact on the youth. In our freedom struggle, two important movements took place: one is India's Freedom Struggle of 1857 and the second is 'Quit India' movement of 1942. The movement of 1942 was so forceful that made the Britishers to leave India within 5 years. India became free on 15

August, 1947. The movement was fierce at Gaya, Bhagalpur, Purnia and

Champaran in Bihar. I hail from the Shivhar District of Bihar, the Quit India

Movement took place from Tariyani Chhapra under the leadership of Mahatma

Gandhi and 11 persons of the village sacrificed their lives. I urge the government that a memorial of martyrs at this place should be erected. We should do away with the use of English in official work in government offices and courts.

SHRI PREM DAS RAI: The Sikkim Democratic Front Party and our dear leader Pawan Chamlinng ji salute the freedom fighter an especially those from the

Gorkha Community. In this Parliament premises stand the statue of Major Durga

Malla who was the first Indian Gorkha who sacrificed his life in the Indian

National Army. We salute him and all the other Indians who gave their all. Let peace be found in troubled region of ours. As long as Darjeeling boils, Sikkim cannot progress. Even though Sikkim joined the Indian Union in 1975 we have always joined hands and minds to be Indian. We will whole-heartedly work from

'Sankalp Se Siddhi" and make a new India by 2022.

SHRI KAUSHALENDRA KUMAR: The 'Quit India' movement started 75 years ago on 9 August 1942 and has been deemed as second watershed event in the freedom struggle. It was the last struggle for freedom fought under the able leadership of Mahatma Gandhi. Mahatma Gandhi called for 'Angrezo Bharat

Chhodo' after the failure of the Cripps Mission and a nationwide movement was launched on 9th August. The selection of this day was strategically planned as

Bhagat Singh ji had already started the annual celebration on 9th August of each year to keep afresh the memory of 'Kakori incident' and a large number of youths used to assemble on this day. The British Government took nearly 6 weeks to suppers the movement. Gandhiji's call to 'Do or Die' and Lal Bhadur Shastri's slogan "Kill-Not Die" added fuel to the fire and transformed the movement into a mass movement. Finally, India got freedom on 15 August 1947. Gandhi Ji dreamed

India to be liquor free. Bihar and Gujarat are liquor free states in the country. Why not the Government of the day declares the country to be liquor free? Thus, we shall progress to make the country a crime free nation. Liquor has the roots of the crimes rising day by day.

SHRI VIJAY KUMAR HANSDAK: I would like my humble submission to you on today's topic that prior to 1857, the uprising of 1855 led by Santhal Hal under Sidhu Murmu and Kandu Murmu was the first uprise against the British and is not prominently spoken or written in the Indian Independence history which needs to be known and spoken by all India. I hope our great India remains united, and proceed and progress as everyone dreams can work together to provide and fulfill the needs of our people.

SHRI AJAY MISRA TENI: I pay my tributes to all the freedom fighters after 75 years of quit India movement and I also remember Shri Rajnarayan Misra of my district who was hanged in Lucknow jail during this movement. Another freedom fighter Pt. Banshidhar Shukla of my district had made much contribution through his songs. I request to create India according to the dreams of Mahatma

Gandhi and work for Antyodaya vowed by Pt. Deen Dayal Upadhyaya.

SHRI N.K. PREMACHANDRAN: Quit India Movement or Revolt of1942 or August Revolution was the most powerful and mass movement in the freedom struggle led by Gandhiji. In the AICC meeting held in Mumbai supporting the resolution. Gandhi Addressed. "I am not going to be satisfied with anything but complete freedom". Further he came with a Mantra "Karo or Maro" (Do or Die).

As a Member of RSP, I am proud to say that my Party though there was difference with the philosophy of Congress, actively participated in the Quit India struggle and sacrificed so many lives for the Nation. Unity among diversity was the beauty of India struggle Hindus, Muslims, all religion all belief were united to achieve the common goal "Freedom of India". Unfortunately, after 7 decades of independence, the political and social freedom of certain sections of people are in danger. This is not the India that our freedom fighters had hoped for.

SHRI BHAIRON PRASAD MISHRA: First of all, I pay tribute to all the freedom fighters whose sacrifice gave us freedom today. It is meaningless if we do not discuss the contribution of Bundelkhand in the freedom struggle. Sacrifices of

Rani Laxmi Bai and Durgawati, Maharana Pratap and Bhamashah will be inspiring for us. Our Prime Minister has called for making India free from corruption, malnutrition, terrorism, unemployment, casteism, regionalism during the coming five years upto the year 2022.

SHRI JOSE K. MANI: Many of those who took part in the freedom struggle are no more with us, but their incarceration symbolising their fortitude makes us proud progenies of a valiant nation. A few who are still with us and had participated in the historic 1942 Quit India Movement as young firebrands from student community were drawn to similar nationalistic ideologies like that of

Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose who organised such movements from the alien soil.

In concluding this tribute to those who made this historic event happen, I bow before their enduring sacrifice for the freedom of the nation that we all belong to as its grateful citizens.

SHRI P. KARUNAKARAN: We got freedom not because of struggle of one day or one year, but it was due to the long glorious struggles that the nation had fought. Indian National Congress has its own contribution. Many of the Left

Party Leaders have also participated in the struggle in the State and at the national level. If we analyze with an independent view, then we could see a very inspiring aspect of the freedom struggle, which is one that leads to the mainstream of freedom struggle. I can proudly say that present Left Party leaders were in jail years together just because they participated in the freedom struggle of India. The first Opposition leader of this House, Shri A.K. Gopalan - spent years together in various jail in Kerala. Many luminaries in the Treasury Benches and also in the

Opposite side were in jail during our freedom struggle. Our freedom struggle is the struggle of the Indian people under the leadership of Mahatma Gandhi.

Thousands of people were arrested and put behind the bars. Students, peasants workers, lawyers, doctors, a big stream of various walks of life were involved in this struggle. We could not forget the martyrs of Jalianwala Bagh, Bhagat Singh,

Chandrashekhar Azad, Rajguru and many others. After the 75th year of Quit India

Movement and 70 years of our independence in the long walk of life of our country, this is the time to analyze our merits and defects. This is the time for us to take strong steps as enumerated in the Preamble of our Constitution wherein it was correctly pointed out about the freedom for expression, freedom to organize, freedom to choose any food, freedom to speak a language and freedom to move anywhere. The question before us is whether we are able to follow these significant norms. On the one hand, we have achievements; on the other hand, we have to critically self-assess our defects. The most important feature of the Quit

India Movement was the absence of religious and communal division. The national unity can be achieved through this tolerance and mutual understanding with various societies. I am sorry to say that we are losing such an atmosphere.

We have to go further in the development of IT sector. There is a slogan of

'Digital India'. I fully agree with that. But, agriculture is the backbone of our country. But, the backbone is now broken. Farmers are struggling for their survival. So, the Government has to think about it when we are celebrating this day. The corruption issue should not be taken as a political issue. The

Government should take it as a serious issue to deal with this. SHRI TATHAGATA SATPATHY: All of us have dreams of what we see this country to be in the next 50 years or 100 years. We are, first of all, born as

Indians. When we die, we will die as Indians. This is a country where tolerance is built into the very foundation of this nation. We cannot say that because you wear this kind of clothes, you speak this kind of language, you eat this kind of vegetarian or non-vegetarian food, therefore, you are different from us. It is sad to see that in our petty desires and petty ambitions, we have forgotten the interest of the country. It is time that we unite all our dreams, we do not divide and get into petty fights. I hope we all will think where we are taking this India, what do we want to do with this India.

KUNWAR HARIBANSH SINGH: I am putting forth my views on the 75th anniversary of the Quit India Movement. To me, all the persons who got martyred did not have any of their selfish motive. They only strived to secure equal rights for all citizens, equal opportunities in development and to liberate people from hunger and poverty.

SHRI H.D. DEVEGOWDA: At the time of the Quit India Movement, I was a student and was unable to participate in the Movement. Hon. Prime Minister has expressed his views through his advertisement in the newspapers, which states:

Sankalp se Siddhi. Come, let us together pledge for building a New India by

2022." We all are going to extend our full support to this. Today, this House is going to take a pledge to remove all the problems facing our country. Let us introspect, if we are going in the direction of a corruption-free India, casteism-free India and Communalism-free India? We should all remember how many people had gone through sufferings, during the British rule. Today people are suffering and committing suicides. For whose fault? For the failure of administration in the last seventy years after Independence? Many people and a galaxy of leaders in the country fought for freedom. Hon. Prime Minister, we stand by you in making the

Resolution moved by you a reality.

SHRI JAI PRAKASH NARAYAN YADAV: Quit India Movement of

1942 is considered to be the second milestone of the freedom struggle for the country. After the sacrifices of thousands of people we got an opportunity to live in an Independent India. Quit India Movement was the last battle of Indian freedom struggle. This movement had shaken the very basis of the British Empire. Great freedom fighters like Achute Patvardhanji, Aruna Aasaf Aliji, Ram Manohar

Lohiaji, Sucheta Kriplaniji, Chotubhai Puranikji, Jay Prakash Narayanji mobilized lakhs of youths against the British Empire by providing a structure to this

Movement. The tradition to celebrate Kakori Memorial day every year to keep the memory of Kakori incident afresh was started by Bhagat Singhji. This date was selected under a strategy of Gandhiji. The British government took 6 weeks to suppress this movement but cornered by the Second World War the British Empire surrendered before this movement and at 80 per cent places of North and Central

Bihar people‟s government was set up. The slogan of Gandhiji „Do or Die‟ inspired people to join this movement with new energy. The slogan of Lal

Bahadur Shastriji „Maro nahin – Maaro‟ added fuel to the fire and it became a people‟s movement in the true sense of the term. Finally, India became independent on 15 August, 1947. It was the dream of Gandhiji that there should be prohibition across the country. Why does the Government not announce total prohibition in the country? In this way we‟ll move forward in the direction of a crime-free country.

SHRI PREM SINGH CHANDUMAJRA: I pay respect to all those who sacrificed their lives during Indian Freedom Struggle. Statue of Shaheed Udham

Singh should be installed at Jallianwala Bagh at Amritsar. All Freedom Fighters who were put in prison of Andaman Nicobar, Kala Pani should be included in books and Light and Sound Programmes. We should fulfill the dreams of freedom fighters and should be worried why farmers are committing suicide daily and why

33% of population have no shelters, clothes and meals to eat. We should inquire as to why the Indian Government took advice from British officers in 1984 attack. Is it not direct interference in our country‟s Affairs? Maharaja Dalip Singh‟s

Assassin should be brought to India.

DR. ARUN KUMAR: I extend my gratitude to you for permitting me to take part in the discussion in this House today on „Quit India Movement‟ of 9th

August, 1942. The foundation of „do or die‟ on 9th August, 1942 had already got laid in the year 1857. The whole country including the states of Bihar, Jharkhand,

Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Karnataka and

Madhya Pradesh had become a part of this movement. The need of the hour today is to build a new India with the resolve of 75 years old Quit India Movement. Hon. Narendra Modiji has conceptualized the five years from the year 2017 to 2022 as a journey from the resolve to the realization. This is a historical step. The year 1974 has emerged as a epoch-making event in the history of independent India.

Thousands of people under the leadership of Loknayak Jai Prakash Narayan took part in the freedom struggle. Concluding my speech, I extend my gratitude to the

Hon. Prime Minister for his resolve.

SHRI P. R. SUNDARAM: „Quit India Movement‟ launched on 8th August,

1942 was the most popular and powerful mass movement in the series of agitations led by Gandhi in the course of freedom struggle. First half of the Quit India

Movement witnessed strikes, demonstrations, processions etc. while its second part included raids in government buildings, municipal houses, post offices, railway stations etc. which were set on fire. The last and the final phase began in

September 1942 which started with mobs bombing on government places in

Bombay and Madhya Pradesh. Finally, the movement started gaining lots of importance through peaceful means and continued till Mahatma Gandhi wasn‟t released. Today after 75 years of Quit India Movement, we, as proud Indians, are in a position to safeguard our Independence.

SHRI E. T. MOHAMMAD BASHEER: I thank you for giving me this opportunity for speaking in this historic Special discussion to commemorate 75th anniversary of Quit India. At this stage, we need not enter into a controversy about some parties opposed to the “Quit India Movement”. We all know that the British ruthlessly behaved and numerous freedom fighters were put in jail. When we observe the 75th anniversary of the great freedom movement, let us renew our pledge to keep up our glorious tradition of India as the largest secular democratic country of the world.

SHRI BALBHADRA MAJHI: I feel honoured to place a few words before the House about the Quit India Movement, 1942. On the call of the Father of the Nation Mahatma Gandhi, freedom fighters of Nabarangpur area marched towards Basugaon Police Station to place their memorandum for the Britishers quitting India on 24 August, 1942. However, on their way, near Papadahandi, demonstrations were encountered by the Police and 19 people were gunned down and 24 people jumped into the full flowing river. Thus, 33 innocent tribals lost their lives. Likewise, on 21st August, 1942, about five people were gunned down by the Police in front of Matheli Police Station of Malkangiri. There have been many contributions and sacrifices of tribals of the then Koraput District of Odisha towards freedom fight.

SHRI MEKAPATI RAJA MOHAN REDDY: Exactly 75 years back, the

Father of the Nation, Mahatma Gandhi gave a call to the Britishers to quit India and call to fellow Indians to Do or Die in achieving Independence to India. After exactly five years, India got Independence on 15 August, 1947. Now, it is the duty of successive Governments to make every citizen of the country to think, behave and conduct himself or herself independently without fear. Everybody in the country must get financial independence to have political independence. Let us resolve to make our democracy more strong and a role model to other countries in the world by correcting all the lapses in our democracy.

DR. MAMTAZ SANGHAMITA: The 75th anniversary of Quit India movement is being observed today. Gandhiji's Indian National Congress tried to unite whole India with this movement. Though it was not totally successful but it created a pressure on British Raj to quit India. We ultimately achieved freedom.

After 70 years of independence, we are not economically sound. Peasants and farmers are facing some problems. We still have difference on the issue of caste, religion. We are denying/ignoring constitution in many ways. If we don't unite, outside force will enter India and may hamper our freedom.

SHRI MALLIKARJUN KHARGE: First of all, I on behalf of the

Congress Party pay homage to all those freedom fighters who laid their lives in the freedom struggle. This movement launched under the leadership of Mahatma

Gandhi was a part of the well thought planned strategy and the entire country participated in it. Gandhiji launched 5 big All India Movements against the

Britishers. During the year 1939, the whole world was engulfed by the 2nd World

War. Inflation rose manifold and the resentment of the Indians against the British regime started rising upwards. In March 1942, the Cripps Mission came to India.

Our leaders sensed the deceitful proposals of the Cripps Mission. All these things led to the preparation of a big movement. The biggest achievement of Mahatma

Gandhi was that he spread the freedom movement to every nook and corner of the country. The Quit India Movement of 1942 became the decisive struggle against the British rule. Today whatever is going on in the country could not have been envisaged even by those who sacrificed their lives for freedom. Today there is anarchism and violence all around and the minorities, dalits and women are being attacked and killed. Dr. Ambedkar, in his speech delivered in the Constituent

Assembly had said that we must shun the activities which can be categorised as anarchism as per the Constitution, at the earliest.

SHRI KAPIL MORESHWAR PATIL: 9th August 2017 is an historic day. It is the Seventy Fifth anniversary of the Quit India Movement launched by

Father of the Nation Mahatma Gandhi in 1942. On this day, we pay our respectful homage to all those martyrs who made supreme sacrifices and suffered immense difficulties for the freedom of the nation. Today we have been remembering the

Quit India Movement because we made the British flee our nation through innumerable sacrifices but we should not forget that the main objective of the movement was not only to make India free from the foreign aggressors but also to enhance the honour and prestige of India and everything which is Indian. The incumbent Government has been promoting the Indian culture. Our Prime Minister has raised the profile of Hindi by making his speeches in Hindi language during his foreign sojourns. For this I am thankful to him.

SHRI ASHWINI KUMAR CHOUBEY: The Quit India Movement was launched on 8th August 1942 during the Second World War. The first war of independence of 1857 and the Quit India Movement of 1942 are the two most important milestones in the history of our freedom struggle. Mahatma Gandhi launched the Quit India Movement in Mumbai in the evening of 8th August 1942.

As per the Government's figures, it was a public movement in which 940 people were killed, 1630 injured, 18000 put to prison under DIR and 60229 people arrested. The Quit India Movement, therefore, was a popular movement in which millions of Indians participated. The youths in large numbers were attracted towards this movement. They left their studies to join the independence movement. When the Congress leaders were in prison Jinnah and other leaders of

Muslim league were busy to spread their influence. They got opportunity to make their presence felt in Punjab and Sindh where till now they did not have any noticeable presence. Congress never accepted the two nation theory. Even when it had to give approval to the division of nation, it had firm belief that India is a home to a number of religions and races and this plurality should be maintained.

Whatever conditions persist in Pakistan, India will be a democratic, secular country where all citizens will enjoy equal rights and equal protection of the law without any discrimination on the basis of religion.

SHRI BHARTRUHARI MAHTAB: Today is an auspicious day. The day 75 years ago India rose to tear away from the shackles of bondage and gave a final call to a colonial powers to Quit India. That was a culmination of a long struggle of freedom for the people of India who had fought against the oppression of the East India Company and also of the British Crown during last 200 years of subjugation. But let us not forget history suffers distortions whenever the present is used to contextualise the past guided by ideological predisposition. Therefore, we owe it to ourselves not to follow the nation's history to be circumscribed by ideological dogmas any longer. Communists were in support of the Quit India

Movement initially but they became supporters of the British regime after then

Soviet Union joined the Allied Forces and fought against Nazi Germany. For the

Communists, Freedom of India was not of greater importance. Important was to ally with the oppressive colonial British Empire to fight against fascist forces of

Hitler. The Congress Working Committee meeting at Wardha in the month of

July, 1942 had not endorsed the view to give the final call to the Britishers to Quit

India. But where the World War was thrust on India by the British, provincial governments in the country led by Congress resigned in protest. Individual

Satyagraha were held whereby large numbers of leaders were put behind bars in

1940. During this period, British Viceroy wanted Congress to extend full co- operation to the Empire to withstand the onslaught by the Japan forces but

Gandhiji was aghast to see through the treachery of the Britisher when he saw a

Top Secret Government Note send by Military intelligence to Provincial Police to target the freedom fighters. This letter was given to Gandhiji in Mumbai which exposed the duplicity and treachery of the British Empire. On one side in the open they asked for support from the Congress leaders and behind the back they were indulging in this type of in villaneous activities. However, the small state called

Odisha then, had provided the spark to the mighty movement which is aptly called

August Kranti, 'August Biplap'. Progress of INA towards Indian Boarders had electrified the mind of the Indians. With the fall of Japan in 1945, the progress was halted no doubt but British became very much aware that the Indian Forces through which they had ruled for 200 years is no longer going to accept them. In

Odisha, the first spark was on August 17th, when large number of Satyagrahis had burnt down a Police Station in Bhandaripokhari in Bhadrakh District. Agitations were held in Lunia where 7 were martyred. The clarion call of Gandhiji, Engrez

Bharat Chodo also reverberated in the Tribal dominated district of Koraput. At

Mathili, the Satyagrahis all tribals were demonstrating peacefully which was attacked by British police. Several people were tortured and over 30 were executed by the British Government in the Princely States like Dhenkanal,

Nayagarh, Nilgiri and Talcher. After five years, India will be celebrating the 75 years of our independence. The five years from 1942 to 1947 were the five years of Tapasya. So, the five years from 2017 and 2022 will be the year of our endeavour to drive out poverty, ignorance, communalism, terrorism, malnutrition from this country. It is time to commit for development and resolve ourselves in a positive line to make our country great, prosperous where every citizen of this country would feel this country belongs to them.

HON. SPEAKER: I will now propose the following Resolution:

RESOLUTION

"Seventy-five years ago, in the year 1942, Father of the Nation Mahatma

Gandhi and all our freedom fighters gave a call for "British! Quit India" to realize the concept of complete self-rule. On 15th August, 1947 India got Independence. During these five years between 1942 and 1947, our great goal of freedom struggle which had been going on for many decades, was realized. Today, on 9th August,

2017 i.e. in the 75th year of "Quit India" movement, we hereby resolve that: We shall remain constantly committed and dedicated to build a strong, prosperous, clean and glorious India, a nation free from corruption, well governed, scientifically and technically advanced, committed to the development for all, full of harmony and patriotism, determined to protect and promote democratic values.

We, the representatives of more than 125 crore people our country, resolve to perform our duties towards the nation taking along every citizen of Indian

Republic to build a nation as envisioned by Father of the Nation, Mahatma Gandhi and all our freedom fighters, in 5 years from now by the year 2022 i.e 75th year of our Independence. I hope the House agrees."

The Resolution was unanimously adopted.

OBITUARY REFERENCE

HON. SPEAKER: I have to inform the House about the sad demise of our colleague, Shri Sanwar Lal Jat.

Shri Sanwar Lal Jat was a sitting member representing the Ajmer

Parliamentary Constituency of Rajasthan. He was Union Minister of State for

Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation from November,

2014 to July, 2016. Shri Sanwar Lal Jat was a member of the Committee on Water

Resources and the Committee on Finance during the 16th Lok Sabha. Earlier, he was a member of Rajasthan legislative Assembly for five terms. He also served as

Cabinet Minister and Minister of State (Independent Charge) in the Government of

Rajasthan.

Shri Sanwar Lal Jat passed away on 9 August, 2017 in Delhi at the age of

62.

We deeply mourn the loss of our colleague and I am sure the House will join me in conveying our condolences to the bereaved family.

The Members then stood in silence for a short while.

ANOOP MISHRA Secretary General

English and Hindi versions of Synopsis of Debates are also available at http://loksabha.nic.in.