You are wrong, Mr. President…!
It was heartening to read the report of how His Excellency admonished the current crop of Parliamentarians for disruptions, telling them that their strategy was ‘ gagging of majority’ by the minority. As the news reporters parroted his anguished words-‘ the Houses ran on 3- Ds, debate-dissension-decision. ..and, there was no scoop for ‘disruption’ in a parliamentary democracy…’
True. Disruption is wholly unacceptable in a Parliamentary system. The electorate vote their representatives to speak and not to sit in dharnas. Rushing to the well of the August Houses . And, definitely, not to create any trouble on the floor. Knowing fully well of live telecast of the proceedings. A nation watches. .
‘Pranab Da‘, as the grand old man of desi political mainstream who often donned the role of peacemaker amongst various political parties at every crucial juncture over the past three decades, even cautioned the Opposition that a prolonged disruption of Parliament would come back to haunt them. He reprimanded them and lamented in no unclear terms -..’ It means you are hurt, you are gagging the majority. The majority never participates in this disruption. Only minority comes to the well, shouts slogans, stops the proceedings and creates a situation in which the Chsir has no option but to adjourn the House. This is totally unacceptable ..’
True. This is totally unacceptable.
First things first. Who dons the Chair of a House? What is imbibed into the psyche of the Member seated on the Chair? Does the Speaker assume he or she is a village school headmaster, Raja Bhoja, conscience-keeper of the Nation or just a zoo-warden ? Or, worser still, a mute spectator to the mauling up and modern of the national character and spirit of the sacred Constitution?
Ponder.
Even more vital. Where is the scope for registration of a avowed communist outfit as a political party in a parliamentary form of democracy?
Basics?
Every member takes an oath of office whilst assuming the seat in Parliament. Even before, the candidates fill our forms comprising a declaration of allegiance to the Constitution and which by direct implication, indicts every such victor-Member for any and each unbecoming act – be it a dharna, pepper-spraying, throwing missiles, disrobing a woman member or snatching mikes and barking as though they were aping wild banter in dark television studios before cameras projecting them to masses of ignorants, semi literates and the gullible lot who stay glued to the idiot-box and political goings-so in corridors of power ( as though their role did not end with the inking of the finger on casting a vote on the electronic voting machines!).
So what?
As soon as any Member of Parliament gets carried away in course of House-proceedings to behave in a manner not behooving the status of a peoples’ representative, the Chair must warn him or her.
If this continues another time, let the errant Member be carried away by Marshals, with a censure on record.
And, if this continues on a third occasion, regardless of the time-gap in between such unbecoming behavior, suspend the delinquent for the rest of the session.
On a repetition beyond suspension, disqualify the Member and act in a manner behooving the office of the Chair- one who is enjoined by law and entrusted by Parliament itself to preside over the business, agenda and welfare of the Nation’s peoples.
It is therefore wrong on part of even the most seasoned of politicians in this holy land of tolerance of unequal equal status attributed to all citizens on tags of minorities, castes and so on, to declare a ‘ hands-up, we resign to fate ‘ attitude, in the light of such unwarranted, illegal, criminal behavioral patterns exhibited, time and again, repeatedly, over the decades of decadence of the parliamentary democracy…
Arise. Awaken. . .
Play the national anthem at the beginning of every day as well at the end of the day’s business . Lead by example, dear Members of Parliament. Let others emulate you- out on the streets, in the schools and elsewhere. Not just at cinema- halls …
Politics is not entertainment. Nor is it buffoonery or villainy .
Hypocrisy has begun to die. The clarion call of our beloved President is timely. For,it is never too late to start a reawakening of the spirit of freedom. Of equality. Of checks on Liberty. Of pride of belonging to a fraternity. To the comity of civilized nations of the world.
Chair is not a person who presides over smooth passage of a Bill to hike their pay, perks and privileges of immunity. They are elected to unite, not to divide . Nor, to further break harmony of being united amidst diversity of cultures and dietary intake…
No cause for desperation or exasperation. Time for action.
Vandey Mataram !!!
Jai hind!!!
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A scholarly article…but a have few questions in mind…specially seeing winter session.
1. Was it not convenient for govt if parliament does not function?
2. Why ruling party MPs were shooting slogans?
3. Why PM shirks in replying the members?
4. Why PM does not attend parliament more?
5. Why in the end of session, discussion is going to take place & PM is going to reply?
I don’t have any answers … perhaps…perhaps .. perhaps
If the PM sits in Parliament then India will never change. So while the cats out let the mice play. You will see what will happen when he does go into parliament…..
If the PM sits in Parliament then India will never change. The day he goes into parliament you will see. While the cats out the mice will play.