Disturbing stand-off in Parliament

Unlike the fist Parliamentary session of the NDA government which received thumbs up for maximum productivity the monsoon session of 15^th Lok Sabha is marred by opposition deadlock. The monsoon session spanning from July 21^st to Aug 13, 2015 was expected to be turbulent with opposition grinding teeth over the Lalit gate row with media stirring massive debates over Sushma Swaraj's and Vasundhra Raje's involvement and facilitation of Lalit Modi’s passage to London and  Shivaraj Singh Chouhan under scanner in Vyapam scam. The parliament entered into an indefinite logjam with opposition persistent on resignation of the cabinet minister and two chief ministers and refusing to relent.

The protests within the Parliament, slogan shouting has reached such a crescendo that the speaker was forced to seek refuge of the legislation to suspend the unruly MPs of the opposition. Eventually the disruptions orchestrated by the congress MPs with a tip off from Rahul Gandhi held unusually large sized placards overhead chasing the cameras. This unruly behaviour led to the suspension of 25 congress MP under rule 374 (A) for “persistently, wilfully obstructing the parliament”. This was immediately followed by sit-in protests within and outside the Parliament and entered the next stage of dharna before the house of the speaker and office of the BJP. The suspension in fact brought the sworn enemies together with members from JD (U), AAP, Trinamool Congress, Left, SP leaders coming together. The series of the events and the press statements released later on by the respective party Chiefs has really raised doubts about the commitment and morality of the political parties. With of each of them projecting themselves as the victims of the ruling excesses and trying to portray themselves as the upholders of democracy.

In fact perpetual outlandish attacks, bearish remarks and the unrelenting bad propaganda invariably reiterate that opposition and media that scoffed at Narendra Modi as the "merchant of death" refuse to accept him as the Prime Minister. The illogical transgressions, incongruent statements after any landmark feat achieved by the new government have been meted with suspicion, rancour and scorn. It is pathetic that even issues concerning the security of the country are discussed in the same vein lending more leeway to the enemy countries like Pakistan. While disagreements, debates and arguments are part of the democratic country like India where voices of people are represented and respected stalling the house to vent out frustrations is unacceptable. Simply put, this reflects the inability of the iconic Nehru-Gandhi scions to accept the humiliating defeat handed over to them.  Consequently they are lambasting the BJP with ballistic outbursts and the destructive parliamentary behaviour followed by them during the UPA regime. The Congress is now paying it back to the BJP in the same coin.

The theatrics opposition parties and their entourage on the floor of house are reeking under the stench of revenge politics, long drawn animosities and marked by intolerance. The inimical frustration of the opposition is evident from the new found enthusiasm of Sonia Gandhi in addressing press meets unlike the decade long hushed silence over the eruption of various scams. While the opposition has been crying foul lashing out at the speaker “as suicide of the democracy” upon their expulsion it is time for soul searching.

The people of the country have bestowed decisive mandate after three decades aspiring for parivartan. Deprived of access to even basic necessities they desperately wanted to shake off the inertia of the political system, break the gridlock of policy paralysis and false pretexts of working under the dictum of political parties. All the hopes of the electorate are petering out due to stalling of Parliament. Frequent disruptions of the parliament and frivolous disagreements would not only take a toll on the economy but sends out a wrong message to other nations. 

In a significant relief yesterday SP leader Mulayam Singh Yadav gave a call to end longstanding impasse at the Parliament subsequently all opposition parties voiced their willingness to resume work. Today when the GST bill which was cleared by the standing committee and LOk Sabha was introduced in the Upper House, it was welcomed by ruckus and uproar which has now become characteristic of the Congress. Congress has been the original author of the bill and its stiff resistance to the passage reinstates its chartered course action in politics of revenge as opposed to working towards economic development of the nation.

Shifting of blame for listlessness in the Parliament between the ruling party and the opposition must end. Leaders must draw down curtains on their unbecoming political manifestoes. Repeated adjournments are making a mockery of the Parliamentary system of government which was eloquently used by several nations to egg onto the ladder of the development. With people conferring an unprecedented majority to the ruling party the onus lies on them to reach out to the opposition party and ensure proper functioning of the Parliament. Indeed our beloved President Late Dr. A. P. J. Abdul Kalam lamented over the sheer loss of productive functioning of Parliament and warned that it is high time we make some legislation that can control and check the frequent logjams. Opposition parties who are trying the disruptive tactics to occupy the front page of newspapers must understand that stalling parliament is synonymous to disrespecting people’s mandate. As the largest democratic country in the World political parties must thrive to set a classical example of running this huge country amicably rather than squabbling for petty political mileages. 

 

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