Omkar Dattatray
Indian Parliament is the supreme institution of the country and is rightly called the temple of democracy. It is the responsibility and duty of the parliamentarians to allow smooth functioning of this august house in the interest of the people and democracy. It is the common Knowledge and experience of the people that parliament functioning is often disrupted, obstructed and hindered by the parliament members and it is a very serious issue and it is important to allow the functioning of the parliament smoothly and frictionless so that the business of both houses of parliament is carried without any obstruction disruptions and frictions are minimum. It is very disturbing and unbecoming that the parliament functioning is marred by the pandemonium’s, disruptions and frictions which results in indiscipline and obstruction in framing laws and affects the smooth functioning of the parliament.
All the parliament members of various political parties should cooperate with the government so that the parliament functions in normal manner without any obstructions and hindrances as well as disruptions. The members of the parliament should revere and respect the discipline and decorum of the parliament and not make the parliament to resemble a fish market and a talking shop only but lend their cooperation in making the smooth functioning of the parliament a success. Parliament functioning costs corers of rupees to the national exchequer and the parliamentarians should as such make it sure that the proceedings of the parliament are not washed away without transacting any business.
It is very unfortunate that many man days of both the houses of the parliament are lost in the din and disruption of the parliament proceedings which badly affect the functioning of the parliament.
The disruptions and indiscipline and unwarranted obstruction of the parliament functioning results in enormous loss to the countries exchequer and to the public and economy and the sincere efforts should be made for the smooth functioning of the parliament. The opposition parties and that too strong opposition and criticism is the very soul and essence of democracy and without strong opposition and positive and constructive criticism, democracy becomes a meaningless proposition and it loses all its sheen and importance.
Therefore strong and constructive criticism and opposition is the hallmark of a successful democracy and so in parliament functioning positive and constructive criticism and opposition should be encouraged and allowed as it makes the government to function in the best interests of the people who are real sovereigns in a democracy.
It is the duty and responsibility of the opposition political parties to raise the public issues and problems as well as the deficiencies of the ruling party and the government so that it pays required heed and attention towards meeting and fulfilling of the demands and solving the genuine issues and problems of the people.
Thus the positive and constructive criticism and opposition is the san-e-quondam of the smooth and frictionless proceedings of the parliament. Therefore constructive and positive criticism and opposition should be encouraged and blind criticism and opposition should be done away with so that the business of the parliament is carried and laws and bills are passed in the interest of the democracy.
The parliament members should ensure that the parliament is not disrupted on the flimsily grounds and so often as to hinder the smooth running of the parliament.
What is required is that the parliament should be allowed to function and transact the business of legislating so that the laws and acts are passed to further the democracy and to achieve public good.
In our country there is live telecast of the parliament proceedings and thus the conduct of the parliament members is viewed and observed by the people and so the parliament members should conduct themselves in best possible manner and contribute to the functioning of the parliament and provide a helping hand to the government in fruitful proceedings of both houses of the parliament. Nothing should be done during the working of the parliament by its members who will lower their prestige and status and make them a laughing stock and so the parliament members should maintain discipline and decorum of the parliament at all costs and never indulge in indiscipline and chaos and confusion. The proceedings of the parliament should be carried smoothly and in the best interests of the people and democracy so that democracy is strengthened. The parliamentarians should know and realize that they are sent to parliament to transact the business proceedings and they have to make and frame rather pass laws to govern the country and they have no right to disrupt and hinder the proceedings of the parliament. Obstructing and hindering the proceedings of the parliament is un-parliamentary and this should not be allowed to mar the functioning of the august parliament.
It is the right and duty of the parliament members to raise the public issues and problems in the parliament and attract the attention of the executive/government towards these so that the government resolves these public issues and the governance is carried as per the needs and demands of the people who are the real sovereigns in a democracy. Few days before the winter session of the parliament has begun and before its commencement the PM Narendra Modi and the parliamentary affairs minister had convened the meeting of the parliament members of the various political parties so that their cooperation is enlisted and sought for smooth running of the parliament. Mallick Arjun Kharge congress president and other heads of the political parties who are also the parliament members have pledged their cooperation and support for ensuring the smooth functioning of the parliament and a consensus has been arrived at to ensure the disruption free and frictionless proceedings of the parliament in public interest.
It is thus hoped that the parliament proceedings will be carried on without any obstruction and hindrance so that the objective and functioning of the parliament are held smoothly and the maximum business is transacted and laws and acts are passed for executive so that the government conducts the governance of the country as per the laws in force. Indiscipline, making of very noisy scenes and rushing often to the well of the parliament and tearing of the papers in front of the speaker or chairman should not be allowed.
However the constructive and positive criticism should be welcomed and encouraged so that the government acts in the best interests of the public. We have seen loss of many and enormous man days and it has resulted in huge loss to the exchequer and now the parliament members should resolve to uphold discipline, decorum and pledge to work for the public and not to resort to unwanted pandemonium and ruckus in the parliament which hinders the smooth running of the parliament. Parliament members are representatives of the people and they are required to conduct themselves in proper discipline and decorum and work in the best interests of the people who have voted them. In short, Parliamentarians should a helping hand to ruling party in transacting business of Parliament and enact laws, which later on help in the governance of the country.
The smooth working of the parliament should be ensured and indiscipline and disruptions should be a thing of past.
(The author is a columnist,
social and KP activist).