Omkar Dattatray
Much awaited winter session of the new parliament has begun on Monday 25 November 2024.But alas! It commenced on a stormy note as expected because of the INDIA’s attitude in and outside the parliament .The opposition that is Congress and other constituents of INDIA bloc are hell bent to disrupt the parliament proceedings as before and they have least regard for discipline and decorum .The opposition is not allowing serious debates ,discussions and deliberations in both the houses of parliament .In fact serious debate is conspicuously missing in today’s parliament. The absence of serious debates and discussions is a serious issue and all parties in our multi-party democracy should address this issue and cooperate with the treasury benches for the successful working and functioning of the parliament. Yes, raising the issues of the people and attracting the attention of the government towards solving these issues and criticizing and opposing government is the privilege and domain of the opposition in a democracy .But then blind opposition is also not needed as it hurts democracy and impedes and obstructs the proceedings of the parliament which causes a big loss to the government coffers and lowers the prestige of not only the parliamentarians but also of the parliament and our democracy .This time as well the opposition parties seem to have made their mind to not allow the parliament to function and transact the normal parliamentary business. The government has made it clear that it is ready to discuss and debate each and every issue to be raised by the opposition .But then the opposition no doubt should raise the important issues concerning and confronting the people and should not hold the session of the parliament as hostage to their gossip and baseless and frivolous charges and accusations which is ridiculous ,funny and unfortunate .The days of serious and sane debates and discussions of yore are now a history as it has been thrown in the dustbin and what is witnessed in the highest temple of democracy -the parliament is indiscipline ,futile gossip ,disruptions ,pandemonium’s ,stalemates and washing off the business of the parliament .In the current winter session of the parliament ,the opposition is raising the Adani corruption issue ,Manipur issue and price rise all well and within the domain of the opposition. It is free to raise any issue relating to the people .However under the guise of raising these issues ,it should not disrupt and disturb the proceedings of the parliament. The opposition from day one of the winter session of the parliament is resorting to ruckus ,indiscipline and our parliament is made to resemble a fish market .The parliamentarians both of the ruling parties and the opposition parties should appreciate and recognize that they are the representatives of the and they should debate and discuss the people’s issues and not disrupt the parliament proceedings .By resorting to uncalled for ruckus ,indiscipline and bringing the business of the parliament to halt will not serve any purpose and it impinges on the democratic functioning and proceedings of the parliament .Both houses of the parliament should be allowed to function smoothly so that the important bills are discussed ,debated and the legislations passed for the benefit of the people. .It is the responsibility of the treasury benches and the opposition to use their influence and act in the desired manner so that there will be no adjournments and proroguing of the parliament and instead the proceedings should be allowed to proceed smoothly .In these days of internet ,digital technology and social media ,the working of the parliament is watched by the people not only within the country but globally and so the members of the parliament should conduct themselves in a disciplined manner and should abstain from doing disruptions and not create unnecessary noises and indiscipline in the parliament houses .Noisy scenes ,indiscipline ,sloganeering and coming to the well of the Lok Sabha and Raj Sabha have become routine and normal things in parliament .However all this brings disrepute to the parliamentarians and lowers the prestige of the parliament and those manning the parliament .In yester years there used to be discipline ,decorum in the parliament functioning ,but today’ these things are totally absent and it is a serious and grave issue .The parliamentarians should see that they are watched by the people and thus should conduct themselves in a proper, dignified ,democratic ,disciplined way so that the stature of the parliament and its members is increased and they serve the democracy in the best manner .The INDIA parties ,which met in the morning of 25th November to discuss their strategy ,decided to raise the Adani issue and demanded an immediate discussion .However the chair in both the houses refused permission for the debate .The winter session of parliament got off on a stormy start on Monday over the indictment of billionaire industrialist Gautam Adani in US and the oppositions demand to debate this issue in Lok Sabha as well in Raj Sabha .In fact the dark skies are ahead for winter session of parliament .There are 15 bills that must be looked at during the winter session of the Indian parliament -the second since the general elections in June. However ,the session is off to a stormy start .In fact winter session of parliament had a stormy start. It began on Monday and the session was adjourned in both houses of parliament on its very first day .It is not good and is a matter of concern .The leader of opposition Mallikarjun Kharge said ,”The US government has taken a case strongly ,an incident that happened in India. ”He demanded a discussion on the US governments indictment of Adani for corruption. RS chairman declared adjournment saying that opposition was creating a ruckus .The parliament’s winter session will continue till December 20 and 15 bills will be discussed including the bill to amend waqf law and the bribery case on Adani is also likely to be discussed .Waqf Law Bill and the Adani issue are going to dominate the parliament .Besides Waqf bill ,One Nation, One Election and UCC may also be listed as prime minister is interested in these bills more than any one else.These three bills are most likely to be passed is the expert opinion of the experts .So the session which has started on a stormy note will continue to be more noisy on these three bills .It is worth noting that the Adani issue have not galvanized the public opinion in the way the opposition had hoped .It seems that opposition has failed to create an engaging narrative for the public .In brief the present winter session is very noisy as the opposition is hell bent to raise issues which are hardly related with the public and they are more concerned with creating disruptions to impede the functioning of the two houses of parliament .Let the opposition as well as treasury benches behave properly-opposition show maturity and discipline and the ruling parties show accommodative attitude so that the functioning of the parliament is carried on smoothly and this is in the interest of the country.
(The author is a columnist, social and KP activist)