Indian politicians should be sent to etiquette classes
We are at present being governed by 15th Lok Sabha and hold our head high as the world's largest democracy. However, it would not really be a rosy picture if we think of the quality of our political management on date.
INDIA TODAY cherishes the fact of being able to sustain democratic structure for whole six decades despite severe testing times. We are proud of our tall leaders as Pandit Jawahar Lal Nehru, Lal Bahadur Shastri, Rajiv Gandhi and living icons like Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Manmohan Singh, Somnath Chaterjee etc, all who have ardently upheld the true spirit of people's rule. The citizens of India elect their representatives, who are supposed to govern the country to the best interest of the public. They are meant to be there for devising the policy framework and earnestly managing the affairs of the country. We have adopted multi party system, where one party that secures the maximum votes forms the government along with its allies. The other parties sit in the opposition to keep an open vigil over the performance of ruling coalition.
Democracy, in fact, greatly depends upon constructive opposition for its effective sustenance. Unfortunately, our parties seem to be far away from this basic realisation. They just believe in opposing the government's every stand, even if it might be in public interest. Instead of critically analysing the proposed plans in the Parliament and legislative assemblies, the non ruling parties leave no stone unturned to hamper the house's proceedings. As the television sets bring live pictures of the sessions, public at large feel ashamed to see their legislators holding chappals in their hands, verbally abusing their colleagues and getting involved in violent brawls. The common man actually gets perturbed when his own elected men cause such disrepute to the basic structure of democracy ‘our parliament'. Walking out of the house is an acceptable form of protest but it is unthinkable if they do so while the finance minister is delivering his budget speech!
But our politicians seem to know of no contours of political conduct as they showed their worst part on March 8, 2010, during discussion on Women Reservation Bill. Shamefully, the copies of bill were flung in the air in Rajya Sabha and there were uproarious scenes. These MPs showed no remorse rather one of them brazenly said that they were prepared to cross all the limits to oppose the present draft of the bill. How can we expect such MPs to carry forward legacy of democracy? The question hour in the next day's Lok Sabha was also disrupted by the constant shouting against the same bill. It was indeed appalling to see how the speaker was finding it hard to conduct the business in the house amid such ruckus. A first standard student well knows of raising his point only after seeking the permission but our honourable parliamentarians are expert in heckling the orators every time and that too in the most deplorable manner.
Their indecent behaviour costs high to the exchequer as whopping 14 lakh is spent on every single day sitting of the house and it is appalling when the house is not allowed to carry on its business. Debates and discussions are essential part of the democracy but the ruckus that the opposing leaders create, kills the spirit. Consequently,the presiding officers are forced to adjourn the house before schedule. One would be surprised to know that our first Lok Sabha conducted fruitful business for around 3500 hours, but today, it would be a miracle if our leaders sit in the house for more than five hundred hours in one term. The 14th Lok Sabha lost 22 per cent of its time in chaos and disruptions, causing huge amount of taxpayers' money going down the drain. Lack of quorum often lets many important bills be passed without parliamentary discussion. The MPs simply come and sign the attendance register and leave after a little while if the agenda of the day does not concern them. Worse, the winter session of the year 2009, witnessed a strange happening when as many as 31 out of 38 questioned members were found absent during the question hour.
One feels sorry to recall the disappointment expressed by our former speaker Somnath Cahterjee every time he attempted to make the members realise their duty of maintaining the essential decorum of the house. He also, at one time, during his tenure referred a list of 32 unruly MPs to the Privileges Committee but later, recalled the same as they later expressed apology for their conduct. His proposed rule of 'no work no pay' for parliamentarians, which apparently found no takers and hence the sorry state of affairs continues.
When a child starts sensing the world, the parents first of all try to teach him about basic rules of social conduct. We have plethora of play pen schools, etiquette literature but remorsefully our leaders seem to throw all those lessons to wind when they enter the political arena. The self centered politicians have demoralised the Indian humanity which puts its sacred trust in Constitution. The people's confidence in parliamentary system is shaken and scandalised. Their integrity seems to have gone haywire and taken a holiday. It is high time they realised their obligation to the people of the country, their duty to maintain dignity of our parliament and state assemblies and their utmost responsibility of carrying forward the legacy of true democracy. Then only we would actually be proud of the system.
Their indecent behaviour costs high to the exchequer as whopping 14 lakh is spent on every single day sitting of the house and it is appalling when the house is not allowed to carry on its business. Debates and discussions are essential part of the democracy but the ruckus that the opposing leaders create, kills the spirit. Consequently,the presiding officers are forced to adjourn the house before schedule. One would be surprised to know that our first Lok Sabha conducted fruitful business for around 3500 hours, but today, it would be a miracle if our leaders sit in the house for more than five hundred hours in one term. The 14th Lok Sabha lost 22 per cent of its time in chaos and disruptions, causing huge amount of taxpayers' money going down the drain. Lack of quorum often lets many important bills be passed without parliamentary discussion. The MPs simply come and sign the attendance register and leave after a little while if the agenda of the day does not concern them. Worse, the winter session of the year 2009, witnessed a strange happening when as many as 31 out of 38 questioned members were found absent during the question hour.
One feels sorry to recall the disappointment expressed by our former speaker Somnath Cahterjee every time he attempted to make the members realise their duty of maintaining the essential decorum of the house. He also, at one time, during his tenure referred a list of 32 unruly MPs to the Privileges Committee but later, recalled the same as they later expressed apology for their conduct. His proposed rule of 'no work no pay' for parliamentarians, which apparently found no takers and hence the sorry state of affairs continues.
When a child starts sensing the world, the parents first of all try to teach him about basic rules of social conduct. We have plethora of play pen schools, etiquette literature but remorsefully our leaders seem to throw all those lessons to wind when they enter the political arena. The self centered politicians have demoralised the Indian humanity which puts its sacred trust in Constitution. The people's confidence in parliamentary system is shaken and scandalised. Their integrity seems to have gone haywire and taken a holiday. It is high time they realised their obligation to the people of the country, their duty to maintain dignity of our parliament and state assemblies and their utmost responsibility of carrying forward the legacy of true democracy. Then only we would actually be proud of the system.
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