Why don't Parliamentarians reform themselves first?

03 May, 2012

Parliamentarians cutting across party-lines have unanimously expressed anger in bitter-most voice against Baba Ramdev's remarks.

IT WOULD have been better if our Parliamentarians would have first exhibited similar unanimity by legislating long-pending poll-reforms to effectively check bad elements from entering legislative process, and induce other reforms which could prevent politics from becoming profession for politicians, and family shops for party-bosses.

Is it not an insult of Constitution to overlook constitutional institutions when our Parliamentarians are ignoring reforms suggested by Election Commission now for decades? Is it not insult of Parliament by Parliamentarians when some unruly members are conveniently allowed (without any punishment) to tear copies of government-presented bills, an aspect criticised in loud voice by same Parliamentarians if done outside the Parliament?

Crimes like voting in Parliament after being bribed, turning official trips into holiday trips by taking girl friend in name of wife, which are otherwise punishable under Indian Penal Code, are privileged aspects under Parliamentary immunity.

In absence of ‘Right-to-Reject’, it is totally irrelevant to blame the poor voter for electing some bad elements in legislative system which by and large is largely corrupt in absence of deliberately ignored long pending reforms by the Parliamentarians who are agitated on remarks made against them outside the Parliament.

In fact, this Citizen Jouralist received a response from the Election Commision (EC) to the question whether a person should contest from more than one constituency in central, state or local elections. The EC said that it has receommended to the legislature that a person be allowed to contest from only one constituency as in case of a candidate winning from both constituencies (as is allowed presently), the candidate has to forfeit from the other - which results in extra cost to hold bye-elections to the surrendered seat in the constituency. But as usual the legislature is sitting on the recommendation, and in a step like this will be difficult to get the approval of both Houses of the Parliament in an era of coalition governments at the Centre.