Indian premier urges against parliament disruptions

 

 

Addressing the Lok Sabha yesterday, Singh said the manner in which parliamentarians have conducted themselves, especially over the past couple of years, has created a sense of frustration and disillusionment among the people.

 

"The daily routine of disruptions, adjournments and shouting in the House are leading many outside to question the efficacy of this institution and its place in public affairs,” he said.

 

Asking every MP to lead by example to restore the prestige of the institution, Singh said “we need to resolve that the Rules of Procedure and Conduct that we have collectively evolved would be honoured in letter and spirit.”

 

"Unless we can find some way to resolve the growing impasse in the functioning of Parliament, public disenchantment will only grow,” the PM said.

 

He said leaders of political parties should sit together to find ways to raise issues and air differences in a manner that does not stall parliament.

 

The PM made the same points when he spoke in the Rajya Sabha earlier in the day, saying there was a need to restore the decorum that is “expected from the House of Elders”.

 

Quoting the first chairman of the Rajya Sabha, S Radhakrishnan, he said parliament is not only a legislative but also a deliberative body.

 

"So far as its deliberative functions are concerned, it will be open to us to make very valuable contributions, and it will depend on our work whether we justify this two-chamber system...” the PM said, quoting Radhakrishnan.

 

He said the deliberations in the Rajya Sabha have “enriched” the parliamentary system. “I have been a proud member of this august house for the past 21 years. I have personally witnessed and participated in some very enriching and lively debates...This house has always been a repository of wisdom that has proved invaluable to the functioning of our parliamentary democracy,” he said.

 

The PM also made the point that India’s commitment to democracy, despite odds, was one of the major factors that was behind its growing global stature. The leader of the opposition, Arun Jaitley, also hailed India’s growth to the stature of the largest democracy.