Story By : K B Jandial

Parliament’s yet another session was washed as a result of continuous ruckus, frequent adjournments and finally adjourned sine die with almost any work. This is the new normal of the ‘highest temple of Indian democracy.’ While the world is told that Indian democracy is under threat and needs ‘foreign intervention’, the most disturbing part of these developments is that the faith of the people in democratic institutions is shaken.

The ‘hon’ble’ members didn’t allow the Parliament to function because of matters which had nothing to do with public welfare. The issues used for the ruckus were JPC on Adani issue, apology from Rahul Gandhi for his uncharitable and demeaning observations in London on Indian democratic institutions and “foreign intervention”, 2-year sentence to Rahul in criminal defamation case and subsequent disqualification from Lok Sabha. All these matters had been in the public domain and bitterly debated at all public fora, evening national TV debates and on social media to the point of disillusionment. But, still the MPs from all sides ‘contributed their might’ to stall the proceedings daily, sparing no one from heckling- the Presiding officers, PM, Ministers, or any other members. 

What did they gain out of it? What public good did it finally accrue? All these matters could be important, but don’t override the larger public good for which these democratic representative institutions. People wait for redressal of their problems which MPs seek through Questions, Zero Hours, Calling Attention Motions, Short Notice debates, budget debates etc. All these opportunities were thrown away for petty politics or political one-upmanship.

Read the full story here :- https://expressindianews.com/Opinion/2847/Straight-Talk-Parliament_-A-Temple-of-Democracy-or-Akhara-for-Dangal_.html#.ZDYm3mvqL1A.whatsapp