DEGENERATION OF OUR "TEMPLE OF DEMOCRACY"
By Ruma Dubey
The Govt announced today that it will bring in an ordinance if the Land Bill and the Food Security Bill is not passed in the Parliament. On 30th April, the Finance Bill was passed by the Parliament without debate. So is the Parliament working or is this a dysfunctional way of its working?
The Indian Parliament is currently facing a crisis of confidence. Most of the days, through any session, the Parliament adjourns with no business being done, amidst shouts, sloganeering and a major ruckus. The sweet voiced Speaker of the Lok Sabha, Meira Kumar, after trying to control the ministers like a teacher trying to bring decorum in an unruly classroom, helplessly, is left with no option but to simply adjourn. Nothing gets done in the Parliament and the common man, looking at the high cost of running the Parliament, apparently around Rs.2.5 lakh per minute, wonders today about the relevance of this institution. The largest democracy in the worl - it is shameful how the very edifice of our democracy is today run.
The passing of the Finance Bill was good but without debate? Is this how Bills are passed? These politicians only shout and disrupt proceedings in the Parliament and as soon as they are out after adjournment, they start debating on TV news channels. If they can debate on TV channels why not where they should actually debate – in the Parliament?
Last year the Parliament completed 60 years and look how far we have fallen in these years! It is assuring to know that unlike neighbouring countries in Asia who go through military coups and violent upheavals, India is more stable and we remain a major democracy run by the Parliament. Yet, looking at the current degeneration of this institution, such small consolations become irrelevant. To merely feel good that we have an instrument is futile if the instrument does not work at all.
Do you remember listening to any meaningful debates in either the Rajya Sabha or the Lok Sabha? Yes, those on Women’s reservation Bill, the Lokpal Bill, and the more recent debate on the anti-rape Bill were good. But these are far and few in between. But a look at all these bills which were debated also indicates that the debate happened only because of intense pressure from the people of India, who took to demonstrations and fasting. So the impetus to debate comes from the civil society; why are our ministers never, ever proactive?
We as people are supposedly powerful as we elect the Govt. But that is the only power we seem to have, which we exercise every five years. After that we have to merely watch the various antics and curse ourselves for even having gone to vote! Why do we have no power but to watch helplessly as these ministers squander away our money and faith in the system?
The Ministers who are the true custodians of the Parliament have held it to hostage and acted with complete irresponsibility. Legislative business has come to a grinding halt and we all are facing the brunt of this. Speakers have been reduced to helpless spectators. Disruption of Parliament has become the de facto way of Parliament functioning. Does the Opposition think that adjourning proceedings is an exhibition of their power? Yes today, majority of us Indians have lost all respect for the Parliament and there is major disrepute for our political process.
Those in the ruling party have to, in an ideal world, concentrate on running the country, take decisions and govern the country. But today they are reduced to merely protecting their chairs and staying in power. This is what our Parliament; the “temple of democracy” has degenerated to.
Food for thought: the Indian Parliament seems to be unable to break the effect of ‘being a colony’. Why is it that our Ministers still thump the tables like the British instead of, maybe clapping? Or why do they still say, “Aye” when they can say, “yes” when bills are put to vote?