Logjam in parliament

binay-kumar-sinha

Binay Kumar Sinha | September 4, 2015



Our parliament has performed poorly and irresponsibly in the recent monsoon session. It gives a bad signal to the future of our democracy.  The way things were going on and the way sessions were adjourned on some pretext or the other proved that we have gone astray without caring for the promises made to the nation. Why is it so and why this vicious trend in our thinking is gathering momentum even after a period of 68 years of independence is a question that needs answer from all us.

We are addicted to grinding our own axe at the cost of growth and development of the country. We are more concerned for our personal interests than for anything else. The electoral victory as such is the proof of our self-aggrandisement even if it leads us to ruins. Democratic institutions are as a result in the opinion of the president of India is under stress because it has become an arena to combat than to debate. It then goes without saying that parliament is losing its sanctity in the eyes of general public.

Repeated hindrance to the discussions appears to have become the order of the day. The opposition is always well-equipped with all measures in a mood to attack the ruling party. The whole country feels insulted, demoralised and disappointed. Now the question arises why the elected representatives of the people mislead their voters after they come to parliament to discuss burning issues of the day.

Important discussions on land bill, GST bill are pending in both the houses. A sane attitude towards contemporary problems becomes a wishful thinking in view of the code of conduct followed by the so-called leaders. We then ask ourselves if we elected these people for this sad state of affairs appearing on the TV screen. It’s a question of introspection rather than riding roughshod over delicate issues. In the opinion of the scholars and critics, the parliament, at present, is the symbol and living expression of democracy but is making a mockery of democracy. Disruptive theatrics are performed by the parties leading to the adjournment of the parliament.

Analysing the prevailing trends in both the houses, we can say that it is sending bad signals to the people living inside as well as outside our country. Instead of strengthening, we are on our way towards a weak nation. Undoubtedly, the parliamentary proceedings in the UK as well are noisy and dreary but resorting to mob tactics is rarely seen there.  This hate story between the current government and the opposition is the root cause of parliament’s chronic state of dysfunction. The expulsion of the members of Congress party is a recent example of their unruly behaviour.

We may conclude as such that parliamentary logjam is no solution to our problems. We have to learn how to respect the norms we have established.


 

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