LUCKNOW, Oct 13:
Against the backdrop of parliamentary proceedings being paralysed regularly, President Pranab Mukherjee today suggested that parliamentarians should explore possibilities of amending rules to ensure that both houses are able to transact routine business.
He also suggested that department related committees of Parliament undertake post approval scrutiny of budgetary allocations, made to the various ministries.
Addressing the Jagran forum here, he said, at times when certain members were highly agitated on certain issues, normal transaction of business on a daily basis as per rules appeared difficult.
Mukherjee said that he believed that the collective thinking of political establishment would be able to explore the possibility of amending rules.
He said that if it appears that rules do not reflect the situation which is prevailing currently, then they could be amended.
Noting that rules have been framed by parliamentarians only, he said they could be amended to provide an opportunity for orderly disposal of business.
He also said that Parliament should devote more time to discussing legislations especially those related to finance.
Quoting a suggestion made by former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Mukherjee said that besides scrutinising budgetary proposals of various ministries before they are sent to house, the parliamentary panels should also go through proposals after they get parliamentary nod.
Noting that the theory of “trickling down” is no more relevant, Mukherjee said inclusive growth has to come at a faster pace and all parties should work together to remove hurdles, whether legal or administrative, in the way so that people, particularly the poor, can be served in a better way.
He said that India is a vibrant democracy where over 70 crore people vote every five years to elect 543 members of Lok Sabha. “But, instead of being complacent by the fact, we should work together to find out shortcomings and remove them,” he said adding that democracy and development are complementary to each other.
Addressing the gathering which included Union Rural Development Minister Jairam Ramesh and Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Arun Jaitley, Mukherjee said Parliament should devote more time to discussing legislations especially those related to finance.
He said he had accepted the invite to attend the Jagran Forum even before he was chosen as UPA’s Presidential candidate. He thought it would be “appropriate” to address the gathering as the President because he wanted to share his experiences on the issue.
The theme of the Forum, organised by Dainik Jagran, was “dialogue on democracy and development.”
Speaking on the occasion, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav said he was impressed by the way Mukherjee used to tackle situations as Leader of the House in the Lok Sabha.
Yadav said that the suggestions given by the President are valuable not only for smooth functioning of the Parliament but also for running government in the state. He said that he will try to follow the suggestions.
Praising the role of newspapers, Governor B L Joshi said the value of the written word is more than any other means of communication.
Dainik Jagran Chairman and Managing Director Mahendra Mohan Gupta said a true democrat will implement democratic values at workplace and with family members and not limit it to politics.
“Not me, but you,” he said is the true essence of democracy.
Praising Mukherjee, he said till recently, he was the ‘sankat mochak’ (trouble shooter) of the government, but now he is the trouble shooter of the entire country.
Mukherjee was on a two-day visit to the Uttar Pradesh capital where he also attended the convocation of King George’s Medical University yesterday.
It was his first visit to the state after assuming the office of the President. (PTI)
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