Harsha Kakar
BJD MP Baijayant Panda’s comment of returning part of his MP’s salary proportional to time wasted in Parliament, sparked a debate. This year’s winter session of Parliament was a complete washout. The loss to the tax payer was immense. Each day witnessed protests, resulting in the speaker cancelling proceedings for the day. The battle continued playing on television shows late into the evening, with the opposition and treasury benches accusing each other for being responsible for the logjam.National politics changed into a game of insults and counter insults. While the judiciary is unwilling to accept criticism on its decisions, politicians thrive by it. Logjams in Parliament have become a norm over the years andare considered democratically correct by political parties. No Government bills get passed, national development suffers, while politicians only scream, defending party ideology. They claim to support the common man, which appears to be anything but true.
Is this the political system which the writers of our constitution envisaged? Do we expect our taxes to be wasted on endless delays and protests?
Logically, there should be liberty for decision making with the Government in power, after all the nation voted for them with some hopes. It should be entitled to take decisions, which if wrong, would make it answerable to the public.The Parliament has the right to object and question, but the same should remain within realms of democratic norms. While Parliamentarians represent the public, they rarely behave in a manner the public expects them to. Aiming to block every decision mainly due to differences in ideology, results in a wide gap between the pro and anti-Government parties. Questioning every Government action makes those in the opposition appear villains in the eyes of the masses. Constructive politics in India seems to have vanished into thin air. The opposition considers it as its national responsibility to criticize every action of the Government, right or wrong. The art of criticizing is so perfect that in our history, no budget has ever been accepted by any opposition. It has always been found to have faults and shortcomings.
Governments on their part have mastered the art of avoiding discussions on its decisions. They take all major decisions when the Parliament is not in session, resulting in debates being conducted on the media. Demonetization and appointment of the Army Chief, both at variance from standard norms were announced when the parliament was in recess. By the time Parliament is in session, much of the steam has been lost. In Parliament, discussions on its decisions are deflected, employing varying delaying tacticsincluding blaming the opposition for its past failures on similar topics, which are at times, decades old. During Parliament sessions, only miniscule changes or policies are issued. Further, whenever the opposition seeks a debate, especially in the house where it holds sway, the treasury benches avoid it. Parliament is no longer a forum for intellectual debate, but seemingly represents a stadium, where spectators shout incoherently, only to make a din, seeking projection in media channels.
Demonetization was the latest excuse to wash out the session. Logically when the Government announced no roll back, then a discussion could only have been held. Wasting a full session meant a loss to the nation and the common man.This however, was not the first in recent times. Most sessions remain equally affected for varying reasons.The perks and privileges which parliamentarians enjoy, cost the tax payer a hefty sum. In addition, every few years they allocate themselves an increase in salaries and perks. It does appear that they are paid huge sums for no work, only shouting and screaming, tearing up documents or rushing to the well of the house. Further attendance in parliament becomes essential only when they desire to object.
Recent actions have severely impacted the credibility of both houses.Its reputation as a body of law makers and guardians of democracy appears to have vanished. The writers of our constitution had visualized an establishment which would become a forum for healthy debate and checks and balances on the Government and not the least productive of all Government organs. It has, as a body, failed the nation. It was during this Parliament session that the Nagrota incident occurred. Other than seeking to politicize it, by asking for an obitual reference, ensuring adjournment, it was completely ignored. The Parliament appears to be only a shade better than state legislatures, where throwing chairs, grabbing the speaker’s mantle and snatching and throwing microphones have been witnessed.
As Indians, we may be appalled,observing the manner our politicians behave in Parliament and may have lost faith in them and their ideologies, however, we truly have no means of changing or even attempting to improve the system. Our political system is akin to an elephant, which moves slowly, brushing aside anyone attempting to come in its way. Before every session, parties only meet to evolve strategies to corner the Government, never to consider supporting it on critical issues. It appears that in Indian democracy,the ruling party takes decisions when parliament is not in session and employs means to counter any debate or voting on the same, when it is in session. The opposition follows the reverse, making noise, preventing functioning of the houses of parliament and insisting on discussions. The only common feature is that both sides put in sustained efforts to ensure Parliament’s non-functioning, damaging the nation and its development.
It is time, when we as a nation raise our voice on salaries of MPs being linked to productivity and attendance. There should be a national debate on attendance, participation and functioning of Parliament, entitling salaries to MPs. Protesting is a national right, so is working and producing results for earning fat salaries.
(The author is a retired Major General of the Indian Army)
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