Parliament Spotlight

New Delhi, 29 March 2018

Time To Introspect Hon’ble MPs

New Delhi, 28 March 2018 (INFA): Are Members of Parliament missing the woods for the trees? So it is, after hearing Deputy Chairman Prof. PJ Kurien’s farewell speech in the Rajya Sabha today. His reminiscing over two and a half decades’ experience should indeed make the House of Elders “introspect” as he desires.   

Kurien said he came to Parliament in the 80’s and “at that time I have never seen this kind of disturbance in Parliament. In those days the highest form of protest was a walkout. After giving a very critical speech against the government Honourable members would walkout. Today unfortunately instead of walking out, members are walking into the well of the House. That’s a great change.”

Then again, he said “in those days I remember how the Opposition would grill the ministers. They were bombarded with piercing and pointed questions, and sometimes even left ministers bleeding. And today the ministers are very happy, because there is only slogan shouting, the government should be very happy as the government is losing nothing by slogan shouting.” When prompted slogan shouting was also by government, he said “yes, it’s both sides. Let’s be clear by slogan shouting you achieve nothing.”

Therefore, he said “we should introspect ourselves of how we can improve, not just one side, but government must introspect too, it must be responsive and be more accommodative, I don’t want to blame any side, we all are equally responsible, every member is responsible, let us think, let us find a solution, let us find a solution so that the level of Rajya Sabha is not degenerated to the extent as we see today...” He ended by quoting one of his favourite quotes from Shakespeare and then said while equating the MPs “they kill democracy for their politics.” Government and Opposition thus must be responsible and raise level of discussion to what it should be.

Kurien did well by taking the cue from Chairman Venkaiah Naidu’s anguish over the disruptions in the House these past two weeks. He asked members to “make a new beginning”. At the same time, he sought to clarify that he had ‘nothing against anybody and that all parties are equal.” Even Prime Minister Modi, who was present in the House, admitted that the smooth functioning of the House was not just the responsibility of the Opposition but very much that of the Government too. And agreed that disruptions had prevented retiring Elders from being able to make a mark in the debates on historic legislations such as the triple talaq bill.

Leader of Opposition Ghulam Nabi Azad said it was vidai and not bidai (farewell not separation) and agreed with Kurien who said politicians never retire. He, however, sought to make known that the Opposition’s way of protesting was not for the TV but for the people of the country.

Be that as it may, kudos to Prof Kurien for his goodbye speech. Will there be a new beginning. Or his speech like the others would be relegated to the records. ---INFA

(Copyright, India News & Feature Alliance)