The Largest "Shirking" Democracy ?

What should have happened days ago, even sessions ago, has finally happened. Many MP’s who lauded  the “Temple of Democracy”, our Parliament, when it suited them and then desecrated it  when it did not, have finally got their just prasad. The pujari has had enough and has acted using powers which have seldom been used on this scale. For a change for weeks  it was the pujari praying for attention, pleading again and again for calm and for behaviour as accepted and  laid down by the worshippers themselves. Finally,in utter despair and frustration the pujari has banned their entry for five days for unruly behaviour.

The Speaker, Sumitra Mahajan, has waited patiently, requested persistently for order many times each day only to be snubbed, defied and insulted by the opposition led by a battered Congress. It is ironic that the largest, oldest and the most prestigious party which battled, won  and laid the foundation of a working democracy should now be trying to make it a”shirking” democracy.

The Congress party is the same but ,over the years, the leadership has changed and now we see clearly that  both leadership and membership have changed in every aspect. The voices of members arguing and debating for national causes that gave the Congress its lofty political position have been displaced by the raucous shouts and hoots of a motley crowd of ambitious, self-seeking and unruly elements demanding an endless string of pay rises and more perks and privileges. Leading them are their seniors who are short on leadership  and chosen for their access to muscle, resources or  family connections.

What we have seen in recent recent years is the growing resort to  rowdy  behaviour in Parliament  to intimidate and coerce.  Posters and placards are displayed in the House in defiance of rules and if these are excused  they are paraded around the floor of the House to catch the eye of the TV camera. The Presiding Officrs have been far too lenient and  wary of adding to the crisis by taking penal action. Unfortunately, among the members also  the two Houses have few takers for firm action  as when it comes to the crunch they have to stand together for benefits of common interest.

The Rules of the Houses have time-tested  processes for dealing with every possible expediency in their running and in the political administration but there are parties, particularly the smaller ones, who try to get their way by open rebellion and violation of rules. The most recent, led by the Congress, has been obstructing the Parliament for the last ten days demanding the resignation of a Central minister and two Chief Ministers. The fact that matters to do with the States ar not usually taken up in Parliament seems to have been ignored . This situation can also be dealt with satisfactorily and in detail under existing rules but Congress, preferring to be sulking losers, have chosen to.  obstruct Parliament with slogan –shouting and crowding the “well”.  Today’s sitting ended with the suspension of a number of opposition members who were “named” for unruly behaviour.

There has been growing resentment among the people against  the wanton disruption of Parliament by dissenting members who then have the gall to ask for additions to their already bulging bag of salary, allowances, perks and privileges. Their latest forceful demand is for escorts and service at airports to lead them from their cars through VIP lounges into the right seat of the right plane. This is the kind of care asked for for persons variously disabled. Of course, it is possible that some of the new claimants for this service do genuinely feel the need !

A matter that has been raised in the public domain is the justification for paying the MP’s for days lost by disruption, Such wasted hours have crept up from a mere 4%  several years ago to 18% in the 13^th Lok Sabha to 22% in the 14^th and then leapt to a whopping 42% in the 15^th. The present ruling party has contributed to this unpardonable disruption practice in the past and are now blamed by the Congress for setting a precedent which is only being followed !

It would have been possible in the past when the leadership was wise, pragmatic and conscious of their national responsibility to expect  acts of statesmanship on both sides to ensure that the nation’s interests were not harmed. However, this would be too much to hope for now  considering the differing variety of politicians and their leaders that we have unsuspectingly sent to Parliament. The BJP and the Congress, between them, will have to resolve  this impasse if they are to escape  total condemnation of the people  who have voted for them and now feel betrayed.