WWF in Parliament

 You have sat too long for any good you have been doing. Depart, I say, and let us have done with you. In the name of God, go!    Cromwell, Oliver 

15^th August, 1947 is a golden day when India, that is Bharat, became independent from the clutches of foreign rule. It was a day of aspirations of millions of Indian. They saw a hope to have their own rule. They hoped a society where all shall be treated equal. They saw an opportunity when their efforts will benefit their own mother land. That day was people of India rose as independent citizen.

26^th January, 1950 is second most important day in history of independent India. It is a day when India adopted democracy based on firm basic principles of republic & democratic form of government, secular character of constitution by maintaining federal character of the constitution. The constituent assembly worked over night to bring a written constitution inheriting the best principles of democracy from capitalist and socialist systems, which was mixed together into a democratic, federal Constitution and given to the Nation.

Hardly anyone will disagree that we failed to realize value of democracy, as we only worded for that & not earned through struggle. Other Nations & people died for them. That is why we show contempt for them by devaluing every sacred principle of democracy to serve vested ends. Perhaps that is why there has been no social evolution in democratic obligations and duties. "Duty" is a word has been forgotten not only by all public servants but by we all, the people of India.

Through this constitution parliament (Lok Sabha & Rajya Sabha) at centre & legislative assembles were created where elected representatives were expected to work for India not for themselves. They are expected to discuss, make bills & policies through which aspiration of Indian public is taken care off. Now see what we have done with democratic, secular constitution. Our Temple of democracy, Parliament, has become hostage to an opportunistic section of society. Certainly few may not agree with me when I blame Congress Party who rules India most of the time in last 66 years. But fact remains the same that it cannot escape from its part in devaluing democratic duties.  In fact it has the distinction of having converted every process, practice and institution of democracy into legitimized subversion. It has encouraged tugs, criminal, mafias, traitors, plunders, specializing in the loot of our natural resources. Friendly Bureaucratic setup has helped them in siphon off plan budgets meant for public works or development programmes, including food and medicine for poor women and children and funds for the physically challenged.  

Can opposite parties escape the blame? “NO” is the only answer. Ruling & opposition parties have learnt a naval way to high jack democratic value of parliament by stall house during session & not let it function so that important issues, which are against to their vested interests, are not discussed, important bills remain pending & welfare schemes of Mango Man are hijacked. 

If you look at last few sessions, both houses hardly functioned as normally they are expected to function. The houses were thwarted time and again over different issues.  Do you remember that Jan Lokpal Bill was introduced in Rajya Sabha on 31^st Dec, the last day of session, knowing well that it is very important bill & it will require time to discuss. The opening remarks of opposition leader Sh. Arun Jaitley were something like that “The people of India expecting us to pass this bill today. So even if we have to sit late or by tomorrow too, let us sit & pass the bill with amendments, if any”. Well said. I am great admirer of Arun Jaitley for his wisdom, oratory & knowledge of law. I don’t doubt his or other representative’s intention of passing that particular bill. But before discussion started the whole nation knew the “fate of bill”. They glued on TV sets, watching debates going on in the house hoping some good judgement or miracle to let this bill passed. What happened is known to whole India. The debate went on by mid night. Heaps of amendments were proposed. Minister concerned showed governments inability to go through procedure in proposed amendment & debated for want of time to do so. Hence Government proposed to sin-die house so that amendments are processed, bill is taken in next session. Arun Jaitley & other opposition leaders opposed & proposed to extend the session for next day which was not accepted by the Chairperson & house sine-die at mid-night.

“Once India got its freedom at mid-night but  India lost its freedom to catch corrupts at that mid-night.”

Everything, happened in the house, is quite lawful, as for as law is concerned. But what about sense of the house, over & above what about “sense of the Nation”? It was a clear cut conspiracy to delay the Lokpal bill, as much as possible, hatched by ruling party with blessings of opposition.

The only conclusion I can draw, as common man from the Lokpal Bill episode, is that most of our representatives & custodian of democracy are not sincere to the task they willing took up and also most of them are in conspiracy to subvert subjects most important public matters, which they find or think, may jeopardize their own vested interest.

Why I think so? It is because I see a conspiracy in the time table fixed for this bill. As for as I know, a time table is fixed by Business Advisory Committee for all matters to be raised in both houses. And also this time table is fixed by concurrence of all leaders of different parties. If that is the case, I raise question that:-

• Why Lokpal Bill was presented in Upper House on the last date of session, knowing well that many amendments may be suggested by MPs?
• Why members of Business Advisory Committee did not allotted sufficient  time for this very important of bill?
• Why session was not extended to have discussion on amendments presented?
• Why opposition did not demanded to pre-pone the time of presentation of this bill in the Upper house?
• Why, as Leader Opposition suggestion & demand was not discussed for extending session time?

The concerned Minister sited tradition for sine-die of on last date of year. But this tradition could have been broken in this case? After all many times session had been extended to finish work in parliament.

The last but most important question is why a special session was not called to discuss this bill or why it was not reintroduced in next session as government mulled for "Food Security Bill"?

This clearly shows the apathy of Government plus opposition for this bill because if Lokpal Bill was passed; many representatives & their favorite bureaucrats may find a place in Jail with complete food security for years to come. 

This is not an isolated incident. Many important bills are pending in parliament since long. For example “Women Reservation Bill”, “Land Accusation Bill”, “Direct Tax Code Bill” including "Lokpal Bill" are few such bills which are eating dust. It is duty of government to take them in such a way & manner that they all discussed and passed in a suitable manner. Opposition should also cooperate in discussing bill. But it does not happen. On small pretext houses are disturbed. 

It is opposition’s fundamental right to oppose government in every rightful manner. But going to well of the house, disturbing house, not to let it function are not right manners. At the same time, it is government holistic duty to listen opposition & meet their just demands. But both are utterly failing in it.

In the last session, house was disrupted by determined opposition on the demand of Law Minister & Rail Minister’s resignation. Result, the house again ended without discussing "Food Security Bill" for which government, especially UPA Chair-Person Ms. Sonia Gandhi, is keen in getting this bill passed eyeing coming assembly & general election. They think this “Food Security Bill” is “Vote Security Bill”. Opposition too does not want this bill to be passed by giving credit to UPA Government. Crucial 4-5 days are lost in “Resignation Drama”. Ultimately both the ministers had to resign but only after session ended.

After mulling for calling a special session to get “Food Security Bill” passed, the Government brought ordinance for “Food Security Bill” as opposition was not ready for special session & also as monsoon session was very near. If government was so keen to get “Food Security Bill” is “Vote Security Bill” passed, why it did not accepted opposition demand for resignation of those ministers who had to resign after ward.

Now see, when any business pertaining to members benefit, all members concur without any opposition, if it related to their salary & parks, or subverting RTI for Political Parties or amending Public Representation Act to keep alleged criminals in politic. All such bills are passed by voice votes.

All the discussion indicates “WWF” or “Nura-Kushti” is arranged in parliament. Today Monsoon session has started & same "WWF" would start soon. 

We can only pray & wish that political parties come to senses & behave in the manner they are expected.

Long Live democracy. Let it live in letter & spirit of democracy our forefathers have chosen. 

---------------------------

Disclaimer:- This blog has been written to show common man anguish over functioning of our elected/chosen representatives. It does not mean to dishonor democracy or parliament as whole. Surely we have many honest & sprited democratice representable whose voices are lost in the din.   

Pradeep Shanker

(NGO Reporter)