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
15th 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.
26th 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 31st 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.
While Tweeting & doing usual chit chat I saw a tweet from Ashish Sharma @A_Ashish14 as below which triggered a Twitter war between Mrs Sushma Swaraj, Leader Oppositin Lok Sabha & Sh. Omar Abdulla, CM J&K. The further tweets hurled upon each other is posted as below. Nothing wrong having tweeterbaji between two senior politicians. So Enjoy these tweets.
