Political Diary
New
Delhi, 13 February 2018
Pakoda
Politics
MOCKING PARLIAMENT
AGAIN
By Poonam I Kaushish
Move over mirchi bhajji and batata vada! It’s time for the wholesome and every time snack pakoda to take a bow on the political
platform. Call, it rikwach, bhabhra or
fritters, either way this humble nibble has created a storm leaving Delhi and
Parliament in the throes of pakoda politics!
It all started with
Prime Minister Modi likening a pakoda seller
earning Rs 200 per day to someone holding a secure job, chipped in BJP President
Amit Shah, “Better to sell pakodas
than be jobless.” The Congress ripped into the Government by organizing pakoda
'feasts' around the country and saying begging too was akin to selling pakodas. Sic.
Naturally, all hell
broke loose. Raising a moot point: Is selling pakodas or it being gainful employment an issue which should become
a bone of contention between the BJP and Opposition? Is it a matter to merit a
serious debate in Parliament? Have our jan
sevaks reduced this temple of democracy to its pakoraonomics crassiest worst? What kind of mentality is this?
Alas, Parliament instead
of being a place for reasoned debate and legislative business continues to be
trivialised and denigrated. From being called a mockery, tamasha and circus without even the slightest tinge of remorse. Never
mind, our MPs go blue in the face about upholding the best tenets of
Parliamentary democracy! Sic.
Indeed, a tragic
farce was enacted in the first half of the Budget session in both Houses. At a
time when our jan sevaks should be
concentrating on discussing the Budget, farmers suicide, agrarian crisis, rising
unemployment, J&K etc the ten day session was drowned in acrimony,
accusations and animosity with the Congress-led Opposition protesting in the
well of both Houses, be it Modi's reply on the motion of thanks to the President’s
address or unrelenting protests by Andhra MPs demanding more central assistance for the State.
The scenario in Rajya
Sabha was no better, a piece of reckless raucous political theater from ‘Start
Up India’ not starting, ‘Stand Up India’ sitting down and ‘Skill India’
becoming ‘Kill India’ culminating in a Congress woman MP’s vociferous non-stop
laughter during Modi’s with him sarcastically remarking, “Ramayan serial ke baad aisi hansi sunne ka saubhagya aaj jaake mila
hai”. Even though he avoided names the inference to Ravan’s sister
Soorpanakha’s evil laugh from Ramayana was not lost, resulting in her filing a
privilege motion against Minister Rijjui.
At one level, not a
few would dismiss these outrageous happenings as an exercise in political
one-upmanship between the Treasury and Opposition. At another, it underscores the
petty political points, unprecedented and umpteen body blows administered to
Parliament and its sovereignty by all individually and collectively.
The contempt the
powers-that-be have for Parliament can be gauged from the fact that our jan sevak’s gleefully pocket their daily
allowance of Rs 2,000 even when the House is adjourned on a frivolous issue, besides
monthly emoluments, palatial bunglows, bijli,
paani and telephone paid for, security paraphernalia, Rs 5 lakhs MPLADs
annually et al. “It is our birthright,” they coo. Thereby, affixing their seal
of approval on political harlotry of the worst kind.
Undoubtedly, it is
nobody’s case that by not allowing Parliament to function our polity is making
a mockery of the institution, reducing its importance and relevance. But what
is disgusting and perturbing is not that obstructionism is becoming more the
rule rather than exception, but that our polity largely continues to drift
along smugly without any shame, desire to turn a new page and prevent its
crumble.
Shockingly, the
decline has been sharp in the last 10 years with MPs gunning for each other, snatching
and tearing legislative papers, rushing into the well of the House at a drop of
a hat or rivals nearly coming to blows. A sad reflection of the depth to which
India’s democracy has disintegrated, transgressing all limits of Parliamentary
ethics.
Think, 47% of Bills
in the last 10 years were passed without any debate, an abuse of the
Parliamentary system. Sixty-one per cent of these (24% in all) were passed in
the last three hours of a session and 31% of legislations were passed with no
scrutiny or vetting by any Parliamentary standing or consultative committee.
There has also been a
steady reduction in Parliamentary hours, from a high of 128-132 days a year
during the first 20 years since 1952-72 to just 64-67 days a year on an average
in the last 10 years. Not a few times an entire session has been a
washout.
Another alarming
trend is the decline in educational qualifications of lawmakers wherein
doctorate, post-doctorate and post-graduate degrees declined by 62% in the last
20 years. To make matters worse, while educational qualifications of MPs have
fallen, their salaries increased four times in the last five years.
Also, dynasty
continues to rule. In the last decade 71% MPs below the age of 30 were second
or third generation Parliamentarians and among those below 40 years, 57% had
similar credentials.
True, the fall in
standards is because politics today is all about the numbers game wherein
regional satraps use pressure tactics
to get their way and say. Not only do they believe in politics of dadagiri as witnessed in chaotic unruly
scenes with paper weights serving as missiles, mikes being uprooted in various
State Assemblies but also that might is right is the raison d atre of a ‘successful’ Parliament session.
Sadly, we have
settled for size and not content wherein Parliament’s supremacy has been
replaced with the ‘to the streets’ bugle. Thus, in this deteriorating political
culture and ethos, Parliamentary proceedings have little material bearing on
the course of politics.
Not many seem to
understand the diabolical and dangerous dimensions of making Parliament
insignificant. Given it is the bedrock of our nation representing the people
who expect it to function as the sovereign watchdog of their national interests.
Constitutionally, the Government is responsible and accountable to Parliament
every second of the day and its survival depends on enjoying the Lok Sabha’s confidence.
What next? The time
has come for all MPs to see how they can strengthen Parliamentary democracy
before people begin to mock at it in sheer disgust. One way is that on policy
matters and legislative business the Treasury and Opposition should rise above
sectarian political loyalties and be guided by what the country needs, the
sense of the House than the rule book.
Another is to make
the Executive accountable by taking a leaf out of Westminster. The House of
Commons has a 40 minutes a week “PM’s Hour” convention wherein MPs can question
him on any issue.
Thus, our leaders
need to heed voices of reason. Tying up Parliament in trivia, sans business
does not behove the world’s largest democracy. Time to change the rules to
ensure accountability along-with amending the substance nomenclature whereby
educated, honest MPs enter Parliament to serve the people rather than
themselves. Perhaps, bring Parliament under ESMA (Essential Services Management
Act) wherein disrupting its functioning will become an offence.
With sharp battle
lines between the Treasury and Opposition this distrust will only further
devalue Parliament and lower its image. Our MPs must introspect about what kind
of legacy they are going to leave behind. Will they allow Parliament to sink
under the weight of its increasing decadence? ---- INFA
(Copyright, India
News & Feature Alliance)
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