POLITICAL DIARY

New Delhi, 25 October 2008

Goodbye To Democracy?

PLAYING GAMES WITH PARLIAMENT

By Poonam I Kaushish

It has been ridiculed many times over. From being called a mockery down tamasha to a downright circus. By no less than Lok Sabha Speakers and senior Cabinet Ministers. Yet it has made not an iota of difference to our polity. No guesses, we are talking of Parliament and our Right Honourables. Many wonder why they are called that. Not a few are neither right nor is there anything honourable about them!

Tragically for the first time we are face to face with the Government playing games with Parliament. Shockingly, the ‘monsoon’ session or should one say the ‘nameless’ session indefinitely continues. Interspersed with long recesses. It first met for all of two days on July 21-22 to debate the Vote of Confidence moved by the Government following the Left Parties withdrawal of support to the UPA on the Indo-US nuclear deal. Only to reconvene for a week, 17-24 October. Now the session has been adjourned until 10 December.

The UPA Government has dumped the normal practice of the Lok Sabha, in vogue since Nehru’s days,  of convening the monsoon session in July-August followed by the winter session from mid-November till December third week. When asked why the monsoon session was not adjourned sine die and what the December session should be called, monsoon or winter, the Parliamentary Minister Vyalar Ravi replied: “Say anything you like”.

Raising a moot point: Is the Government scared of facing Parliament? And a fresh Vote of No-confidence? Yes. Notwithstanding Ravi’s weak defence, “we are not afraid of facing Parliament or convening a new session… We have a majority and we are confident of winning any vote,” it is clear that the Government is scared of a fresh confidence motion. The reason why it has decided to play safe and ridiculously extend the monsoon session for the third time as a no-trust motion cannot be brought before the Lok Sabha twice in one session.

Plainly, the Congress is unsure of its allies, afraid of losing the vote and facing the electorate. Already southern ally the DMK has threatened to withdraw support on the issue of support to the Tamils in Sri Lanka while foe-turned-friend Samajwadi blows hot-and-cold. With general elections slated next year, Manmohan Singh would like to complete his five-year term and announce polls at his Party’s convenience rather than being voted out in the Lok Sabha.

However, this view has been contested by the Leader of Opposition Advani who avers that the continuation of the monsoon session would not protect the Government from its majority being tested. Said he: "The trust motion in July was not initiated by the Opposition. Suppose the support to the Government again changes within six months, can it then be argued that the Government has no cause to prove its majority on the floor of Lok Sabha?"

He pointed out that the six-month bar applied to a no-confidence motion initiated by the Opposition and not a trust vote sought by the Government. Also, technically the Opposition could move a no-trust motion even in the same session. "So far, a no-trust motion has not been brought to the House. Such a possibility exists even after the Government has won the trust vote," he added.

But this is not the end of bad news of Parliament’s decline. In an unprecedented action the Left parties moved a privilege motion against the Prime Minister in the Lok Sabha for his failure to report to the House before operationalising the Indo-US nuclear deal as promised by him during the debate in the House July.

The Speaker rejected the motion by stating that neither House of Parliament could claim or exercise any authority over a member of the other House. Citing Kaul and Shakdher he added that the privilege issue could be raised only in the Rajya Sabha as the Prime Minister is a member there. Further, that non implementation of an assurance given by a Minister on the floor of the House was neither a breach of privilege nor contempt of the House. Adding insult to injury, he refused to make a reference to the Presiding Officer of the Rajya Sabha.

The Left MPs already hurting by the veteran CPM leader’s refusal to step down as Speaker  following the CPM’s withdrawal of support to the UPA, would have none of this and quoted rules to reiterate their charge and questioned the Speaker’s order. Leading to a war of words with Somnathda who threatened to step down “here and now.”

This is not the first time that the Speaker’s rulings have been questioned. It is no secret that over the years our polity has reduced Parliament into an akhada for tu-tu-mein-mein, fault-finding, accusations and counter accusations to score petty points against each other. Collectively denigrating India’s high temple of democracy. Brazenly ignoring the fact that by doing so they are making a mockery of the basic scheme of parliamentary democracy.  It undermines both the sovereignty of the people and the power of Parliament.

The contempt our Right Honourables hold for Parliament can be gauged from the shortening of the duration of the Houses. From a high of 151 in 1956, to 98 during the Emergency in1976, both Houses have met for just 32 days this year, the shortest duration in its history. Notwithstanding the political consensus that Parliament should meet for a minimum of 100 days in a year.

True we are accustomed to sessions being cut short, on the flimsy pretext of ‘lack of business’ but never have we had an extended session of two days followed by a week. Last year the winter session was all of 17 days and the monsoon one was adjourned sine die four days earlier due to daily disruptions in both Houses between the Opposition and the Treasury benches. Plainly, if things continue like this Parliament will soon resemble the Haryana and Goa State notorious for skirting the Assembly.

Making matters worse, Parliament is not getting respect due to it even from top leaders.  Gone our the days of Nehru who believed that once Parliament was in session the Prime Minister’s place was in Delhi and in the House. He bent over backwards to stay in town. On one occasion he had to attend the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGAM) in London and decided to send someone.

However as that was not possible he came to the Lok Sabha to seek its indulgence and permission to undertake the trip and be absent for a few days under special circumstances. Not just that. He would report to Parliament on any trip undertaken during the inter-session period. Today we have Prime Ministers who think nothing of taking a trip. Parliament or no Parliament.  

Today as we come to grips with the global financial shock, Parliament faces a daunting challenge. The Government and the Opposition have to bury the hatchet of distrust and get this high temple to function and regain its lost lustre among the people. Remember, Parliamentary democracy succeeds only when the rules of the game are followed honestly.  Basically, the Opposition must have its say, even as the Government has its way. Else, it will lose its credibility and prestige. Worse, become redundant and irrelevant.

Clearly, the time has come to give serious thought to rectifying the flaws in our system and urgently overhauling. If necessary, rules should be drastically changed to put Parliament back on the rails. Indira Gandhi once wisely said: “Parliament is a bulwark of democracy…. if that is lost, then I don’t know what could happen later.” Time to heed her words and stop playing games. Else, say goodbye to democracy! ---- INFA

(Copyright, India News & Feature Alliance)