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| Do We Elect Statesmen or Musclemen for Legislature? | | Straight talk | 
K B Jandial
Rowdy scenes that both the Houses of J&K legislature witnessed on Friday last to protest against the ruling alliance for allegedly misleading the House on transfer of NHPC hydroelectric projects to J&K Govt. following report of rejection of demand by the Centre on legal and financial grounds, did no good to the people of the State. Another brief ruckus was created, this time, by the ruling alliance on Sunday asking for arrest of former Minister and NC MLC following his reported indictment by Gandhi Commission in Kishtwar riots of 2013. Neither the respectability of the Legislators nor people’s confidence in them was enhanced.
Such unbecoming and disgusting behavior of some of our representatives, some on daily basis, is not new in our democracy in J&K or elsewhere in the country, though it was the first such bedlam in the 12th state Assembly. Friday pandemonium was apparently aimed at preventing the Govt. to conduct any business including voting of grants of the ministries while Sunday ruckus was to put NC on defensive. Obviously, it is sheer politics. And the causality is the people in whose name it was engineered. The net result was that the grants of the Departments including Education Deptt. had to be later passed by voice vote amidst noisy scenes without any debate or concerned ministers’ speeches.
On its sidelines, the group of young students of some local Schools specially invited by the Education Minister Naeem Akhtar to witness the debate on Education Ministry ‘s grants was disappointed. More disappointing was the Minister who in emotional voice lamented that unbecoming behavior in the Assembly has put him to shame before these young minds. Instead of carrying home the positive impression about the functioning of state’s highest institution of democracy, they are horrified by the pictures of rowdyism that must have left indelible mark on their impressionable minds. Some of them might have ambitions of making it to the House one day but surely not now after what they saw.
Disruption is not restricted to J&K Legislature alone but the malice is wide spread. The night-long sit-in by the opposition MLAs inside Kerala Assembly and siege of the complex from outside to prevent presentation of the budget is perhaps a new low in our democracy. Interestingly, Kerala has the highest literacy rate in the country.
Are not our lawmakers ashamed of their repeated unruly behaviour in the House? Don’t they know that the people chose to represent them in the Assembly or Lok Sabha in debates and not to prevent these by stalling the proceedings? They are required to participate in debates and help making good policies and legislations that are in the interests of the people and the country. Debates and dissent are the cornerstones of a vibrant democracy. A strong and responsible opposition has a positive role in opposing the wrong moves of the Govt. but unfortunately it has acquired a negative role of not allowing the smooth functioning of these institutions. Going by this growing unfortunate culture, voters should chose amongst the musclemen, people having loud mouth, high pitched voice or criminal background as their representatives. While entering the Parliament on becoming PM, Modi proudly described it as “Temple of Democracy” . What a temple and its pujaris! This certainly does not augur well for us who pride ourselves on being the largest practicing democracy in the world.
Does Parliamentary disruption represent the true face of our fast maturing democracy? Is this the real objective of Parliamentary Democracy? Is our maturing democracy restricted only to pulling down the perceived “non-functional and corrupt Govts”. after every five years( six year in J&K), through a decisive and heavy turnout of voters? When will our maturity actually travel to the actual functioning of these institutions?
The Vidhan Sabha( State Assemblies) and Lok Sabha reflect the will of the people but this “will” is now negated by the Rajya Sabha (Council of States ) and Vidhan Parshid (Legislative Councils in the States) . Parliament’s budget session o is an example. Will our lawmakers introspect to make these institutions as crucibles of policies, legislations and accountability of the Govt.? Such sustained disruptions are appeared to prevent popular Govt. to successfully translate their mandates into realities. Those who remained in power in the past and voted out presumably for their poor performance are hell bent on preventing the new Govts. to implement their policies. This certainly is not the democracy. Remember the quality of democracy defines the nation also.
Disruption is the new norm of these institutions. In the past, the Parliament and State legislatures used to witness some of the most thoughtful debates which at times serve as stimulus to the nation and had shaped policies and programmes. But now debates have turned into a contest of high decibel cacophony, where the loudest vocal chords dominate the softer ones, not on account of content but sheer decibel. They also get wide coverage in the media. Instead of being embarrassed on seeing their unruly behavior live on TV, it has added to their desire to frequent disrupt functioning of parliament and legislatures. This trend has held back Indian democracy from functioning as the starting point of India’s policy on growth and development. This is contrary to the purpose of democracy and the nation is paying a heavy price.
Disruption is being politicalized as a strategy with full preparation to scuttle government’s bills. The most common type of disruption is the simultaneous shouting by MLAs/ MPs, witnessed virtually on a daily basis. Rushing to the well of the House is another form of disruption being resorted to frequently. Sometimes the members bring along placards and other objects to protest and then enter into the well of the House. Members also resorted to sit-ins to disrupt the functioning of the House. The worst form of pandemonium witnessed is hurling of microphones and chairs on each others.
The statistics available with the Lok Sabha Secretariat about the declining timing of transaction of business since first Lok Sabha is a matter of concern for all. The comparison between the performance of the 1st Lok Sabha (1952-1957) and the 15th Lok Sabha (2009-2014) is eye opener. The 1st Lok Sabha had 677 sittings while the 15th Lok Sabha functioned only for 357 days. Similarly, the 1st Lok Sabha spent 3,784 hours for transacting business and it reduced to only 1344 hours by the 15th Lok Sabha. During the 15th Lok Sabha (2009-2014), 891 hours and 51 minutes constituting 40% of the total time, were lost on account of disruptions and adjournments. The statistics in the ongoing 16th Lok Sabha thus far, is no better.
Can India afford the luxury of disruptions in parliament and State Legislatures when there is so many backlogs of legislations that needs to be debated and passed? Do they know that over Rs. 4000 crore are spent on holding Lok Sabha and about Rs 100 crore on J&K Assembly elections? And what about the public money being wasted on every sitting disrupted? Does each legislator get salary ( Rs. 80000), daily sitting allowance ( Rs. 1000) and other substantial perks just to boastfully indulge in rowdyism in full public view and disrupt the House? The past Hon’ble Members of the House were not that fortunate in terms of salary and other perks but they decidedly were much more statesmen than of today’s. People choose them with the hope that they would do justice to their faith and trust, and utilize responsibly, the precious time in each House, in debating and legislating on issues that matter to the nation. Unfortunately, politics has become a profession more than a responsibility and all parties are guilty in failing the people by violating the norms of good behaviour and disrupting proceedings, in pursuit of their own political agendas.
An interesting study on the functioning of Indian Parliament and State Legislatures was conducted by one Dean E. McHenry, Jr of Claremont Graduate University in 2007 . It examined the claim of India being the world’s largest democracy in the light of disruptions of these institutions and made a poser, “how India could the world’s largest democracy when parliamentary institutions appear to be dysfunctional”? He found that Indian “‘parliaments’ (means State Legislatures also) are characterized by repeated disruptions that appear to interfere with their ability to serve as forums for the translation of public sentiment into public policy”. The basic requirement of democracy is a forum of legislature where thoughtful debate among elected representatives produces public policy. It holds that “If the legislatures of a country do not function properly, then that country is not a democracy” And it held that “India’s legislatures do not function properly. Therefore, India is not a democracy”. A serious indictment on the functioning of our democracy!
It’s time for the people to reclaim their right and authority by demanding from all representatives to realize their responsibility towards the people and do justice to the mandate given to them. At least they should appear to be debating the public issues. The presiding officers of these institutions must start taking harsh actions like suspension, expulsion etc against those who disrupt the House. It is a wakeup call time for them do “manthan” on the issues of their conduct and public good?
(The writer is former Secretary information, health, transport, CAPD departments and a member of Public Service Commission,feedback: [email protected])
(Opinions expressed in write-ups/articles/Letters are the sole responsibility of the authors and they may not represent the Scoop News)
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