- After the foundation stone laying ceremony of the new Parliament Building, the Central Vista, the Prime Minister in his address elaborately mentioned how India has proved those naysayers wrong who had doubted whether democracy would be successful here. Undoubtedly, he was touching on the issue which is the cornerstone of many a country in the world that are inspired by the vibrancy of democratic functionalities that India as a country is recognized and acknowledged. The country is spoken to in glorious terms for these very reasons need no further emphasis.
PC: MG Devasahayam
- Make no mistake, if the democratic form of governance achieves success and acceptance, the core of the achievement lies in the way dialogue across the spectrum in the hallowed portals of the Parliament is encouraged, debated, appreciated, and implemented for the larger good of the nation. The heart of the democracy is nothing but allowing for uninterrupted dialogue to resolve differences that invariably crop up as part of the vibrant hues inherently associated with this form of governance. Any efforts at muzzling healthy dialogue defeat the very purpose of taking everybody along.
- As such, Parliament where the nation’s duly elected representatives adorn with their presence, deliberate, and pass appropriate laws perfectly embodies this inalienable attribute of democracy. Now that the PM spoke about Indian democratic credentials receiving rich accolades from various corners, the onus squarely rests on the government to also undertake necessary steps to make democracy more meaningful. Off late and too often, democracy has received short shrift in Parliament itself where the process of dialogue has greatly suffered.
PC: Kaushik Deka
- Keen observers would recollect how far-reaching instruments like Aadhaar Act and Electoral Bonds as money bills were passed without adequate scrutiny or concerted debate to short circuit necessary public dialogue. The treasury benches tasked with promulgating Bills that are expected to go through the exactitudes of threadbare analyses before presenting for a vote have seen circumvention of the time-honored procedures. Opposition benches crying foul over not adhering to the Parliamentary processes are in the right as the recent examples show.
- The controversial farm reforms that are in the eye of a storm as farmers’ protests on the laws amply demonstrate how these were promulgated as ordinances and then rushing them through Parliament has proved a recipe for unrest. Ordinances are to be used as instruments only during Parliamentary recesses and owing to extraordinary circumstances necessitating immediate action. Resorting to the measure as a matter of routine considerably lowers the exalted position enjoyed by the nation’s Parliamentary processes.
PC: M.D. Nalapat
- The ruling dispensation is making attempts at bypassing the democratic procedures by failing to convene Parliament’s winter session utilizing the forum to communicate on many issues including the pandemic, economic distress, vaccination measures, and most importantly, farm reforms by taking the opposition into confidence eliciting wide-ranging views and counterviews using the medium of debate. The government should diligently follow the norms to strengthen democracy.
