- The Indian people are observing how opposition parties have repeatedly disrupted parliamentary sessions, alleging flimsy and sometimes valid reasons. Yes, even when in opposition, the Bharatiya Janata Party-led National Democratic Alliance resorted to stalling measures, even as the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance tried to convince them of the futility of inaction. Of course, the NDA is under attack from the Congress-led opposition blocs, which will stop at nothing to prevent the ruling dispensation from carrying out legislative proceedings. Nonetheless, both national party-led alliances should recognize that the country will suffer as a result of protracted inaction.
PC: TOI
- The elected members are engaging in such disorderly and unparliamentary behavior that it is cringeworthy to observe how policymakers shamelessly disrupt meetings without listening to saner voices to accomplish essential business. The newest stalemate in the present monsoon session of the parliament is over the vexing topic of violence in Manipur. With the Lok Sabha speaker accepting the opposition’s no-confidence petition, a parliamentary debate on Manipur will be held once a date and time are established. Moving such resolutions is the right of the opposition, but that does not justify the opposition’s unwillingness to accept the Union Government’s earlier offer of a discussion. Did someone say irrational?
- Against logic, Congress and other anti-BJP parties demanded that the Prime Minister talk about Manipur. Yet their refusal to engage in a debate in which the Union Government’s views would have been headed by the home minister, whose responsibility includes internal security, made little sense. The broader issue, as agreed, is that the House should have had a thorough debate on Manipur by now. This is especially true given that Amit Shah had written to Congress leaders in both the Lower and Upper Houses, inviting them to a full-fledged discussion. It is unclear what the opposition sought to accomplish politically by refusing to participate in the debate thus far. Yet what has been lost is clear: time that could have been spent studying a problem. Who is thinking logically in this situation? None.
PC: PTI
- With the no-confidence resolution approved, the opposition may be banking that the PM will speak. However, once again, method, not substance, is the focus. Yet, where a Treasury Bench offer of a full discussion was already on the table, utilizing a no-confidence motion for a single-point agenda is not acceptable parliamentary practice. Manipur, without a doubt, deserves the full attention of the House. Certainly, the opposition’s concerns about the Union Government are more relevant than who speaks first from the Treasury side. Surely, the opposition should have recognized this as well. If debates on every crucial subject are stalled in the same way, the House will be unable to carry out one of its most vital responsibilities. Better judgment should prevail.
