As a citizen of India and resident of New Delhi, where the hallowed halls of Parliament are situated, I am deeply distressed by the events that have unfolded in the past week. The just-concluded winter session of Parliament has been the most disruptive session in over a year.
The session, which ran from 25 November to 20 December, was marred by disruptions over industrialist Gautam Adani—it played out like a script, judging by the track record of previous sessions. This was followed by protests and sloganeering against Home Minister Amit Shah, and the grand finale was a shameful scuffle. The esteemed Leader of Opposition, Rahul Gandhi, is said to have pushed MPs from the ruling party, sending two parliamentarians, one of them elderly, to the ICU. A woman tribal leader has also alleged that the Leader of Opposition pushed and threatened her. The Lok Sabha lost a grand total of 65 hours.
As a country, we need to hang our heads in collective shame and introspect on where we are losing the plot. We are failing to ensure that our elected leaders are working in the service of our nation, which is rapidly approaching its centennial year of Independence.
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Duties forgotten in disorder
The Indian Parliamentary system is unique in its nature and not a blind replication of any other Constitution. When BR Ambedkar, the esteemed Father of the Constitution, chaired the drafting committee to create this hallowed document, he couldn’t have imagined the ruckus and fracas that erupted last week, or how his name would be taken in vain by the very people elected to uphold its dignity and prestige.
The Indian Parliament represents 1.4 billion people, governed by an intricate, multi-layered, and complex system of governance. The Bhartiya Sansad is India’s supreme legislative body and has a ‘quasi-federal’ structure, meaning that while states are sovereign in the legislative field, the executive is run by the Centre and the states.
The bicameral legislature comprises the President of India and two Houses. The Lok Sabha, or House of the People, consists of 543 members “directly elected by the citizens of India on the basis of universal adult franchise”. The Rajya Sabha, or Council of States, has a maximum of 250 members who are indirectly elected by members of legislative bodies for a period of 6 years; one-third of its members retire every two years.
The elected Members of Parliament have a duty to their chair and a responsibility to the people who have elected them, as laid out in the Constitution. Their broad responsibilities can be classified as Legislative Responsibility, which involves passing laws for the betterment of India; Oversight Responsibility, which entails making sure that the Executive is performing its duty; Representative Responsibility, which is to voice the views and aspirations of their constituents in Parliament; and Power of the Purse Responsibility, which means overseeing government expenditure.
A 14-point Code of Conduct for Members of the Rajya Sabha has been in force since 2005. It clearly states that private interests must remain subordinate to the duties of public office, members must refrain from actions that bring disrepute to Parliament or affect the credibility of the institution, and members must utilise their position to advance the general well-being of the people.
In the words of Babasaheb Rao Ambedkar—whose alleged insult triggered the ruckus and chaos in the recent session: “However good a Constitution may be, if those who are implementing it are not good, it will prove to be bad.”
Since Lok Sabha MPs are elected every five years, and each successive term brings many new faces, there is an immediate and pressing need to introduce a similar Code of Conduct for this House as well. There should also be a requirement to provide training to newly inducted MPs, an onerous task to be carried out by institutions established under the Speaker of the Lok Sabha’s office.
Cost of disruption
The cost of a single minute of a Parliament session is over Rs 2.5 lakh. The Lok Sabha’s winter session lost 65 hours and 15 minutes. This has cost the exchequer a mind-boggling 97 crore, 87 lakh, and 50 thousand rupees of taxpayers’ money.
Isn’t it time taxpayers started demanding answers from their MPs for this colossal waste of national resources?
Each MP is allocated an annual amount of Rs 5 crore as part of the Members of Parliament Local Area Development (MPLAD) Fund. MPs are expected to use it to fund various infrastructure developments and welfare schemes for their constituents. If this amount was to be equally distributed between the 543 MPs in the Lok Sabha for developmental schemes, each MP would get an additional Rs 17,97,000 to spend on the betterment of their constituency.
Why decorum matters
Maintaining decorum in legislative proceedings is fundamental to upholding the trust of voters and preserving the integrity of democratic institutions.
Parliamentary debates are not just arenas for political contention but platforms to address public concerns with dignity and reason.
Disruptions, unruly behavior, or personal attacks erode the sanctity of these discussions, diminishing public faith in governance.
Members of the present party in government were largely in the opposition post-Independence. Their conduct should be compared to that of today’s opposition, whose party has ruled for most of the time since Independence.
Former Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee once said: “We in India are inheritors to a great civilisation whose life chant has been ‘Shanti’—that is, Peace—and ‘Bhaichara’—which means, Brotherhood.”
Do the raucous and unparliamentary events in the hallowed portals of Parliament reflect this ideology?
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Oratory and repartee with grace and dignity
As a lifetime student of politics and governance, I have observed lawmakers and parliamentarians across the world.
I remember being transfixed while watching the live telecast of the no-confidence motion against then UK Prime Minister Theresa May in January 2019, following the rejection of her Brexit deal. The MPs of Britain showcased the tradition of dignified debate in Parliament. While discussions were charged, they were marked by respect for democratic principles and decorum.
Jeremy Corbyn, as Leader of the Opposition, led the motion with a tone that was assertive yet respectful, avoiding personal attacks. He said, “This government is unable to govern, and it cannot command the confidence of this House. The Prime Minister must now step aside and allow the people to have their say in determining the future of this country.”
Closer home, we have a rich history of eloquent and dignified orators. Pandit Nehru, a gifted speaker, delivered speeches in Parliament that were powerful, visionary, and infused with his deep understanding of history and governance. His “Tryst with Destiny” speech remains iconic.
Former Prime Minister Vajpayee was celebrated for his wit and ability to connect across party lines. His speeches were marked by humour, clarity, and emotional depth, often leaving a lasting impact on both allies and adversaries.
The Swatantra Party’s Piloo Mody was a prominent opposition leader who used satire effectively to critique the government, making him a memorable voice in parliamentary debates. He famously insulted one of his political opponents by telling him to stop barking and then braying, insinuating that the other parliamentarian had the intelligence of the proverbial donkey.
The list goes on.
My respected parliamentary colleague and party member, the late Arun Jaitley, was known for his articulate arguments and legal acumen. His ability to deconstruct complex issues and present compelling arguments made him a formidable debater. Sushma Swaraj too commanded respect for her speeches across party lines. Former PM PV Narasimha Rao was a scholar-politician, a master of nuanced debate who could articulate complex economic and political issues with precision, reflecting his deep understanding of governance. Somnath Chatterjee, who served as the Speaker of the Lok Sabha from 2004 to 2009, was renowned for his unwavering commitment to upholding parliamentary decorum and often emphasised the sanctity of Parliament as the “temple of democracy”. His tenure was marked by efforts to maintain discipline and respect within the House, frequently admonishing members to adhere to parliamentary norms and conduct.
Elected representatives carry the responsibility of exemplifying respectful discourse, prioritising informed debate over theatrics. By engaging constructively and with mutual respect, lawmakers honour the mandate of their constituents and ensure that the democratic process remains robust, credible, and focused on the collective good.
The opposition could consider adopting Sushma jee’s mantra for constructive opposition: “We are in opposition not to oppose you but to bring out the best in you.”
One can only hope the Parliament of this country gets a worthy opposition, not necessarily an opponent.
Meenakshi Lekhi is a BJP leader, lawyer, and social activist. Her X handle is @M_Lekhi. Views are personal.
(Edited by Asavari Singh)
Responsibility meant for both ruling and opposition parties. You can not blame exclusively to opposition and like to stress that ruling party have more and more responsibility. Flexibility is not in ruling front at present and they think as if they born for rule the country and that they can not be questioned.
Parliamentary etiquette is a big joke. If it wasn’t for the Indian parliament, no watchmen will allow them inside any building in Asia, Europe, Americas, or oceana. Watchmen will baton charge them if they try to enter.