New Delhi: The monsoon session of Parliament ended on Thursday. Except for 3-4 days, both the Houses of Parliament could transact no meaningful business in the just concluded session. The session was chaotic, it barely functioned. For the first time MPs like me (there are quite a lot of them) it was a new experience. After we got elected in May 2014, the first one year had been very smooth and Parliament functioned properly.
The monsoon session was hit by corruption charges against the ruling BJP ministers and some chief ministers. The opposition Congress attacked the BJP-led NDA government over the same issues they were also accused of when they were in power, not long ago.
As an MP, I have been keenly observing the arguments over non-functioning of Parliament. Many argue that MPs who protest in the House should be punished. I don’t agree with such demands because MPs are elected representatives of the people, they are not employees. When their efforts to convince the government fails, they will be forced to resort to such things.
Sometimes it also goes out of the hand. During the Telangana agitation, we also resorted to protests inside Parliament. We were forced to do that after all our peaceful efforts failed to make the government understand our points. It was necessary for us to go on an agitation to draw the attention of the nation. I too feel bad that Parliament could not function properly this time. I don’t want to be judgemental. We will have to sort out many issues facing the robust democracy we have in India.
However, sometimes the obstruction of the session is not related to any big issues. It becomes a personal ego battle at times. I am against political party leaders settling their personal scores and egos at the cost of Parliament session. I am not going to discuss the merits of Lalit Modi case. I have not studied it properly and can’t comment in a definite manner.
Such obstructions should be discouraged. For that all political parties must come together and come out with a mechanism. But it is not an easy job in our democracy.
India is a union of states, not a unitary nation. Each state has its own issues. Most of them are serious in nature and deserve full attention of Parliament. These days, many developmental issues are not being debated or discussed in Parliament because of obstructions and other political developments.
I am happy that I could ask at least a few questions related to development of the state and nation in the just concluded session. I was prepared for a longer debate on many issues. Sadly, it did not happen due to continued disruptions. I always come to Parliament well prepared. I will have to wait till the Winter session which begins in November to raise many other issues. I hope and pray that Parliament functions properly and we would be able to address the issues of common people in a better way.
(Kalvakuntla Kavitha is a Member of Parliament (Lok Sabha) from Nizamabad in Telangana State. She belongs to TRS. Kavitha has studied in the USA and she writes on current affairs in leading national dailies)
Comments
0 comment