Rattan Singh Gill
What nation saw in the conduct of a few Members of Parliament in Rajya Sabha the other day, only bows one's head in shame! Such misconduct is not new to the parliamentary proceedings, that does not even qualify as entertainment, though the DD religiously beams them, day in day out.
In spite of the announcement by the Chair for raising their doubts to discuss and debate on Farming Bills, few members created pandemonium to the hilt. Their conduct was not condonable by any stretch of parliamentarian decorum. They were later suspended for the rest of the monsoon session.
However, there is some silver lining! After the opposition decided to boycott the Rajya Sabha, its eight suspended MPs on Tuesday ended their overnight sit-in inside the Parliament House complex and said they would take their fight against the farm bills to the street.
The suspended members, who spent the night on the lawns near Mahatma Gandhi's statue, got a surprise visitor in the morning — Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman Harivansh who came with tea and snacks. Till late night, the protesting MPs raised slogans and sang songs while a host of Opposition leaders visited them to express their support. It was the Deputy Chairman who was insulted and humiliated by these suspended members during the Rajya Sabha proceedings!
But their morning visitor did not receive the same enthusiastic response. Prime Minister Narendra Modi said Harivansh's gesture was proof of his greatness and added that his inspiring' and statesmanlike' conduct will make every democracy lover proud.
The PM tweeted, “To personally serve tea to those who attacked and insulted him a few days ago as well as those sitting on Dharna shows that Shri Harivansh Ji has been blessed with a humble mind and a big heart. It shows his greatness. I join the people of India in congratulating Harivansh Ji.”
Harivansh has been in the thick of things since the suspension drama unfolded. Rajya Sabha Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu had rejected a notice for a no-confidence motion against Harivansh as it was not in proper format and did not give a 14-day notice period.
While Parliament is a place to discuss, debate, and decide, creating ruckus and dramatic scenes inside and outside the House is the last thing one would expect from MPs. Differences should be sorted out with dialogue in the best interest of democracy.
The law-makers did not even stick to simple procedural norms of Parliament; most don't even know them. As the rulers and the opposition alternate in power, morals and behavior also trade places. But ‘United we Stall' anything brought by the party in power remains their common motto. The Chair, for them, is a piece of furniture, not a seat of authority. And all this ugliness is on parade purportedly for the people and at the people's expense!
The governing body is dead sick reflecting a democracy in decay. Indeed, the country is best governed only when Parliament is not in session!
