Two days after the conclusion of the Monsoon session of Parliament, which saw frequent disruptions with the Opposition benches holding protests demanding a discussion on the special intensive revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Bihar, Union Home Minister Amit Shah Sunday said that the country will have to rethink the tradition of using protests as an excuse to stall legislative functioning.
“Whenever assemblies have lost their dignity, then we have had to bear very bad consequences. When the assembly of Hastinapur lost its dignity because it did not stand up for women’s honour, then the Mahabharat happened. The dignity of assemblies should be a way for the people’s voice to become the voice of the state, for the benefit of the country,” Shah said.
Shah was speaking at the inauguration of the All India Speakers Conference being held at the Delhi Legislative Assembly. The Conference is being organised to mark the centenary of Vithalbhai Patel becoming the first elected Indian speaker of the Central Legislative Council, equivalent of the Parliament then. Minister of Parliamentary Affairs Kiren Rijiju, Lieutenant Governor V K Saxena, Chief Minister Rekha Gupta and Speaker Vijender Gupta were also present at the event.
Pointing out that if there is no meaningful debate in Parliament and assemblies, they will become lifeless buildings, Shah also said that “you shouldn’t let Parliament and Legislative Assemblies be held hostage for your political interests. That’s not debate. Opposition should be restrained. Symbolic protests have their place. But using protests as an excuse to stop the House from functioning for days or entire sessions; that’s a tradition the country will have to rethink someday.”
Recounting an incident from Patel’s life, Shah pointed out how he never let the honour of the Speaker’s position fall. “The viceroy had come to this House… When it was decided that the viceroy would meet the assembly, there was a strong request from their side that when the viceroy addresses the assembly, there would be only one chair for him, and all other members would have to sit on the floor. Vithalbhai insisted, saying that it would be better if he didn’t come, as the Speaker’s chair has some dignity, it should be put beside the viceroy’s chair. The result was that the English government had to agree to this,” Shah said.
