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Journalism of Courage
Months after denying the leader of Opposition (LoP) post to the Congress in the Lok Sabha, Speaker Sumitra Mahajan on Sunday said it is not necessary to have a LoP to have a strong Opposition, as the two were different.
In Lucknow to attend a two-day conference of presiding officers of legislative bodies at UP Assembly — the meet concluded on Sunday — Mahajan said that while Speaker’s hands are tied by the rule book, which has defined the criteria for selection of LoP, it does not mean that the Opposition cannot play its role as a strong watchdog without a LoP.
She also claimed that though the number of ordinances introduced by the Centre should be restricted, but in this age, where a government is judged within 100 days, it is not left with much option but to bring in ordinances.
“Having a strong Opposition and having a leader of Opposition are two different things. A strong Opposition raises its point strongly when the government brings a Bill. A strong Opposition reminds the government that it cannot do whatever it feels like. For these things, you do not need a leader of Opposition,” said Mahajan after the meet.
At a time when the NDA government is being targeted by Opposition for bringing in ordinances, Mahajan said: “The ordinance route should be used as less as possible but at the same time, all eyes are on what happens in the first 100 days of such a big government.”
On Day 2 of the meet, the topic of “automatic suspension” of legislators entering the Well of the House hogged limelight. UP Governor Ram Naik said: “Leaders from not only the Opposition but also the ruling party storming into the Well has become the biggest problem in the conduct of the House… Stopping the proceedings of the House is not good for a healthy democracy.”
Quoting the example of former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Naik added: “Vajpayee never liked anyone barging into the Well even as a leader of Opposition and such was his leadership quality, that no even disobeyed him.”
Later, Mahajan said that no consensus could be reached over the automatic suspension or expulsion of members. “The discussion will be taken further,” she added.
Paperless Parliament: Goa shows the way
With paperless Parliament and legislative assemblies on the conference agenda, Goa Legislative Assembly gave a presentation detailing how it has made most of its procedures paperless.
While Himachal Pradesh also shared its work in the direction, some speakers said the shift should be slow so that everyone can adapt to it.
“We will start with having lesser paperwork and then move towards an entirely paperless Parliament,” said Speaker Sumitra Mahajan.
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