Disturbance, disruptions fast taking House towards irrelevance: Jagdeep Dhankhar

Speaking at the valedictory function of the two-day conference of Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA), India region, Dhankhar also made a veiled criticism of the so-called “freebie culture”, which has been slammed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. “Political intoxication of people by distribution of largesse requires serious deliberation. Economies have collapsed as a consequence of this. Thrust has to be to generate an ecosystem that empowers people to unleash their talent and potential. Reaching out to their pockets is not a rational option.”

The ruling BJP has also criticised announcement of freebies before elections in Opposition-governed states, calling it a drain on the exchequer.

Dhankhar said it is the “paramount role of public representatives to ensure Executive accountability and fiscal discipline in governance”.

Dhankhar, who has had a run-in with the Opposition in Rajya Sabha in the just-concluded and nearly-washed-out Monsoon Session of Parliament, emphasised that institutions of public representatives is “under severe strain”.

Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, Rajasthan Governor Kalraj Mishra and Rajasthan Assembly Speaker C P Joshi were among those present.

Dhankhar said: “The temples of democracy meant for dialogue, deliberation, debate and discussion are these days hotbeds of disturbance and disruptions. As a consequence…Parliament and legislatures are fast surging into irrelevance. The gruesome situation augurs ill for democratic values.”

The Rajya Sabha Chairman repeatedly cautioned disruptions in Parliament: “Disorder in the theatre of democracy has become a new norm. Disorder has taken the place of order. This calls for serious reflection by representatives of the people, and surely on priority basis, lest the institution slips into irrelevance.”

Pointing out that he had agreed for a discussion on the situation in Manipur in the Upper House, and that both the Prime Minister and Home Minister Amit Shah had spoken about it in Lok Sabha, Dhankhar said no discussion took place in Rajya Sabha.

The Opposition disrupted proceedings of both Houses of Parliament, seeking a statement from the Prime Minister on the Manipur violence. Modi spoke on it while replying to the debate on no-confidence motion moved by the Opposition.

Dhankhar recalled B R Ambedkar’s warning — that “unless we in Parliament realise our responsibilities and shoulder the task of looking after the welfare and good of the people…I have not the slightest doubt that this Parliament will be treated by the public outside with utter contempt” — and said India is faced with this “grim reality”. He said, “Let us all pledge to be alive to these prophetic concerns and cautions of the founding fathers of our Republic and retrieve the cliffhanger-like situation — we are clinging, about to lose grip if we do not occupy our space.”