The charge of the shouting brigade

The 14th Lok Sabha has seen the high watermark of parliamentary disorder. Repeated adjournments, walkouts, the headlong rush into the well o...

The 14th Lok Sabha has seen the high watermark of parliamentary disorder. Repeated adjournments, walkouts, the headlong rush into the well of the House, screaming matches, abusive language, threats of physical violence and boycotts, these unparliamentary practices have not only already piled up appalling costs for the public exchequer but also resulted in crucial legislative business being neglected, such as a proper debate on the Union Budget. When it comes to bad behaviour in the House of the People, the elected representatives have shown just how unrepresentative they are of Indian good manners. Besides when democracy is measured simply by decibel level of its leaders, then we can safely conclude that the voice of the people is being drowned out. No wonder Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee recently said he had no job satisfaction. Presenting some disruptive parliamentarians of this Lok Sabha:

George Fernandes, JD(U)

He has mostly been absent from the House, but be sure of it: be it tainted ministers, the Uma Bharati row or now the PM’s alleged rude behaviour towards an NDA delegation, the traditional stormy petrel of Parliament is behind all the action/inaction in the House

S S Ahluwalia, BJP

Once a member of the Rajiv Gandhi shouting brigade, he is now a BJP member of the Rajya Sabha. Was once heard shouting so loudly that Laloo-loyalist Prem Gupta of the RJD called him a daaku (dacoit).

Kunwar Akhilesh Singh and Ramji Lal Suman, Samajwadi Party

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Mention Mulayam Singh and the SP rushes into the well of the House determined to protect ‘Netaji’ from entirely imaginary insults. The Samajwadi Party’s record in upholding the traditions of democratic debate may be likened to Genghis Khan’s relationship with Mahatma Gandhi.

Prabhunath Singh, JD(U), and Raghuvansh Prasad, RJD

Prabhunath Singh, a Bihar MP with as many as 40 cases against him including murder, is known for his shouting skills. He is as vociferous as his state colleague Raghuvansh Prasad and other members of the RJD who—24 strong in this Lok Sabha—always begin a storm of noisy bad behaviour every time the word ‘daaghi’ (tainted) ministers is mentioned.

Renuka Choudhary, Congress

Although a minister, is a veteran Congress shouter. She once rode to Parliament in a tractor to score a debating point, although her lung power is an equally effective steam-roller.

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