Opinion Words are all we have
Rich,nuanced parliamentary debate is rare these days,as legislators tend to grandstand for the media.
Parliamentary debates occupy centrestage in our politics. As a representative institution,Parliament deliberates on various issues confronting the nation; a substantial time is allocated for debates. Debates are supposed to be orderly,with each member speaking in the best possible manner in the time allotted to them,and expressing their views on varied subjects to meet the aspirations of their electorates,society and the nation at large.
In recent years,a culture has developed in which,rather than good debate,unruly behaviour and disorder that are often resorted to as tactics,to yield an assurance from government,or to catch media attention. High standards in debates depend,to a great extent,on the individual members interest and involvement,including the time devoted to research. Today,a member is also influenced by the prevailing political atmosphere and alignments in the House and,therefore,things have come to such a pass that high debating standards have become extremely rare. Parliament has become a forum for fighting among political parties on partisan lines. The healthy traditions and norms of parliamentary democracy have been given a go-by in todays power-centric politics.
The adversarial posture between the treasury benches and the opposition has also affected the debating standards. The decline in standards cannot be separated from the general decline in parliamentary democratic institutions all over the world; it is a phenomenon not confined to India alone. Good debates are barely reported by the media; that unruly scenes get more prominent coverage than a good speech has become a disincentive for members to participate in debates seriously.
Parliamentary debates are of great significance. During the debates on motions and bills,the members participate in the debates,giving their opinions and viewpoints,which may prompt the government to revise any measure,or give an assurance,after which they are put to vote. Therefore debates are not only important in deciding the ultimate shape of a law enacted by Parliament,but also in making the government take certain measures as a follow-up on what the members have said in the House. Unless the debates are of high order and forceful enough,parliamentarians may not be able to contribute effectively to good governance and welfare.
Parliamentary debates are very different from the speeches made by political leaders in public functions. Parliament is a world in itself with its own customs and rules. Members,while participating in the debates,have to adhere to the rules,customs and etiquette in the House. Members enjoy freedom of speech in the House,which has been recognised as an important parliamentary privilege. Eloquence and a high level of debating skills are coveted abilities,and a high level of debate enriches Parliament.
On going through the daily proceedings of Parliament,it is easy to make out whether debates were of a high standard or not. Debates are published; one can see the difference between debates in the 1950s or 1960s,and those of recent years. At Independence,India was gifted with men of high calibre,who were highly educated and whose scholarly backgrounds and oratorical abilities enlivened debate. They were men of vision,who maintained high standards in personal and public life and conduct,and took debates with due seriousness,preparing themselves by studying the subject of discussion in the House. A decline in debating standards is not an isolated phenomenon: there has been a decline in parliamentary and democratic systems as a whole,what with the criminalisation of politics,corruption,unethical conduct and so on.
The social profile of members of Parliament has changed today,too. Our democracy reflects today the diversities of our country,the grassroots realities,our educational standards,the rural-urban divide. MPs come from these diverse backgrounds,and today the House no longer has an elitist character. As you are aware,the Constitution has not prescribed any educational qualifications for members. The increasing incidence of indiscipline and unruly behaviour,of disorder,disruptions,and the shouting of slogans,of walkouts,disobedience to the chair and so on have led to a decline in standards,and to a crisis of our parliamentary institutions. Members are also pessimistic about the chances that a speech in Parliament will impact government policy,and think a good debate is not worth the effort. Thus,in the House today,speeches made by members revolve around political issues and members do not focus on the issue,or the subject of discussion. Indiscipline takes away Parliaments precious time. Often,debates are incomplete before a bill or motion is put to vote. Even if a member comes well-prepared,he would be lucky to get an orderly atmosphere in the House to speak.
A high standard of parliamentary debate would have several aspects. Certain ideas should be clearly and coherently conveyed. Sometimes,debate is an argument with facts and figures,and the member should be able to deliver those facts with impressive language and mannerisms. The words used,the meaning of the members sentences,the flow of ideas are all important. How well a member can articulate his views and ideas is crucial. Today we often see tedious,shallow,repetitive speeches,without depth and impact. Intellectual standards and scholarly pursuits are relatively absent in most members. Frequently,debates degrade into verbal disputes between the treasury benches and opposition.
Only on very rare occasions,like the debate on motions of confidence or no-confidence and certain other major contentious issues,can one see high standards of debate and serious participation. In the recent past,debates on Indo-US nuclear cooperation,the womens reservation bill,and on the drafting of the Lokpal bill can be cited as among the best. Another important dimension is pertinent to mention here: when the Lok Sabha was facing disruption,the Upper House,true to the best traditions of parliamentary democracy,concerned itself with the motion for the removal of Justice Soumitra Sen,and there were some excellent speeches on the subject of the legislature and the judiciary.
Without dedication by members,a high standard of debate cannot be expected. The decline in parliamentary institutions can be arrested,to a great extent,by maintaining a high level of debate,but this requires a long-term effort. Sustained efforts made by presiding officers,political parties and leaders can gradually bring changes to our parliamentary institutions.
The writer is deputy chairman of the Rajya Sabha. The views expressed are personal
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