Disruption to debate: Democracy switches to action mode

After the washed out winter session and the truncated budget session, there were fears that the monsoon session was headed for a disaster too. Fortunately, good sense has prevailed all around. The August House was turning out to be platform for scoring political points and leaders were coming to be perceived as an irresponsible lot who did not have the interest of the people they represent on mind. On Tuesday, the quality of the debate over price rise was impressive. Senior BJP leader Yashwant Sinha was at his articulate best taking on the UPA government on the issue, as was Salman Khurshid, who led the government’s fight back. Other leaders made their arguments too. [caption id=“attachment_54031” align=“alignleft” width=“380” caption=“Pranab Mukherjee made it clear that the Opposition had every right to oppose and refute the government’s position but it should operate within rules of engagement laid down by the system of parliamentary democracy. PTI”] [/caption] Today, it was Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee making his point. It was loads of experience and knowledge on display during the debate, quantities which people had started forgetting that many of our parliamentarians possess in abundance. Mukherjee made it clear that the Opposition had every right to oppose and refute the government’s position but it should operate within rules of engagement laid down by the system of parliamentary democracy. A senior parliamentarian, Mukherjee had taken efforts to build the bridges with BJP prior to the session, assuring the party that it was ready for debate on any issue. He had urged the opposition to be allow the House to function normally and avoid walkouts and disruptions. He had convinced the opposition that the best way to make one’s point was through debates. With so many important bills lined up, this development looks positive. The government’s Lokpal Bill will need a thorough discussion and crucial revisions. The members have to make it acceptable to the civil society and its millions of supporters. In fact, this particular bill would test the character of our polity. The government’s bill is a weak one, the bill presented by Team Anna Hazare is not flawless too. An intelligent debate on the subject would help draw a balance and give shape to a good anti-corruption authority. It’s a chance for the parliamentarians to reclaim the moral turf which they have ceded to external forces. The civil society groups have, in a welcome development, come to occupy the vacuum in the opposition space. They have manged to engage the government on several burning issues.  The BJP and other parties have an opportunity to reclaim that space in this session. A healthy debate on the Lokpal Bill would help them in the effort. The parliamentarians would also have to be mindful of the growing footprint of the judiciary in legislative and policy matters. It is tantamount to violation of the sanctity of the principle of separation of powers laid down in the Indian Constitution. Again, here too, the politicians have to blame themselves for the situation. They have failed to act responsibly and assert their presence in recent times. There are different other bills lined up. All of them involve the lives and livelihood of millions of Indians some way or the other.  The parliamentarians have to intervene and discuss all these. If the House debates issues the way it has done so far, it would regain the lost public respect.