New Delhi, Dec 9 (DHNS): President Pranab Mukherjee on Thursday expressed extreme displeasure over the continued logjam in Parliament. As the stalemate in both its Houses entered the third week, he said such continued disruption was not acceptable. Parliament is in session for just a few weeks in a year, and the nation cannot afford such a stalemate, he indicated.
“For demonstration, you can choose any other places. But for God’s sake, do your job. You are meant to transact business. You are meant to devote your time for exercising the authority of members, particularly the Lok Sabha members, over money and finance,” he said.
Mukherjee was delivering the fourth Defence Estates Day Lecture on ‘Electoral Reforms for a Stronger Democracy’ here. Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar and MoS Defence Dr Subhash Bhamre were also present on the occasion. “People send representatives to speak and not to sit on dharna and create any trouble on the floor,” he said.
“While three Ds — debate, dissension and decision — are essential in a Parliamentary system of democracy, the fourth D i.e, disruption, is unacceptable. Parliament is expected to transact business on important issues,” Mukherjee said.
Whatever the differences be, he said, the MPs have the opportunity to speak their mind and discuss issues freely. “Even if a member levels a charge against someone, no court can prosecute him because he has said so on the floor of the House. This extent of freedom available to the MPs should not be misused by causing disruptions.”
Saying that he has no intention of accusing any individual, the President said, “But it (disrupting Parliament) has become a practice. Disruption means you are hurt, you are gagging majority.”
He said, “The majority never participates in this disruption. Only minority comes to the Well, shouts slogans, stops the proceedings and creates a situation in which the chair has no option but to adjourn the House. This is totally unacceptable.” The President also spoke about the Women’s Reservation Bill, saying, “it is pending for a long time in Parliament and representation of women is abysmally low. Although the population of women in the country is almost 50%, their representation is abysmally low.”
He said the holding of frequent elections is a strain on both administrative and financial resources and should not be at the cost of development. “The Election Commission, state and central governments, and political parties should sit together and discuss this issue,” he said. Mukherjee also wanted the Election Commission to consider shortening the time frame of announcement, notification and conducting the elections. “The period of elections tends to get very long as it is spread over phases,” he said. He favoured increasing the number of Lok Sabha seats for which a Constitutional amendment could be considered.