High time now for fixing accountability on people's representatives
It is almost certain for obstructions in parliament to gather momentum by the time the general election nears. Under the situation, expecting for parliamentary reforms seems meaningless. This article bats for the inevitability for fixing up the real answerability for the lawmakers. This seems to be impossible though but this is the demand of the time.
During the days passed by, people's eyes remained fixated on the postponed monsoon session of parliament for an indefinite period. Questions had started rising because of this session from before. Generally, the session begins in July, but the session began in August and 16 sittings were decided for this session, which was record less in number, excepting the earlier session. The period of the session was later extended for a week. As for that, Strong disruption was witnessed in the session before this one over several issues including over the resignations of ministers. Under the circumstances, the monsoon session too was expected to be replete with rumpuses. Beginning seemed to be so. In the beginning two weeks, MPs opposing carving out of Telangana state created utmost hullabaloo. Around 88 % of the initial 10 sittings were lost in the din and bustle of the pandemonium created by MPs that far surpassed the previous two monsoon sessions. The parliamentarians sometimes moved hunters while sometimes took the avatar of Lord Krishna. The height was reached when the news of use of profanity and abusive languages by the parliamentarians poured out from within the parliament house. The serious-parliamentarians appeared to be embroiled over other issues also. The speaker had to reprimand the members and TDP members had to be suspended. By that time, it was too late though. 50 hours were wasted of the Lok Sabha alone. Parliamentarians breaking laws should step down on their own.Government shifted the buck on opposition for all the crises
This was a great relief for the government that no any fresh scam surfaced up during the two sessions. However, Robert Badra property disputes again hogged the limelight. On the other side, the government seemed to be put into the docks once again because of the missing files of coal block allotment swindle. Right from the coal minister to the prime minister had to give clarifications. The PM on this issue looked in a changed style. On the contrary, he heaped questions upon the opposition itself holding them responsible for the present gloomy scenario of the country castigating them for having been obstacles in his ways. Obstructions ruled the days on the score of issues of Kishtwar incident and solar fraud. In Rajya Sabha, pandemonium prevailed over the list of leaders producing noise the most. The government was surrounded on the issues related to China and Pakistan. The Uttarakhand calamity, weakening economy of the country, and the plight of farmers left their marks also. Food security as game changer
In midst of all these, the Food Security Ordinance, supposedly a game changer was given the final stamp. Sonia Gandhi, led the discussion despite having been sick patting the back of government. It has to be seen how the 5 kg food grain to be given per month at the 50 gram per day per person is going to end malnutrition from the country. Similarly, the land acquisition act was also passed in which consent of farmers has been made compulsory with a higher compensation for the land acquired. Certainly, the promises of Rahul Gandhi have been fulfilled. This is a separate matter that dozens of laws relating to land acquisition act of different ministries are outside its area. Apart from this, the bill keeping political parties outside the sphere of influence of RTI, no doubt, has been sent to the permanent parliamentary committee but the bill reversing the order of Supreme Court not to fight elections from inside jail has been approved by the parliament. The honorable members, as expected, declaring themselves accountable, on the contrary, raised questions on the judiciary itself. As for that matter, before the beginning of the session itself, unanimity was already reached on these bills and why not? Criminal proceedings are running on 162 members of the present Lok Sabha.Total hours of works carried out in oarliament
As for that, before the session, about 116 bills were pending, but the government had its goals fixed on getting 40 bills passed out of the total pending bills. Although, only 12 bills could be passed that also while 6 bills got approved on the last day of the session. One could well imagine the time and quality of discussions. The number of bills, for that matter, has increased now to 123. On the other side is the more worrisome state of the question hour, which is considered important for the members. Out of 300 questions, a mere 11 in the Lok Sabha and 28 in the Rajya could get verbal answers. This figure is more than enough to indicate the sorry state of affairs of our parliamentary system. To sum up, works were carried out for merely 171 hours in both the houses of parliament.Drape down
Unfortunately, a record of sort of a maximum hullaballoo has been created in the present Lok Sabha. For this reason, it is being presumed now that the parliament is no more a useful place of work. This assumption formed among the masses is not all of a sudden. By the time of arrival of the next general election, hurdles in parliament are bound to increase with intensity. Under the scenario, it is futile for a parliamentary reform. The general mass have no option other than hoping against hopes. One will have to ponder over the answer to only 13 % answers to questions, approval on mere 12 bills and obstruction of about 100 hours in the august house. Is this the meaning of parliament session? Is it for this that the people's representatives are sent to parliament after electing? It is but obvious accountability on our law framers also needs to be fixed up. This might sound impossible but this is the caal of the present times.
