Legislatures Should Command Respect: Sangma

Lok Sabha Speaker P A Sangma yesterday said the legislature should command respect rather than demand it.

Sangma made this statement while delivering the Subhash Chandra memorial lecture organised by the Bihar Legislative Council. Talking about the maintenance of parliamentary democracy, Sangma maintained that it was pertinent to maintain the supermacy of the legislature, independence of the judiciary and accountability of the executive.

Talking about the achievement of the country in preserving the democratic system, the Lok Sabha speaker cited the examples of countries like Pakistan and Bangladesh who have failed to withhold this noble form of governance.

The Lok Sabha speaker was of the opinion that the Parliamentary form of governance was best suited for the country and it had been proved an umpteen occasions. He cited the example of the present government at the Centre and said that though its a conglomeration of various parties the country is adhering to the democratice norms and hence we have a government and the country did accept the system once again.

Sangma, however, talked about the ills of the coalition government and recalled his experience as the head of the eight coalition parties in Meghalaya. He said that as the Chief Minister of the hetergenous coalition he had troubles from all quarters - to the extent of solving the problems of leaking taps and toilets of MLAs. He was of the opinion that the minority Deve Gowda government was continuing since there was no alternative and the MPs were unwilling to go to the polls within such a short span.

Bihar chief minister, Laloo Prasad Yadav, who also participated in the lecture also talked about the supermacy of the legislature and asserted that the appointed persons were trying to usurp the power at the cost of the democracy. He said that the people would not tolerate the efforts to throtle the democracy by undermining the authority of parliament and legislature.

The Janata Dal supremo had all praise for the Prime Minister and said that Its his greatness that he is making personal calls to the politicians of all hues rather than asking them to visit him. He is an straightforward and simple person. If I would have been in his position I would not have only paid visit to the politicians rather I would have preferred to throw a party and treat them within the choicest littis of Bihar.