Letters: Mockery of democracy

The disruption of the current session of Parliament is a matter of grave concern. This is a blatant waste of public funds. The President of India recently reiterated the principle that Parliament should function through debate, not disruption.

Interestingly, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley invoked the speech of former prime minister Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru to highlight the need for a functioning Parliament. When the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) was in the Opposition, it played a major role in ensuring that the 15th Lok Sabha sessions were a washout. The Congress -then in power, now in the Opposition -seems determined to pay the BJP back in its own coin. Of course, two wrongs do not make a right and the sanctity of Parliament needs to be respected.

Nehru had the highest respect for Parliament. I remember reading about an incident from the book, Parliamentary System in India by S G Deogaonkar. In it, the writer describes a few parliamentary customs in India - sadly, most of our present MPs violate them. One custom is that all members must bow to the Chair while entering and leaving the House. Nehru meticulously observed this practice.

Deogaonkar recalls an incident wherein once, a Japanese delegation arrived at the airport behind schedule and Nehru was informed about it. He collected his papers hastily and started towards the door of the House. But he soon returned to his seat, bowed to the Chair and then left.

Thus was the dedication and behaviour of our yesteryear MPs. All incumbent lawmmakers, irrespective of their political affiliation, need to introspect about their behaviour. This mockery of the Indian democracy has to end.

K B Dessai, Goa

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