Letters: Unbecoming of MPs

With reference to the report, "25 Cong MPs suspended for disorderly conduct" (August 4), it is a pity that our elected representatives indulge in such unruly behaviour in Parliament. The Opposition could have engaged in a debate on the points they had raised and if not satisfied with the outcome, demanded the resignation of the minister in question or boycotted the session. How can they waste public money by not allowing the House to function?

The government could also have taken proactive measures to diffuse the situation. Prime Minister Narendra Modi should make his stand clear. His presence in Parliament and a statement from him would have changed the situation. If the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party thinks that because of its absolute majority in the House, it can bully the Opposition and take things for granted, they are living in a fool's paradise. Party managers should learn from the mistakes of the Congress when it was in power.

Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan's action of suspending the Congress MPs smacks of political partisanship. If the members in question were recalcitrant, she could have, after issuing a stern warning, named them and made them ineligible to attend the session. Instead, she suspended 25 MPs belonging to one political party alone, even though members of other parties had indulged in similar behaviour.

It is high time a decision is taken on the payment of allowances to MPs who cause problems in the House. I think dies non should apply to MPs and MLAs.

B C Unnikrishnan Nair Kuthiathode

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