Parliament celebrates 60 years

Concern over repeated disruptions and the need for introspection dominated Parliament as it celebrated on Sunday the 60th year of its first sitting in independent India.

Cutting across party lines, leaders asserted that supremacy of Parliament must be preserved, holding that laws are made by it and not mobs, apparently a reference to civil society campaign against Parliamentarians while pressing for setting up of Lok Pal.

The leaders took pride in the fact that India has managed to hold on to democracy and was a shining example in the world despite many pressing problems like acute poverty, sustained terrorism and hiccups for democracy in the neighbourhood.

However, a faint reference was made to the brief period of Emergency of 1970s, which was corrected constitutionally soon after.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh set the tone for introspection as he flagged concerns in the Rajya Sabha over "repeated disruptions" and "unwillingness" for discussions.

Initiating the debate, he appealed to members to "write a new chapter and restore to it the sense of dignity and decorum that is expected of a House of Elders."

"That is not to say that we should not reflect with concern on the repeated disruptions of proceedings and a regrettable unwillingness, on occasion, to engage in informed discussion," the Prime Minister said.

The Prime Minister said, "There is no doubt that one reason for India's growing global stature in the world is the country's unflinching commitment to pursuing a democratic path to achieving our social and economic salvation."

He underlined that it was "therefore incumbent upon all of us to respect the great institutions of our democracy and respect the spirit of what is expected from the elected representatives."

The concerns come against the backdrop of disruptions taking a heavy toll on the functioning of Parliament in the last few years, with even last Winter Session getting washed out entirely.

Finance Minister and Leader of the Lok Sabha Pranab Mukherjee echoed concerns over disruption in the Lower House when he lamented that a handful of members throttle "silent majority" and called for a mechanism that will eliminate disruptions.

"On many occasions, this House has been tumultuous, tempers ran high, but disruptions was the least this House has adopted. Because when we disrupt the House then it serves no purpose. We cannot hear. We cannot speak," he said.

Mukherjee said Parliament has acted as a "shock absorber" on several occasions and whenever there have been disputes, dissensions, the Lok Sabha has played a role in defusing it.

Noting that there had been confrontation in the federal structure between various organs of the government and judiciary, executive and legislature, he said, however, "over the years we have evolved a system and (have been) able to find an amicable solution."

UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi emphasised that independence of Parliament must be protected at all costs and urged members to live up to the standards of the makers of Constitution.

She said the "journey of Parliament had not always been smooth or without challenges" and the anniversary "was also an occasion for reflection."

BJP leader LK Advani shared Mukherjee's views and said tolerance and understanding for each others' views and debates in Parliament can solve issues.

He said people, who were sceptical of a country of poor and illiterate people becoming a successful democracy, have been proved wrong as India has turned into a successful democracy in 60 years.

Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Arun Jaitley said a major challenge before the country was to improve polity and good governance.

He said once the norms of accountability improves, cynicism with regard to Parliament and parliamentary functioning would be brought to an end as there is no substitute to the credibility of parliamentary institution.

"Our conduct, our quality of debate, our ability to resolve differences and finally work in national interest is perhaps areas where people will judge us," he said.

Referring to the "experience of mid-1970s" (Emergency), he said fundamental rights were made "non-suspendable"...We learnt from our mistakes. We made the basic structure of our Constitution non-amendable so that nobody can tinker with it."

Sharad Yadav (JD-U) said democracy should reach doorsteps of the poor and emphasised that only Parliament can take steps to stem the rot in the system as was done by "expelling members and even sending some to jail".