DC Debate: The NDA must accept the Opposition’s demand and let the House function
Monsoon raga
K.C. Tyagi Vs Shrikant Sharma
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K.C. Tyagi: Tainted ministers have to go
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The Opposition will allow the proceedings of the Monsoon Session of Parliament only if the ruling party ensures the resignation of its tainted ministers at the Centre as well as in states. We want Parliament to function well so that some work can be done for the welfare of people. If the government really wants Parliament to function in a productive manner, it should ask external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan and Rajasthan chief minister Vasundhara Raje to resign for their alleged involvement in corrupt practices.
Ms Swaraj has helped an economic offender (Lalit Modi). In the same way, Ms Raje is mired in scams over her son Dushyant’s business links to Lalit Modi. Mr Chouhan’s name finds a mention in the major Vyapam scam.
So, in order to let the Monsoon Session of Parliament function smoothly, the government should remove these ministers from their positions till they are given a clean chit in an impartial probe. If these ministers are found innocent they can be reinstated. The 2010 Commonwealth Games scam, 2G spectrum allocation scam, Coalgate and Adarsh housing society scam took place during the United Progressive Alliance’s rule. The Janata Dal (United) stood strongly with the National Democratic Alliance to demand the resignation of the accused ministers.
In the Tehelka case, the then defence minister George Fernandes submitted his resignation on moral grounds. In the Jain Hawala case, senior BJP leader Lal Krishna Advani and JD(U) president Sharad Yadav had resigned as MPs because their names were listed in the Jain diary. They kept themselves out of Parliament until they were declared clean.
Thus, it is the moral duty of a parliamentarian or a legislator to resign if s/he is alleged to have indulged in ill practices. During UPA’s tenure, BJP leaders Arun Jaitley and Ms Swaraj — Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha and the Lok Sabha respectively — paralysed the proceedings of both the Houses of Parliament for several days. The duo’s offensive led to disruptions and resulted in the resignation of K. Natwar Singh, the UPA’s external affairs minister in 2005. At that time, Ms Swaraj had emphasised that for an impartial probe it was important for Mr Singh to resign.
In 1995, Atal Behari Vajpayee said that we don’t debate just for the sake of debating. In today’s context, if the BJP says that the Opposition is running away from discussion, I would like to tell them that it is the BJP which is responsible for the current deadlock.
The Opposition is demanding the resignation of the tainted ministers so that an impartial probe can be carried out. To quote Mr Jaitley from 2011, “Parliament’s job is to conduct discussions. But many a time, Parliament is used to ignore issues and in such situations, obstruction of Parliament is in the favour of democracy.
Therefore parliamentary obstruction is not undemocratic.” The current Opposition is doing the same. Before coming to power, the BJP talked about “zero tolerance” for corruption. Today, the Central government is not only tolerating corruption but encouraging it. We are not opposing just because we are in the Opposition. The JD(U) has supported the government in the passage of Goods and Services Tax Bill, Real Estate Bill and Coal Mines Bill. The party is co-operating on all counts where the Centre is right.
K.C. Tyagi, national general secretary of JD(U) and Rajya Sabha MP
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Shrikant Sharma: Pending bills crucial for economy
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Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led National Democratic Alliance government has taken several initiatives for the development of the country, but some of measures that require changes in legislation have hit a roadblock. This obstruction is being caused by the Congress Party, which is frustrated due to its repeated defeats in elections, diminishing political base and mounting disappointment with its top leadership. The Congress’ frustration is visible in its irresponsible conduct inside and outside Parliament. While ignoring issues vital to the security and development of the nation, the Congress has resorted to hold Parliament to ransom.
Due to the disruptive tactics adopted by the Congress, more than 90 per cent of the scheduled time of Parliament has been washed out so far. Some media reports says that one hour of Lok Sabha costs the exchequer Rs 1.5 crore while for Rajya Sabha it’s about Rs 1.1 crore. Therefore, if the Congress continues to adopt the same obstructionist tactics, a washed out Monsoon Session could cost '260 crore of taxpayers’ money. Mr Modi has said that people have a lot of expectation from their MPs. We need to work towards fulfilling those.
The world is watching us. There are many important bills pending in Parliament. In the Lok Sabha, the Land Acquisition Bill and the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Amendment Bill, 2014, are pending. While in the Rajya Sabha, the Whistleblowers Protection (Amendment) Bill, 2015, Mental Healthcare Bill, 2013, Prevention of Corruption (Amendment) Bill, 2013, the Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2012, Real Estate (Regulations & Development) Bill, 2013, are pending passage. Some of these bills are imperative to accelerating economic growth and promoting smoother governance, which was paralysed under the UPA rule. But Congress MPs have not allowed Parliament to function.
The Opposition members’ protests touched a new low on Monday when a Congress MP showed disrespect to the Chair. As far as the so-called demands of the Opposition are concerned, the BJP is ready to debate them in Parliament, but the Congress is avoiding that because it knows that if the issue of corruption is discussed in Parliament, its top leadership will not able to face the reality. So it is resorting to disruption of Parliament.
The allegations of the Congress do not hold any ground. Last week, Congress president Sonia Gandhi accused the government of not telecasting the Opposition’s protest on Lok Sabha TV. But the guidelines for the telecast and broadcast of Lok Sabha proceedings were changed by the previous Speaker, Meira Kumar, during the Congress-led UPA’s rule. According to new guidelines, “The telecast of Lok Sabha proceedings should be a true reflection of what is happening in the House including the scenes of disorder, walk-outs, etc.
However on the occasions of disorders in the House, when members are entering the well etc. camera shall focus on the occupants of the Chair.” It seems that Congress leaders are more interested in appearing on camera rather than debating issues of public importance. Unfortunately, the Congress is in the habit of disrespecting the people’s mandate.
Shrikant Sharma is BJP’s national secretary
