Consensus-building must be the order of the day for Parliament; India expects no less
That both Houses of Parliament conducted no fruitful work on Day I of the Winter Session reflects a sad state of affairs and does not bode well for a vibrant democracy like India. While the Rajya Sabha began on a fiery note and was disrupted thrice in the day, with the Opposition latching on to frivolous issues to ensure no legislative business was conducted, the lok Sabha wasted time after the obligatory obituary references. It was not surprising that the Session was a wasted affair — disruptions and disorderly scenes have become a part of our Parliamentary culture, especially since the new millennium.
One of the leading causes for Friday's disruption was the just-concluded bruising electoral campaign in the States of Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh. While electoral politics is an integral part of our democracy, Parliament is not exactly the most appropriate forum to settle political scores which involve trading barbs and insults. It is a space where legislative business is to be carried out for the passage of crucial Bills that serve the larger good. To this end, irrespective of the results of the Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh Assembly polls which will be declared today, both the Congress and the BJP not to mention smaller parties must realize the polls are over and they need to get out of poll mode and shun partisan politics to set the right precedent. Of the many Bills that await Parliamentary approval, the Muslim Women's (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Bill is perhaps the most crucial one. Members of Parliament must in one voice bring an end to the demeaning practice of triple talaq which Indian women are subject to despite the Supreme Court holding it illegal. Other Bills awaiting a nod include the Financial Resolution and Deposit Insurance (FRDI) Bill, besides those related to the economic sector to promote job growth. And work for the Budget Session, scheduled for early next year, too must start at the earliest.
As it is, the Winter Session will be short, so both the Treasury benches and the Opposition must understand that nothing will be gained by bringing the parliamentary process to a grinding halt. Keeping disruptive tactics and politics at bay, they must create a conducive environment to ensure a healthy debate on crucial legislation which ought to be scrutinized threadbare before being passed for the sake of the country. As the main Opposition party, it is the responsibility of the Congress to play a constructive role and not indulge in aggression just for the sake of it. As for the ruling party, it too must be accommodative of suggestions made by the Opposition.