After Narendra Modi and Bhupinder Singh Hooda, leader of Opposition Sushma Swaraj addressed the students of Delhi University on Friday. At a seminar on “The Role of Opposition in a democracy” at the Faculty of law, Swaraj emphasised on the requirement of Opposition for the welfare of the common man.
She said that Opposition functions as the watchdog and familiarises people about the shortcomings of the Government. She highlighted that even though they work entirely in the interest of the people, it is them who are put in a negative light for adjourning the parliamentary sessions.
“Opposition is never against any step or policy decision of the Government that benefits the people. We are often blamed for getting the sessions adjourned, but in reality it gets delayed because of the lack of will of the Government. They look for excuses to waste time to get their way through,” she said.
She further clarified that the Opposition never stalled the proceedings in the Parliament for its political interest. It was national interest that was always kept in mind when the Opposition stalled the House.She emphasised that the Opposition does not criticise the Government all the time. Swaraj said that for proper functioning of the democracy, a good Opposition is needed as that creates the balance.
Quoting the business rules of lok Sabha, she explained the debate in the Parliament on FDI. She also made it aptly clear that the Opposition was not the enemy of the Government, but an effective arm of Parliament to keep checks and balances. She exhorted the youth to be constructive in their approach.