Expressing dismay over frequent disruptions in the Rajya Sabha in the recently concluded Budget Session, Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu said here on Monday said it was a sad commentary on the functioning of parliamentary democracy and did not augur well.
Making these observations on the occasion of the Rajya Sabha day celebrations, he said the second leg of the budget session which concluded last week witnessed continued disruptions day after day despite his earnest appeals to all sections of the House.
“As the Presiding Officer, despite my assurance to accommodate the concerns of all parties, the Members preferred to engage in disruptions,” Naidu said. Incidentally, he is the first Vice President and Chairman to attend the function since the Upper House was formed in 1952.
Not blaming anyone, the Chairman said it was a question of “our collective failure” to transact important business and deliberate on matters of urgent public importance which has attracted the public criticism.
“What happened earlier was a sad commentary on the functioning of our parliamentary democracy. As I told you, we were all the losers. It was a win-win situation, but we made it a lose-lose situation. It is time to wake up and look at the way forward,” he said.
Naidu further said the whole country is watching “our collective failure in disparagement and it certainly does not augur well for our parliamentary democracy. He said Parliament is for serious business and to address the peoples’ concerns. “We can restore the public faith in our parliamentary system through our work and conduct,” he said adding only words will not do, deeds must follow.