Vice president M Venkaiah Naidu said here on Saturday that stalling the functioning of Parliament and Legislatures was tantamount to subverting democracy and betraying people.
Speaking after presenting ‘Democracy Awards’ at a function organised by the Maharashtra State Election Commission here, Naidu said, “Stalling the functioning of legislatures means subverting democracy and betraying the people”.
During the course of his speech, Naidu expressed his anguish over the objectionable comments made by Samajawadi Party MP Azam Khan, who had made a sexist comment against woman presiding officer Rama Devi in Lok Sabha. Without naming Khan, Naidu said: “It is not in our culture to disrespect women. Such behaviour would demeanour Parliamentary democracy”.
“I am deeply distressed by the behaviour of some sections in the Rajya Sabha during last two years as the Presiding Officer of Rajya Sabha…. As the Chairman of Rajya Sabha, it pains me if members chose to disregard them resulting in pandemonium which in turn erodes the stature of the House of Elders in the eyes of the public,” Naid said.
Mincing no words when it came to speaking to questionable conduct of members in the Upper House of Parliament, Naidu said: “Members of Rajya sabha have a special responsibility cast on them of leading by example being the members of the House of Elders. During this session, some members in their wisdom have preferred to tear official papers and throw them at the Chair on some occasions. Such conduct does not speak well of the functioning of our parliamentary democracy”.