Sir — The much-awaited Winter Session of Parliament began with a disappointment. The House paid homage to an MP who had passed earlier, as also to few others. One thought that the Speaker’s tributes and observance of two-minute silence was the end of the customary ritual. But, unfortunately, following a long-standing practice, the Speaker adjourned the House.
It is common knowledge that a single parliamentary meeting costs huge amount of public money in MPs’ remuneration, security, etc. Hence, it is high time this needless, hollow gesture of adjournments was reviewed and discarded.
As it is, parliamentary sessions have, sadly, become distressing theatre marked by unruly behaviour, noisy disruptions and many MPs crowding the well near the presiding officer’s chair, shouting slogans and displaying placards, ignoring the Chair’s repeated pleas to return to their seats, and observe decorum. Isn’t it mockery of democracyIJ