Speaker: 4% holding House to ransom
The mock Parliament session held in the Lok Sabha recently came under attack at an all-party meeting on Wednesday in which Speaker Meira Kumar virtually held that a minuscule minority of four per cent of members was holding the majority to ransom.
At an all-party meeting convened by her, the mock Parliament session convened by RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav and SP supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav saw almost all-round criticism. The two leaders were, however, not present in the meeting.
Expressing the sentiments of the members present, Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Sushma Swaraj said later that she did not approve of this behaviour. “I said that I do not approve of this (mock session) and have taken it up with my party MPs (who participated in it) in private. Advani had already spoken openly against it. This should not have been done. The Lok Sabha has some dignity and decorum,” Ms Swaraj told reporters.
DMK MP T.R. Baalu raised the issue of mock Parliament during the meeting. The BJP was represented by Ms Swaraj and senior leader L.K. Advani.
While Ms Kumar herself did not refer to the mock Parliament, she made it known her disapproval of frequent disruptions during the on-going monsoon session where the first week was washed away over the issue of deciding modalities for holding discussions on price rise.
“Those who frequently disturb the House constitute approximately 4 per cent of the total strength of the House. Around 96 per cent of the members want the House to function smoothly. Disruption of the proceedings is in essence tantamount to violation of the rights of these 96 per cent of the members,” said a concerned Ms Kumar.
Cautioning members, she said, “The trend of disrupting the proceedings of the House instead of debating issues is fraught with danger — the danger of rendering Parliament irrelevant.”
Most members said since this session was about to end, such a meeting to prevent disruptions should be convened just before the Winter Session of Parliament.
Ms Swaraj said stalling of the House is also a “legitimate process” but should be “exceptionally used”.
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