Don’t rain on the next session

Instead of creating a ruckus, deliberate on critical issues

The monsoon session of Parliament kicks off on Wednesday. The 16th Lok Sabha is now in its final lap, and political parties are already in election mode. The competitiveness is increasingly showing outside the House and is bound to find reflection inside the

ourtake House. Indeed, the country got a glimpse of this in the last session itself.

Post-recess, the budget session was a washout. The government blamed the Opposition for disrupting proceedings. The Opposition blamed the government for putting up proxies to block the functioning of the House since it did not want a discussion on some issues. Irrespective of who was to blame, the outcome was dismal. The Union budget was passed with no discussion. Important legislative agenda remained on a standstill and the government turned to the ordinance route. There was no deliberation on key national issues. And there was a growing sense that India’s most important democratic institution was broken, with communication and trust between the Treasury and Opposition benches almost shattered.

All parties now have a chance to make amends. Politics will be competitive especially in election season, but Parliament offers an opportunity to articulate this competition in civil, political terms through sharp discussions, clever use of procedure and rules, and debates on key legislations as well as pressing issues of the day. Instead of making a point through walkouts and by getting into the well of the House, the Opposition parties would do themselves and the institution a service by enabling the smooth functioning of the house. And instead of only blaming the Opposition, or allowing friendly parties to disrupt the House, the government would do well to recognise that the primary responsibility of running the House rests with it. Each minute squandered reflects poorly on its ability to take dissenting forces along.

In the monsoon session, six ordinances along with 68 pending bills in the Lok Sabha and 40 in the Rajya Sabha are to be taken up. The government will be keen to legislate bills criminalising instant talaq and push for constitutional status for the National Commission for Backward Classes. The Opposition will be keen to use Parliament and embarrass the government on fuel prices, agrarian issues, and jobs; regional parties will also push their own state-specific interests. All sides are entitled to pursue their goals but their first priority must be to allow Parliament to work.