Naidu urges MPs to walk the talk to run productive House
Vice-prez slams tearing of IT minister Vaishnaw’s statement by TMC member, says it’s ‘assault on democracy’
New Delhi, July 23: Describing the snatching and tearing of the copy of the IT minister Ashwini Vaishnav statement in the House by a TMC MP as an assault on the country’s parliamentary democracy, Rajya Sabha chairman M Venkaiah Naidu on Friday expressed anguish over frequent disruptions and said its time for all political parties, who had expressed a keen desire for a productive session, “‘walk the talk”’ by enabling smooth functioning of the House. Mr Naidu said why Indians are being “‘denied their due from the highest legislature of our country in their hour of stress,”’ and sought to know who benefits from frequent disruptions in the House.
Describing the snatching and tearing of the copy of the IT minister Ashwini Vaishnaw statement in the House by a TMC MP as an assault on the country’s parliamentary democracy, Rajya Sabha Chairman M. Venkaiah Naidu on Friday expressed anguish over frequent disruptions and said its time for all political parties, who had expressed a keen desire for a productive session, “walk the talk” by enabling smooth functioning of the House.
Mr Naidu said as Chairman he was deeply distressed by the course of events in the House and expected the members to be equally anguished.
Mr Naidu said why Indians are being “denied their due from the highest legislature of our country in their hour of stress”, and sought to know who benefits from frequent disruptions in the House.
Referring to the statement of IT minister on the Pegasus spyware issue, Mr Naidu said he had made it clear in the business advisory committee meeting that members may seek clarifications which would have enabled them address their concerns in the matter.
“But unfortunately, the proceedings of the House hit a new low with the papers being snatched from the minister and torn into pieces and thrown in the air. Such actions are a clear assault on our parliamentary democracy... They do not cover the world’s largest democracy with glory. Should the members of Parliament be a party to degrading the country’s standing in the world stage” the Chairman asked.
Mr Nadu said it was also agreed in the BAC meeting that a detailed discussion on various aspects of the country’s economy will be held for four hours and he even suggested to the government and the opposition to sit together and prioritise the legislative and other agenda for the session.
He said while some Opposition leaders even appreciated this suggestion, but to his dismay, things turned out to be different in the House.
“The turn of events in the House brings us to the question of what drives the disruptions in Parliament? Is it only political grandstanding?” he asked.
Mr Naidu said he has stressed earlier that Parliament is much more than a political institution given its Constitutional mandate. “But there seems to be scant respect for the Constitution and the sanctity of Parliament. It’s very unfortunate.”
There seems to be scant respect for the Constitution and the sanctity of Parliament. It’s very unfortunate.
— M. Venkaiah Naidu, RS Chairman