Democracy says govt must have its way: Venkaiah Naidu
India’s new Vice President Venkaiah Naidu sent a clear message that he doesn’t want disruptions in Rajya Sabha even as a section of the Opposition parties appealed to him to remain neutral as the Chairman of the House. Many members also expressed hope that like his predecessor Hamid Ansari, Naidu too will not allow bills to be passed amid din.
Naidu, however, maintained that the question of passing bills won’t arise if there is no disruption. “It can happen when there are no disruptions, ”Naidu said, responding to the member’s queries on the issue.
Hours after he was sworn in as the 13th Vice President, Naidu said disruptions have “serious implications for our parliamentary democracy” in his first speech in the Upper House as its Chair.
“Obstruction and disruption of the proceedings is increasingly being chosen as the first parliamentary option in our legislatures across the country…. This option needs to be immediately replaced by a quest for effective debates,” he said.
Seeking cooperation from the Opposition, which had often been hostile to the government, Naidu quipped, “If you cooperate, I can operate well.”
While leaders showered praise to welcome Naidu, they also used the occasion to remind Naidu of his neutral position. Congress’ Anand Sharma said, it’s important that both sides are treated equally. “A chariot has two wheels. Similarly, the chariot of democracy can’t run with one wheel,” he said.
Naidu said that there is a “growing concern” and “resentment” among the people over the way the Parliament is functioning. “We need to seriously introspect over this palpable discontent with the people saying we are not doing well still. We need to set an example for state legislatures by making suitable amendments to the way we speak and act here,” the chairman said.
“If the ruling party has power, opposition must at least have its say. But at the end of the day, democracy says that opposition must have its say and the government must have its way because it is as per the mandate of the people,” Naidu quoted former President Pranab Mukherjee’s line to drive home his point.
While making it clear that the government will have its way, he also reached out to the Opposition and said that he will be impartial to all. Responding to many members who raised the issue, Naidu said that he will ensure that even the smallest of the political parties is heard.