EDITORIAL
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Too much disruptions
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Article published on 7/29/2010 11:49:46 PM IST
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Whether fuel hikes have directly impacted prices of various commodities to the extent of adding another fifty percent to the monthly expenditure of households or that prices of food items had already been on the high due to various other factors. These need to be understood in the light of the opposition’s demand to hold a vote on the rising prices. Understandably, the UPA government has stuck to the rule saying that an adjournment motion can only be accepted by the speaker on the issue of government having failed to effect governance. If the opposition demand is to be considered, it would seem that the ploy was actually to attempt another no-confidence motion against the government. On the other hand, the government stand, though valid, would also seem to suggest that it is not keen to have another kind of no confidence motion, have already been through in 2008 and the cut motion during March this year. If the opposition had much to say to justify the demand for an adjournment motion, then it should have reasoned it out with the strong defence made by finance minister Pranab Mukherjee who not only gave a spirit reply during the debate but also slammed those who made stirring speeches for going off on a tangent to justify their demand. Unfortunately, desperation especially the BJP, had clouded the issue particularly when it conveniently forgot that it was during the NDA tenure that the then government had decontrolled petroleum prices. Pranab’s speech had most substance when he dismantled the opposition charges one by one. However, the name of the game, it appears, is to create as much noise and nuisance to hit the government and that is what the opposition had been doing in stalling parliament for the last four days. The government was also supposed to table the Parliament could not transact business ever since its monsoon session started on July 26. Since the government has already made it clear that it is going to follow the rule book, it is incumbent upon the opposition to accept the ruling since they are also responsible to ensure that they debate and discuss any issue in the house for which they have been elected. What the opposition needs to do is to get back on track and hit out at the government so that people will know and decide factors responsible for the rising prices of commodities. Blurring the issue with demonstrations and disruptions is not only a nuisance but also a great loss in terms of money spent for parliament as well as the people who should be informed. Parliament is the chief repository of people’s will and the Opposition would do well to make best use of this forum to ventilate the grievances of the common masses. People deserve better than all those disruptions and stalling of proceedings of the house. People should also think seriously whether their elected representatives serve their interest by raising issues and debating them or simply creating uproarious scenes and disruptions. It is an irony that the opposition, which is concerned with high prices is only wasting money on antics. Indian democracy, it seems, is reaching its lowest ebb.
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