By Rakesh Dubey

Along with the taxpaying people of the nation I also pose the same question to our esteemed elected representatives who are enjoying in Delhi under the pretext of a Parliament session.  Are they elected  to create commotion in the Parliament,  the temple of democracy?  The members elected to the State Assemblies and the Parliament who enthusiastically disturb the conduct of the House on slightest or even without any provocation  have little concern of the issues of the people who have voted them. The elected members should bear in mind that they are indebted to the taxpayers for the hefty salary, allowances, pension and other benefits. The political parties also should keep in mind that they also survive on public money and these parties are also responsible for the unruly behavior of these members elected on their tickets.

The conduct of these elected members are never at the interest of the nation or patriotic. If there are  laws to curb wages  to those who do not do their job as prescribed then why the nation cannot think of a legislation to curtail the emoluments and benefits of those who disrupt the Houses  at will?

On the very first day of this monsoon session of Parliament, as soon as the proceedings in both the Houses of Parliament were adjourned, it was clear that there is going to be a ruckus in the Parliament in the coming days. The monsoon session of Parliament, which began on Monday, was adjourned till Tuesday 11 am. By the way, a total of 17 working days were fixed in this session which was scheduled to last till August 12.  About 32 Bills were to be introduced.  Seeing the present air in the House in session we have no idea on how many bills could sail through. If the House remains in perpetual pandemonium how could we the taxpayers expect any business to transact? As I mentioned, these elected members are paid from our pockets to work for our welfare and not to promote their petty party politics or personal interests.  Though in a democracy the people are the masters, does the electorate have the power and nerve to question their erring servants?

Before the commencement of every session of the Parliament or Vidhan Sabha the subjects for discussion and presentation are listed. It is also known to every member of the House on which issues the opposition is allowed to speak.  Everything proceedings of the house is given in writing. For example, this time issues like inflation, fuel prices, Agneepath scheme, unemployment and falling rupee against dollar were certain to be brought in the House. The opposition has enough issues on which it could have sought answers from the government in the House. By not letting the House run, what does one get apart from the headlines in the media?  The MPs should also know how much money is spent every day to run the Parliament. They should also know that the entire expense is borne by the people of the country. The money these members vandalize is from the tax revenue collected from the public.

Even before paying homage to leaders and celebrities and swearing in new members, the sign for disruption was evident. The specter of inflation is staring at us and the House is hardly discussing any remedy to contain the ever escalating prices of edibles. The current ruling party at the Center was in the opposition bench a long time and it understands very well the importance of the issue of inflation. Inflation has always been a potent bludgeon to attack the governments in power. Here is an apt opportunity for those in the opposition rows to corner the government on inflation, which is the highest in the past one decade.   

To compound the miseries of the low income groups in the country, GST has been imposed on many essential food products like flour, milk, curd, paneer, lassi, honey and even peas. Instead of debating such burning issues of the common man, the elected members are obstructing the conduct of business in the House.  Are these elected MPs not bothered by the burning issues of those who elected them? Why are they sidestepping the issues of the public and dwelling on relatively irrelevant issues or engaging in stalling the proceedings of the House on flimsy reasons?

Though Parliament is a place to legislate, discuss and debate issues concerning the nation and its population. But these days the House is overshadowed by party politics and not many fruitful debates are happening. This is disturbing and also disgusting.