SME Times News Bureau | 27 Jul, 2019
Vice President M. Venkaiah
Naidu has said that the stalling the functioning of the Parliament and
Legislatures was tantamount to subverting democracy and betraying people.
Speaking after presenting
‘Democracy Awards’ at a function organized by the Maharashtra State Election
Commission, in Mumbai today, Naidu, who is the Chairman of the Rajya
Sabha, said that he was deeply distressed by the behavior of some
sections in the Rajya Sabha during the last two years.
The Vice President was pained
when members disregard rules and conventions leading to pandemonium in the
House.
The members of the Rajya Sabha
have a special responsibility to lead by example. If MPs and MLAs resort to
slogan-shouting and disrupting the proceedings, they would be rendering a
disservice to Parliamentary democracy, he added.
Expressing his anguish over
the objectionable comments made by a member of the Lok Sabha about a woman
presiding officer, Naidu said it was not in our culture to disrespect women.
Such behavior would demean our Parliamentary democracy, he added.
Pointing out that the ruling
and opposition parties should not treat each other as enemies or adversaries,
the Vice President said that respecting the mandate of the people and allowing
the governments of the day to deliver as per the mandate must be an essential
principle of functioning of legislatures.
Observing that both ruling and
opposition parties have a shared responsibility in ensuring effective
functioning of the Parliament and legislatures, Shri Naidu urged them to adopt
a spirit of mutual respect and accommodation.
The Vice President stressed
that democracy was all about debate, discussion and decision and they cannot be
replaced by disorder, disruption and delay in legislation “which is nothing but
a negation of the spirit of democracy”.
Stating that the basic
functions of the Parliament and State Legislatures were legislation,
deliberation and ensuring accountability of the executive, Shri Naidu said the
opposition can and should take the governments to task if they deviate from
what has been offered to the people.
Shri Naidu said the ruling and
opposition parties should function as joint stakeholders in the well
being of the people and socio-economic transformation of the country. “Our
nation needs both effective and responsible governments and opposition.
Country’s interests are not
well served if either of them is found wanting”, he added.
"As the Presiding Officer
of Rajya Sabha, I have always insisted that opposition should be allowed it’s
say in all aspects of the functioning of the House. That is the only way we can
make our parliamentary democracy more meaningful. We are the largest democracy
in the world. We shall be the best in terms of quality as well”, the Vice
President said.
On the devolution of powers to
local bodies as mandated by the 73rd and 74th Constitutional amendments, he
said that even though 26 years have lapsed since they were constitutionally
empowered, the devolution seems to be less than satisfactory.
The Vice President urged all
the States to review the progress made on transferring 29 subjects to them and
added that any further delay would be tantamount to violating the
constitutional mandate.