The last Budget session was the least productive session of the Parliament in the last 18 years. Both the houses of Parliament, Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha could transact 21 and 27 per cent business only. The said figure is not a healthy advertisement of democracy in the country. To keep democracy working, parliament should function properly.
The beginning of the monsoon session of parliament gives an impression that the message has reached to all concerned. No confidence motion against the government has been accepted by the Speaker. It must be mentioned here that it was the same motion which prevented the Parliament from functioning during the budget session. So one can hope after the admission of the motion, there will be no further adjournments of the house and it will run smoothly.
Even then few important questions should be raised. If the bone of contention was about admitting the no confidence motion, why was it not admitted for discussion during the Budget session itself? Why did the chair merely state that she would only allow the motion when decorum of the house is maintained? Why were the opposition members always on their toes to disrupt the house? Stands taken by both the sides are indicative enough that none was interested in discussing burning issues in Parliament. Why such a waste of public money?
The law makers should keep in mind that the electorate will not take such acts kindly. Parliament is a place for debates and discussions based on which the electorate will choose the best to rule the country. So law makers responsible for obstructing discussions in parliament are already in the bad books of the electorate. Thus the monsoon and the winter sessions are very important for them if they want to erase the saddening memories of disruption of parliament at the slightest provocations from the minds of the electorate.
Not only the discussion on the no confidence motion, the monsoon session will have to transact many more important legislative businesses. It should be ensured that stalemate does not return to haunt the house any more. In the very first week of the monsoon session, the no confidence motion will be discussed. But the Parliament will be in session for three more weeks after that. Will legislative businesses be transacted smoothly during that period? Both the ruling as well as the opposition parties should take responsibility of keeping the house in order.
Arithmetically the Government is not in danger in the wake of the no confidence motion. Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) alone has sufficient members to defeat the motion. But the government will have to face worrying moments during the course of the debate. The opposition will definitely raise issues like intolerance, lynching, vigilantism, atrocities on Dalits and downtrodden, women safety, etc. At the same time, the opposition will attack the government of the economic front. The government will have to face sharp criticism on its foreign policy too. The government should not ignore these attacks as it has requisite number to be in power. Rather, the government should refute the charges point by point to enjoy the confidence of the people. Both sides should remember that 2019 is not far away. People will eagerly and carefully be listening all the arguments and counter-arguments. So, all sides remain cautious as any slip may cost them dearly.
