Vice President expresses concerns over strain in Indian political system !!!

Maharashtra:- The Vice-President, Jagdeep Dhankhar, noted with concern that “all is not well with the Indian political system and it is functioning under great strain.” Addressing the Members of both Houses of Maharashtra Legislature in Mumbai on Thursday, Dhankhar emphasized the urgent need to restore debate, dialogue, deliberation, and discussion in legislatures, lamenting that these have been replaced by disruption and disturbance.

Role of the Chair and the need for respect

Dhankhar expressed deep concerns over the trend of making the Chairman or Speaker a “convenient punching bag” by either side, terming this as inappropriate. He stressed, “when we take chair, we have to be equitable, we have to be fair.” He emphasized that the temple of democracy should never be desecrated and respect for the Chair must always be upheld, urging senior members in the parliament and legislatures to lead by example.

Decline in parliamentary conduct

Emphasizing the need for strict adherence to democratic values and parliamentary traditions, the Vice President said that “the kind of conduct that was seen in the recent Parliament Session is truly painful, for it reflects significant moral erosion in our legislative discourse.” He referred to the Parliament and state legislatures as the “north star of democracy,” and stressed that Members of Parliament and Legislatures must exemplify sterling conduct worth emulation.

Current state of parliament and legislatures

Dhankhar noted, “It is apparent that presently all is not well with the functioning of our parliament and legislatures. These temples of democracy are suffering sacrilege of strategized disruptions and disturbance. Dialogue amongst parties is missing and the level of discourse is nose diving by the day.” He expressed concern over the replacement of cordiality and amiability with a confrontational and adversarial stance, noting that the “democratic polity is witnessing a new low and there is stress and strain.”

Need for introspection and discipline

The Vice President called for introspection at all levels, particularly by political parties, in what he described as an “explosive and alarming scenario.” He noted the absence of wit, humor, satire, and sarcasm in legislative discourse, which have been replaced by confrontational scenarios. He urged political parties to inculcate in their members a deep sense of discipline and to reward those members whose performance has been excellent rather than those engaging in disruptive behaviour.

Challenges of legislative disruptions

Dhankhar shared that members often meet him in his chamber and reveal that they have a command from their political party to disrupt the house proceedings, questioning, “How can there be a command to disturb the House?” He emphasized that decorum and discipline are the heart and soul of democracy, adding that “Parliamentarians are not part of a debating society. They do not have to earn brownie points. They have to contribute in sublimity.”

Ethics, morality and democratic values

Recognizing that ethics and morality have been the hallmark of public life in India since ancient times, Dhankhar said that these qualities are the essence of human behaviour and quintessential for parliamentary democracy. He stressed that democratic values require regular nurturing and blossom only with cooperation and high ethical standards.

Separation of powers

Calling for strict adherence to the doctrine of separation of powers, the Vice President said that the nation progresses when its three wings—the legislature, the judiciary, and the executive—perform within their respective domains. “An incursion by one institution in the domain of the other can potentially upset the apple cart,” he cautioned.

Legislative responsibilities

Dhankhar underlined that legislation is the exclusive domain of the legislature and parliament, and noted that legislatures are constitutionally obligated to seek consensual resolution of transgressions into their domain by other organs of state. Describing harmony as vital for a democracy, he expressed the need for the evolution of a structured mechanism of interaction amongst those at the apex of these pillars of democracy.

Leading by example

The Vice President disapproved of the scenario in which a member does not participate in debates and yet seeks to monetize his non-participation. He stressed that there can be no excuse for non-participation in debates in the House.

Bharat as a role model for democracy

Describing the subject “Enhancement of Democratic Values and Ethics in our Country” as of utmost relevance, Dhankhar said that Bharat has to emerge as a role model for democracy by example. Expressing confidence that Bharat is on its way to becoming a developed nation by 2047, he noted that in this marathon march, the most significant drivers are parliamentarians at both state and central levels, and they must lead by example.