A number of candidates in the poll fray have made stupid and appalling coLok Sabha Speakermments about their opponents exposing the lowbred political discourse in the country today. Imagine the plight of 17th Lok Sabha Speaker if the likes of Pragya Thakur, BJP candidate from Bhopal, an accused in the 2008 Malegaon terrorist bombings, get elected to the House. Recently she told media persons that cow urine can cure cancer.
Ministers and VIPs should now stop going to America for cancer treatment and save millions of tax payers’ money. Pragya Thakur also claimed that her “curse” killed Hemant Karkare, the Anti-Terror Squad chief, who died fighting terrorists during the 26/11 Mumbai attack. Wish she used her curse power against Pakistan as well.
The outgoing 16th Lok Sabha has the dubious distinction of being the worst in terms of quality of debates, conduct of members and Speaker-Opposition vibes. It is a telling commentary on the poor crop of MPs elected in 2014 that the chair had to expunge unparliamentary expressions as many as 200 times in the last five years, an unsavory record for the lower House.
It is learnt that 144 unparliamentary words and sentences were removed (between 2015 and 2018) and in the last session alone 83 expressions were to be expunged. Elections are underway and by May end the country will have a new Lok Sabha. By and large the voters elect nominees based on party affiliations and in some cases candidates who are qualified, competent and having clean image also get elected, but that is a rarity.
The Parliament has a book on unparliamentary words which is updated from time to time. However, the long list of words and expressions declared unparliamentary has raised eyebrows. While some words/expressions are expunged on the spot, some are deleted later in the day after due deliberations; it makes a mockery of expunction because by the time the electronic media may have already telecast the expunged remarks even though the print media perforce adhere to the rule.
It is high time the LS secretariat took a relook at the growing number of unparliamentary expressions; some of them look silly and laughable in this time and age. A reference to ‘brother-in-law’, which in Hindi is ‘saala’ was classified unparliamentary over a decade ago.
“Hitler, Ravan, fraud, joker, liar, sycophants, asshole, bum, badmash, bania, bitch, bloody bastard, an arse, barbarian, bull, bullshit, chalak, chamcha, chor, cockroaches, dirty liar, dog, donkey, fool, hijras, idiot, mafia, monkey, mosquito, my foot, owl, pickpocket, pimp, rat, Satan, screw, shit, son of a bitch and worm” are some of the unparliamentary words. They sound decent enough compared to the uncouth lexicon mouthed by political worthies in the public domain these days.
In any case, most MPs do not read rule book and just issuing guidelines is of no use. Soon after a new House is constituted, the members are given training (orientation course) for a few days by Bureau of Parliamentary Studies and Training to familiarize them with unparliamentary words, rules and procedures and parliamentary etiquette. The session eve ritual (once in five years) is not sufficient to inculcate ideals of parliamentary democracy to MPs rather it should be imparted on a regular basis.
One reason for the abysmally low level of debates and use of offensive expressions without any qualms is the new normal in politics; the unprecedented confrontation between the ruling party and the Opposition since Modi government assumed power at the Centre. Unfortunately, the wind of hatred and intolerance being felt outside is now percolating down the hallowed halls of Parliament.
In fact, all political parties are to blame for the decline of the Parliament over the years. Parties themselves nudge their members to disrupt the proceedings to settle political scores. The media, especially the electronic variety, is also responsible for the deterioration as it tends to highlight trivia and brinkmanship rather than serious debates.
In a parliamentary democracy, educational qualification is not mandatory but lack of it not only adversely affects a particular member’s performance but also helps the executive to get away from accountability. Educated and vigilant MPs will ensure that the Executive remains responsive and accountable. In 2014, BJP had given tickets to about a dozen candidates who were not educated in the conventional sense.
About ten per cent of the MPs were not even matriculates. Among the dozen-odd, non-matriculate BJP pick was Fatepara Devjibhai Govindbhai from Gujarat who studied only till Class III.On the other end of the spectrum was Congress member from Kerala, Shashi Tharoor, B A (Hons), M A , M A L D, PhD, D Litt (Honorary), a product of Delhi’s prestigious St. Stephens College and Fletcher School of Law, Diplomacy at Tufts University, USA and a prolific and reputed author.
Uneducated and unruly MPs alone cannot be blamed for the declining parliamentary standards. Other stake holders like parliamentary affairs minister, Speaker and Secretary General are also responsible for undermining the institution of Parliament. Of late the government has started appointing pliable civil servants as Secretary General rather than promoting senior Lok Sabha secretariat officials as was the norm.
The outsiders are often not fit for the job that needs specialised handling. Last few years have witnessed the sad spectacle of even cabinet ministers joining the ruckus to shout down the Opposition. Time was when veterans and titans presided over the House commanding respect from all sections.
In the 16th Lok Sabha, Parliamentary affairs ministers were incapable of carrying the Opposition along, so was Speaker Sumitra Mahajan so much so the bad chemistry between Mahajan and the Opposition led to allegations of her partisan conduct.
As a rule, MPs should be educated enough to be able to understand aspects of legal points and frame sharp and searching questions to pin down the government of the day and contribute substantially to quality debates and law making. So, at least in the remaining phases, elect your MP wisely.
Kay Benedict is an independent journalist.
