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Frequent disruptions have brought Parliament on par with state assemblies and this trend has over the last 20 years played out like the “elongated funeral rites of the parliamentary system”, said Shourie, who has distanced himself from the BJP. “Whenever you paralyse it, whatever be the issue, you are inflicting great harm to the country,” Shourie told Shekhar Gupta, Editor-in-Chief of The Indian Express, in an interview for NDTV’s ‘Walk the Talk’ programme.
“The institution is getting reduced to what state assemblies are like. In state assemblies, the sessions are now of 4-5 days each. So, if you see the effective days of Parliament, it has been already reduced to a level of state assemblies. Can a country like India be run like that?” Shourie asked. “Whatever be the issue,” the opposition should adopt methods that will strengthen institutions like Parliament, he said.
Shourie said he did not find merit in the BJP’s argument that the strategy to disrupt Parliament was a one-off case to bring the coal block allotment controversy to the notice of voters. “One session actually casts a shadow on the institution of Parliament forever,” Shourie said, lamenting the trend of disrupting Parliament in the name of one issue or the other. “Even from the narrow point of view, it is counter productive, in my view...for 15-20 years now, we are attending the elongated funeral rites of the parliamentary system.”
Parliament could also have made use of existing rules to suspend unruly members who protest by rushing to the well of the house, said the author and former newspaper editor. “Just enforce the rules and tire them out. Let the country see them,” Shourie said, referring to the protesting MPs. While disruptions helped the government by diverting attention away from the issue in question, the BJP had very articulate leaders who could have analysed and debated the controversy in Parliament and put the government on the mat, he said.
The BJP should, in fact, use the opportunity to present itself as a credible alternative to the UPA government instead of disrupting Parliament, Shourie said. “You should not worry too much about the government. It is not going to change. It is working full time to prove its worthlessness. The opposition should concentrate on convincing the country that it is a responsible group, that it can govern, that they have better ideas, that they have a better record at implementing these ideas,” Shourie said.
His name should be Jaichand.
The makers of consititution would have never visioned such loot, scam, theiving, deciets, etc during its formation.Ruling party with its blind memebers,partners, assocites, etc. Even buying opposition MPs. What you can expect from parliament debate - NOTHING. What BJP has done is correct and those who understand above should support BJP.
I respect Arun Shourie and his comment may be correct to some extent but every argument has two sides. The one side Shourie has stated but what happened to 2G and CWG - they were discussed in parliament but then question of majority and minority comes and had this also been discussed in parliament then at the most this matter also would have been referred to PAC or at the most a JPC would have been formed.What is happening to JPC on 2G. In 2G Congress raised fingers against Shourie as well now they are raising finger against BJP ruled CMs because they recommended certain coal blocks. What is wrong in BJPs demand to cancel all the coal blocks allotted during the disputed period. After all these coal blocks may have been recommended for various reasons by CMs ultimately they were sanctioned by Coal Minister only and not by BJP CMs. And when all coal blocks will be cancelled then the ones recommended by BJP will also get cancelled then what is the problem.
The BJP strategy may or may not be wrong. It is talking about future. Should one continue to dialogue with people with tarnished image? The rulers had the opportunity to bring forward new, clean, young and challenging personalities and that would have satisfied all i.e. people, opposition, media, courts for true and fair investigation etc. It was not a difficult task. It would have been a courageous & spontaneous decision.
Governing is not easy and BJP knows it and Arun Shourie could not have worded it better. Mamata, ,Maya, Jaya ( time and again) have shown organising morcha against Govt is easy but to administer for better Governance requires honesty and sincerity which at personal level is possible but spirit has to percolate thro the lowest in administration. Today circumstances have forced the ordinary citizen to be dishonest whereever he is to avail his legitimate entitlements by offering speed money or his application will never see the light of the day.
sir/madam who is Arun Shourie to comment like this? he was union minister in BJP dominated NDA government and claverly disassociated himself after that government lost the elections. if bjp had not disruppetd the parliament, the nation and the media would have forgotten the coalgate. it is unethical on the part of Arun Shourie to join the NDA government and to prove himself an intellectual he makes 'noises' now and than to show that he is no more associated with the bjp. the controversy surrounding gujarat cm modi is also handiwork of people like Arun Shourie who at times derived benefit as bjp and rss sympathisers.
IT GREAT THAT ARUN SHOURIE HAS TALK AGAINST STALLING TRICK OF BJP ANY ISSUE INSTEAD OF DICUSSION IN THE PARILAMENT . THIS HAS EXPOSED THE OPPORUNIST AND UNDEMOCRATIC PACTICE IN PALIAMENTARY DEMOCRACY.
I DONOT AGREE WITH YOU FOR FOLLOWING REASONS. A. DISCUSSIONS IN PARLIAMENT HAD BEEN OF NO CONSEQUENCE EVEN IN TELECOM SCAM ,WHERE EVEN YOU WERE QUESTIONED.ONLY COURT HELPED.CHIDAMBRAM AND PM HAS NOT APPEARED BEFORE THE COMMITTEE SO FAR. B.TAKE CASE OF CVC ,WHERE PM STATED ,IT WAS A MAJORITY DECISION. C.LATEST IS ASSAM ISSUE.WHAT WAS OUTCOME OF DISCUSSIONS IN PARLIAMENT. D.CONGRESS SCUTTLED LOKPAL BILL IN RAJYA SABHA. E. CONGRESS GOES FOR ANYTHING ,GOOD OR BAD HAS NO CONCERN. THE NATION HAS TO UNDERSTAND THIS.
At last we could hear a sensible analysis and a responsible statement from a political leader belonging to the opposition. For whatever reasons stalling the functioning of Parliament cannot be justified. A common man in the country would presume that bringing out clearly the flaws and wrongdoings of the government is the duty of the opposition. Demanding the resignation of the PM without establishing the guilt was improper. One would have appreciated if the opposition had proved the points in the CAG report on Coal Block allotment in the Parliament and then demanded the PM's resignation. Is any CAG report/observation the final? The BJP's approach was like "putting the cart before the horse". It may be necessary to to make some rules to ensure the functioning of the functioning of Parliament sessions without unduly interruptions.
i agree with Arun Shourie. The responsible opposition must debate issues on the floor of the house, other wise BJP will never come to form their government in India for next 20 years. They must mend their ways. Shouting lungs out out side, taking on moot mall type of derogatory language does not speak good of opposition leaders.
THE PARLIAMENT, LAW, CAG , INSTITUTIONS HAVE BEEN REDUCED TO A FARCE. COUNTRY IS BEING SYSTEMATICALLY LOOTED ALL WITHIN THE FRAMEWORK-- A HUNGRY MAN KNOWS NO LAW. Hi Punch into google search IS RAHUL GANDHI FIT TO BE PRIME MINISTER OF INDIA- VADAKAYIL. Plus I%u2019m asking for a show of hands. Capt ajit vadakayil ..
Mr Shourie - With all due respect to your various opinion, Can you win Lokshaba election not on your own but at the least with BJP or Congress ticket? Contemporary politics is becoming like (Congress Scam CBI Bad Governance) versus (BJP CAG)... Supreme court is caught between them; Sometime obstructionist politics is inevitable, when Govt is not listening & walking with sane approach.
Well said Mr. Shourie! Your sane voice is drowned by the 'buk buk' of the meaningless banter from the BJP and the Congress spokesmen, both of whom are not interested to get to the truth!
Sir, It seems that this EX-LEADER has forgotten his old party moorings.When he always criticizes BJP what else the public will have to assume???
Increasingly it is appearing that BJP does not have in them what it takes to run this country. BJP strategists are misguided and illinformed about what country needs. Country needs governance, country needs policy formulation, country needs revival of economy, all these can be achieved through parliament not by staying out of it. BJP could have debated the issue along with left and samajwadi party, cornered the government, and asked for a noconfidence motion. If government still does not listen, BJP could have boycotted the parliament. Instead, as a party, BJP is behaving like a stubborn child that uses blackmail as a tool to get what it wants. Logic put forward is congress also stalled NDA government 10 years before, so BJP must do the same. However, a party aspiring to rule this country needs to show more maturity and foresight. Congress definitely is going to pay BJP back in the same coin as opposition. This tit for tat action may not augur well for Indians.
