Loss of public exchequer and interest

Winter session of Parliament is already shortened. It started late by almost a month. It convened on December 15 and since then what is witnessed by the people of the nation in Parliament is uproar, chaos and bedlam. No parliamentary business of public interest has been transacted. It starts in the morning and after the hour or two when the chaotic condition created by both Treasury and Opposition benches becomes unbearable, the Speaker adjourns Lok Sabha and Chairman adjourns Rajya Sabha for the last 5 days. Parliament functioned only on the first day of the winter session. Disruption in parliamentary proceedings appears to be the hallmark of our MPs. Both the camps ruling and the opposition are rigid on their stand. Congress demands an apology from Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his statement that former PM and his predecessor Dr. Manmohan Singh attended a seminar hosted by expelled Congress MP Mani Shankar Aiyar in which former Pak foreign minister and other dignitaries participated to hatch an anti-India conspiracy. PM Modi made this allegation against his predecessor at an election meeting to polarize the majority community in the favour of his party. Now when the Parliament convened for Winter Session, Congress party demands an apology from PM Modi by making the clarification that he had alleged against his predecessor involving Pakistan to win Gujarat assembly elections. The BJP rejected Congress demand outright and Rajya Sabha Chairperson Venkaih Naidu said that as PM made allegation outside Parliament, he would give no apology. Congress members are adamant on PM's apology. In the war of word between opposition and ruling, the helpless public suffers most. The boisterous nature of both the BJP and the Congress is hampering the parliamentary proceedings. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to be the most reasonable and responsible leader of the nation. But to win an election, he should have also not made this type of allegation against his predecessor like Dr. Manmohan Singh whose stature is of a fine gentleman. He is an economist par excellence, besides being the former PM of the country. Despite several allegations of corruption against his previous UPA govt., no one makes any personal allegation against him. So, PM Modi's innuendo against him of colluding with anti-nationals doesn't hold any water. Disrupting Parliament is not a good idea. Congress should demand an apology from PM by holding meetings and rallies. But stalling Parliament merely for an apology from the PM has no justification. PM Modi appears to believe that everything is right in war and love. He had to win Gujarat elections. So, he made an allegation of this type. Ruling dispensation has a greater role in ensuring that Parliament is run smoothly. The ruling BJP must make effort to resolve the issue amicably and run the Parliament smoothly. Several Bills of Public interests are awaiting the nod of the Parliament. Disrupting Parliament over trifle will not be condoned by the people of the country as they are watching Parliament functioning on their TV sets. Crores of rupees are spent a day on the running of the Parliament. It is taxpayers' money. MPs must know that the people will ask them why they have turned Parliament into a fish market. People don't witness any reasoned debate on any issue of public interest in Parliament in the recent past. Key legislations on the agenda during the session are the followings: -- The Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Bill to criminalise triple talaq -- The Constitution (123rd Amendment) Bill to give constitutional status to National Commission on Backward Classes -- The GST (Compensation to States) Bill -- Insolvency & Bankruptcy Code (Amendment) Bill -- The Consumer Protection Bill -- The Financial Resolution & Deposit Insurance Bill for creating a framework to oversee financial institutions and stock exchanges in case of insolvency -- The Citizenship (Amendment) Bill -- Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Bill -- The Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Bill -- and the Surrogacy (Regulation) Bill