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Maintain civility in parliament

Posted in View Point

Published on February 17, 2017 with No Comments

Editorial By- Sukhpreet Giani

A strong ally of the ruling BJP has taken a lead in reminding Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi. The message has come strong from none other than Shiv Sena that thrives on a common agenda of BJP- The Hindutva. The party advised Prime Minister Narendra Modi through an editorial in party mouthpiece ‘Saamana’, “At least the PM and the CM should not be a part of such mud-slinging. The chair has immense integrity and the person occupying it should make sure its dignity is upheld,” it said. The editorial came at a time when many Indians are wondering that has gone wrong with the way Members of the Parliament are behaving that too from the floor of the house. The conduct of the Prime Minister doesn’t make him any holier.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi by making the remark in the Rajya Sabha about Manmohan Singh “knowing the art of bathing in the bathroom with the raincoat on” in the context of a series of scams during his tenure as prime minister, has undoubtedly undermined the dignity of his office and the decorum of the House. Modi’s comments have been poor in taste, but this time he has gone personal in nature too. BJP came out full guns blazing in defense of Prime Minister and cited Manmohan Singh’s criticism of demonetization.  Singh’s earlier criticism of demonetisation was directed at the policy decision of the Modi government that has caused immense suffering to people in the country. It was not surprising that exasperated Congress members of Parliament walked out to protest the “harsh and ugly” comments. What followed next was on the expected lines. The spokespersons of ruling BJP were accorded space at prime time slots with anchors too taking on the Congress party for having staged a walkout of the house. A case of pot calling the kettle black that too with roping in the TV anchors !

Earlier, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had also taken a dig at Aam Aadmi Party Lok Sabha member from Punjab Bhagwant Mann over his alleged drinking habit. Even though Modi did not use the word “alcohol” in his remark, there was little doubt about what he was implying. Mann had demanded that the Prime Minister’s  remark against him be expunged from the House records. Prime Minister Modi has been playing to the gallery, acceptable while at rallies but certainly not from the floor of the house.

There is a difference between a Member of Parliament and being a Prime Minister. Elected representatives in India are known for their own characteristics, but Prime Minister is expected to be different. Different especially in case of Narendra Modi as he presented himself as a Messiah for all that ails India, as a soldier who has the biggest chest and ability to take on the enemy. He raised expectations of Indians and now what he is doing is evident to all. In parliament all members are expected to address the chair, and so is the Prime Minister. However, Narendra Modi prefers to play to the galleries. When he made remarks against former Prime Minister he started his address by addressing members instead of the chair.He began the address and used “Bhaiyo aur Bhaino” (Brothers and Sister), as he addresses the election rallies.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi remains in a state where he thinks his prime responsibility is to address election rallies. His take on former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh was also unfounded.  All these years Dr Manmohan Singh earned all the respect not because “he was a puppet” or was a “Mauni” as the ruling party now likes to call him, but because of the character and poise that is there behind that small statured body. Where as Prime Minister Narendra Modi is getting most of his good work undone because of his remarks that are in bad taste.
People expect the Prime Minister to conduct himself with dignity and poise befitting the high office, at least in Parliament. Modi falls short on these qualities. With such barbed attacks from the floor of the house, he is brining the civility of parliament under question.

 

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