Parliamentary Paralysis

Opposition-Goverment would do well by igniting their insight and pushing reforms ahead instead of getting clogged with insignificant altercation.

India is in throes of acute legislative deficit which doesn't seem to be tided over with ever increasing stand-off between Opposition and Government. It has now reached to the extent where parliamentary proceedings are getting disrupted on daily basis due to unnecessary uproar in parliament. While acrimonious political brinkmanship is the part and parcel of parliamentary form of Government which does exist in many other countries as well, but India’s situation is peculiar where acrimony between Opposition and Government has reached to a level that Parliament’s core duties i.e. decision-making and legislative functioning has come to a stand still. 

According to statistics compiled by the Lok Sabha secretariat, 1,157 hours of Parliament sittings have taken place and 634 hours have been lost on account of interruptions and adjournments until the 12th session of the 15th Lok Sabha, which was elected in May 2009. It is now well on track to achieving the dubious distinction of being the least productive in terms of business transacted among those that completed their full five-year terms.

Budget session is always the most significant session for Lok-Sabha, unfortunately, it has been the most chaotic and non-productive one for the current House especially with the resumption of second-half of the session beginning from 22^nd Apr. It is surprising that general budget and Railways budget sailed through Parliament with no discussion at all and many important bills like Food Security, Right to services, land acquisition, Lokpal etc are waiting in the cue to get parliament nod. It is highly unlikely that these bills get passed in the current session which will be ended by 10^th Nov.

The disturbing trend of political logjam leading to legislation logjam is the major dampener to India’s fading credibility at international forum. Poor governance and spate of corruption scams especially 2G spectrum and coal block allocation scam which led Supreme Court to cancel all allotments done by corrupt leaders have set a worrying precedent that deals can anytime be terminated and laws can any time be changed in the country. Global investors, who look for stable and transparent legislative regime for their long-term investment plan, no more sees India as the prospective investment-destination. They have gone wary, uninterested and indifferent towards Indian economy.

It is time that strict measures are taken to keep the parliament running. Petty politics of Indian politicians has reached to a toxic level where they’ve now started even compromising on whatever little they do for the country. Either opposition dares enough to promulgate no-confidence motion against Government or it simply let the Parliament transact its daily business. Point-scoring politics on the part of opposition and blatant denial of Government for its wrongdoings will help nobody. This is the time when global economy is reviving and India is also experiencing positive greenshoots. They would do well by igniting their insight and pushing reforms ahead instead of getting clogged with insignificant altercation.