By Hugh & Colleen Gantzer
Parliament has woken up again. It had gone into an enforced coma but now Reveille has sounded. Reveille is the name of the lively, insisting bugle call sounded in Defence Service establishments to tell everyone that the working day has begun. That stimulating tune also seems to have woken Parliament out of its enforced slumber.
Once again everyone can enjoy the cut and thrust of elected lawmakers creating the evolving structures which will bind the people of India into a sensitive organism adapting to the future.
This is the vision, the promise, and the purpose of Parliament. Sadly, however, it was forced to become a Rump Parliament for a very long time. The word ‘rump’ generally refers to the hindquarters of an animal. In this case however it means “those few members of a group or organisation who stay after the others have left or been forced out”.
In December 2023, 146 Members of Parliament were suspended.
As of April 2023, the UN estimated India’s population to be 1.4 billion people. These are represented by 802 MPs. Therefore, every Indian MP speaks for an average of 18.6 lakh people. The 14l suspended MPs represented 26 crore citizens. What right does a government have to pass laws ignoring the opinions of 26 crore citizens? It is, therefore, imperative the new Indian Penal Code, Indian Evidence Act, and the Criminal Procedure Code be re-examined by Parliament and passed only after they have been subjected to a clause by clause discussion.
Furthermore, were our Elected Representatives given the opportunity to discuss the matter of building a new Parliament House? The expenditure incurred in erecting this building should not have been something left to the opinion of one or even two individuals. Quite apart from the enormous dent made in our finances, there was the manner in which the security of Parliament was breached. Then there was the fact that this expensive new building leaks. Finally, there is a perception that the whole object of this exercise was to prevent Members of both Houses from reaching informal agreements on matters of great importance in Central Hall while Parliament is in Session. Ruling parties dislike compromise and would do anything to prevent it.
Moreover, Parliament Houses worldwide are clothed with the dignity of tradition. In much the same way, new temples need to be accepted by the upholders of religious traditions. The size and appearance of the highest legislative building in the US was completed on Washington’s Capitol Hill by 1892. Britain’s Houses of Parliament were completed by 1852. Both the US and the UK have grown since the 19th Century but the Legislative Buildings have not been relocated in new structures. Did we, in India, really need a new Parliament House?
Japan has a Bullet Train. But does Japan have any problems in providing roti, kapra or makan to all its citizens? And does the Japanese Railway System have the number of accidents that the Indian Railways have? Was our Bullet Train Scheme ever subjected to the checks and balances of the Railway Board? Or was it a Top-Down Plan thrust on the Indian Railways? Is there any truth in the perception that funds earmarked for Railway safety are being diverted to this highspeed luxury facility?
Parliament also needs to discuss why so many migrant workers were forced to walk back home from Delhi.
We are not against surging into the future, but we have to ensure that we carry the majority of our population along with us. Some of our neighbours are excellent examples of the consequences of lopsided development!
Finally, let us remind ourselves that democracy is the government of the people, by the people, for the people. The first sign of a deteriorating democracy is when people start giving unnecessary titles, and credits to their political bosses. We are sickened to hear the word “the Honourable” tagged on to politicians. It is even more revolting to be told that public facilities have been provided by “the inspired leadership of …” Such lick-spittle phrases indicate the speaker’s preference to redefine democracy as government of a person, by a person, for a person.
We first saw such things happening many years ago. Then came the Horrors of the Emergency. You don’t have to declare an Emergency for it to happen, as you don’t have to declare climate change before you feel the heat! There are enough straws in the wind fluttering past.
(Hugh & Colleen Gantzer hold the National Lifetime Achievement Award for Tourism among other National and International awards. Their credits include over 52 halfhour documentaries on national TV under their joint names, 26 published books in 6 genres, and over 1,500 first[1]person articles, about every Indian state, UT and 34 other countries. Hugh was a Commander in the Indian Navy and the Judge Advocate, Southern Naval Command. Colleen is the only travel writer who was a member of the Travel Agents Association of India.) (The opinions and thoughts expressed here reflect only the authors’ views!).
