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Journalism of Courage
Summon them to the podium, ask them to take a bow. When both Houses of Parliament were adjourned sine die on Thursday, their presiding officers could not stop beaming in self-congratulation. And why not. After the record working hours lost to adjournments and noisy sloganeering in recent sessions, this winter conclave has been exceedingly smooth. And fruitful, in Speaker Manohar Joshi’s laudatory words.
Adjournments were rare. Ministers were kept honest, with Joshi and Bhairon Singh Shekhawat, Chairman of the Rajya Sabha, ready with words of reproach for attempts at filibustering or evading supplementaries. Stacks of pending legislation were disposed of. If previous sessions have concluded with laments about the bills awaiting consideration, this time around our elected representatives waved lists of laws enacted. The Freedom to Information Bill has been hailed as a historic step by Parliament, as has legislation concerning non-productive assets of banks and changes in the Evidence Act to assist victims of rape.
Back in the Lower House, 37 bills were approved, a 30-year record. Amidst despair about political polarisation and after a most acrimonious election campaign in Gujarat, is there something to cheer about at last?
Depends. Certainly, the presiding officers have imbued proceedings with a welcome focus and tenor. They lent a sympathetic ear to opposition members seeking debates on issues ranging from minimum support prices and the killing of Dalits, they demanded that the government get back on these subjects pronto. And legislators, to their credit, responded. But then, a few images linger. Of a Samajwadi Party MP whacking his neighbour. Of MPs unanimously recommending suspension of a cop who dared to stop one among them from leading a rally towards Parliament, with no reasons given. Of quorum bells clanging. Maybe it will take one more session to fix that.
