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MPs with money power make a mockery of democracy
HMTV DEBATE: MPs With Money Power Make A Mockery of Democracy. Criminalisation of politics, the entry of capitalists into the electoral politics and the lack of seriousness to render service to the people by the elected representatives have put the country’s ‘Parliamentary Democracy’ under great threat, felt speakers at a debate on ‘Democracy-Challenges’ organised by HMTV.
- Acrimonious scenes in Parliament a shame: Haragopal
- It’s all part of a political strategy: Padmanabha Reddy
Hyderabad: Criminalisation of politics, the entry of capitalists into the electoral politics and the lack of seriousness to render service to the people by the elected representatives have put the country’s ‘Parliamentary Democracy’ under great threat, felt speakers at a debate on ‘Democracy-Challenges’ organised by HMTV.
Participating in the debate Prof G Haragopal said that the acrimonious and unprecedented scenes that were witnessed in the Lok Sabha on Thursday were a shame for the country.
Clashing of MPs over Telangana Bill in the august House gave an impression that the MPs were more worried about their self interest instead of resolving the people’s issues through dialogue, he added.
“The Social background of the MPs, who indulged in making a mockery of democracy in Parliament, is that they come from the capitalistic society. They are more concerned over amassing wealth and protection of their assets by straying into the political system. They never take responsibility towards the society,” Said Haragopal.
It was a serious issue for the State that the nexus among political leaders, contractors and the liquor trade reached very strong which was a great threat to the survival of democracy and parliamentary system in future, he pointed out.
Prof Haragopal felt that initiatives like ‘HMTV’s Dasha-Disha’ helped to a greater extent in sensitising people.
He opined that the Speaker could disqualify, forever, those responsible for Thursday’s incidents in the Lok Sabha. However, some sections might term such decision as undemocratic.
Forum for Good Governance Secretary M Padmanabha Reddy stressed the need to bring amendment to the People’s Representative Act -1955 prohibiting the leaders who had violated the Constitution, from contesting elections. The Election Commission (EC) should also be given more powers to punish the erring people’s representatives.
Padmanabha Reddy said the drama unfolded in the Lok Sabha during the tabling of the Telangana Bill was all part of the political parties’ strategy to reap electoral benefits.
The Union Ministers, who defied the government’s decision on Telangana and played to the gallery in the House, should be dismissed from their posts. The MPs stooped too low in their behaviour.
Padmanabha Reddy felt that Chief Minister Kiran Kumar Reddy should have resigned from his post and then confronted the party high command on the bifurcation issue. He felt the Congress party, which could not take action against the erring Ministers, did not possess the courage to sack its own Chief Minister in spite of his defiant stand.
He reminded how former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi was suspended by a ‘powerful’ Parliament when she stepped inside the House after imposing emergency rule. Padmanabha Reddy opined that such incidents had become rare since the authorities concerned were not exercising their powers. Former IAS officer D C Rosaiah said Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar had the discriminatory powers to take action against those who created ruckus in the House including disqualifying the MPs.
Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Ramesh Reddy said the country was reeling under poverty because the political system was totally corrupt.
The Parliamentary system in the country was on the verge of extinction with the entry of capitalists in the political system.
The AAP’s entry into politics would definitely make an impact and create a platform for the common man to fight elections and win, he added.
HMTV and The Hans India Editor – in- Chief K Ramachandra Murthy said it was unfortunate that the Centre did not take into consideration the suggestions made by the media over the State bifurcation after holding a series of debates on the contentious issue. The recommendations made by Srikrishna Committee were also thrown into the dustbin.
“Although politicians of both regions are at loggerheads on the bifurcation issue, the common public has been displaying greater sense and patience, which should be commended by all,” Ramachandra Murthy said.
