Resort to Three-D ‘Discuss, Debate and Decide’ Instead of Other ‘D’- Disruption: VP Naidu
GG News Bureau
New Delhi, 31st July. Vice President and Rajya Sabha Chairman M. Venkaiah Naidu inaugurated the two-day Orientation Programme for the newly elected/nominated Members of Rajya Sabha virtually from Hyderabad on Saturday.
While addressing the programme, Rajya Sabha Chairman M. Venkaiah Naidu offered tips to the newly elected/nominated members of the House which could help them in becoming an effective parliamentarian.
He advised the Members to be regular in attending the Parliament and keenly watch the way senior parliamentarians articulate themselves and put their views in a very organized manner.
Congratulating the new Members to be part of the apex democratic body of the country, Naidu urged the newly elected/nominated Members of Rajya Sabha to make the best use of their membership for the benefit of the people and the development of the country.
Naidu advised the Members to make optimum utilization of several procedural devices available to the Members to raise matters of public importance.
Highlighting that having a good understanding of the rules and procedures among the Members, would help the proceedings to be more orderly and more purposeful.
He advised the Members to be mindful of the Rules for enhanced productivity.
Expressing concern over the overshadowing of debates and discussions by rising disruption and confrontation in the Parliament, Naidu stated that people especially the youth are justifiably getting impatient and disillusioned with the way democratic institutions are functioning and urged the Members to put an end to such unpleasant situations in the House in order to sustain the credibility of the parliamentary institutions in public esteem.
He stressed that Discipline, dignity and decorum in the House are the sine qua non of parliamentary institutions.
Naidu stressed that adversarial politics should not be allowed to adversely affect the functioning of the Parliament and State Legislatures and differences should be resolved through debate and discussions by cultivating the ability to understand the other’s point of view and not necessarily to agree with it.
While urging the members to make significant and meaningful contributions to enrich the proceedings of the House, Naidu stated that while informed critique of the Government is always welcome, protracted disruption as a parliamentary strategy should be avoided.
He said that “let the Government propose, let the Opposition oppose and let the House dispose” is the only way forward in a democracy. The Members should resort to the three-D mantra is ‘discuss, debate and decide’ and avoid the other ‘D’ – ‘disruption’.
Reminding the members that their performance and conduct are under constant public scrutiny and evaluation, Naidu counselled them to retain public trust and confidence which can be ensured through orderly proceedings.
“Both Government and the Opposition have the collective responsibility for smooth and effective functioning of the House”, he said.
Highlighting the motto of ‘Perform, Reform and Transform’ of Hon’ble Prime Minister, he stated that concerted efforts made by him to effectively enhance the functioning of the House has resulted in almost doubling of the productivity of the House in the last eight sessions.
He requested the new Members to make a conscious choice either to carry forward this positive trend and become change agents or become obstructionists.
He also highlighted that Department-related Parliamentary Standing Committees of Rajya Sabha are effective instruments of Parliament to ensure executive accountability especially during the inter-session periods underscoring the fact that Parliament functions not only during the session but round the year.
While urging the Members to speak in their native language, Naidu said that initiative has been taken to make the simultaneous interpretation facility available in all the twenty two scheduled languages that has increased the use of mother tongue in the proceedings of the House.
Naidu stressed that the privilege of freedom of speech enjoyed by members in Parliament does not give unrestricted freedom to say anything against any individual or to use defamatory or indecent or undignified or unparliamentary words.
He urged all the Members to conduct themselves in a decent and dignified manner in the House or outside it and set an example to others by maintaining high standards of conduct.
The two days Orientation programme began with a welcome address by Deputy Chairman Rajya Sabha Harivansh.
Senior Rajya Sabha Member Jairam Ramesh spoke on “Rajya Sabha : Its role and contribution to Indian polity; Sushil Kumar Modi shared his thoughts on the ‘Importance of Question Hour’; while Vandana Chavan gave a detailed overview on the Committee System; Bhupender Yadav, Minister of Environment, Forest & Climate Change; and Minister of Labour & Employment explained the ‘Lawmaking process’; Rajya Sabha Secretary-General P.C. Mody also presented an overview of the functioning of the Rajya Sabha Secretariat.
The two days Orientation programme will conclude on Sunday.
