People's Democracy

  BJP’s Lack Of Faith In Parliamentary Democracy Evident

Following statement was issued by the parliamentary parties of CPI(M), CPI, AIFB, RSP, RJD and SP on April 27, 2005. Among the signatories were Basudeb Acharia (Leader of CPI-M in Lok Sabha); Nilotpal Basu (Leader of CPI-M in Rajya Sabha); Ram Gopal Yadav (Leader of SP in Lok Sabha); Devendra Prasad Yadav (RJD-Lok Sabha) and  Sanat Mandal (RSP).

WE, the representatives of CPI(M), CPI, AIFB, RSP, RJD and SP in parliament, express deep concern over the happenings within Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha for the past few days when no parliamentary functioning could be possible because of unnecessary and unwarranted interruptions by the main NDA opposition.

The incidence of undesirable stalling of usual parliamentary activities has been happening particularly at a time when discussion on Demands for Grants of General Budget of important ministries and other important issues are scheduled to be taken up.

Since they were rejected by the Indian electorate in 2004, the frustrated BJP and its allies have been trying to find one alibi or the other to stall the proceedings of the House in the most irresponsible manner. Even the top leaders of BJP had unfortunately been holding the House to ransom and turning a deaf ear to the appeals of the Lok Sabha speaker and Rajya Sabha chairman to allow the Houses to function normally.

Even the Lok Sabha speaker is being targeted by the NDA leaders with uncalled for criticism and undignified and derogatory remarks about the Chair.

We express our deep concern and strong disapproval and displeasure over the developments and unnecessary stalling of parliamentary proceedings by BJP and its allies when in the second phase of the Budget Session most members are keenly waiting to participate in important debates concerning Demands for Grants on important Ministries and also the Finance Bill 2005.

We hope that good sense will prevail on the BJP and its NDA allies. The House is meant for debate and discussion and dialogue but democracy is being seriously hampered through the sort of stalling of proceedings and non-cooperative and irresponsible stance adopted by the BJP and its NDA allies.

We earnestly hope that the precious time of the House will not be allowed to be wasted in such a manner when the members want to use this forum for expressing their views about the budgetary allocations and Demands for Grants and provisions of the Finance Bill 2005 and other important and urgent matters.

We also appeal to the good sense of the BJP and its NDA allies to participate in the deliberations of the House instead of boycotting the important parliamentary forum as their present attitude is suggesting that they do not have any faith in parliamentary democracy.