Public Unrest Looms if Parliament Fails to Function: VP Jagdeep Dhankhar
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New Delhi, Jan 13 (NationPress) Addressing the ongoing interruptions in Parliament, Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar emphasized on Monday that public demonstrations may emerge as a serious threat to democracy if the legislative body continues to be ineffective and gradually falls into insignificance.
During the launch of the book 'Parliament: Powers, Functions & Privileges; a Comparative Constitutional Perspective' written by Dr. K.S. Chauhan, VP Dhankhar cautioned against widespread protests should Parliament persist in facing disruptions.
“The public will resort to protests. They will seek alternatives, and if Parliament remains non-functional, it will inevitably drift towards irrelevance, putting democracy at risk,” he stated.
He asserted that the aspirations of the nation must be addressed through legislators working diligently to formulate policies, achievable only if Parliament is operational, according to the Vice President.
He highlighted that the fundamental role of Parliament is to ensure it operates at full capacity. “It must facilitate dialogue and debate. It must hold the government accountable,” he asserted.
He pointed out that the executive is accountable solely through the parliamentary process. “This necessitates that Parliament operates through dialogue, debate, discussion, and deliberation. If Parliament is dysfunctional, marred by interruptions, accountability cannot be enforced,” he remarked.
Alluding to the adverse consequences of a dysfunctional House, VP Dhankhar stated, “We are the fifth-largest economy in the world and are on the verge of becoming the third-largest. However, we face a significant challenge. An eight-fold increase in per capita income is required to achieve developed nation status. This can only be accomplished if Parliament and its committees excel in their performance.”
He also underscored the importance of maintaining ethical standards within Parliament. “Consider my distress. Just a month ago, we discovered a bundle of Rs 500 notes on a specific seat in the Rajya Sabha. What troubles me the most is that nobody has come forward to claim it. This is a grave concern. Carrying money might be due to necessity, but the absence of a claimant is a collective challenge to our ethical standards,” he expressed.
The Vice President stated that Parliament will only thrive if lawmakers can express their views freely on various matters.
“I admire their immense talent, capacity, and contributions. They are knowledgeable individuals, and I believe this book will enlighten those who aspire to advance this nation,” he stated.
