New Delhi, September 4
A round-table discussion today on the topic of “Strengthening Parliamentary Democracy” threw up several proposals to effectively deal with corruption, criminalisation of politics and other ills that have crept into the system over the years.

Distinguished persons from various walks of life participated in the over four hours of discussions held at the instance of Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee. Those present on the occasion included former law minister Shanti Bhushan, BJP leader Jaswant Singh, Congress leader Girija Vyas, jurists Rajinder Sachar, Fali S. Nariman and Soli Sorabji, former RBI Governor Bimal Jalan, Prof M.S. Swaminathan, MP, and journalists Kuldip Nayar, Prabhash Joshi, Inder Malhotra, B.G. Verghese, H.K. Dua and Harish Khare, Rajya Sabha deputy chairman K. Rahman Khan and Lok Sabha secretary-general P.D.T Achary. However, external affairs minister Pranab Mukherjee was not present.

In his initial remarks, the Speaker took the potential sting out of the debate, appealing to the participants not to talk about the July 22 trust vote and the unsavoury developments connected with it as a parliamentary committee was going into the issue.

Several speakers regretted that parliamentary proceedings had deteriorated to such a level that even the Prime Minister was not being allowed to express his views in the two Houses as was witnessed during the July 21-22 debate on the trust vote.

While the participants differed on the methods to deal with the problems, there was near unanimity that parliamentary system was best suited to India, given its vast geographical area and population, and the diverse culture.

Chatterjee said the issues were getting complicated with increasingly fractured mandates that had resulted in 37 parties getting representation in the 14th Lok Sabha. Nariman said the chaos prevailing across the country was largely due to the bad example set by MPs in Parliament. Kuldip Nayar opined that parties were misusing parliament to pursue their respective political agenda at the cost of national interest.

Economist B.B. Bhattacharya suggested a ban on the media for reporting disruptions in parliament and wanted MPs should be made accountable in parliament. Swaminathan suggested that all parties arrive at an NCMP on environment, population, poverty and development. Sorabjee agreed with the views that there was no need for the Presidential system. Inder Malhotra said fragmented polity had resulted in the neglect of national issues.

Former Delhi University Vice Chancellor Deepak Pental said political parties should hunt for talent. Dr Girija Vyas favoured ‘punishment’ for MPs who created trouble in the House.

Jaswant Singh regretted that Panchayats had become dens of corruption. Khare suggested an upper age limit for politicians for holding high positions. However, this was met with resistance from many of the participants for various reasons.

Jalan opined that proliferation of regional and state-level parties was an unintended result of the Anti-Defection Law.