THE walk-out of the Rajya Sabha Business Advisory Committee meeting by Rajya Sabha Chairman (and Vice President ) Mr. Jagdeep Dhankhar citing “lack of decorum” should come as an eye-opener to everybody. The news item about the incident states clearly that Mr. Dhankhar decided to stage a walk-out when he realised that the Government as well as Opposition members refused to budge from their respective positions on many issues. This is serious and needs a deep consideration by everybody in the parliamentary system to think and rectify behaviour at all levels. For, if the members are not in a position to sort out how they will run the business of the House -- Rajya Sabha, in this case -- then they are failing the system -- which is not acceptable to anybody. This is not the first time that committee meetings had serious differences of opinion. But the fact that the Rajya Sabha Chairman felt like walking out of the meeting, points to an unfortunate reality of the inability of members to come to terms with the issues confronting them. The matter, thus, becomes a cultural issue that prevents the people in committee set ups to agree on a particular item on the committee agenda and allow it to be put up in the House appropriately and accept or reject it on the floor. But if the Business Advisory Committee is not able to agree upon the points of the Rajya Sabha agenda, then the matter is far more serious than one may imagine.

 

This brings us to a firm point that the country’s House of Elders -- the Rajya Sabha -- should have members whose belief in democracy and healthy and non-partisan debate is unfaltering, unwavering. The expectation that the members are able to finalise properly the agenda for the House without uncalled for friction, and issues are discussed only on the floor of the House. There may be some points of disagreement among members, all right. But those gaps could be filled in the debate on the floor of the House. But the scenario at the Business Advisory Committee meeting was altogether different, as Mr. Jagdeep Dhankhar noted -- and chose to stage a walk-out. There can nothing more unfortunate. It must be stated with sadness that in the past some time, the democratic mould of Parliament is getting tugged at by many elements.

 

Presiding officers -- Speaker of the Lok Sabha and the Chairman of the Rajya Sabha -- have time and again insisted upon decorum be made the core value of the discourse. Instead of achieving that, the members and their respective political parties seem intent upon stalling smooth discourse in the House or in committee meetings. The Opposition members often allege that their suggestions on business of the House are not included in the agenda. The ruling party members often dismiss such allegations, stating that the Opposition distorts the issues. If such a cantankerousness is going to rule the roost even in committee meetings, then the future health of parliamentary democracy will be uncertain. Once such atmosphere gets lodged in public conduct, then it may become very difficult for Parliament to run its show in a smooth manner. By staging a walk-out, Mr. Dhankhar has exposed the lacunae in the democratic set up. Now it is time the political community undertakes a serious rethink of its conduct on and off the floor of the House and alter its ways -- so that the national discourse becomes more meaningful.

 

 

 

 

ASIGNIFICANT development in the Asian geopolitical theater has been noted by the international community with keen interest as Bangladesh Chief Adviser Mr. Muhammad Yunus completed his visit to China. Mr. Yunus extracted support from Chinese President Mr. Xi Jinping in investments and also loan concessions as the two countries signed nine important agreements. The development reflects Bangladesh’s focus on seeking deeper relations with China to navigate economic and diplomatic challenges arising out of the political situation in the country. Beijing has been carefully watching the unfolding chaotic situation in Dhaka after Ms Sheikh Hasina’s government was ousted from power in Bangladesh last year. Mr. Yunus has been leading the interim government with a heavy imprint of former Prime Minister Ms Khalida Zia in governance. Already taking an antagonist approach towards India the government in Dhaka is clearly leaning towards China to shore up its future while renegotiating loan terms and attract investment. Despite knowing the pitfalls of hobnobbing with Beijing, Mr. Yunus seems too keen on jumping the lucrative investment offers with the only aim of keeping the United States out of Bangladesh and at the same time needling India. The cookie has the potential to crumble soon and Bangladesh will realise the blunder in due course of time. Mr. Jinping has promised increasing Chinese investments and relocating Chinese manufacturing industries to Bangladesh. He has also identified key sectors for potential relocation which again shows the groundwork prepared by Beijing to woo Dhaka once the Indian influence waned after the fall of Ms. Hasina. The new development was promptly tracked by India but it has refused to come out with a reaction. New Delhi will have to factor in these changes as it reworks its strategy towards Dhaka. It is imperative for India to be in the scheme of things to play counterbalance to China.