Be Dignified

 

IT IS time the Opposition learnt the importance of a dignified conduct in Parliament or outside it to promote a healthy democratic discourse on important issues. It is also time the Opposition realised its own responsibility to become an important pole in the country’s political field. This assertion has become necessary in the light of how the Opposition has been conducting itself rot a long time. It must realise that its conduct is far from being dignified and in tune with the decorum of democracy. It was not without reason that as many as eight Opposition Members of Parliament (MPs) were suspended for unruly behaviour on the floor of the Lok Sabha. They abandoned their sense of dignity and therefore invited the Chair’s wrath -- even as they pressed for a discussion on certain observations by former Army chief General M.M. Naravane in his so-far unpublished memoirs. This has been happening time and again -- for the past 11-12 years. In every session of Parliament, in every election, on every possible occasion, the Opposition tries to raise illogical issues and disrupt the democratic processes.

 

All appeals to good sense have fallen on deaf ears and the common people only watch helplessly the manner in which the Opposition conducts itself -- defying the norms of a democratic polity, ignoring the public sentiment on issues, raising doubts about everything the Government does or does not do. This continued defiance of common and good sense has left the Opposition in an eternal lurch, all right. For, it is losing its democratic relevance very fast -- as a result of which its numbers have dipped to insignificant levels in Parliament or in different legislatures or in other elective platforms. Despite this continued decline, the Opposition has refused to take a critical look at itself and mend its ways. This inexplicable obstinacy is beyond a normal sense. When Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Mr. Rahul Gandhi raised the issue of certain observations of General M.M. Naravane, he was told in clear terms that the rules did not permit quoting from unpublished source. Mr. Gandhi wanted to ignore the Speaker’s ruling as well -- which led to a big ruckus in Lok Sabha.

 

This approach does not go well with the status of a responsible Opposition. However, Mr. Rahul Gandhi refused to learn any lesson from the episode. Another example of a fully irresponsible behaviour came to light when West Bengal Chief Minister Ms. Mamata Banerjee created a ruckus in the office of the Chief Election Commissioner in New Delhi. She travelled to Delhi all the way from Kolkata only for this purpose -- and threatened the CEC that she would assemble countless thousands of people at the CEC’s office for a demonstration. That was -- in actual terms -- a direct threat to a constitutionally established office. That was good enough a reason for the CEC to call law enforcement agencies and take the miscreants away, though that course was not resorted to. Time and again, such incidents take place vis-a-vis Opposition. Its leaders refuse to think rationally, and keep indulging in behaviour that is often bad enough to be described as uncouth.

 

Philosophically speaking, this is bad for democracy. Politically speaking, this conduct is absolutely bad for the Opposition -- which gets proved time and again in electoral showing of the Opposition collectively. Yet, there is learning. Or, in other words, there is an obstinate refusal to learn on the part of the Opposition -- which often confuses people about it’s intentions. No matter what has happened in the past, the Opposition must now take time out to think calmly and deeply about its own role and its own style of functioning. The Opposition leaders must think in a dignified manner and rectify the mistakes they have been committing all along for years. There is no doubt that the democratic process grants great status to contrarian voice -- which the Opposition is expected to provide in a multi-lateral conversation as a mark of democracy. This is the only expectation the people have about the Opposition.