[dropcap]T[/dropcap]he credibility of India’s Parliamentary system was shaken to its foundations as pandemonium outdoing all previous raucous in the house shocked a nation.
Congress MP Rajagopal opposed to the creation of Telangana state smashed a glass and used pepper spray on his colleagues when Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde tried to table the bill to create Telangana which will be carved out of Andhra Pradesh.
Four ambulances were called and an unspecified number of MP’s were taken to the hospital.Live television showed members of parliament leaving the colonial-era building coughing and spluttering, some wiping their eyes. “Members tried to use gas in the house… gas the house… I did not see, but I am informed that there was a knife, there was gas, there were other kinds of weapons,” PTI quoted Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kamal Nath as saying.The entire session of the current parliament – which began on 5 February – has been disrupted by those against the creation of Telangana.Telangana, with a population of 35 million, would comprise 10 of Andhra Pradesh’s 23 districts, including the city of Hyderabad.Those against the idea are unhappy that Hyderabad, home to many major information technology and pharmaceutical companies, would become a shared state capital for 10 years after which it would remain with Telangana while Andhra Pradesh would have to develop a new capital.The incident comes a s huge embarrassment for the federal government.
A final decision on the state rests with the parliament.
While the people are all agog at what has surpassed the nation is forgetting is that Parliamentary system is based on the quality of men that political parties send to represent them in legislature.
Currently, it is under dual strain. Extremist forces like the Maoists want to assault the Indian Parliamentary democracy and overthrow it through violent means. Additionally, the quality of politics which is found lacking invites a reaction in terms of cynicism against politics, politicians and Parliament. The emergence of the Aam Admi Party is evidence of this cynicism amongst the electorate disenchanted with the rhetorics of politicians and parties they are willing to gamble for an alternative.
This X-factor is now pervading the Parliamentary system. The negativism hurts India’s Parliamentary democracy.
Parliamentary democracy has been regarded as a system most suitable for India. A country with diverse regions, states, religions and castes has thrown up a large number of political parties. Parliament is a forum where every section of society feels associated with the decision making process of the country.
It is therefore in larger national interest, that the credibility and sanctity of India’s Parliamentary democracy be maintained and restored.
