The current monsoon session is stalled over the Congress-led opposition’s demand for resignations of External Affairs Minister, Sushma Swaraj, Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje and Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan. The Government is yet to make a convincing argument in defence of its Ministers. The opposition, especially the Congress and the Left, has made the resignations a pre-condition for Parliament to function. But with only four days left for the session to conclude, it is time for both sides to confront the larger question – how long can Parliament be stalled and paralysed on this issue? The current monsoon session is certain to be washed. And, if the BJP doesn’t relent, another session too may be wasted.

Far from helping find way to end the impasse in Parliament, the decision of the Speaker to suspend 25 Congress members for five days has only escalated the confrontation between the government and the opposition over the Lalit Modi Affair and the Vyapam corruption case. Instead of being a model for speakers of state legislatures, she followed the example of the presiding officers of some states who suspend members routinely to ensure smooth passage for the treasury through politically inconvenient sessions. Indeed the Lok Sabha Speaker was seen as having acted in the manner of the Speaker of the Gujarat Assembly when Narendra Modi was the Chief Minister, prompting leader of the opposition Mallikarjun Kharge to remarks that the “Gujarat model” was being introduced in Parliament.

The Speaker’s verdict on whether the conduct of a member is “grossly disorderly” is final, and there is no doubt that Congress members came into the well of the house and shouted slogans without allowing the conduct of proceedings. But muzzling debate is disgrace to parliamentary democracy and suspension should have been only the last resort.

Unfortunately, instead of reaching out to the opposition and extending tangible assurances on ensuring the accountability of those in position of power, the government appeared very happy to show up the opposition as disruptive. Meetings with opposition leaders were convened, but the end objective seems to have been to suspend some congress members.

Not only was the government unwilling to yield on resignation of Swaraj and Vasundhara Raje over Lalit Modi affair, and Chouhan on the Vyapam scam, it was also peremptorily dismissive of all allegations. The Prime Minister was not ready to engage the opposition leaders directly in discussion, and instead let his ministers make some half-hearted measures. At stake were political accountability of those in power and the democratic functioning of parliament . Like opposition, government too holds the responsibility for smooth running conduct of the business of the House. To invoke powers to suspend merely because the government failed in its efforts to persuade, is but an abdication of that responsibility.

By her one act—suspending 25 congress MPs—the speaker has turned a possible villain into a victim. Mamata Banerjee, Sharad Pawar, Sitaram Yechuri, Lalu Prasad, Mayawari and Nitish Kumar have come out in support Sonia Gandhi as the Congress reached out to Mulayam Singh, Mayawati and Naveen Patnaik. Even though Mulayam has been reluctant to back the congress demand for resignations, he cannot afford to be as soft towards the BJP ahead of Bihar elections. The tough action against congress MPs has brought disparate opposition leaders together with parties announcing boycott of Lok Sabha.

The present state of affairs requires discussion on long-term reforms to parliamentary procedure. These could include a strict code of conduct about parliamentary behavior – to discourage disruptions and encourage debate but with objective rather than suspiciously motivated criterion. There could also be days where the opposition decides matters if debate. The period for which Parliament functions could be doubled, enabling substantive discussion. Even salience of the Upper House can be reconsidered. (IPA Service)