Bengaluru, Aug 30 (PTI) Union Minister of Parliamentary Affairs Kiren Rijiju on Saturday said pressure must be applied if a party leader shows no interest in debates and discussions and instead resorts to ruckus and political theatrics, as it ultimately harms the members of Parliament.
Addressing advocates of the Karnataka High Court on “Parliamentary System in the Largest Democracy in the World,” Rijiju said, “Pressure must be generated if the leader of a party is not interested in any debates and discussion except creating ruckus and political drama to create a narrative.” He also advised younger MPs to resist directions from their leaders to disrupt the House.
According to him, disruptions hurt MPs far more than the government, which can still pass its bills using its majority.
“The government will push through its bills whenever required, but the loss is for the members, particularly opposition MPs,” he said, citing the recently concluded monsoon session where he urged opposition parties for three weeks to participate in debates without success.
Rijiju defended the government’s decision to clear key legislation despite disruptions, saying the bills were too important to defer. “Ultimately, we had to force our majority and pass the bills in Parliament. I was not happy to push through those important bills in such rush manner because every bill requires intensive discussions and deliberations,” he said.
The minister highlighted the Online Gaming Bill as a critical measure that could not be delayed. “The whole young generation is getting trapped into online games and this is framing a regulation for the future generations. How can such bill be passed without discussion?… It is too critical a bill to be pushed to the next session.” On the 130th Constitution Amendment Bill, Rijiju said, “This is the long awaited demand of the people that we must have zero tolerance towards corruption, we must have a stringent legal provision to check the people who sit in high constitutional positions. But then this was again turned into a political slugfest.” He added that the debate should have focused on refining the bill’s provisions, rather than questioning whether corrupt leaders deserve a “long rope.” The Minister also highlighted reforms in mining, minerals and sports governance that were passed under pressure from stakeholders.
“The biggest ever sporting reforms bill was not given due respect with enough deliberations but we had to pass the bill because the entire sporting fraternity was putting pressure,” he said, adding that athletes were eager for the reforms while the opposition kept shouting slogans in the well of the House.
“So many critical bills… it was technically a very productive session but without much discussions. So these are unique things you see in the democracy,” he noted.
Taking a veiled swipe at Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, Rijiju claimed many speak of protecting the Constitution without realising “his own party had changed the basic Preamble of the Constitution itself during the Emergency.” As Parliamentary Affairs Minister, he said he represents every party and seeks to build trust through plain speaking. “I speak in a very plain language. I don’t have to think something else and speak other things. So, honesty is the best way to carry yourself… If you are truthful you must not only appear to be truthful but you must be truthful, as same is in the case of justice,” he said.
Rijiju stressed the need to bring justice closer to people. “We must ensure that common people get justice at their doorstep… Justice is delivered not only from the courtroom but much beyond the courtrooms,” he said, adding that this was the vision of the Constitution’s framers.
Calling India’s Constitution both the largest and the best in the world, he called for its preservation through action rather than slogans. “We must ensure we safeguard the basic structure, the features and the spirit of the Constitution in letter and words. Merely sloganeering… won’t work.” He also warned voters against electing leaders with “muscle and money power.” “By ‘Bahubali’ I mean a mafia kind of a person… There are very sincere members of parliament who perform to the core but then they get defeated in the next elections. I have made sure from day one that I will not rely on this muscle power and money power. I will rely on vocal power. I will speak as much as I should,” he said. PTI AMP GMS GMS ROH
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