New Delhi, March 16: Former Prime Minister and Rajya Sabha member H.D. Devegowda has expressed his concerns regarding the disruptions and protests by the opposition in Parliament in a letter to former Congress president Sonia Gandhi. He stated that he is deeply troubled by the chaos inadvertently created by opposition parties within Parliament and its premises.
Devegowda wrote, “I am unsure if you fully comprehend the consequences of such uncontrolled activities and the spread of negative energy. I believe this could severely damage the foundation of our democracy and leave an indelible mark of bitterness. I initially refrained from writing to you, hoping that things would calm down over time, but I regret to say that there are no signs of improvement.”
He noted, “You are aware that I began my career at the grassroots level of democratic institutions and have spent 65 years of my life as a legislator and parliamentarian. I have spent nearly ninety percent of my time on the opposition benches. You have also spent many years in opposition, where you conducted yourself with dignity and maturity. As this may be my last parliamentary session, I feel compelled to share my thoughts in the hope of gradually restoring parliamentary traditions and decorum.”
The former Prime Minister further stated, “I believe that under the leadership of the opposition leader, Congress MPs have caused excessive disruption inside and around Parliament. In recent days, we have witnessed an alarming increase in shouting, waving placards, and abusive language. Such a lackadaisical attitude has struck at the very core of my beliefs about Parliament and parliamentary democracy. Undoubtedly, my views on parliamentary democracy are based on the teachings and guidance of our founding fathers, such as Jawaharlal Nehru, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, B.R. Ambedkar, and Maulana Abul Kalam Azad. In my long experience, I have never seen such chaos and negligence in Parliament as we have recently observed.”
Devegowda continued, “Throughout my career, even in highly provocative situations, I have never entered the well of the house to protest. This culture was taught to us by the ancestors of our democracy. I understand that the life of an opposition leader is not easy. They have a significant duty to bring forth injustices and shortcomings they perceive in the ruling party, but there is an established and time-tested way to do this.”
He emphasized that during protests, they must not demean themselves or diminish the dignity of their seats. They cannot believe that their success lies in operating outside the rules and traditions. When we take an oath as MPs, we implicitly commit ourselves to its rules and established procedures. Having led governments at both state and national levels, I can say that the legitimate opposition I faced always demonstrated awareness of our Parliament and democratic traditions. They acted with restraint according to the demands and needs of national interest. Even during protests, they did not block the entrance to Parliament, nor did they turn their gatherings into tea shop meetings, and certainly did not order tea, biscuits, and snacks while sitting on the steps of Parliament. Given the immense pressures faced by democracies worldwide, I believe the opposition should act with the awareness that their extremism could severely jeopardize its existence. In fact, they should be the guardians of parliamentary decorum, processes, and traditions.”
In his letter, the former Prime Minister concluded, “I do not wish to discuss this further. I trust you understand my concerns and, more importantly, my intentions. I do not wish to belittle anyone or diminish anyone’s role or enthusiasm, but I urge you to leverage your political experience and maturity to speak with your party leaders and others. Request them not to harm themselves, their objectives, or their political future in the long term. I am confident that you will take the necessary steps. I believe the opposition can protest as much as they wish, but it should be done in a manner that does not destroy all that we have built together over more than 75 glorious years.”
My name is Bhupendra Singh Chundawat. I am an experienced content writer with several years of expertise in the field. Currently, I contribute to Daily Kiran, creating engaging and informative content across a variety of categories including technology, health, travel, education, and automobiles. My goal is to deliver accurate, insightful, and captivating information through my words to help readers stay informed and empowered.
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