Lok Sabha Debates
Regarding Directions Issued By Mos And A Party Functionary To The Members Of His ... on 29 November, 2007
> Title: Regarding directions issued by MOS and a party functionary to the members of his party in Orissa Legislative Assembly asking his party members to raise the issue of farmers vigorously.
SHRI ARJUN SETHI : Thank you, Sir. Yesterday, I tried to raise the issue.
I am now trying to invite the attention of the House, through you, Sir, to one important matter. One hon. Minister of the Government of India has written a letter to the MLAs of the State of Orissa saying that the House should not be allowed to function so as long the demand of a particular Motion is admitted. This is certainly a case for the consideration of the august House as also the hon. Speaker. Being a Minister in the Central Cabinet, can one write to the MLAs of his Party saying that unless a particular issue is admitted, the House should not run? This letter has been given. I have submitted to the hon. Speaker at your Secretariat.
MR. SPEAKER: Shri Sethi, may I make one observation? It is the absolute duty of all the elected representatives to see that all the elected bodies perform their duty according to the rules, procedures and the situations that are there. Therefore, certainly although it is not a matter of Parliament, since this is an issue which is concerning every House in this country, yet, I have allowed you to raise it. I can only appeal to each and every hon. Member - not only here but in the capacity of the Chairman of the Presiding Officers’ Conference that the elected hon. Members of whichever House it may be – to cooperate with the Chair and see that the House functions in a manner which is expected to be. Therefore, anybody who seeks to interfere should consider very seriously whether he is serving parliamentary democracy or not.
SHRI ARJUN SETHI : Thank you, Sir. Because of this letter, the Orissa State Assembly has been stalled for the last ten days.… (Interruptions)
MR. SPEAKER: I have made my observation in your favour.
SHRI BRAJA KISHORE TRIPATHY (PURI): Thank you, Sir. The Orissa Assembly is not functioning because of this letter.… (Interruptions)
MR. SPEAKER: All right. I cannot compel him to withdraw a letter written in his capacity as the leader of his Party.
SHRI BRAJA KISHORE TRIPATHY : Thank you, Sir. This shows how the ruling Party is behaving in other States.… (Interruptions)
MR. SPEAKER: Shri Tripathy, you need not join him in this issue. Shri Sethi is very much competent to raise this issue.
SHRI ARJUN SETHI : He is a Minister in the Central Cabinet. He took oath when he was sworn in.… (Interruptions) He took oath to protect and preserve the Constitution of India.
MR. SPEAKER: It does not really arise here.
SHRI ARJUN SETHI : The State Assembly is a creation of the Constitution. How can a particular Minister direct that the State Assembly in Orrisa should not be allowed to function because one particular Motion is not admitted by the hon. Speaker there? This is an interference in the working of the State Assembly.
Sir, you have rightly given your ruling or made your observation.
MR. SPEAKER: I am sure, now the hon. Minister must have been told about it.
SHRI ARJUN SETHI : They should protect and preserve the Constitution. They should allow the State Assembly, which is duly elected by the people of the State, to function.
MR. SPEAKER: Hon. Members, please realize that the letter was written in his capacity as a Party leader and not in his capacity as a Minister. As a Minister, there is nothing. But since he is a Minister and since your matter deals with the problem which is being faced by all the Houses, since it is about the proper functioning of the House, as I said earlier, in my capacity as the Chairman of the Presiding Officers’ Conference or Body, I am requesting everybody in this country to ponder over and introspect whether we are serving parliamentary democracy of which there is no alternative today in the country. Nobody is suggesting that parliamentary democracy should not be followed. But, somehow, sometimes, we believe that the temples of democracy should not be allowed to function properly. This is my appeal to all of you to ponder over. Thank you. Your message has gone very well.[R14] … (Interruptions)
MR. SPEAKER: Yes, Mr. Francis George.
… (Interruptions)
MR. SPEAKER: You don’t do that. Parliament has nothing to do with it. I have said more than enough. I thank you for raising it. I only wish that I had known that such a matter was there. Suddenly, you came into the well which I did not expect.
… (Interruptions)
MR. SPEAKER: I have forgotten that chapter.
SHRI K. FRANCIS GEORGE (IDUKKI): Sir, the entry of multi nationals and big business.… (Interruptions)
MR. SPEAKER: He is also raising a very important issue. You are associating with Mr. Sethi.
… (Interruptions)
MR. SPEAKER: This is very unfortunate. Nothing will go on record. Only your names will be recorded that you are associating on this issue.
(Interruptions) * MR. SPEAKER: Hon. Members Shri Mohan Jena, Shrimati Archana Nayak, Shri Sugrib Singh, Shri Prasanna Acharya, *m09 Shri Braja Kishore Tripathy and Shri Prabodh Panda are associated on the issue raised by Shri Arjun Sethi.