PM hits out at Opposition, calls Parliament disruption a 'negation of democracy'

NEW DELHI: Calling the disruption of Parliament by Opposition a 'total negation of democracy', Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Friday warned that if the thought process of disruption is allowed to continue, then it will be a grave violation of norms of Parliamentary processes.

"We take pride in our parliamentary democracy and the tradition of free debate that it implies, Singh said. "All right-thinking people should stand up and unitedly state that Parliamentary institutions should be allowed to function," he added.

The Prime Minsiter also said that he had great respect for the institution of CAG and its report should be allowed to be discussed in PAC and Parliament.

"We have just ended a wasted session of Parliament. Both the Houses were paralysed because CAG has issued a report which rightly or wrongly has certain allegations about public functionaries," Singh told reporters outside Parliament shortly after the end of Monsoon Session.

"We have great respect for the institution of CAG, but if we do respect this institution, we must be willing to debate its finding in PAC or even on the floor of Parliament which we have always been willing," he said.

Without naming BJP, Singh said, "The Opposition chose not to take advantage of the subtle institutional practices dealing with the reports of CAG and insisted on disrupting Parliament. This is negation of democracy."

He warned that "If this thought process is allowed to gain momentum it will be a grave violation of Parliamentary politics as we have understood."
Reacting to his sharp criticism, Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha, Arun Jaitley said that BJP was not happy disrupting the Parliament but had to do so owing to the attitude of the UPA government. "Let the Centre institute a commission of inquiry into the coal allocation issue before which the Prime Minister could depose," Jaitley said.

The turmoil-ridden Monsoon Session of Parliament came to an end today after most of its sittings were washed out over the controversial coal block allocation issue with BJP remaining unrelenting on its demand for resignation of Manmohan Singh.

The second-worst session since the 2009 Lok Sabha elections functioned for only six out of 19 days and was paralysed for remaining period due to the stand-off between government and BJP.

"This Session is likely to be remembered for the work that was not done," observed Rajya Sabha Chairman Hamid Ansari while adjourning the House sine die.

Minutes before, Speaker Meira Kumar adjourned Lok Sabha sine die without making the customary concluding address. The Prime Minister and Leader of Lok Sabha Sushilkumar Shinde were present when the House was adjourned.

Observing that the data on work done was "in no need of commentary", Ansari regretted that 62 hours were lost in the din during the session which began on August 8. Only three bills could be passed. While Question Hour was taken up once in the 19-day session, only 11 out of 399 starred questions could be taken up.