Why Has The Axe Fallen On The "Question Hour"?
By A Special Correspondent
First publised on 2020-09-02 20:27:51
About the Author
Extraordinary situations demand equally extraordinary responses. The pandemic has put severe restrictions on a lot of activities. It is "an act of God" that has often left the government confused and befuddled. It has chosen to tailor its responses to several situations arising out of the pandemic by pleading helplessness. Hence, when the time came to honour the commitment made in the GST Act to compensate the states for any shortfall, the Centre decided to use force majeure and asked them to borrow the amount from a specially created window or from the market. When it came to waiving interest on loans during the moratorium period, the government said it would harm depositors. And now, when the time has come to conduct legislative business by calling a curtailed monsoon session of the parliament, the government has decreed that there would be no question hour during the proceedings.
What does this mean? That parliament becomes a certifying authority for all laws that will be passed without any debate. That the people's representatives would become mute spectators to the proceedings, their democratic right to question the government, and have it on record, suspended. How then will they answer their constituents? If the parliament can meet to conduct business, surely it can allow the people's representatives to raise their concerns and demand answers from the government. At best, the time may be shortened by limiting the number of questions. The opposition members can then coordinate among themselves and ask questions jointly.
Why is it that the thing which can hold the government accountable and hence is the most discomforting to any ruling dispensation is sought to be done away with in the ensuing session? The Opposition is rightly angry at this decision and has called it murder of democracy. This government has been doing good work in controlling the spread of the pandemic and shoring up the health infrastructure. It has been tackling the Chinese aggression well with equal measures of military and diplomatic response. Then why is it fighting shy of answering the queries that the people's representatives might have?
Editor's Note: It is to the credit of the government that it took note of the reservations voiced by the Opposition parties and has said that written questions can be submitted during the session and the ministers concerned will also reply in writing. This is a good solution as it will save time as both houses will be in session for only four hours daily.
