'We have witnessed a new low in the life of Parliament' by Arun Jaitley

(Arun Jaitley is a member of Parliament and Leader of Opposition, Rajya Sabha.)

Parliamentary democracy has been regarded as a system most suitable for India. A country with diverse regions, states, religions and castes has thrown up a large number of political parties. Parliament is a forum where every section of society feels associated with the decision making process of the country. It is therefore in larger national interest, that the credibility and sanctity of India's Parliamentary democracy be maintained.

Parliamentary system is based on the quality of men that political parties send to represent them in legislature. Currently, it is under dual strain. Extremist forces like the Maoists want to assault the Indian Parliamentary democracy and overthrow it through violent means. Additionally, the quality of politics which is found lacking invites a reaction in terms of cynicism against politics, politicians and Parliament. This negativism hurts India's Parliamentary democracy.

What has happened today in the Lok Sabha has seriously hurt the credibility of India's Parliamentary functioning. Well-meaning individuals are likely to raise serious questions about the quality of Parliament functioning. All the debates of reasonable good quality that we have undertaken in the past several years will be washed off from the public memory. What will remain is the striking visual of the ugly politician which will be demonstrated by today's incident. To disagree on the formation of Telangana is one issue.

To use wholly unparliamentary tactics including extraneous weapons and materials to disturb Parliament is quite another. Today, we have witnessed a new low in the life of Indian Parliament. This is a matter for every politician to introspect, more so for Congressmen whose members were arrayed on both sides and were on the forefront of this ugly scene.

We have repeatedly maintained that the UPA has lost the will to rule. Its ability to take and implement political decisions has come into severe questioning. What has happened today is on account of the UPA's inability to handle the political situation arising out of the proposal to create the state of Telangana.

As against this the BJP, including all its Members, from both Telangana and Seemandhra region are taking a cohesive stand in support of the creation of the state of Telangana while simultaneously addressing the legitimate concerns of the people of Seemandhra. Regrettably, the UPA has completely failed in this regard. The present crisis is directly on account of this failure. It is the Congress and Congress alone which must take the responsibility for completely mishandling the situation.

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