Parliament now "hotbed of disturbance, disruptions": Jagdeep Dhankhar

New Delhi [India], August 23 : Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar on Tuesday addressed the two-day Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) Conference, India region and said that Parliament and legislatures have turned into "hotbeds of disturbance and disruptions."
Jagdeep Dhankhar delivered the valedictory address at the two-day Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) Conference, India region that was held at Udaipur, Rajasthan from 21st to 22nd August, 2023.
Expressing deep anguish, the Vice President said "The institution of Public Representatives is under severe strain and the temples of democracy which are meant for dialogue, deliberation, debate and discussion are these days the 'hotbeds of disturbance and disruptions'."

While highlighting that the Public representatives are supposed to be role models for the people and that they have the responsibility to address the challenges faced by the people, Dhankhar underscored the paramount role of public representatives to ensure executive accountability and fiscal discipline in governance.
He hoped that the two day deliberations must have been a rewarding experience for the participants.
He further emphasized that a dysfunctional legislature has the potential to undermine democratic values and would impede blossoming of democracy.

Dhankhar stated that out of the three organs of the Government - the Legislature, the Judiciary and the Executive - the Judiciary and the Executive act in harmony, while the Legislature, which is supreme, has become vulnerable during these days. Disorder in the temples of democracy has become a new norm.
He further stated that the Parliament alone is the repository of the will of the people and effective and proactive functioning of the legislature is the safest guarantee to the blossoming of democratic values.
While quoting Dr BR Ambedkar, he said "Unless we, in Parliament, realise our responsibilities and shoulder the task of looking after the welfare and good of the people....I have not the slightest doubt in my mind that this Parliament will be treated by public outside with utter contempt".

Therefore, he said that we must all pledge to be alive to these prophetic concerns and cautions of the Founding Fathers of our Republic and retrieve the cliff-hanging situation.
Acknowledging that both the Government and the Opposition play indispensable roles within the framework of parliamentary democracy, he added that the Parliament where the government and the opposition work in tandem is in the interest of the nation and the synergy between the Government and the Opposition is pivotal. The prime role of the Opposition in the legislature is to generate accountability and transparency.
Dhankhar said that India is on the rise and is the favourite destination for opportunity and investment. If the legislators were true to their oath and acted as trustee then we could have done better.
While stating that the younger people are the greatest stakeholders of governance in this country, he said that their future is at stake, so they must exercise their discretion as they are the foot soldiers of Bharat at 2047 when India will have the centenary celebration of its Independence.