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Set behavioural standards for MPs
The curtailment of Question Hour because 31 out of 38 MPs, who had starred questions listed against their names in the list, remained absent is against the decorum of the august House and speaks volumes of their disregard and negligence of their constitutional obligations (news report,
“Question Hour cut short as MPs play truant: Of 38 who had to put up queries, 31 were absent”
by Aditi Tandon, Dec 1). What can we expect and learn from our elected representatives? The irony is that these MPs are present at places where a phto-op is guaranteed yet they care two hoots about the proceedings of the House, which are the bedrock of parliamentary democracy. Since the government has to spend a lot of money on MPs’ perks and privileges and running these sessions, the MPs must be made to pay for dereliction of duty. Political parties should discipline them and direct them to take the parliamentary business seriously. SATWANT KAUR, Mahilpur
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II India claims to be the world’s largest democracy, still its working leaves a lot to be desired. Absenteeism of members of Parliament is a reflection of their indifferent attitude towards the nation. If the elected members of even the party in power have such an irresponsible attitude what can one expect of members from other parties? The Opposition should also not forget that they are there to judge the performance of the ruling party. Besides, they should not disrupt the proceedings of the House unnecessarily. MPs should explain their absence from the Lok Sabha. Questions are not asked randomly in the House. Question Hour costs the general public lakhs of rupees. It is time our MPs realised that it’s the taxpayer’s hard-earned money. CHAITANYA MAHAJAN, Jalandhar III It is a shame that our elected representatives are not attending Parliament regularly but also remain absent during Question Hour. It is heartening to note that none other than the Congress chief, Ms Sonia Gandhi, has taken a serious view of it. All political parties should take the matter seriously in the interest of democratic norms. Barring illness, the number of days the MPs remain absent should be recorded in their performance report. People of India would be grateful if leaders of political parties take steps to set behavioural standards for parliamentarians. BIDYUT KUMAR CHATTERJEE, Faridabad IV Question Hour was cut short as the MPs were absent. This event is a national shame. MPs should maintain high standards of probity and punctuality in public life. NIKHIL LAKHANPAL, Bilaspur Loss of values There has been steep degeneration in our national character (middle, “Home and Abroad” by Lieut-Gen Harwant Singh (retd), Nov 27). Our cherished values of life seem to have yielded place to a money-oriented value system. Earning money by all means, fair or foul, appears to have become the be-all and end-all of our life. All locks in various spheres of life seem to open only with a silver key. What a shame! TARA CHAND, Ambota (Una) Unwelcome daughters It is a matter of grave concern that in both Punjab and Haryana son-crazy people not only continue to nurse deep-rooted prejudices against the female child but also find diabolical ways to snuff out their lives even before they are born (editorial, “Unwanted daughters”, Nov 24). There is no doubt that the Haryana government is making a serious effort to restore gender balance, yet this is not bearing fruit. Both Punjab and Haryana are prosperous states, but people’s attitude has not changed. The Delhi government must come down heavily upon the clinics where unborn daughters are being killed. SUBHASH C
TANEJA, Rohtak
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