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MPs should behave like role models

Indeed, there is an urgent need to amend the Constitution to ensure that Parliament meets for at least 100 days every year (editorial, “The elusive MPs: Even question hour has lost sanctity”, Dec 3). It is really unfortunate that large number of elected representatives don’t bother to attend sessions of Parliament and state assemblies. As it is, parliamentary and assembly sessions have been shrinking.

The state exchequer spends a whopping sum every hour to run Parliament and the MPs by absenting themselves not only show disregard to the august body but also betray the aspirations of the people they represent. The UPA Chairperson, Ms Sonia Gandhi, has rightly reacted to the absence of MPs during Question Hour and pulled up her party MPs for their irresponsible behaviour. Political parties must take action because at stake is the reputation of the political class.

LAJPAT RAI GARG, Panchkula

II

Question Hour fell through as many MPs who had listed their names for questions were found to be absent. Curtailment of Question Hour means a loss of lakhs of rupees to the exchequer.

This shows the non-seriousness of our parliamentarians in solving people’s problems. Responsibility and accountability warrant that they should discharge their parliamentary duties faithfully.

Sadly, when their responsibility comes to test, they miserably fail in discharging their duties to the voters who have elected them. The irresponsible MPs should either pay the money thus wasted or should quit voluntarily for they have virtually failed in discharging their public duties. The dignity and decorum of Parliament must be maintained and our parliamentarians should act as role models.

S K KHOSLA, Chandigarh

III

Our MPs should ensure their presence in Parliament and allow its orderly functioning. MPs should function as role models for society and should follow parliamentary traditions and conventions in letter and spirit.

They seem to be more busy with pursuing power. They should serve the country and represent their people with sincerity and devotion.

AJIT SINGH, Windsor, Canada

Man of commitment

Mr HK Dua’s views expressed in an interview (news report, “ Nominated RS member should not join a political party: HK Dua” by Prashant Sood, Nov 30) are commendable. Indeed, nominated Rajya Sabha members should not join a political party. He has proved his credibility as crusader for the common man. He is a man of commitment and has always raised his voice against the sufferings of the common man.

I hope that he will raise the issue of rising prices forcefully. His views on the responsibility of the media are also praiseworthy. Indeed, the media is not commerce. It should serve society freely, fairly and in an unbiased manner.

PARAMJIT SINGH ‘PARWANA’, Patiala

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By saying that he would not join a political party and that he would be the “voice of people” in Parliament, the same way as he was in journalism, Mr HK Dua has emerged larger than life as a parliamentarian. Though he expects all nominated members of the Rajya Sabha to be independent like him and vote on merit, going by the present day standards of probity it is doubtful if any of them would take the risk of opposing the party that nominates them to the Rajya Sabha.

His statement: “Media is not commerce… somewhere it was forgetting its basic purpose of existence because many organisations were considering it a revenue-generating exercise” needs to be taken with seriousness by the newspapers. Most newspapers today are trying to generate more and more revenue. It is time they heeded his advice.

PRITAM BHULLAR, Chandigarh

Increase poll expenditure cap The upholders of democracy should thank and support the Resurgence India and the Human Empowerment League of Punjab (HELP) for pointing out the mendacity of our leaders in declaring their election expenses (news report, “Poll expenditure: CEO moved over ‘false’ submissions” by Amarjit Thind, Dec 2). Can we expect our elected representatives to stand and fight for truth if they enter Parliament and state assemblies by giving false affidavits and certificates? It is an open secret that the actual amount spent by candidates in elections is much more than what they disclose officially to the Election Commission. By and large all parties overspend during elections. In the process, the democratic system is compromised. The Election Commission should either increase the prescribed expenditure limit or ensure that it is strictly enforced. The loopholes must be plugged to prevent contestants from circumventing the present electoral rules and regulations. Perhaps, the present expenditure cap is not realistic. Over the years, there has been a substantial increase in transport and printing charges and in prices of other items needed for election campaigns. The Election Commission must, therefore, raise the present limit. This will bring at least some transparency in the election process. HEMA, Langeri, Hoshiarpur