Our parliamentary system, crafted with some care, was sought to achieve:
law-making;
accountability of the executive;
approval of taxation proposals and control of national finances
discussion of matters of public interest and concern.
Decline of Parliament effectiveness
It is clear that Parliament has lost its effectiveness as an instrument of scrutiny, accountability and oversight.
Instead, devices of disruption crafted in opposition and innocently disowned in government, are sought to be legitimised.
Above all, the leadership of the day endorses it by a studied silence or lack of attendance, or both and with a noticeable tardiness towards the functioning of the standing committees. The end result is a declining process of scrutiny, debate and dissent.
The emergence of social media, a rival claimant to representative in civil society, has emerged as both complementary and antithetical to question or supplement the representativeness of Parliament.
‘While Parliament has become increasingly representative in descriptive terms, it also simultaneously become[s] unresponsive in terms of legislation and governance and has tended to avoid accountability by closing ranks’.
A design for centralisation and personalisation, and the creation of a ‘Fuehrer (political title, it is strongly associated with the Nazi dictator Adolf Hitler) or Zaeem-like’ image
Administrative devices have been sought to be used to bring in line state institutions having an impact on the electoral process.
Both contributed to the achievement of a transition from populism to electoral authoritarianism; both are violative of the spirit of the constitutional text.
Recent challenges
Pluralism in the society and the associated challenge of binding diverse doctrines, beliefs, languages and ways of life into a single Indian character is not easy and aggravated by unequal access to resources, opportunities and freedoms.
Increasing inequality and economic divide
The deplorable state of public accountability and oversight and public corruption is its manifestation. This is worsened by weakening the frame of law and caste, and community-based politics.
The diluted credentials of the welfare state due to thriving corporates, monetisation of public assets, and thriving partisans’ interests which have evaded almost all the institutions.
Increased polarization in the society and manifestation of India’s past on various lines by various political and non-political stakeholders.
COMMENTS