Chatterjee urges legislators to observe parliamentary discipline

Gandhinagar, Mar 2 (UNI) Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee today called upon legislators not to do anything that would undermine the people's faith in the parliamentary system.

Expressing deep concern over the growing incidents of disruptions in legislature, and confrontational politics, Mr Chatterjee said it does not behove a people's representative to indulge in unruly behaviour or to use unparliamentary language on the floor of the house.

Speaking at valedictory function of a three-day Parliamentary Knowledge camp organised by G V Mavalankar Bureau of Parliamentary Studies and Training at Gujarat Legislative Assembly here, he said ''Frequent adjournments of the House and unruly behaviour by members create a negative impression in the minds of the people. Such incidents can only accentuate the feeling of cynicism among the citizens, particularly among the youth, about the utility of our system of governance itself.'' ''The biggest challenge before our democratic institutions today is that of living up to the expectations of the people. Our institutions are facing crisis of credibility before the people. Our common people are becoming increasingly cynical about the political class,'' he said.

Underlining the need to maintain discipline and decorum in the House and observing its rules and conventions, the Speaker said dissent was a recognised democratic expression, but it should be expressed within the parameters of parliamentary devices and decorum.

Lauding the initiative of state Legislative Assembly speaker Ashok Bhatt to organise such an orientation programme for the elected representatives of people, Mr Chatterji advised MLAs that they should be well conversant with the rules and procedures of the House regarding the conduct of business.

State Chief Minister Narendra Modi and former assembly speaker Mangaldas Patel were present at the concluding ceremony of the camp.

UNI HT SSS BDP KN2033