'People should have Right to Recall MPs, code of conduct needed'

New Delhi, May 18 (UNI) Aggrieved over the increasing ''hooliganism and disorder'' in the Lok Sabha, the CPI today made a strong case for a law providing a ''right to recall'' and a code of conduct for the MPs, having penalty clauses among other things, to arrest the ''inglorious and undemocratic trend.'' ''The Election Commission should also look into the matter as both the ruling and the opposition parties are out to subvert the august institutions of our democratic system,'' CPI floor leader in the Lok Sabha Gurudas Dasgupta told a press conference.

Flanked by party deputy leader C K Chandrappan and senior MP S Sudhakar Reddy, Mr Dasgupta urged the Prime Minister to convene the meeting of all the political parties for evolving a consensus on such a law to check the growing tendency of disrupting the House at the cost of the public exchequer.

''The Lok Sabha Speaker should also convene a meeting of the group leaders of all parties to evolve a Code of Conduct for the MPs,'' Mr Dasgupta said, adding that his party was ''greatly disappointed over the manner in which Parliament was adjourned prematurely this time and the number of sittings reduced from 42 days to 32.

The Left leader advocated that the Code of Conduct should take the form of law passed by Parliament. ''MPs who draw their salaries, enjoy perks and a daily allowance of Rs 1000 but do not do their job seriously have no moral and legal right to continue.'' Mr Dasgupta noted that the trend of ''sidelining'' Parliament did not ''augur well'' for the future of the country. ''It is unfortunate that Parliament was adjourned sine die at a time when discussions and passage of several important bills and issues including the Unorganised Workers Bill, 2006, Women Reservation Bill, Prevention of Communal Violence Bill, and judicial activism, SEZs, FDI in retail, the Sachar Committee recommendations had not taken place,'' he added.

UNI