Parliament disruption main tool of opposition: VP

New Delhi, Feb 2 (PTI) Vice President M. Hamid Ansaritoday said disruptive adjournments, rather than reasonedargument, have become the main tool of parliamentaryopposition.

He said "the legislature has in the public mind become asite for adversarial combat rather than of deliberativeclarity".

"In the view of many competent observers, the idealisedview of legislature as a deliberative body is a far cry fromreality," Ansari said in his presidential address on theoccasion of Durga Das Basu Centenary Celebrations at VigyanBhawan.

The remarks by Ansari, Chairman of the Rajya Sabha, cameamid the government-opposition standoff over JPC probe into 2Gspectrum scam which had washed out the winter session ofParliament and threatens to hit the coming budget session ofthe House.

"Disruptive adjournments have become the main tool ofparliamentary opposition, rather than reasoned argument," saidAnsari.

He said "statistical data reveals a steady decline in theannual number of sittings of Parliament and of statelegislatures."

Describing various "mechanisms, mechanics, institutionsand procedures" as the "hardware" of the country''sparliamentary democracy, Ansari said "citizens canlegitimately enquire if those entrusted with the dailyassessment of the executive have discharged their duties."

Pointing out that "the daily assessment of theexecutive is done by members of Parliament, throughquestions, resolutions, no-confidence motions, adjournmentmotions and debates on addresses," Ansari said "the periodicassessment is done by the electorate at the time of theelection."

"The daily assessment of responsibility, however, isfar more effective than the periodic assessment and far morenecessary in a country like India," said Ansari.

The function was attended among others by Chief Justiceof India S H Kapadia, Union Law Minister M Veerappa Moily andother dignitaries. .