An outsider’s view of two parliaments – India and Britain

Last two days bought a renewed excitement for me. After a long time I was kicked about following current affairs than worrying about business stories and market trends. Watching Rupert and James Murdoch and Rebekah Brooks defending the News Of The World’s phone hacking scandal in front of a committee of MPs was first instance of my exposure to parliamentary committee proceedings. Live streaming of David Cameron’s defence in the parliament today was another such learning experience.

But as I watched these two developments, I pondered if joint parliamentary proceedings on a critical issue like this will ever be telecasted live in India? As of now Impossible seems the answer. Secondly I was amazed to see the discipline, assertiveness and an effort to discuss the current issue by the British MPs. Instead, I imagine in India the blame games and accusation within and against the government would have generated more discussions than the actual issue.

Indian politics and current affairs always fascinated me, which in a sense encouraged me to graduate in political science. Some of my early memories are of following election results and discussions on NDTV moderated by Prannoy Roy and Rajdeep Sardesai and eagerly watching the live telecast of union budget. I remember prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s style of speaking in chest Hindi supported by some nice poems. Arun Shourie, Pramod Mahajan, Yashwant Sinha and P A Sangma’s name comes to mind when I remember parliament debates. Though I keep abreast of the current developments, following it closely has its own charm. This was mostly in late 1990s when National Democratic Alliance was in power; hence recollection is restricted to that time.

As a common citizen with no access to political circle, what I notice is Indian politician’s inability to allow fair discussions. These days media reports of how tax payer’s money is wasted in adjournment motions are as routine as, reports of potholes on Mumbai roads every monsoon. Issues are the same, reports are the same, but no concrete action.Looks like walkouts, adjournments; MPs shouting and coming to the speaker’s well is the order of the day. No wonder eminent parliamentarian like Somnath Chatterjee was frustrated to be the Lok Sabha speaker.

In contrast, the British parliament today, gave me a glimpse how a sensitive and critical issue can be discussed in a professional and civilian manner. The parliament members were obeying speaker’s instructions, allowing fellow members to ask questions and the prime minister to reply. It showed the actual power of the speaker and how debate can be conducted in a dignified and measured tone. It also gives the impression, amongst all other reforms, its high time our representatives reflect on the ways to enhance the level of parliamentary proceedings and discussions with due respect to the institution.