How is Modi government running the country without running parliament? – Former Judge Justice AP Shah
“Our Parliament was not only closed at the time of the Kovid epidemic, but it also did not lead the people. The government has now got an exemption to act arbitrarily. There is no institutional way to raise questions against them.”
This is to say that of former Judge Justice AP Shah who said these things in the six-day Janata Parliament starting on Sunday, August 16.
Many social organizations and academicians of the country have organized this program. People can participate online in this.
Due to the Corona epidemic, the duration of the budget session of Parliament has been reduced. The parliamentary committee has not been functioning for two months and the monsoon session of Parliament should also have started from mid-July but it has not been done.
The organizers of this event believe that since the Parliament is not running because of the Corona epidemic, it has become difficult to demand accountability from the government. Virtual Janata Parliament has been organized from this objective.
Justice AP Shah, social activist Syeda Hameed, Soni Sori and MLA from Gujarat Jignesh Mevani participated in the inaugural session of the Janata Parliament.
Why can’t parliament run online?
Justice AP Shah said on this occasion, “The budget session of Parliament took place in January. After that, due to Kovid, it was decided that the Parliament would be adjourned indefinitely but even in this crisis, in many other countries we have given the Parliament Have seen working. Parliament of countries like Canada and Britain have conducted sessions through video conference changing the way they work Keep moving. “
“Parliament proceedings have been conducted in countries such as France, Italy, and Chile. Parliament proceedings are going on in countries like Spain where the epidemic is high. Parliament is working in Maldives by videoconferencing with the help of a software The speaker there has said that Parliament can never stop representing its people, even when it is the time of the pandemic. “
Justice AP Shah further said, “But this kind of thinking is not visible in our MPs. The decision to keep Parliament closed since March has been continued till now. Terrorist attack or war The time of the Parliament’s proceedings has been going on. Even during the attack in 2001, the next day the proceedings of the Parliament went on. “
“It is not that the Parliament cannot work in India with the help of internet. Here too MPs can run the proceedings of Parliament online. It is important to understand what is the role of different parts of the states in this. India The Constituent Assembly, which framed the constitution, feared that if all power was given to the government, it would turn into a dictator. So, such a system was created that the government would be accountable to Parliament. “
Accusation of arbitrary government
In his address, Justice AP Shah further said, “It was because of this kind of parliamentary accountability that Indira Gandhi had to leave power in 1977. The questions asked in Parliament are part of the process of fixing accountability but Kovid. At the time of the pandemic, our Parliament was not only closed but also could not lead the people. The government is now exempt from arbitrary work. There is no institutional way to raise questions against it. “
Social activist Soni Sori, who works for tribal rights, also accused the government of arbitrarily working on the occasion.
He said, “Online education is being talked about, but how will it be possible in our tribal areas when there is no internet available. Under the garb of Corona epidemic, the government is adopting an arbitrary attitude and snatching away the rights of water, land and forest from us. is.”
Jignesh Mevani, MLA from Vadgam, Gujarat, while directly targeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that on the lines of Gujarat, Narendra Modi has pushed the democratic system of the country.
He agreed with Justice AP Shah, saying, “The government should have been more accountable during the Corona epidemic. It should have asked more questions. There should have been more discussion in Parliament and legislatures but Parliament and Legislatures are not running The doors of democracy have been closed. “
Attempt to weaken institutions
Justice AP Shah also referred to other entities making the government accountable and alleged that they have been gradually weakened.
He said, “Institutions like media, civil society and non-governmental organizations help in determining the accountability of the government but unfortunately all these institutions have been weakened. Since 2014, every effort to weaken these institutions. These efforts are no different from the efforts made during Indira Gandhi’s government to weaken them. The power of the government has increased considerably due to less accountability. “
On this occasion, former Member of Planning Commission and social activist Syeda Hameed said, “Not only Muslims but every minority is being made to realize that they are second class citizens in this country.”
Weakening democracy
Justice AP Shah expressed his concern over this, accusing the Human Rights Commission, the Information Commission and the judiciary of being ineffective.
He said, “The judiciary looks very weak. The judiciary should have addressed a lot of important issues. Citizenship amendment law, availability of internet in Kashmir and the situation in Jammu and Kashmir have been lying in court for a long time. They are not being heard There are many other responsibilities that the judiciary should have performed but it did not fulfill its responsibility. After the formation of Lokpal, we do not know what is happening in Lokpal. The Human Rights Commission has also not been active for a long time. The information commission is working non-effectively. “
Expecting the media, civil society and the university in such a situation, he said that in such circumstances, these are the only institutions that can determine the accountability of the government. However, he said that there are constant attacks on universities and students are being accused of inciting riots.
He said “India’s media was divided long ago and now the new media policy brought in Kashmir, due to which there was a little leftover media, is also dying. The voice of civil society is gradually being suppressed. is.”
“The government’s strategy is to suppress the voice of an institution that can raise its voice against it. In this way, if every institution is weakened, democracy becomes very weak. Democracy dies like this.”
