Venting his anguish over disruptions in Parliament, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Wednesday said his heart bleeds over what is happening in the House and it is sad for democracy.
“My heart bleeds to see what is happening in the House,” he told a group of MPs soon after disruptions in Lok Sabha over Telangana issue during presentation of the interim Rail Budget.
“It is sad for democracy that such things are happening even after all appeals for calm,” the Prime Minister said.
Dr. Singh’s comments came after the storm over Telangana on Wednesday derailed the presentation of the Interim Rail Budget 2014-15 with Railway Minister Mallikarjun Kharge being forced to cut short his speech in Lok Sabha because of the turmoil.
Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kamal Nath also condemned the incidents in Lok Sabha.
“It is very unfortunate...., the obstruction and creating disturbances and all kinds of unruly scenes....This is a very bad precedent for the future Lok Sabhas,” Mr. Nath told reporters outside Parliament House.
He said that the rules clearly state that the House belongs to every member and protecting its dignity is the duty of all sections.
“....It doesn’t belong to a particular section. It is the duty of the government and all members to protect the dignity of the House and ensure that the House functions as per rules.
Parliamentary democracy is to discuss, debate, oppose and dispose,” the Minister said.
Asked whether it was the government’s duty to do the floor management, Mr. Nath said, “It is not the duty of the government. It is (of) all the members of the House....The basic thing is that the House is not to be controlled by the government. The House is to be controlled by the Speaker and the members.”
