It is a matter of great honour to be with you all today.
Grateful to Assembly Speaker Rahul Narvekar ji and Council Deputy Chairperson Dr. Neelam Gorhe ji for affording this valuable opportunity to share my thoughts on an important subject with you all.
This House has upheld the spirit of serving people in highest regard since its inception.
Maharashtra Legislative Council is in its centennial celebration. Indeed privileged and honor to be addressing Members of both the Houses at this remarkable milestone.
The state of Maharashtra stands as an inspiration with its rich history, vibrant culture, and dynamic economy. The state is bountifully blessed with breathtaking landscapes of Sahyadri, and pristine beaches of Konkan. Maharashtra today is a powerhouse that is propelling the nation to new heights.
Hon’ble Members, इस महान पुण्य भूमि में आकर मुझे एक गीत याद आता है।
देखो मुल्क मराठों का यह
यहां शिवाजी डोला था
मुग़लों की ताकत को जिसने
तलवारों पे तोला था
हर पर्वत पे आग जली थी
हर पत्थर एक शोला था
बोली हर-हर महादेव की
बच्चा-बच्चा बोला था
शेर शिवाजी ने रखी थी
लाज हमारी शान की
इस मिट्टी से तिलक करो
ये धरती है बलिदान की”
मैं इस धरती को नमन करता हूँ।
This great land of Shivaji Maharaj has led our motherland's progress for centuries, achieving remarkable feats and contributing significantly to India's history.
भारत का इतिहास विनाश शिवाजी महाराज के अधूरा नहीं खाली नजर आता है।
The principles of Maratha Swarajya, incorporating a decentralized polity, meritocracy, rule of law, economic development, and public welfare into its administrative framework, serve as a model for inspiring greater efficiency, accountability, and responsiveness in public service delivery across the globe.
Hon’ble Members very, befittingly very appropriately the framers of our constitution gave pride of place to dauntless Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj by positioning his painting in Part XV of the constitution that deals with Elections, the heart of our democracy. There are 22 paintings in part XV that deal with elections; the painting that is positioned is that of Shivaji Maharaj.
Hon’ble Members- As legislators and custodians of this venerable institution of democracy, you bear the sacred duty to protect the interests of the public.
Your mission should be to align closely with the principles of common good, ensuring welfare and security of all citizens of Bharat, keeping aside partisan interest.
Hon’ble Members! We have very rich history, a civilizational depth of 5000 years. India since antiquity has been deeply rooted in democratic values.
It is no surprise then that as home to one-sixth of humanity, we are the world’s largest democracy, and also the Mother of Democracy towards which countries across the globe look for counsel!
In the contemporaneous global scenario, with its phenomenal economic upsurge and diplomatic prowess, India’s relevance is like never before. And its rise is continually exponentially incremental and now unstoppable.
In this backdrop, the subject of the day “Enhancement of Democratic Values and Ethics in our Country” is of utmost relevance. Bharat has to emerge as a role model for democracy by example in the entire world.
Ethics and morality have been the hallmark of public life in India since ancient times. Ethics and morality are the nectar and essence of human behavior. These are inalienable facets of public life, and quintessential for parliamentary democracy.
Parliament and state legislatures are northstar of democracy. Members of Parliament and Legislatures are lighthouses. People lookup to you to find solutions to their problems and how they should move ahead and therefore it is bound and duty of parliamentarians and those who are in legislature to exemplify sterling conduct worth emulation.
Democratic values call for regular nurturing. Like learning never stops even if you leave college you have to continue learning. Democratic values are not one time situations they have to nurture 24X7. Democratic values blossom only when there is cooperation all around and high ethical standards.
The nation marches ahead seamlessly, smoothly, and exponentially when its three wings, the legislature, the judiciary, and the executive, perform within their respective areas. There has to be a strict adherence to the doctrine of separation of powers. An incursion by one institution in the domain of the other can potentially upset the apple cart. Legislature has to secure this delicate balance.
Legislation is the exclusive domain of the legislature and parliament, subject to constitutional prescriptions. We have ample instances of directives by the
Executive and the Judiciary in the face of express statutory prescriptions. Legislatures are constitutionally obligated to seek consensual resolution of these transgressions. I therefore, urge there is need for evolution of structured mechanism of interaction amongst those at the apex of these pillars of our democracy.
And this can happen only when hallowed precincts of these theaters, temples of democracy, optimally perform. They perform with a view to secure that there is full play in the joints by all the three wings of the state. This harmony is vital for a democracy and once we achieved it our progress will be incremental.
It is apparent that presently all is not well with functioning of our parliament and legislatures. These temples of democracy are suffering sacrilege of strategised disruptions and disturbance. Dialogue amongst parties is missing it is essential and there can be no escape there has to involved friendly collaborative dialogue between all sections of the house dialogue amongst party is missing and level of discourse the manner in which you address is nose diving
I seek to advert to The Ethics committee of Rajya Sabha, first of its kind in the nation. Its constitution towards the end of last century was indeed a significant event in the history of Indian Parliament.
The first ethics committee chaired by distinguished leader late Shri SB Chavan imparted report in 1998 that mandated parliamentarians, amongst others, two fundamental obligations:
•Members must not do anything that brings disrepute to the Parliament and affects their credibility.
•Members must utilize their position as Members of Parliament to advance general well-being of the people.
Hon’ble Members, the litmus test report on these twin aspects is indeed worrisomely alarming. The observance the wholesome directives is often in breach.
Rather than being cordial it is confrontational, with amiability being displaced by adversarial stance. Democratic polity is witnessing a new low and there is stress and strain.
Such explosive and alarming scenario calls for introspection at all levels, particularly political parties.
Hon’ble Members, as members of our esteemed legislature, we bear a profound responsibility not only to uphold the laws of our land but also to maintain the dignity and credibility of our legislatures. Each of us has been entrusted by our constituents with the sacred duty to represent their voices and aspirations with integrity and sincerity.
It is imperative that we conduct ourselves in a manner that befits our role as lawmakers. Our actions must always reflect the highest standards of ethical conduct and transparency. Anything less not only diminishes the respect our institution commands but also undermines the trust of the people we serve. In morality and ethics there can be no percentage morality and ethics have to perform 100%.
Decorum and discipline are the heart and soul of democracy. The strength of democracy lies in the diversity of opinions and the ability to find common ground through constructive engagement. It is a system that thrives on dialogue, debate, discussion and deliberation.
Parliamentarians are not part of a debating society. They do not engage into who wins a debate because they are pursuing a common cause and therefore I strongly commend the parliamentarian and those in legislature must contribute in humanity, in sublimity and in modesty.
We must be always accommodative of the other point of view. The other point of view needs consideration. To reject instantly without consideration the other point of view is antithetical to democratic discourse. We must believe in dialogue and discussion.
Historically, our legislative assemblies and the Parliament have largely functioned in a calm and composed way. The remarkable and efficient functioning of the constituent assembly should be our role model. Highly divisive, emotive and contentious issues were traversed consensually and collaboratively in decorous manner. Over a period of about three years the constituent assembly witnessed no disturbance and disruption much less slogan shouting and trooping into the well of the house.
Today, the primacy of debate, dialogue, deliberation and discussion in legislatures has yielded to disruption and disturbance. All is not well with the Indian political system, it is functioning under great strain.
Weaponising of politics by stalling functioning of Parliament is pregnant with serious consequences for our polity.
Hon’ble Members, there is an imperative need for maintaining strict adherence to democratic values and parliamentary traditions in our Legislatures. The kind of conduct that was seen in the recent Parliament Session is truly painful, for it reflects significant moral erosion in our legislative discourse.
It is deeply concerning that the trend to make Chairman or Speaker convenient punching bag . This is inappropriate. when we take the chair we have to be equitable, we have to be fair. It is a duty to engage sometimes in present working and sometimes deal with unpleasant situations and therefore this temple of democracy should never be sacrilege. Respect for the chair must always be there and for this senior members in Parliament and legislature have to lead the way.
Constitutional prescription under Article 105 affords Members of Parliament an unparalleled opportunity of expression in the House. However, this Constitutional right comes with a rider that what is spoken in the House must be nothing but the truth. It is not a platform for free fall of information that cannot be authenticated.
Legislators enjoy the privilege of immunity against any civil or criminal proceeding by the 1.3 billion citizens of the country in respect of anything said on the Floor of the House. But this privilege comes to you with the huge responsibility of providing authentic information in your address in the House. Any transgression is severe breach of privilege.
I was elected to parliament in 1989 I had the good fortune to be a Minister. There was a time we had amiability and cordiality, we had Wit, humor, satire and sarcasm. These are getting away from us. we need to be back in the grove Instead of satire instead of wit instead of humor instead of sarcasm what we have is adversarial scenario, confrontational approach we need collaboration we need consensual approach. We are at the other extreme.
Now we often witness confrontational and adversarial scenario.
Nothing can be more distressing for the public than to witness such a deplorable scenario from their representatives whom they have placed here with great hopes and expectations.
I appeal to all political parties to seriously deliberate within and amongst themselves. I have to face serious situation in the house and in my chamber. Parliamentarians will come. They are talented people they are dedicated people but they will say there is party command. Now I realize the compulsion of members. The party has so commanded there is hardly away you will listen to the chair but I appeal to you and through you your political party how can a political party give command or disruption for disturbance for slogan shouting for trooping into the well.
I therefore appeal all political parties we are in the 75th year of our democracy. We are on March 2047 when the nation will celebrate centenary of its independence. we will be viksit Bharat. There is a marathon March that is going on for 2047. you all are most important part stakeholders of that Marathon March. Therefore you will have to lead by example you will have to lead by playing on front foot with straight bat and I am sure political parties should inculcate in their members a deep sense of discipline. This would reward those members whose performance has been excellent rather than reward those whose engaging in slogan shouting and trooping into the well.
I often face a grave situation when members meet me in my chamber. They are revealing, they are forthright, they are earnest and they say a command from the political party has to be followed sacrificing decorum and floting rules.
This situation does not augur well for our democratic traditions. Such a command is not contemplated by the Constitutional mechanism. How can there be a command to disturb the House, to engage in disruption, to go to the well and to deliberately disrupt proceedings that are meant to give voice to citizens?
Hon’ble Members, one of the primary responsibilities of the legislature is to hold the executive accountable, and examine potential laws. A dysfunctional parliamentary forum deprives members of opportunity to enforce accountability.
Every member has a right to participate, either in a committee or in the House. I urge the members to be thoroughly prepared. There are a number of times, sometimes this side may be in power, sometimes this side may be in power, but governments often come with amendments because in the House a well-informed member has made a point.
We cannot find fault with law when we don't take participation in the proceedings. There can be no alibi, according to me, for not participating.
And how cruel it is, how it is travesty of justice that on one hand a person does not participate in deliberations when there is an opportunity. On the second hand, you seek to monetize your absence.
How can failure be monetized? How can non-performance of duty be monetized? I am sure you will bear in mind.
Consensus and cooperation must be the lynchpins of our legislative functioning. Remember, the effective functioning of legislature is the surest way to ensure transparency and accountability in administration.
I conclude with a quote from Dr. B.R. Ambedkar:
“In addition to our old enemies in the form of castes and creeds we are going to have many political parties with diverse and opposing political creeds. Will Indian place the country above their creed or will they place creed above country?
I do not know. But this much is certain that if the parties place creed above country, our independence will be put in jeopardy a second time and probably be lost forever. This eventuality we must all resolutely guard against.”
I trust that you will ponder over Babasaheb’s words of caution.
I extend my best wishes to the Hon’ble Members of Maharashtra Legislature and to all people of the state on their continued journey towards prosperity and inclusivity.
Bharat is on way to becoming a Vixit nation by 2047. In this marathon march, the most significant drivers are parliamentarians at state and central level. Parliamentarians must lead by example.
May you continue to be a beacon of progress and resilience for the nation and the world to emulate.
Grateful for your time and patience.
Jai Hind.
