Bemoaning that the days of conducting the Legislative Houses were getting reduced day by day due to various reasons, former Lok Sabha Speaker and Punjab Governor Shivraj Patil has said the Standing Committees would save Parliamentary democracy system in the country. He said the Standing Committees will allow the members to discuss all issues relating to every Ministry.
Delivering inaugural address on “Role and Functions of Standing Committees” as part of orientation program for Legislators at Old Assembly Hall here on Monday evening, Shivraj Patil said former Prime Minister late P V Narasimha Rao was the person who had got the idea about Parliamentary Standing Committees during his tenure. “Narasimha Raoji had asked me why we won’t think about departmental committees in 1990s and later the Departmental Related Committees came into existence and I was the Speaker of the Lok Sabha. PVji said the existing committees like Estimates Committee and other committees will cover entire Government, but not limited areas like Departments”, he said. As a result, Standing Committees and Consultative Committees came into existence, Patil said. He said that no Minister is allowed to interfere in Parliamentary Standing Committees. In contrast, Consultative Committees, which were filled with Ministers only, have to consult members of the House on the issues. He said that both Maharashtra and Karnataka introduced Standing Committees on the lines of Parliamentary Committees, but failed to make them function effectively. He said Parliamentary Committees were working successfully for the last 20 years because the seniormost leaders like AB Vajpayee, I K Gujral, Bhuta Singh and several others laid strong foundation for working of Standing Committees very successfully.
Congratulating the State Legislative Assembly and Council for coming forward to introduce the Standing Committees on the lines of Parliamentary Standing Committees, Shivraj Patil asked the State heads not to discontinue the Standing Committees like Maharashtra.
Opining that the success of Standing Committees depend on efficiency of the Speaker, he said he faced a lot of criticism at the time of introduction of Standing Commitees in Parliament. During the introduction of the Standing Committees, several Ministers were afraid of Standing Committees, he said, adding that he had explained about the use of Standing Committees to the Ministers successfully and convinced them to cooperate with the Committees.
Patil said it was not possible to discuss all the issues in the House, but it was possible to the Committees to discuss all the issues relating to the people and it was also possible to make good policies leading to accountability of the Legislature. He said the Committees will reduce the importance of the political parties and concentration will increase on the development of the people and the State. He said the people will not feel happy if the budget get passed without any discussion. The people will feel happy only when all the members of the House spoke on their issues in the House resulting in strengthening of the Parliamentary Democracy system, he added.
Earlier, Speaker Nadendla Manohar welcoming the guests stressed the necessity of the Standing Committees. CPM MLC Cherupally Sitharamulu asked the Speaker to speak in Telugu, but the Speaker continued his speech in English only.
Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy said the Opposition parties were trying to stall the House to attract the media attention, but they were not concentrating on discussion. He said the Standing Committees allow discussion on the issues fruitfully.
At this juncture, TDP leader Gali Muddu Krishnama Naidu objected to the Chief Minister criticizing the Opposition parties. But the Chief Minister explained as to why he spoke in that manner. At this moment, NagarKurnool MLA and Telangana Nagara Samithi convener Dr NAgama Janardhan Reddy and TRC MLA Enugu Ravinder Reddy raised Telangana slogans. Nagam even asked Governor ESL Narasimhan to speak on Telangana issue.
Curiously, the new members elected as MLCs from TRS—Swamy Goud and Pathuri Sudhakar Reddy attended the session. (NSS)