Latest news with #InternationalDayofParliamentarism
The Wire
25-07-2025
- Politics
- The Wire
Parliament Unfiltered: I Came, I Saw But Did I Question it?
If our parliament can specially meet to celebrate anniversaries, why not for issues like terrorist attacks, inflation, unemployment, women's safety or climate change? Opposition MPs protest in Lok Sabha demanding rollback of Bihar SIR during the monsoon session of parliament. Photo: PTI June 30 marks the International Day of Parliamentarism every year and its commemoration seems more valid as the downhill status of democracies all over the world comes to mind. An incisive couplet by John Dryden states, 'Democracy is essentially anti-authoritarian – that is, it not only demands the right but imposes the responsibility of thinking for ourselves.' V-dem or the Varieties of Democracy index, published in March of this year, points out that India is experiencing 'Autocratization'. Honouring this day in its right spirit calls for a systematic analysis of the developments in the parliament in recent years, acknowledging citizen discontent registering the damage and calling on to policymakers for a reformation that is as much internal as is political. Special session: A hot potato? The demand by opposition parties for a special session post Pahalgam terror attack and the government's reluctance to take it up poses a lot of questions about the direction our democracy is heading towards. The terror attack's implications have been on everyone's lips since April 22 when it blurred the boundaries between black and white. Arguing that 'it is crucial for the people and their representatives to discuss', Congress MP and leader of opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi had written to Modi demanding a special session (followed by subsequent similar demands), but received no response from the government and an uncanny silence reluctance. A few incidents highlighted the need of a special session: the defence ministers' meeting at SCO concluded without a joint statement due to a lack of consensus on whether there should be strict dialogue against terrorism; the United States' President, Donald Trump, announcing a ceasefire between India and pakistan speaks volumes of New Delhi's geopolitical standing and decisions MEA has taken, putting a question mark on the future of our foreign policy; deputy chief of army staff Lieutenant General Rahul R. Singh emphasised China's involvement during Operation Sindoor. It is to be noted that he is the first such official to talk about it, while others have been constantly downplaying China's role, giving a clear indication about the unaligned opinions of our defence officials. Chief of defence staff General Anil Chauhan acknowledged loss of aircraft and downing of jets during the four day clashes with Pakistan recently, evading deeper questions about why, how and how many losses we actually suffered, raising questions about the government's credibility. Here's what makes me question the government's indifference to the demand: in 2017, a joint midnight session was held to launch goods and services tax (GST); in 2023, a special session was held to commemorate the 75th anniversary of India's independence in the new parliament building; and the law on women's reservation in parliament and state assemblies was also passed during this special session. All of these are issues that coincidentally align with the ruling BJP-led government's ideologies and an apparent sense of effort is felt when the same special sessions are demanded in the aftermath of terrorist attacks that sent the whole nation into shock. A backdrop of dissent: Reluctance as refusal to reimagine The list of reluctances is longer than just the demand for a special session, the unfulfillment of which is saddening. The lesser number of sittings, shorter sessions, budget being guillotined and passing of bills within minutes – they all point towards a sorry state of affairs. Lok Sabha's sittings have come down from an average of 135 in a year in the first term of Lok Sabha to just 55 in the 17th. A research by PRS suggests that in 2020, the Indian parliament sat in session for 33 days only, a historic low. When Covid struck and suspended the daily lives of millions of people, the Indian parliament sat shut while many others switched to functioning online or in hybrid mode and met on set dates like in the UK, Australia, Canada and South Africa. The Supreme Court of UK, in 2019, struck down the prorogation of parliament by the Queen as it prevented 'Parliament from being able to do its job.' Canada organised a virtual parliament, allowing MPs to ask questions over a video call, while Chile amended its constitution, permitting the senate to hold sessions in a mixed face-to-face and virtual mode, with remote voting, preventing the compromise on sittings. Sessions have been cancelled and called off on various occasions due to unnecessary reasons, like for the Vidhan Sabha elections in five states in 2011, when political parties agreed to cut short the budget session. In 2017, 2018, 2022 and 2023, winter session was delayed and curtailed because of assembly elections, stifling the parliament's power as an effective institution. The government's unilateral power to decide where, when and on what agenda the session takes place robs citizens of their right to question through elected representatives, equating the opposition's power of check and balance to zero. In the 17th Lok Sabha, 11 out of the 15 sessions were adjourned early. As a result, 40 scheduled sittings did not take place. Parliament: Rejuvenation of rights or erosion of efficacy? In 2004, 2013, 2018 and 2023, 100% of the budget was guillotined, meaning it was not debated at all before being passed. In the monsoon session of 2020, the controversy around farm bills was used by the government as an excuse to push through 15 bills in just eight hours in the absence of opposition due to their boycott. In 2021, during monsoon session again, Lok Sabha cleared 18 bills amid protests by the opposition who demanded debate on farmers' protests and the Pegasus spyware scandal. Disappointingly enough, in 2023, the opposition protested in demand for a discussion on the Manipur crisis but the Rajya Sabha passed a bill within just 3 minutes. Even a papdi chaat cannot be prepared in 3 minutes! Many other controversial bills, like forest conservation amendment bill and digital personal data protection bill, were also passed quickly with no opposition MP participating in debate. Every citizen wants laws to be passed with clear deliberation, intense discussion and stakeholder consultation on the merits and demerits through parliamentary committees, but that is not happening anymore. The percentage of bills referred to parliament standing committees has been just 60%, 71%, 25%, 16% and 20% between the 14th and the 18th Lok Sabha (so far), respectively. Can we ever unsee that? All this evidence forces me to challenge the parliament as a democratic institution and dub it as the government's bill passing factory. This might sound dystopian, but the country's highest institution for lawmaking as we are taught in school books has blatantly failed to live up to its name and fame. A meeting was indeed convened on April 24 with the presence of ministers and leaders from all parties. The absence of the prime minister pointed towards the lack of importance allotted to contemporary issues of national relevance. However, a meeting doesn't suffice for a well-organised session and ultimately the special session never took place. This concerning trend effectively calls to question the accountable executive, stable legislature and righteous judiciary we preach other democracies about. Are we fooling ourselves? To conclude All I wonder as a young person struggling to mark my presence in this democracy is that if our parliament can specially meet to celebrate anniversaries, why not for issues like terrorist attacks, inflation, unemployment, women's safety or climate change? Such is the resistance of the government to debate controversial issues like Pahalgam terror attack, electoral rolls revision in Bihar, etc that it would rather let the opposition protest and disrupt proceedings than schedule the debate. The ongoing 21-day-short monsoon session of parliament has already lost more than four days to early adjournments. The need of the hour are longer parliament sessions so that there is time and space for discussion on all these urgent issues. The parliament exists to deliberate on issues that matter to us – the country's citizens – and is not an instrument of celebrating the myriad meaningless milestones of the government. Readers of this article must rise to summon their questioning capacity and become active agents of change. As Dryden said, let's take the responsibility of thinking for ourselves, ourselves! Just as the age-old saying goes, 'Fine words butter no parsnips', we, as citizens, demand an effective resolution to issues coupled with a proactive approach to accountability. It is high time we stopped taking empty promises for real action and impact. Questioning today may guarantee us a better place in next year's democracy index – the one we blankly stare at every year. The true commemoration of International Day of Parliamentarism will only take place the moment we truly become 'citizens' and not 'followers'. It is imperative for us to demand accountability as we are the demos (people) in this democracy. Guncha Shandilya is a student of history at University of Delhi and worked on this article as part of her research internship with Maadhyam, a civic engagement initiative. The Wire is now on WhatsApp. Follow our channel for sharp analysis and opinions on the latest developments.
Business Recorder
01-07-2025
- Politics
- Business Recorder
Maryam highlights significance of parliamentary system
LAHORE: Chief Minister Punjab Maryam Nawaz Sharif in her message on the 'International Day of Parliamentarism' said the parliamentary system is the cornerstone of democracy and the real strength of the state. 'Parliament is not just a legislative body, it is a credible institution which ascertains and determines the thinking, wisdom and future direction of the nation,' she said. The Chief Minister said, 'I salute all democratic Parliament Houses including the Punjab Assembly. The Punjab Assembly has set bright examples of the real strength of the federation of Pakistan and constitutional supremacy.' She highlighted, 'The Punjab Assembly is being equipped in line with modern democratic requirements.' She vowed, 'Parliamentary traditions will be promoted in the light of democratic thoughts of Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah (RA).' Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Daily Tribune
30-06-2025
- Politics
- Daily Tribune
Bahrain's Parliament a regional model
Bahrain's parliamentary record, shaped by His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa's reform charter, now stands as a model for the region. MP Ahmed Al Salloom said this as the world marks the International Day of Parliamentarism today. He credited steady cooperation between Parliament and the Cabinet, under His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister, for keeping bills in good order and tuned to public needs. The Shura Council, across several terms, has overhauled key economic and social laws. Al Salloom said this has helped Bahrain sharpen its edge, attract investors and open doors for jobseekers. This year, the United Nations chose the theme 'Achieving gender equality, action by action'. Al Salloom pointed to Bahrain's figures.
Daily Tribune
30-06-2025
- Politics
- Daily Tribune
‘Modern Parliament Leads Globally'
TDT | Manama Bahrain's modern parliamentary system is emerging as a regional model by integrating digital innovation, gender equality, and diplomatic outreach into its legislative identity. On the occasion of the International Day of Parliamentarism, MP Dr. Maryam Al-Dhaen reaffirmed that Bahrain's experience now stands at the forefront of national reform and international recognition. Diplomacy in focus Dr. Al-Dhaen described Bahrain's parliament as a key pillar in the Kingdom's state-building and development strategy, empowered by the continued support of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa and guided by the national reform programme. She said the legislative branch now plays a vital role in foreign policy by building bridges with global parliaments, participating in regional dialogues, and promoting Bahrain's image in multilateral forums. She noted that Bahrain's parliamentary diplomacy reflects the maturity of its democratic experience and supports peace, security, and mutual understanding. These are also among the key goals recognised globally on this day celebrating parliamentary cooperation. Institutional progress Al-Dhaen also commended the government, led by His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister, for fostering an effective environment of collaboration between the legislative and executive branches. This, she said, enables the Council to perform its constitutional role with efficiency and confidence, especially in contributing to policymaking and sustainable development. The statement follows a series of recognitions for Bahrain's parliamentary transformation. These include the Shura Council's first-place ranking in the Arab world and 13th globally in the 2024 Digital Maturity Index issued by the Inter-Parliamentary Union. The Council has also achieved a 42 percent female leadership rate within its General Secretariat, and women now chair several permanent committees. Unified direction Al-Dhaen said Bahrain's parliament is evolving not only as a legislative institution but also as a platform for international engagement and democratic expression. International Parliamentary Day, she added, serves as a reminder of the responsibility parliaments bear in upholding justice, promoting development, and advocating for equality across borders. She pledged to continue representing Bahrain's national interests in global forums.
Daily Tribune
30-06-2025
- Politics
- Daily Tribune
Shura Council Leads Reform
TDT | Manama Bahrain's Shura Council is gaining international recognition as a model of modern governance, combining digital innovation with gender inclusion. On the occasion of the International Day of Parliamentarism, the Council marked its dual achievements by placing 13th globally in digital maturity and raising women's leadership to 42 percent within its Secretariat, underscoring a reform path praised at home and abroad. Reform in motion Led by Secretary-General H.E. Kareema Mohammed AlAbbasi, the Shura's General Secretariat highlighted the Council's embrace of both technological excellence and institutional inclusion. AlAbbasi called the Council's digital transformation and commitment to gender equality a reflection of Bahrain's broader reform project under His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa and His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister. The Council's digital leadership was confirmed by the 2024 Global e-Parliament Report issued by the Inter-Parliamentary Union, which placed Bahrain's Shura 13th globally and first in the Arab world for digital maturity. The recognition reflects years of work to modernise legislative infrastructure, boost virtual participation, and streamline institutional transparency. Women at the forefront At the same time, the Council celebrated its growing female presence. Shura members including H.E. Dr. Fatema Abduljabbar Alkooheji, H.E. Sabeeka Khalifa Alfadhala, H.E. Dalal Jasim Alzayed, Lina Habib Qassem, and H.E. Dr. Jameela Mohamed Redha Alsalman spoke about the national strides made in institutionalising gender balance. Women now lead multiple standing committees and take active roles in legislation, oversight, and parliamentary diplomacy. H.E. Dr. Jehad Abdulla Alfadhel, Second Deputy Speaker, described Bahrain's legislative chamber as a platform for national dialogue and equal participation, where women's representation in policymaking demonstrates both constitutional values and global competitiveness. Global model recognised Council member H.E. Nancy Dinah Elly Khedouri emphasised the impact of Bahraini women in international forums, noting their presence in regional and global parliamentary events as proof of Bahrain's commitment to equality and inclusion. H.E. Leena Habib Kassim, Chair of the Women and Children's Affairs Committee, echoed that sentiment, calling the Council an institutional expression of trust in women's leadership. In line with this year's global theme, 'Achieving Gender Equality: Step by Step', the Shura Council used the occasion to spotlight its efforts as part of Bahrain's national reform narrative.
