The Vice President, M. Venkaiah Naidu today said that the committee he had set up to review and revisit the Rules of Procedure and Business of Rajya Sabha for smooth functioning of the House is likely to submit its interim report next month. He was addressing the gathering after releasing the book ‘Straight Talk’ authored by the Member of Rajya Sabha, Shri Abhishek Manu Singhvi, here today. The former Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh and other dignitaries were present on the occasion.Referring to the suggestion made by Dr. Singhvi in the book for automatic suspension of allowances for law makers per day or per hour lost due to disruptions, he expressed the hope that the suggestion would be considered by the committee.The Vice President said “we need to ponder if our legislatures are sending out the right message to the people who have lot of expectations from our legislatures, the temples of democracy. The ruling and opposition parties divide that is becoming increasingly manifest in our legislatures does not inspire confidence in the people”.In Indian parliamentary democracy, political parties have an important role to play, adding that Politics should not be the be all and end all of political activities. He said that it should be the vehicle for transformation of India towards a New and Better India.The Vice President called for a new political approach based on ‘Less Fission (division) and more Fusion’.
He said there should be enlightened and meaningful debates in the Parliament and Legislatures.Arguing for smooth functioning of Parliament, the Vice President called on ruling and opposition parties to discharge specific responsibilities. Governments and ruling parties of the day must push legislative proposals and the opposition must ensure the best possible scrutiny, he added.Saying that Political parties are at the best only rivals and not enemies the Vice President said that rivals contend with each other based on certain norms, conventions and agreed principles while enemies seek to destroy each other. The Vice President said that he expects all the parties to be guided by this distinction.The Vice President said that law makers should be elected based on four Cs-- Capacity, Caliber, Character and Conduct and not on the basis of the other four Cs-- Caste, Community, Cash and Criminal Prowess.Agreeing with another suggestion in the book for fast track courts for election related cases, he said that special tribunals or courts need to be set up dispose of election petitions within six months. Government and Parliament should seriously think on this issue.The Vice President said that it was important to realize the new and better India of the dream of every Indian. Every Indian has a dream and every citizen has an aspiration. This makes our country an “Aspirational India”, he said and added that Dr. Singhvi’s dreams of a Better India and the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi is targeting a New India.He said the themes and sub-themes addressed in the book are timeless and transcend politics, political parties, governments and current events. “They raise conceptual issues and matters of everlasting importance for the nation at large”, he added.