Tamil Nadu - Coimbatore   

They maintained the dignity of the House

A.A. Michael Raj

Young students turn `parliamentarians'

PM PERSUASIVE: A scene at Youth Parliament-2006 in Coimbatore on Tuesday. - Photo: S. Siva Saravanan

Coimbatore: Seated in neat rows on one side of the seminar hall at Sri Krishna Arts and Science College were `members of the ruling party', complete with the `Prime Minister' in a coat and turban. Facing them sat `members of the opposition party', all waiting with suppressed excitement for the proceedings to commence.

A bit nervous

A few of the `parliamentarians' seemed a bit nervous and kept riffling through the papers in their folders and rehearsing their lines. Others were busy adjusting their costumes and making sure that their make up had not been accidentally smudged. On either side stood uniformed `marshals' waiting silently until called upon to discharge their duties in preserving the decorum of the House.

It was `Youth Parliament-2006', jointly organised by Bharathiar University and Sri Krishna College, under the National Youth Parliament Competition Scheme for Universities and Colleges, initiated by the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs.

M. Padmanabhan, Reader, Department of Extension, Career Guidance and Students' Welfare, Bharathiar University, Coimbatore, and Sunil Mishra, Director, Central India Institute of Mass Communication, were the judges.

Soon after the judges and invitees had taken their seats, the session began with the `Speaker' walking in ceremoniously, greeting the `parliamentarians' with folded hands, bowing deeply and taking his seat.

First on the agenda was the oath of affirmation for the new members, in the language of their choice. After paying tribute in English and Hindi for a `departed member', the `House' rose to observe a two-minute silence in his memory. The Speaker introduced two `foreign parliamentarians' on a visit and welcomed them to the House.

Question Hour

Question Hour began on a brisk note with the Opposition raising a volley of questions on human rights, educational cess and the India-China border dispute. Discussions moved on to public and private investment in agriculture, steps to boost the manufacturing sector, spending on infrastructure, bureaucratic procedures, administrative reform and internal security.

In true democratic fashion, the Speaker protected the right of each member to voice his or her views, though he was quick to intervene when tempers rose to flash point over sweeping remarks or unfounded allegations. Members in both the `treasury benches' and the `Opposition' rose to their feet, hotly defending their colleagues or vociferously protesting disagreeable remarks.

Tussle erupts

When it came to the introduction of new bills, the tussle between the `treasury benches' and the `Opposition' came to a head. There were divergent views on jobs for all, water resources, water harvesting, water logging and increased salinity.

Abruptly adjourned

Soon, the air was thick with accusations, a shouting match ensued and the `Speaker' abruptly adjourned the `House.'

Giving his comments on the performance, Mr. Mishra said that the show had been "excellent", though there had been some technical shortcomings in Parliamentary procedure, especially with regarding to the taking of the oath and the action of the marshals.

Mr. Padmanabhan said that the exercise gave adequate opportunities to students to display their abilities, foster national integration and shake off the adverse effects of parochialism and ethnocentricity.

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