The Hindu : National : Warm, enthusiastic welcome to Hamid Ansari

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Aug 14, 2007
ePaper

National

National

Warm, enthusiastic welcome to Hamid Ansari

Special Correspondent

The assigned duty of the Chair is to ensure that all concerned play by the rules, says Vice-President

NEW DELHI: Rajya Sabha members on Monday gave a warm and enthusiastic welcome to Vice-President Hamid Ansari on his taking charge as House Chairman. The occasion was used by several members to air their views and expectations —mostly about changing rules to allow more time to independent and nominated members and back-benchers.

Mr. Ansari said the House must reflect the changing perceptions and requirements of people, particularly the weaker sections, who constitute the overwhelming majority of the population.

“The challenge lies in the need to ensure equitable distribution of fruits of development and to seek justice through substantive equality and meaningful fraternity. The will to do so is one aspect; institutional efficacy and a delivery mechanism is another. Both are integral to the process of change.”

Likening himself to a “referee” in a game of hockey or football, Mr. Ansari said a “referee” carried coloured cards in his pocket. “A good game, however, is the one in which the need to use these cards does not arise. The assigned duty of the Chair is to ensure that all concerned play by the rules,” he said.

However, the animosity between the ruling party and the Opposition Bharatiya Janata Party witnessed in the last few sessions and during the Presidential election campaign, came to the fore during the welcome proceedings.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh referred to “repeated disruptions of proceedings” and “a regrettable unwillingness, on occasions, to engage in informed discussion.”

He expressed the hope that “all of this can be put behind us and we can restore a sense of dignity and decorum that is expected of a House of Elders.”

He assured the Chairman of the “sincere cooperation” of the United Progressive Alliance.

Leader of the Opposition Jaswant Singh said elevation of individuals to high constitutional offices ought to be by consensus and not by election.

“It is a tragedy that the phenomenon is on the decline.”

‘Council of States’

He said the Rajya Sabha was a ‘Council of States’ whose purpose and direction was to look after the interests of States. But over the years, there was a tendency not to discuss issues relating to States.

Referring to the criticism on “noise levels,” he said the Opposition must be allowed to have its “say” for the government to have its “way.”

While congratulating the Left parties for the elevation of “their” candidate to the office of Vice-President Samajwadi Party leader Janeshwar Mishra cautioned that if they were to dilute their stand on the nuclear deal, then it should not appear that they entered into a “quid pro quo” with the Government.

Sitaram Yechury (CPI-M) said dissent should not be construed as a challenge to the integrity of the individual or the party but to the infallibility. “We contest the infallibility of the person/party, not the integrity.”

In his maiden speech, D. Raja (CPI) said the House must reflect the federal polity of the nation and strengthen parliamentary democracy.

“The House must become the voice of the weaker sections, the oppressed and suppressed. Values of secular democracy should be upheld and there should not be intolerance.”

Regretting that members were unable to accommodate one another, National Conference president Farooq Abdullah referred to the CPI(M)’s “threats” to the Government on the nuclear deal and wondered “if they’ll stand to it when it comes to that.”

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

National