Mumbai, Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar on Thursday lamented that democratic politics in the country is witnessing "a new decline", and called for introspection from all political parties.
Addressing a joint session of both houses of the Maharashtra Legislature to mark the centenary celebrations of the state Legislative Council, Dhankhar also said that democracy thrives on debate and dialogue, but dialogue is missing between political parties at present.
“Democratic politics is witnessing a new decline and all political parties need to introspect,” the Vice President said.
"All is not well in parliamentary democracy. We are facing the indignity of disruption. Communication between political parties is missing," he said.
Rajya Sabha Chairman Dhankhar said sloganeering and marching in the well of the House was a painful situation for any presiding officer, adding that the Chairman and the Speaker have been provided convenient punching bags by both the parties.
He said decorum and discipline were the "heart of democracy" and the presiding officer should be respected.
“We are also not open to other viewpoints,” Dhankhar said, adding that parties often adopt a confrontational and adversarial approach rather than a cordial one.
He said that morality and ethics have been the hallmark of public life in India.
The Vice President further said, while state legislatures and Parliament are the “north pole of democracy”, MLAs and MPs are its “lighthouses”.
He quipped, the treasury bench is on the right side of the chair, but in the human body the heart is on the left side and this should define the function of the chair.
Dhankhar said the centenary celebrations of the Maharashtra Legislative Council was a notable milestone as it also celebrated the memory of the iconic 17th century ruler Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj.
Addressing a joint session of both houses of the Maharashtra Legislature to mark the centenary celebrations of the state Legislative Council, Dhankhar also said that democracy thrives on debate and dialogue, but dialogue is missing between political parties at present.
“Democratic politics is witnessing a new decline and all political parties need to introspect,” the Vice President said.
"All is not well in parliamentary democracy. We are facing the indignity of disruption. Communication between political parties is missing," he said.
Rajya Sabha Chairman Dhankhar said sloganeering and marching in the well of the House was a painful situation for any presiding officer, adding that the Chairman and the Speaker have been provided convenient punching bags by both the parties.
He said decorum and discipline were the "heart of democracy" and the presiding officer should be respected.
“We are also not open to other viewpoints,” Dhankhar said, adding that parties often adopt a confrontational and adversarial approach rather than a cordial one.
He said that morality and ethics have been the hallmark of public life in India.
The Vice President further said, while state legislatures and Parliament are the “north pole of democracy”, MLAs and MPs are its “lighthouses”.
He quipped, the treasury bench is on the right side of the chair, but in the human body the heart is on the left side and this should define the function of the chair.
Dhankhar said the centenary celebrations of the Maharashtra Legislative Council was a notable milestone as it also celebrated the memory of the iconic 17th century ruler Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj.
