Every morning, a familiar spectacle. Parliament begins, uproar ensues, MPs compete with runner Usain Bolt in a high-speed relay to the well, and immediately the People’s House shuts down. Another day of taxpayer money wasted, debate on life-affecting legislation stymied, and yet another nail hammered into the coffin of Westminster-style democracy in India. Parliamentary democracy, RIP?
For the last two weeks, Parliament has worked just five hours. The Union Budget, the country’s most important financial document, was rammed through in a din. There was no debate on where taxpayers’ hard-earned money was being spent. MPs’ salary hikes were pushed through too, as was an outrageous amendment to the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act , ensuring that foreign donations to parties cannot be Read More
