President expresses concern over repeated disruptions in Parliament

During the 14th Lok Sabha, Parliament sat for over 1,900 hours and 416 hours were wasted due to disruptions, Mukherjee said, adding disruption is denial of right of other members and was negation of parliamentary procedure.  

Mukherjee, who was the Leader of the Lok Sabha from 2004-2012, said he had became unpopular among his colleagues when he pointed that they did not turn up in Parliament or did not cast their votes as per the whip.

He said such acts were dereliction of duty.  “We make rules. If the rules are antique, we can change them. Nothing prevents us from doing that. But once the rules are made they have to be followed,” he said.

Mukherjee said legislators will have to think how much time is spent on budget for legislation and issues of complicated administrative matters.

“Legislatures must be responsive not only to the changing needs of society but also to the imperative of smooth running of the government so that wheels of our democracy function continually,” he said.