Hindi English Translation || Editorial || Legislative decline: On government’s actions and a disregard for deliberative democracy

Legislative decline: On government’s actions and a disregard for deliberative democracy

Denial of legislative debate furthers democratic backsliding in India

Both the security breach (उल्लंघन) in Parliament last week featuring a theatrical attempt by individuals to highlight an issue of public importance (महत्व) — unemployment — and the Union government’s response have been deeply problematic. The government’s stymieing (बाधाएँ डालना) of any debate over this issue in Parliament and the Chair’s recourse to an unprecedented high number of suspensions of Opposition legislators following their demand for a statement in the Houses and a debate, have been in line with its disregard (उपेक्षा करना) for deliberative democracy. As many as 78 Opposition Members of Parliament were suspended on Monday. Fourteen more were suspended earlier — 92 in total, and nearly matching the 94 suspensions overall since 2014 prior to this session. Unlike in the two Lok Sabhas (2004-14), when even ruling party legislators, including rebels, were suspended for unruliness, only Opposition members have been subject to suspension, which includes those for far less severe offences since 2014.

The hallmark of a functioning democracy is deliberation (विचारविमर्श), wherein elected legislators debate and discuss issues of public import and seek solutions to issues that affect citizens. A thorough deliberation involves not just televised speeches from Parliament but also debates, the utilisation (उपयोग करना) of parliamentary and standing committees to delve into the issue and for Bills and legislation to be discussed threadbare before consideration. Instead, over the course of recent parliamentary sessions during the National Democratic Alliance’s tenure, there have been multiple attempts at browbeating (धमकाना) the Opposition, getting Bills passed without adequate (पर्याप्त) discussion, disallowing amendments on merit, and under-utilising standing and parliamentary committees while trying hard to play to the gallery. Legislative business and parliamentary work have been given short shrift, while theatrics by legislators in both the Treasury and Opposition benches, and one-upmanship through the use of suspensions, have dominated proceedings. It is no wonder that such actions have compelled global democracy reports by research institutions such as V-Dem Institute to characterise India’s democracy as an “electoral autocracy (एकतंत्र, निरंकुशता)”. Worse, the use of the draconian Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act to indiscriminately target dissenters (संप्रदायवादी, असहमति व्यक्त करने वाला), such as the protesters who threw canisters and raised slogans in Parliament last week, has also fallen into the recent pattern of a deliberate equation of dissent with terror. Again, this has led the U.S.-based Freedom House, that measures civil and political liberties, to declare India as “partially free”. The recent actions by the government only contribute further to the backsliding of democracy in India, making these developments a matter of serious concern (चिंता).

Courtesy: The Hindu

Important Word List With Meaning

1.Decline (Noun)

Hindi Meaning - गिरावट, कमी
English Meaning - To politely refuse or reject; to decrease or diminish.

2.Breach (Verb)

Hindi Meaning - उल्लंघन
English Meaning - An act of breaking or failing to observe a law, agreement, or code of conduct; a gap or opening.

3.Importance (Noun)

Hindi Meaning - महत्व
English Meaning - The quality of being significant, valuable, or of great consequence.

4.Stymie (Verb)

Hindi Meaning - बाधाएँ डालना
English Meaning - To hinder, block, or thwart the progress or accomplishment of something.

5.Disregard (Verb)

Hindi Meaning - उपेक्षा करना
English Meaning - To pay no attention to; to ignore or treat with indifference.

6.Deliberation (Noun)

Hindi Meaning - विचारविमर्श
English Meaning - The careful consideration or discussion of a decision or action.

7.Browbeat (Verb)

Hindi Meaning - धमकाना
English Meaning - To intimidate or bully in an intimidating way, especially with stern or abusive language.

8.Adequate (Adjective)

Hindi Meaning - पर्याप्त
English Meaning - Sufficient in quantity or quality; enough.

9.Utilise (Verb)

Hindi Meaning - उपयोग करना
English Meaning - To make practical and effective use of something.

10.Concern (Noun)

Hindi Meaning - चिंता
English Meaning - A feeling of worry, interest, or care; something that causes worry or interest.

11.Autocracy (Noun)

Hindi Meaning - एकतंत्र, निरंकुशता
English Meaning - A system of government where one person has absolute power and authority; rule by an autocrat.

12.Dissenter (Noun)

Hindi Meaning - संप्रदायवादी, असहमति व्यक्त करने वाला
English Meaning - A person who disagrees or holds a differing opinion, especially with regard to a religious, political, or social issue.