Shame on democracy

Sir, - We pride ourselves on the fact that India is the biggest democracy in the world, but look at what is happening in the highest arena of democracy, Parliament. For several days our esteemed, elected representatives behaved much like those in the fish market. For the conduct of parliamentary sessions, every day , a huge amount is spent. I suggest that members who do not work should be denied their allowances for that day. It seems the Opposition parties think that their only duty is to pull down the Government. The Opposition parties must help the ruling party to govern better by proffering suggestions and pointing out mistakes. We have not seen such a thing in our democracy.

V. G. Appukuttan,

Kottayam, Kerala

Sir, - Both Houses of Parliament were paralysed for a week by the Opposition in the name of George. The treasury benches that did not want to be outdone played a similar game for a couple of days in the name of another George. The common denominator was corruption. It is learnt that the approximate expenditure for running the Houses for a day is a million rupees. The citizens have a right to know whether the honourable members draw their allowances for the days wasted by them by resorting to unbridled hooliganism.

Does not drawing allowances from the poor taxpayer's money for the time wasted by them amount to an act of corruption? Do the members have any convincing argument to justify their having deliberately stalled the legislative process in Parliament? If the lawmakers turn to be lawbreakers what can the helpless people do?

It appears that there are only two parties in this country : politicians and the working class.

B. S. Warrier,

Thiruvananthapuram

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