By IANS,
New Delhi : Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Wednesday said walkouts make for good headlines, but a good parliamentarian, who has done his homework well, can take government to task.
He also stressed that in today’s information boom, parliament needs to raise its “standard” and “quality” of debate.
“Disruptions and walkouts may make good headlines but it is a good parliamentarian, who has done his homework, who can take the government to task,” the prime minister said at a function in the central hall of parliament where where President Pratibha Patil gave away the Outstanding Parliamentarian Awards for 2007-2009 respectively to Congress leader Priya Ranjan Dasmunsi, Samajwadi Party leader Mohan Singh and senior Bharatiya Janata Party leader Murli Manohar Joshi.
Dasmunsi has been hospitalised since 2008 when he suffered a second stroke and the award was received on his behalf by his wife Deepa Dasmunsi, a Congress member of the Lok Sabha.
“There is no doubt that in today’s age of information overload, parliament has to raise the standard and quality of its debates and discussions,” Manmohan Singh said, adding that the country needs parliamentarians like Dasmunsi, Joshi and Singh.
“The effective functioning of parliament is certainly dependent on the norms, conventions and rules that govern proceedings. But it is the calibre of the members who breathe life and vitality into this institution.
“Outstanding parliamentarians through their speeches and interventions make parliament a forum not just to reflect public opinion but also to mould it,” the prime minister said.
Reminding the parliamentarians about their role, he said it is their duty “to raise the voice of the people and to seek answers from the government of the day on matters of public interest.”
Speaking about the three senior parliamentarians, the prime minister said he had often heard them make thoughtful interventions during major debates.
Fondly remembering Dasmunsi, who was the parliamentary affairs minister and later the information and broadcasting minister in the UPA-1 government, Manmohan Singh said he was full of “energy and enthusiasm”, adding that he could reach out to members of all political parties.
“He had the ability to build consensus and find a way forward despite strong differences and helped to prevent many disruptions,” Manmohan Singh said.
He described Mohan Singh as a “strong advocate of issues that affect the common man”.
Terming him a politician of the old school, the prime minister said he is heard with attention in the house.
Describing Joshi “as one of our experienced parliamentarians”, the prime minister said he had served with great distinction in both the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha.
“I have always found Dr. Joshi’s interventions to be thoughtful and incisive, even when I have disagreed with his views. He is a man of wide ranging interests and has been an active member of many important standing committees,” he said.
The prime minister also said that although the three leaders belong to different parties, it reflects the important role played by members from all parties whether from the opposition or from the ruling party.
He hoped that younger politicians learn from their example as they have “shown that argument and debate can be conducted effectively without raising one’s voice.”