Parliamentarians and mudslinging

Wednesday, 30 November 2011 00:19 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

THE antics of Parliamentarians always make for entertaining reading; this is perhaps why most people chose to ignore them, for after all, it’s a constant occurrence. However, at a time when something as important as the Budget is being discussed, surely it is time for the Members of Parliament to adopt some level of brevity and seriousness.

The incident of former UNP member Lakshman Seneviratne and current Productivity Development Minister Lakshman Seneviratne having a verbal tiff with UNP MP Harin Fernando was splashed across most media after the two nearly descended to fisticuffs after Parliament. It was observed that the latter’s personal issues were dragged out in the House in what is not just an irrelevant but ludicrous display of vindictiveness.

Housing Minister Wimal Weerawansa, also known to let his mouth run away with him, accused the UNP of speaking against the Budget simply because it was their “job”. He was also broadcast accusing the Opposition of having “nothing better to do” than disrupt the development efforts made by the Government. These topics have no bearing on the Budget or the larger problems of Sri Lanka and it is certainly not the reason why the public elected them into power.

In the latest development, Deputy Minister of Petroleum Sarana Gunawardane was suspended from Parliament for a period of one week starting from 30 November for his misconduct in the House during the Budget speech by throwing a bottle of water at the Opposition.

Speaker Chamal Rajapaksa, who conducted inquiries into the misconduct of the MPs during the Budget speech of President Mahinda Rajapaksa on 21 November, announced in the House that Gunawardane’s behaviour was the most serious act against the decorum of the House. Therefore, the Speaker asked the Leader of the House to move a motion to suspend Gunawardane from Parliament for a period of one week. The Speaker said that a committee would be appointed very soon to make recommendations to maintain the decorum of the House in future.

The very admittance by the Speaker shows how badly deteriorated discipline is in Parliament and it is sad that even on the rare occasions when they are probed, the result is a slap on the wrist. Gunawardane has been merely given a week’s holiday from his duties, a situation that has no deterrent effect on the rest of the members.

What was startling about the Budget ruckus was that it was done in the presence of President Mahinda Rajapaksa, clearly showing that violence is so ingrained in politics that even the presence of party leaders does not prevent the members from showing their true colours.

Parliament is a sacred space to discuss, debate and engage with different people to ensure that the country can get the best from policies and plans drafted out by the Government. If the House members cannot understand and appreciate the role played by the others, the ultimate loser is the country.

Both opposition and Government members have to realise that all they do is provide entertainment for the public. The masses are neither impressed nor surprised by the repeated boorish behaviour of their so-called elected representatives. Simply having a mouth does not make one great in the absence of a brain.