TEAM HERALD
PANJIM: Admitting that people of the country are generally not very happy and upbeat about the way legislatures are functioning over the years, the Union Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Venkaiah Naidu has said that quality of performance of members is a most important variable in the working of any parliamentary institution.
According to him, it is the primary duty of every member irrespective of his party affiliations to maintain and project a good image of the House by his conduct both inside and outside the legislature.
Delivering his inaugural address at the two-day 16th All India Whips Conference at Cavelossim, Monday, Naidu said inadequacy of education and training in the operational mechanics of parliamentary polity and the working procedures of modern parliamentary institutions adversely affects the performance of the legislators. “Our country is the largest democracy in the world. Democracy envisages solving public problem through debate and discussion. In our democratic system, while the treasury benches have their way in the House, the Opposition must have its say,” he said suggesting that all parliamentarians adhere to ‘Debate, discuss and decide and don’t disturb’.
He said that Chief Whips and Whips have very important roles in the parliamentary system and management of government business demands a lot of skill and dexterity on the part of Government whips. “They attend to the ground realities of proper functioning of legislatures. The day-to-day functioning of parliament and legislators involves close coordination between the whips of different parties to ensure that government business gets through,” he said adding, “They look after attendance of members, keep them informed of the turn of events in the Houses from time to time.”
