Parliament session without question hour undemocratic, says NGO

MADURAI: Conducting the

Parliament and assembly sessions

without the question hour is against the rules, and people’s representatives should be given an opportunity to discuss problems faced by the public, especially during the

Covid-19 pandemic

, NGO

Save the Nation movement

has said.

In a statement to commemorate World Democracy Day, coordinator of the movement, C J Rajan said that Parliament and assembly sessions have been delayed due to the Covid crisis, leading to loss of lives and livelihood. People representatives should be given an opportunity to discuss problems.

The government has asked MPs to give their questions in written format and reduced the question hour to just half-an-hour. Now, it has announced that there would be no question hour in the monsoon session which is against all rules of democracy, he said.

A democracy that aims at protecting only the interests of the ruling party is highly

undemocratic

and it could have dangerous consequences. Important aspects of democracy like equality in education, healthcare and protection of natural resources are all being taken away from the people.

Parliamentary sessions conducted at a cost of many crores without the proper procedures including the question are worthless. A government ruling without discussions with opposition parties could destroy the democratic state. Hence, question hour should be restored and democracy should prevail in the houses, he said.