Disruptions in Parliament and assemblies not right: Pranab

Criticising frequent disruptions in Parliament and state assemblies, President Pranab Mukherjee today said the issue needed collective thinking on whether some of the existing rules required to be amended to ensure smooth running of Houses.
"There can be disagreements in a democracy.... The job of the opposition is to oppose, to expose but not to disrupt. As an opposition, disposition and exposition can go on. But not disruption. You express your views, but others do not get the chance," he said.
Speaking in Bengali at the valedictory session of the platinum jubilee ceremony of the West Bengal Assembly, he said that politicians have to go to people to seek vote.

"After that if we don't do our duty, then it is not the right thing," Mukherjee said adding that dissent should be expressed with decency and within the contours and parameters of parliamentary devices.
Incidentally, the Congress and the Left parties have boycotted the three-day platinum jubilee ceremony of the West Bengal Assembly which ended today.
The President said there is a need for collective thinking by political parties and leaders of our country on how to ensure smooth running of our Parliament and legislative assemblies and whether some of the existing rules need to be amended for the purpose.

Democracy should comprise of the three 'D's - debate, dissent and decision, he said adding that now a new 'D' of disruption has been added into the system.
"Discipline and decorum must always be maintained and rules, conventions and etiquette observed. Parliamentary practices, procedures and conventions are meant to provide for orderly and expeditious transaction of business of the House," he told legislators.