This refers to your edit “Debate, don’t disrupt” (August 27). Whatever the Bharatiya Janata Party’s reasons for disrupting Parliament, it is about time it realises that its image as the principle opposition party is now taking a beating. We can’t overlook the fact that parliamentary sessions are being wasted, as important legislation and Bills are pending before the House; ultimately, it is taxpayers’ money that is being wasted. We need the government to be bold enough to enact legislation that would treat the act of disruption of parliamentary proceedings as contempt of Parliament. It should carry punitive measures akin to contempt of court.
V Sridhar Kolkata
...and its chances
The intransigence of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in not allowing Parliament to function until the prime minister resigns should be a matter of worry for those who are interested in preserving democracy in the country. The party’s behaviour in the corruption case in Karnataka speaks of its double standards. No one seems to follow the rules of the game. The judgement of the Supreme Court in the case against the finance minister should have brought some sobriety to the party. There are established procedures and institutions to deal with the matter. How can a party with a few seats above 100 in Parliament arrogate to itself the right to impose its wishes on the country and block legislation with a bearing on its future? The BJP is only ruining its chances of coming to power. It can ask for a vote of confidence in government. In the current milieu, one may not be surprised if all the parties outside the National Democratic Alliance, including the Left, support the government.
A Seshan Mumbai
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