As the winter session of Parliament started today, Parliamentary Affairs Minister M Venkaiah Naidu said the country needs collaborative and not confrontationist politics and people are in no mood to accept negativism.
"Country needs collaborative politics and not confrontationist politics. People are keenly watching law makers. They are in no mood to accept negativism," he said, noting that the all-party meeting held yesterday has raised hopes of a better session.
"Winter session of Parliament begins today. There are concerns of people over functioning of Parliament and expectations from this session," he said.
His remarks come in the backdrop of a washout of the Monsoon session of Parliament with key legislations pushed by the government left pending.
Naidu said both the government and the opposition have clearly defined responsibilities in parliamentary democracy. While government has to perform and deliver as per the mandate given by the people, he said the opposition has to keep a watch on the government while at the same time enable Parliament to meet the aspirations of people.
"So, both government and opposition are under pressure - government to perform and opposition to conduct itself in a constructive manner," he said.
Naidu said these sensitive issues should not be linked to
polls as the elections are like festivals in India which keep coming now and then.
Defending the government affidavit in the Supreme Court on triple talaq issue, he said nobody then said it (Sati) was a Hindu practice that government was interfering in that.
"Somebody might have said it also. But in collective wisdom, the entire country has moved further. We have reformed ourselves. Similarly, when the practice is going on which is discriminatory, which is doing injustice to women, we think it should end," Naidu said.
He said it was Muslim women and organisations which were demanding end of triple talaq who had gone to the Supreme Court.
Referring to Articles 14 and 15 of the Constitution that speaks against discrimination, the Minister said, "The Government of India wants every religion, every personal law to be in accordance with that. And if the society transforms itself, it's always better."
Naidu said divesting a woman by simply, saying talaq three times was totally against the principles of natural justice and the practise must end.
"This debate was not started by us. Somebody went to court and the Supreme Court while discussing the issue wanted to know the views of the Government. And the government has filed an affidavit saying that our view is that triple talaq is unjust, unfair, uncivilised and saying it must come to an end.
"That's what we have said. How is it connected with UP elections," he said.
