Tag: Parliament

Not really a democracy

The assembly in one state, Haryana, met for just 12 days on average in 2011-2015, says M.R. Madhavan, the president of PRS Legislative Research, a privately funded watchdog in Delhi.

Haryana’s debates are so perfunctory that its legislators managed to pass 14 bills in just 90 minutes at one point this year.

Everyone is talking about demonetisation in India—except parliament, December 20, 2016 at 03:39PM

Haryana, my home state 😥

Anti-defection rule & parliament disruptions

“Party leaders love the anti-defection rule,” says Mr Madhavan, “but it means MPs have no choice but to follow orders—they represent neither their own conscience nor constituents.”

Mr Tharoor: “but there are many MPs who see their job as performers in a theatre, since the outcome of voting is anyway preordained.”

Everyone is talking about demonetisation in India—except parliament, December 20, 2016 at 03:41PM