Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan, who had suspended 25 Congress MPs for five days for disrupting the proceedings during the monsoon session, has written to all MPs appealing to them to maintain discipline and decorum of the House and refrain from rushing to the well, shouting slogans and waving placards.
In her letter to MPs, Mahajan said that during her interactions with schoolchildren, mediapersons and foreign dignitaries, she was asked about "frequent disruptions and low productivity" of the House.
She said perhaps a "negative" perception is gaining ground about the image of Parliament and parliamentarians in the minds of the common man.
"India is not only the largest democracy in the world but its democratic values, principles and ideals are highly respected all over the world. Our democracy also acts as a shining example of vibrant democracy and is an inspiration to people within and outside India. All over the world, people watch and follow the parliamentary proceedings.
"Coming to the well of the House, shouting slogans, showing of placards and banners and persistent disruptions of the proceedings of the House do not showcase our democracy in a befitting manner. During my recent visit abroad, Non-Resident Indians and other foreign dignitaries, who happened to meet me, also expressed disappointment and concern over repeated disruptions in the House," Mahajan said in her letter, dated September 23.
Recalling that some MPs had come to the well of the House shouting slogans, displaying placards and banners and disrupting proceedings of the House during the monsoon session, she said she was "pained" that the expected norms of discipline and decorum were not observed by some members and were "blatantly flouted".
In August, Mahajan had suspended 25 of 44 Congress MPs in Lok Sabha for five days for causing disruptions, setting the stage for escalation in confrontation, as nine opposition parties decided to boycott the House for these days to express solidarity with the suspended members.
