President concerned over disruptions in legislatures

Pranab-MukherjeeShimla, May 24 : President Pranab Mukherjee Friday expressed concern over repeated disruptions in parliament and state legislatures.

Addressing members of the Himachal Pradesh assembly at its Golden Jubilee celebrations, Mukherjee appealed to leaders of political parties to discuss and find a solution to this problem.

"Every legislator has got his job after begging people for their votes, and after gaining their trust. It would not be fair if he does not discharge his responsibilities," he said.

"The cardinal principle of effective functioning of a parliamentary system is that the majority would rule and the minority would oppose, expose and if possible, depose.

"But this should be done within the framework of rules framed by the legislatures themselves," he said.

The president said the role and functions of an assembly can be described as three D's -- debate, dissent and decision.

"A fourth 'D', that is 'disruption', should be strictly avoided," he said. "Disruption has no role in a parliamentary democracy. It is a small minority forcing their will on all others.

"Neither are they doing their job nor letting others do theirs," the president said, while voicing confidence that the Indian political system was capable of finding a solution to the problem.(IANS)