Norms of Parliamentary System Violated FM should have resigned

Chandrashekhar the Great  


SHRI CHANDRA SHEKHAR (Ballia) : Mr. Speaker, Sir, I want to make a submission. It is another matter as to whether you admit the Censure motion or not. As stated by Shri George Fernandes, an unauthorised document was passed on by the Minister of External Affairs of India to his counterpart of another country and he does not know the identity of the person who gave him the letter. This is not as serious as the public statement made by the Prime Minister that he had no knowledge of the paper or the memorandum or the document given to the Minister. You will not find any other case in any Parliamentary democracy anywhere in the world where principle of collective responsibility would have been flouted in such a brazen manner. The moment the Prime Minister said that the document was given without his knowledge, the political morality and Parliamentary norms warranted that the Minister for External Affairs should have resigned then and there. It is very serious issue.

Mr. Speaker, you know that I have no enemity with anyone. Strange things are happening in our Parliamentary democracy. Sir, it is your responsibility to safeguard it. The Government of Nagaland is dismissed and the Home Minister says that he does not know about it. Is the principle of collective responsibility being followed or not? Sir, I am not saying anything about the censure motion but I want to submit that the act of the Foreign Minister which generated worldwide reaction and warranted discussion in the House is taken very casually by the Prime Minister of India who said in a minute that he was responsible for it was it not the responsibility of the Prime Minister to inform the House the circumstances under which the note was given. I think the Government or for that matter the Prime Minister thinks that this Parliament is his fiefdom. I would like to submit that this House or the country is not a fiefdom of anyone. Whatever ruling you may give but today the norms of Parliamentary system are being violated. Country’s dignity is being lowered, Parliamentary democracy is being ridiculed to mockery. It is our responsibility to save the democratic norms. So you please call the Prime Minister in the House and ask him to clarify the position in the matter. What action has been taken by him during the last 24 hours? Did this happen without his knowledge. If he fails to clarify the position, the Prime Minister and the Foreign Minister both will have to resign. The Foreign Minister has no right to stay even for a single day.

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