The Hindu Business Line : New look Lok Sabha

THE 14th Lok Sabha has a refreshingly new look which may even have a beneficial impact on the quantum and quality of its business. Mr Somnath Chatterji, the veteran Parliamentarian, is the best choice for the post of the Speaker. He commands the respect of all sections of the House, and is well-versed in Parliamentary rules, customs and traditions. There can be no doubt that with his wealth of experience and reputation for fair-mindedness, he will be successful in ensuring that the proceedings in the Lok Sabha are orderly and purposeful. His task may be made easier by the fact that 200 MPs are stepping into the Lok Sabha for the first time, and for that reason, will be amenable to his efforts to maintain decorum, dignity and discipline.

The Lok Sabha is also more youthful than the previous ones, its average age (52.7) being the lowest so far. Actually, as many as 79 MPs are between 25 and 40, and those between 41 and 55 touch 250. Those who had watched this young contingent of Messrs Rahul Gandhi, Jyotiraditya Scindia, Sachin Pilot and Milind Deora expressing themselves in interviews and TV talk shows must be impressed by their abiding faith in the nation's destiny and their keenness to contribute their level best to its development and progress.

They are bound to raise the quality of debates to a noticeable degree by their idealistic and unspoilt temperament, and industrious and studious habits. Their approach to issues and problems too is likely to be creative and innovative, instead of being stuck in a groove as in the case of their elders. More than all, there is a distinct prospect that their presence in the house will in itself shame those who are prone to be unruly and obstructive to set good examples of themselves.

I must express my sad disappointment in one respect. Asked by reporters and anchors about their reaction to persons charge-sheeted for grave offences becoming elected representatives and even making it to the Cabinet, the young MPs, parrot-like, mouth the convenient and untenable excuse of hard-boiled old timers in politics about an accused being innocent until proven guilty. That the integrity of persons in positions of authority should be above suspicion does not seem to occur to them. It is hard to tell whether this is due to their eagerness to be "politically correct" even if it be against their conscience or the general permissiveness of the society at large in which they have been brought up.

B.S. Raghavan