Guwahati: Former Leader of the Opposition Debabrata Saikia has written to Assam Legislative Assembly Speaker Ranjeet Kumar Dass, urging him to maintain the impartiality of the Chair and protect parliamentary traditions.
In the letter sent on Thursday, Saikia raised concerns over parliamentary conduct, the neutrality of the Speaker’s office and the accountability of the government.
He referred to media reports published on July 14 stating that the Speaker had participated in a BJP Core Committee meeting at the Basistha office on July 13. Saikia said that while attending public events in the presence of national leaders could be understood, participation in a party meeting while occupying a constitutional office meant to remain impartial was a serious departure from parliamentary convention.
Saikia added that such a precedent was particularly unfortunate for the 89-year-old history of the Assam Legislative Assembly, established in 1937.
The letter also highlighted what Saikia described as disorderly functioning inside the House. He alleged that some ministers had acted irresponsibly during Question Hour and Zero Hour by counter-questioning, attacking or threatening opposition MLAs instead of responding directly to queries.
As an example, he cited Minister Pijush Hazarika, who, while replying on behalf of the Information and Public Relations Department, allegedly asked the opposition what action they wanted the government to take. Saikia also referred to a discussion on alleged tax evasion in which the Finance Minister asked the opposition whether they wanted an investigation.
According to Saikia, such remarks run contrary to the principles of parliamentary democracy. Referring to Article 164(3) of the Constitution, he said ministers take an oath to discharge their duties without fear, favour, affection or ill-will, and that investigations and law-enforcement actions are constitutional responsibilities of the government, not decisions contingent on the opposition’s wishes.
He warned that televised proceedings showing ministers avoiding responsibility or using insulting language, combined with doubts over the Speaker’s impartiality, could erode public confidence in democratic institutions, especially among younger citizens.
Saikia requested the Speaker to review the proceedings of the current Assembly session in relation to these remarks and issue appropriate directions in keeping with parliamentary principles.
He also urged the Speaker to remind ministers that decisions must be guided by laws, rules and the Constitution in accordance with their oath of office, rather than creating an impression that responsibility rests with the opposition.
Further, Saikia sought strict instructions to ensure that neither the ruling party nor the opposition creates an atmosphere of fear, political pressure, sarcasm or intimidation inside the Assembly.
He called upon the Speaker to take all necessary steps to preserve the long-standing convention of strict impartiality associated with the Speaker’s office and, if required, convene an all-party meeting to build consensus on parliamentary conduct, decorum, constitutional accountability and the dignity of the House.