Ansari disapproves of disruptions in Parliament

With prolonged disruptions in monsoon session of Parliament apparently weighing heavily on his mind, Vice President Hamid Ansari today disapproved of such conduct by lawmakers and told them that when protest becomes habitual, it loses its novelty and effect.

With prolonged disruptions in monsoon session of Parliament apparently weighing heavily on his mind, Vice President Hamid Ansari today disapproved of such conduct by lawmakers and told them that when protest becomes habitual, it loses its novelty and effect.

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"Protest in registering a point is well-made. Protest, when it becomes habitual, loses its novelty, and,
therefore, its effect," Ansari, who has often expressed his concern on the frequent stalling of proceedings in Parliament, told the newly elected members of the Upper House.

In some plain speaking, he wondered whether protest "can be the only form of functioning? Can it be the totality
of our forms of expression?

He lamented that much too often, "we take the view that if we simply disrupt the proceedings of the House, we
will make our point. I am afraid, it does not go down like that in the public."

Observing that the people do not see such protests in good light, he said "my plea to you is to please think about
this and devise ways by which your right to protest remains unchecked, but that protest does not become an impediment to the rest of your work".

"This is something on which we have to think collectively. I do not have solutions and I do know that the
solutions will only come from the collective wisdom of the Members of the House," Ansari said while inaugurating the
orientation programme for the MPs.