Arvind Kejriwal writes:
Shri Mukul Pande
Director
Rajya Sabha Secretariat
I have received the notices sent by you from Sri Rajniti Prasad and
Prof Ramkripal Yadav in which I am accused of insulting the
Parliament.
I unequivocally deny that I have insulted the parliament in either
speech or deed. I respect parliament immensely. I revere the
parliament immensely. I consider parliament as a temple of democracy.
For these reasons, I am immensely worried and pained that this temple
of democracy is insulted very often by the speech and deeds of a few
people who sit inside the parliament. Various facts and instances show
that parliament is insulted by a few people sitting inside the
parliament rather than by people outside. I respect the parliament,
many good parliamentarians, but find myself unable to respect a few
parliamentarians.
Recently, a movie called ‘Pan Singh Tomar” was released. A dialogue
from this film says rebels live in outback and dacoits live in
parliament. I watched this film three times. The audience clapped
whenever the hero uttered this dialogue. I was immensely pained each
time I listened to the ovation. Why is that when the hero referred to
dacoits in parliament, people felt that he was reflecting the
sentiments of the people of this nation. Its worth contemplating as to
what went wrong that the people of this nation have such an anger and
disdain towards people sitting in parliament? Who is responsible for
this impression about the parliament? The people of this nation or the
people sitting in parliament? The respect of parliamentarians is not
diminished by what is said about them. Their respect is commanded by
their conduct and behavior.
The present Lok Sabha has 162 parliamentarians on whom 522 criminal
issues are lodged. Out of these, 76 are heinous crimes. Murder cases
on 14, attempt to murder cases on 20, fraud charges on 11, kidnapping
charges on 13. In addition to these, there are many parliamentarians
on whom corruption charges are lodged. Ex; Shriyuts Suresh Kalmadi, A
Raja, Smt Kanimozhi, Lalu Prasad Yadav, Mulayam Singh Yadav etc., If
Jan LokPal would have been in existence, then a few more would have
been charge sheeted. In this context please enlighten me weather the
presence of such people enhances the dignity of parliament or reduces
it? A few of the above are such that one would rather avoid inviting
them to their homes for marriages and festivals. Is not the parliament
insulted by the presence of such parliamentarians?
Why were such people given tickets? All parties pro-actively give
tickets to people with criminal backgrounds and each successive
election has seen an increase in them getting elected. In 2004
elections, 128 people in Lok Sabha were with criminal backgrounds. In
2009 elections their number went up to 162. By this progression, the
day is not far when the majority of the parliament will consist of
people with criminal background. Hence, we should not be surprised
when the audience gives an ovation to the hero who says dacoits are in
parliament.
All parties are responsible for bringing the parliament to this. In
2009, Congress gave tickets to 117 people with criminal background,
out of which 44 got elected. BJP gave tickets to 116 people with
criminal background, out of which 44 got elected. Other parties too
have proactively given tickets to the tainted. The court has charge
sheeted a good many of them with heinous crimes. What was the
compulsion of these parties? Did not the parties insult the parliament
by giving them tickets? Should not the parties be punished for
insulting the parliament?
It is being said that presently, they are merely accused. Charges have
not been proved in court. The case is pending. My answer to this is
that these cases will never end. A single judgment takes more than
thirty years in this country to be pronounced. Why is our country’s
justice delivery mechanism so lethargic and procrastinating? The
parliamentarians were supposed to correct this anomaly. Why didn’t
they correct it in the last 65 years? Was it not done on purpose? Was
it because if it was corrected, swift justice delivery would have been
possible and most of such people would be incarcerated in jails? Is
not the doubt strengthened then that, till such time these people sit
in parliament, our justice delivery mechanism will not be reformed? Is
not the apprehension valid that till such time people like these are
in parliament, crime will not come down in our country? Please tell me
how can I respect parliamentarians like these?
Its correct that these people are merely charged at present. The
charges are not yet proven. Cases are pending. It is possible that
twenty years later, the courts may pronounce them innocent.
Alternatively, it is also possible that twenty years later, many of
these may be held guilty by the court. In such a scenario, isn’t this
a cause for immense worry that this nation’s laws were framed by
murderers, kidnappers and fraudsters? You say that I have insulted the
parliament. I respect the parliament immensely but can you explain to
me the rationale of respecting such parliamentarians.
There was a parliament in which Shri Lalbahadur Shastri resigned in
the wake of a single train accident. One feels the urge to submit
everything at the altar of such a parliament. But how can I respect a
parliament with the present composition?
On 29th December 2011, during the Lokpal Bill discussion, RJD
parliamentarian Shri Rajniti Prasad snatched the Bill from the hands
of the Hon’ble minister, tore it and threw it. Was not the parliament
insulted by this act? If we see parliament as a temple of democracy,
isn’t the presiding deity insulted by tearing the Gita in such a
temple? It was too much that not a single parliamentarian stood up to
protest this tearing of the Bill. The chairperson too was mute. Why
this speechlessness by those who swear by the parliament? This was not
the first such instance. Many bills have been torn in this temple of
democracy. But not one person has been punished ever. Don’t you think
that Shri Rajniti Prasad should be punished severely for tearing away
the Bill inside parliament? Such an exemplary punishment that no
parliamentarian dare ever to tear away any bill inside the parliament
in the future.
Rajya Sabha has many industrialist parliamentarians who have no
connection whatsoever to people or public service. A good many
industrialists enter the Rajya Sabha in the wake of their money-power
and tickets given by various parties. People like these misuse the
parliament to further their industry. Shri Vijay Mallya is the owner
of Kingfisher. It is not known that he has done any public service. He
is the member of the parliamentary standing committee on civil
aviation. He decides the civil aviation policy of this nation. So, it
is but natural that he will frame such policies that benefit
Kingfisher enormously. Isn’t this a direct misuse of parliament? Rajya
Sabha has a cluster of such parliamentarians who misuse the parliament
directly to further the cause of their respective industries. Isn’t
this misuse of parliament an insult to the parliament?
Cash for Questions in parliament came to light. This was a grave
insult to parliament. But such parliamentarians were merely sacked.
Giving or taking bribe is a criminal offence. Such people ought to
have been jailed when proven guilty. The fact that they were sacked
demonstrates that they were guilty. Why weren’t they jailed? Why were
they let off by mere sacking? For such a grave insult to the
parliament, if they were to be exemplarily punished, future
parliamentarians would not have dared to try insulting parliament
again. Since they were let off lightly, the 2008 open horse-trading of
parliamentarians was repeated. People saw buying and selling of
parliamentarians in the holy temple of democracy. The collective
conscience of the nation cried. Democracy wept. Parliament shed tears.
But the government survived. Not a single parliamentarian has been
punished till date. Was this not akin to treason? Isn’t trading of
parliamentarians considered as treason? How can I respect such
parliamentarians?
Microphones have been uprooted and thrown innumerable times in the
parliament. Chairs are hurled at each other. How can I respect such
parliamentarians? On one hand 8 Bills are passed without discussion in
17 minutes and on the other hand, there is daily disruption by
parliamentarians which results in parliamentary business being
stalled.
The nation is struggling against corruption and price rise. Common man
is finding survival difficult. Farmers are committing suicides.
Whistleblowers against corruption are being murdered. People are
writhing. On these issues the parliament is either quiet or semantics
are delivered. These problems which have beset our nation for years
have not been addressed. As a thumb-rule, there is no unanimity in the
parliament on these issues. The issues linger on in standing
committees, people writhe in agony.
Oddly, on any issue regarding parliamentarians all parties unite. When
a parliamentarian among them Shri Sharad Pawar is slapped, (slapping
was wrong, should not have been slapped) all parliamentarians writhed.
All parties got united. All leaders denounced this for two hours.
Whenever there is an issue of increase of allowance to
parliamentarians, their comforts, perks, we see instant unanimity
among parties. All parties unite against the use of an idiom (Chor kii
daadhii me tinkaa). This tiny idiom hurt the parties so much that
parliament discussed this issue for hours. All these instances force
us to contemplate – aren’t a few parliamentarians more concerned about
their self-interests rather than the people?
Along with parliament, legislative assemblies too are temples of
democracy. In such a temple if some legislature and the child & women
development minister of that state watch porn publicly, please tell me
how can I respect such legislatures?
Its not that this parliament doesn’t have good parliamentarians. Many
good parliamentarians exist. And I respect them immensely. But the
voice of such good parliamentarians is drowned in the cacophony of the
parliament.
I have raised a few fundamental questions on the notice received to my
statement. The same constitution that gives powers to parliamentarians
to enact laws gives the people the power to ask questions to the
parliamentarians. Questions are raised weather the parliament that is
comprised of so many criminally tainted parliamentarians can ever
enact an efficient law to end crime? If the parliament which is
comprised of so many people with corruption charges can ever enact a
good anti-corruption law. A law which, if enacted will create problems
for some parliamentarians? During the Jan Lokpal movement, the people
of this country came down to the streets demanding an effective law.
People have started asking questions when the government and the
parliament seemed reluctant to enact such a law. People have a
question whether Jan Lokpal Bill will be enacted?
All these make it clear that the parliament is insulted not by
me but continuously by a few people sitting inside. By those on whom
the people put their faith and future. I just stated the facts. I have
not stated anything wrong. I just raised the queries of the people. If
in the eyes of your law, I am guilty, I am ready to be punished under
such a law. If you find me guilty under your law, my request would be
to give me an opportunity to present myself in person to air my views.
With regards
Arvind Kejriwal
403, Girnar, Kaushambi
Gaziabad, Uttar Pradesh****
** **
Shri Mukul Pande
Director
Rajya Sabha Secretariat
I have received the notices sent by you from Sri Rajniti Prasad and
Prof Ramkripal Yadav in which I am accused of insulting the
Parliament.
I unequivocally deny that I have insulted the parliament in either
speech or deed. I respect parliament immensely. I revere the
parliament immensely. I consider parliament as a temple of democracy.
For these reasons, I am immensely worried and pained that this temple
of democracy is insulted very often by the speech and deeds of a few
people who sit inside the parliament. Various facts and instances show
that parliament is insulted by a few people sitting inside the
parliament rather than by people outside. I respect the parliament,
many good parliamentarians, but find myself unable to respect a few
parliamentarians.
Recently, a movie called ‘Pan Singh Tomar” was released. A dialogue
from this film says rebels live in outback and dacoits live in
parliament. I watched this film three times. The audience clapped
whenever the hero uttered this dialogue. I was immensely pained each
time I listened to the ovation. Why is that when the hero referred to
dacoits in parliament, people felt that he was reflecting the
sentiments of the people of this nation. Its worth contemplating as to
what went wrong that the people of this nation have such an anger and
disdain towards people sitting in parliament? Who is responsible for
this impression about the parliament? The people of this nation or the
people sitting in parliament? The respect of parliamentarians is not
diminished by what is said about them. Their respect is commanded by
their conduct and behavior.
The present Lok Sabha has 162 parliamentarians on whom 522 criminal
issues are lodged. Out of these, 76 are heinous crimes. Murder cases
on 14, attempt to murder cases on 20, fraud charges on 11, kidnapping
charges on 13. In addition to these, there are many parliamentarians
on whom corruption charges are lodged. Ex; Shriyuts Suresh Kalmadi, A
Raja, Smt Kanimozhi, Lalu Prasad Yadav, Mulayam Singh Yadav etc., If
Jan LokPal would have been in existence, then a few more would have
been charge sheeted. In this context please enlighten me weather the
presence of such people enhances the dignity of parliament or reduces
it? A few of the above are such that one would rather avoid inviting
them to their homes for marriages and festivals. Is not the parliament
insulted by the presence of such parliamentarians?
Why were such people given tickets? All parties pro-actively give
tickets to people with criminal backgrounds and each successive
election has seen an increase in them getting elected. In 2004
elections, 128 people in Lok Sabha were with criminal backgrounds. In
2009 elections their number went up to 162. By this progression, the
day is not far when the majority of the parliament will consist of
people with criminal background. Hence, we should not be surprised
when the audience gives an ovation to the hero who says dacoits are in
parliament.
All parties are responsible for bringing the parliament to this. In
2009, Congress gave tickets to 117 people with criminal background,
out of which 44 got elected. BJP gave tickets to 116 people with
criminal background, out of which 44 got elected. Other parties too
have proactively given tickets to the tainted. The court has charge
sheeted a good many of them with heinous crimes. What was the
compulsion of these parties? Did not the parties insult the parliament
by giving them tickets? Should not the parties be punished for
insulting the parliament?
It is being said that presently, they are merely accused. Charges have
not been proved in court. The case is pending. My answer to this is
that these cases will never end. A single judgment takes more than
thirty years in this country to be pronounced. Why is our country’s
justice delivery mechanism so lethargic and procrastinating? The
parliamentarians were supposed to correct this anomaly. Why didn’t
they correct it in the last 65 years? Was it not done on purpose? Was
it because if it was corrected, swift justice delivery would have been
possible and most of such people would be incarcerated in jails? Is
not the doubt strengthened then that, till such time these people sit
in parliament, our justice delivery mechanism will not be reformed? Is
not the apprehension valid that till such time people like these are
in parliament, crime will not come down in our country? Please tell me
how can I respect parliamentarians like these?
Its correct that these people are merely charged at present. The
charges are not yet proven. Cases are pending. It is possible that
twenty years later, the courts may pronounce them innocent.
Alternatively, it is also possible that twenty years later, many of
these may be held guilty by the court. In such a scenario, isn’t this
a cause for immense worry that this nation’s laws were framed by
murderers, kidnappers and fraudsters? You say that I have insulted the
parliament. I respect the parliament immensely but can you explain to
me the rationale of respecting such parliamentarians.
There was a parliament in which Shri Lalbahadur Shastri resigned in
the wake of a single train accident. One feels the urge to submit
everything at the altar of such a parliament. But how can I respect a
parliament with the present composition?
On 29th December 2011, during the Lokpal Bill discussion, RJD
parliamentarian Shri Rajniti Prasad snatched the Bill from the hands
of the Hon’ble minister, tore it and threw it. Was not the parliament
insulted by this act? If we see parliament as a temple of democracy,
isn’t the presiding deity insulted by tearing the Gita in such a
temple? It was too much that not a single parliamentarian stood up to
protest this tearing of the Bill. The chairperson too was mute. Why
this speechlessness by those who swear by the parliament? This was not
the first such instance. Many bills have been torn in this temple of
democracy. But not one person has been punished ever. Don’t you think
that Shri Rajniti Prasad should be punished severely for tearing away
the Bill inside parliament? Such an exemplary punishment that no
parliamentarian dare ever to tear away any bill inside the parliament
in the future.
Rajya Sabha has many industrialist parliamentarians who have no
connection whatsoever to people or public service. A good many
industrialists enter the Rajya Sabha in the wake of their money-power
and tickets given by various parties. People like these misuse the
parliament to further their industry. Shri Vijay Mallya is the owner
of Kingfisher. It is not known that he has done any public service. He
is the member of the parliamentary standing committee on civil
aviation. He decides the civil aviation policy of this nation. So, it
is but natural that he will frame such policies that benefit
Kingfisher enormously. Isn’t this a direct misuse of parliament? Rajya
Sabha has a cluster of such parliamentarians who misuse the parliament
directly to further the cause of their respective industries. Isn’t
this misuse of parliament an insult to the parliament?
Cash for Questions in parliament came to light. This was a grave
insult to parliament. But such parliamentarians were merely sacked.
Giving or taking bribe is a criminal offence. Such people ought to
have been jailed when proven guilty. The fact that they were sacked
demonstrates that they were guilty. Why weren’t they jailed? Why were
they let off by mere sacking? For such a grave insult to the
parliament, if they were to be exemplarily punished, future
parliamentarians would not have dared to try insulting parliament
again. Since they were let off lightly, the 2008 open horse-trading of
parliamentarians was repeated. People saw buying and selling of
parliamentarians in the holy temple of democracy. The collective
conscience of the nation cried. Democracy wept. Parliament shed tears.
But the government survived. Not a single parliamentarian has been
punished till date. Was this not akin to treason? Isn’t trading of
parliamentarians considered as treason? How can I respect such
parliamentarians?
Microphones have been uprooted and thrown innumerable times in the
parliament. Chairs are hurled at each other. How can I respect such
parliamentarians? On one hand 8 Bills are passed without discussion in
17 minutes and on the other hand, there is daily disruption by
parliamentarians which results in parliamentary business being
stalled.
The nation is struggling against corruption and price rise. Common man
is finding survival difficult. Farmers are committing suicides.
Whistleblowers against corruption are being murdered. People are
writhing. On these issues the parliament is either quiet or semantics
are delivered. These problems which have beset our nation for years
have not been addressed. As a thumb-rule, there is no unanimity in the
parliament on these issues. The issues linger on in standing
committees, people writhe in agony.
Oddly, on any issue regarding parliamentarians all parties unite. When
a parliamentarian among them Shri Sharad Pawar is slapped, (slapping
was wrong, should not have been slapped) all parliamentarians writhed.
All parties got united. All leaders denounced this for two hours.
Whenever there is an issue of increase of allowance to
parliamentarians, their comforts, perks, we see instant unanimity
among parties. All parties unite against the use of an idiom (Chor kii
daadhii me tinkaa). This tiny idiom hurt the parties so much that
parliament discussed this issue for hours. All these instances force
us to contemplate – aren’t a few parliamentarians more concerned about
their self-interests rather than the people?
Along with parliament, legislative assemblies too are temples of
democracy. In such a temple if some legislature and the child & women
development minister of that state watch porn publicly, please tell me
how can I respect such legislatures?
Its not that this parliament doesn’t have good parliamentarians. Many
good parliamentarians exist. And I respect them immensely. But the
voice of such good parliamentarians is drowned in the cacophony of the
parliament.
I have raised a few fundamental questions on the notice received to my
statement. The same constitution that gives powers to parliamentarians
to enact laws gives the people the power to ask questions to the
parliamentarians. Questions are raised weather the parliament that is
comprised of so many criminally tainted parliamentarians can ever
enact an efficient law to end crime? If the parliament which is
comprised of so many people with corruption charges can ever enact a
good anti-corruption law. A law which, if enacted will create problems
for some parliamentarians? During the Jan Lokpal movement, the people
of this country came down to the streets demanding an effective law.
People have started asking questions when the government and the
parliament seemed reluctant to enact such a law. People have a
question whether Jan Lokpal Bill will be enacted?
All these make it clear that the parliament is insulted not by
me but continuously by a few people sitting inside. By those on whom
the people put their faith and future. I just stated the facts. I have
not stated anything wrong. I just raised the queries of the people. If
in the eyes of your law, I am guilty, I am ready to be punished under
such a law. If you find me guilty under your law, my request would be
to give me an opportunity to present myself in person to air my views.
With regards
Arvind Kejriwal
403, Girnar, Kaushambi
Gaziabad, Uttar Pradesh****
** **
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