This ‘Parliament’ session was sans boycotts and squabbles

It was a Parliament session; but unlike a typical Parliament session in the Centre, there were no shouting of slogans, no charging to the well of the House, no tearing of documents and, most importantly, no boycotts. Rather there was good discussion of issues, debates and a rare decorum followed with precision.

All this took place when the Political Science students of SJC came together to hold a mock session of the Parliament here on Monday, January 10.

The programme was inaugurated by Principal, Fr Ambrose Pinto. The major attraction of the event was that the students enacted the roles of President, Vice-President, Speaker, Prime Minister, Opposition Party members etc. Typical Parliament logistics were in place as the ruling and the opposition party members sat on either side of the House.

“For the first time in our country an indigenous Influenza A H1N1 vaccine is being developed which will be available this year,” said the President in his presidential address. He said that food security could be ensured only through sustained effort at increasing agricultural productivity combined with a comprehensive reform of the Public Distribution System and open market intervention. He also added that India should keep a constant watch and innovate against global terrorist groups. “My Government is committed in ensuring early passage of Women’s Reservation Bill which was introduced in the Rajya Sabha in May 2008. I would urge you to accord special attention to this critical proposal,” said the President, Keshav of III HEP.

Rise in food price, skyrocketing of onion and garlic price, people dying of cold weather conditions and left wing extremism in North-east part of the country were some of the issues that were raised during motion of thanks event. The Prime Minister (Vanissa, III EPS) and the Home Minister (Thejaswini, III HEP) responded to the questions saying that the rise in price of food items was everywhere in the world and it was the same in India as well. The Prime Minister also said that the present scarcity of onion was a creation by certain retailers who had hoarded large quantity of onion. He also added that Government had decided to avail services from the NGOs to rescue people who were suffering from extreme cold.

Regarding the Naxal issues, the Home Minister defended saying that the Government was holding discussions with all the groups, and in addition to this, the Government had also dispatched additional para-military forces to these states.

“The main objective of the event was to develop interest in national issues among the students. Next time when they read a news story with national importance, they would soon re-collect it as they have enacted it,” said P E Somaiah, programme coordinator and faculty member of Political Science department.

The students were found actively participating in the event. “It was a beautiful experience and we had the feeling that we were in the Parliament,” said Karthik of I EPS, a member of the model Parliament programme.

- Navami S, I M S Com