Parliamentary Obstructionism

Deliberations & discussions lie at the core of parliamentary conduct & proceedings. Engaging the opposition & giving reasonable consideration to the counter view, these are the basic tenants of any democracy. The parliament represents the will of the people of the country. Parliament is the forum where topics relating to governance & policy are discussed in depth. It's the role of the opposition to hold the government accountable. It's a forum where legislative business is carried out & laws are framed.
In a democracy, it's the sovereign right of the opposition to question the government of the day. The beauty of democracy is in its opposition within the constitutional framework. In Indian context, the opposition often tends to deviate from the constitutional role assigned to it. Here in india we see that it's not opposition but it's obstruction. Political considerations often undermine national considerations in the Indian context. The insurance bill introduced by the UPA was opposed by the BJP. Now the same bill is opposed by the Congress when BJP has introduced it. The same case goes with the Land Acquisition Act. In the 13th, 14th & 15th Lok Sabha, opposition to any legislative business has purely been on political grounds. Literally the sessions of parliament have been washed off. Thanks to few rowdies who create pandemonium in the well of the house. Creation of Telangana, which was a major political issue, finally was formed after a bitter display of political fighting where pepper was sprayed in the house. Land Acquisition Act of 2013 is considered to be a major hurdle by the defence & corporates. But the opposition to it is being done on political grounds & not after meticulous examination of the bill. Insofar as this bill is concerned, a lot can be said for & against but finally it's the experience of 2013 bill which has raised questions about the suitability of this bill. The amendments sought in this bill may not necessarily make it a class act but it surely promises to undo the damage inflicted to investment by the current bill.
The fundamental point here is that opposition in india is often driven by political considerations than national considerations. More or less both the national parties are equally a party to this tradition. But here too, we've seen exceptions where the opposition & the government have worked hand & hand for the larger national interest. The passage of the Lokpal Bill (though under the pressure from civil society) is a laudable example of it. Vajpayee representing India at the UN as the Leader of Opposition is also a high point in our indian parliamentary democracy. But these are just a few stray examples & not the tradition.
It would sincerely be in our national interest that bills are opposed or supported by judging its merits rather than the petty political dividends which the parties may get. It's essential that the decorum & protocols are maintained. Indian parliament represents the conscience of the people of india. The disconnect between the people & the parliament has raised a question in my mind. Is Indian mentality reflected in parliament OR is the parliament a representative of the Indian mentality?
Think over it!