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NEW DELHI: Former Prime Minister and Rajya Sabha MP H D Deve Gowda on Monday wrote a letter to Congress MP Sonia Gandhi expressing concern over what he described as “chaos” inside Parliament and its premises. In his letter, Gowda shared that he had been “greatly disturbed” by developments in Parliament, which he attributed primarily to opposition parties. The former PM also added that Parliament, in the recent times, had seen excessive disruptions.“I have been greatly disturbed by a certain chaos that has been unthinkingly introduced inside Parliament, and in its larger premises, primarily by the Opposition parties,” Gowda wrote.
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He cautioned that such actions could have wider implications for democratic institutions. “I am not sure if you visualize the consequences of such unchecked activity and circulation of negative energy. I honestly feel, it may immensely harm the foundations of our democracy and leave a trail of indelible bitterness,” he said.Gowda said he had initially refrained from writing as he hoped the situation would resolve on its own. “The reason I was not too sure of writing to you earlier was because I thought things may settle down with the wisdom of time. But, am afraid, I see no signs of correction,” he said.Urging Sonia Gandhi to intervene, the former Prime Minister appealed to her seniority and experience in the opposition ranks. “I do not wish to put down anybody, or curtail anybody’s role or enthusiasm. But I urge you, who is the eldest in the ranks of the Opposition, to speak to your party leaders and others, drawing from the wealth of your political experience and maturity,” he wrote.Gowda also reflected on his long political career, saying he had spent most of his public life in the Opposition. “You are aware that I started my career at the grassroots of our democratic institutions, and have spent, in all, 65 years of my life as a legislator and parliamentarian. This may well turn out to be the last parliamentary session of my life,” he wrote.He also said Parliament in recent times had seen excessive disruptions. “Parliament in recent times has witnessed an excess of slogan-shouting, display of placards and name-calling. There has been an attitude of non-seriousness, which has assaulted my very idea and construct of Parliament and parliamentary democracy,” Gowda wrote.He said Gandhi could ask opposition leaders to reconsider their approach to protests in Parliament. “You can perhaps ask them not to harm themselves, their cause and their political futures in the long run,” Gowda said.Stressing that protests are a legitimate part of parliamentary democracy, Gowda said they must be conducted in a way that does not “dismantle what we have build together in over 75 glorious years”.
