It is a pity that someone as seasoned as BSP president Mayawati should have attempted to censure vice-president and Rajya Sabha Chairman Hamid Ansari on Wednesday for not managing House discipline so that legislative work does not suffer.
This is particularly regrettable as Ms Mayawati has the experience of having been chief minister and a member of Parliament in an era in which legislative practice is not adorned by the highest standards of decorum. She ought to know how legislators’ unbecoming conduct often leaves presiding officers helpless.
From the time Mr Ansari became Chairman of the Upper House five years ago, he has struggled to ensure that business is conducted with as little disruption as possible and has even tried innovation. Some parties haven’t liked this strictness and have accused the Chairman of being bureaucratic, although observers have appreciated his ways.
Contrary to the BSP leader’s charge, presiding officers in both Houses have traditionally risen once papers are laid to attend to their duties outside the House, and their deputies take charge. If Ms Mayawati is aggrieved that her pet legislation is not being considered due to the chaos in Parliament, she should appeal to her politician colleagues. Let parties get together to change the rules to give presiding officers more powers to control the House. But in the interim let them not take it out on the Chairman. Given what’s happened, the right thing to do would be to apologise. But these days that may be too much to expect.