Former MPs have told Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan to utilise their talents and experience of having worked in the government as Union ministers and functioned as state governors besides being mem
Former MPs have told Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan to utilise their talents and experience of having worked in the government as Union ministers and functioned as state governors besides being members of the two Houses.
At an annual meeting of the Indian Parliamentary Group (IPG) called by the Speaker — the group’s chairperson, their main complaint was that they were not being involved either in parliamentary work or in the government, despite their experience and willingness to work for the nation.
Those who took part in the deliberations include former MPs J.K. Jain, John Fernandes, Brahmadev Anand Paswan, Pradeep Gandhi, as well as sitting Rajya Sabha member Renuka Chowdhury.
While some members suggested that the IPG should meet at least four time a year, especially during the three sessions of Parliament, others drew Ms Mahajan’s attention to how it does not have an office or staff.
The IPG is an autonomous body formed in 1949 in accordance with a motion adopted by the Constituent Assembly on 16 August, 1948.
Some members said former MPs face problems with accommodation in the national capital when they come for meetings or work as rooms in Western Court were not easily allotted to them even after they produce their identity cards. Others also complained of difficulties in getting railway reservations.
“We are senior citizens, above 70-years-old, and we can’t travel from our village to a tehsil merely for reserving tickets. We should get a confirmed ticket after showing ID cards to the TT, the facility available to sitting MPs,” they said.
They also complained that district collectors and police superintendents do not pick up telephone calls that they make on public issues.
“Today, we may be ex-MPs but that does not mean we cannot become MPs in the future. Ex-MPs should not be treated as second class citizens,” they said.
Ms Mahajan assured them that they would be allotted a full-fledged office with staff in the Parliament House Complex and that more meetings of the IPG would be called.
Veteran leader L.K. Advani, former Union minister and Lok Sabha Speaker Shivraj Patil and others attended the meeting.
