Editorial
What a unity!
The question of morality and propriety cannot be overlooked
WHEN during the last fifteen years MPs belonging to different political parties could not reach consensus in matters of national interest, here they are united now in defence of a material gain. They have resolved to resist the government's move to have them vacate the Nam flats they have been occupying as MPs -- even after 17 months of the dissolution of the last parliament.
There are several matters of public interest connected with this issue that draw our attention.
There is the legal side of questionable validity that the ex-MPs are basing their arguments on to hold on to the flats that they were allotted and which they were authorised by the parliamentary house committee to retain 'till the gazette notification of the 9th parliament is published'
Under normal circumstances the election to 9th parliament should have been completed within three months of the dissolution of the previous one ushering in the new parliament. That having not been possible, for whatever reason, and will not be possible till next December, is there any moral ground to retain the accommodation? One could well ask as to what service are the ex-lawmakers rendering to the public that they should enjoy the benefits of a facility and that too at a nominal cost. After all, the erstwhile legislators are not drawing any other benefits after the end of the tenure of the 8th Parliament.
There is no denying that the members of the parliament are entitled to appropriate accommodation when the assembly is in session. But this not tenable morally when the parliament stood dissolved for more than one and a half years. Former MPs are not homeless, they are highly established people to be able to fend themselves off.
People's representatives are there to look after the interest of the people. And indeed, they deserve perks and benefits to the extent a poor country like ours can afford. Regrettably, many of the benefits were misused by them. The MPs owe to the state crores in unpaid telephone bills and electricity charges. Many duty-free vehicles have been sold off.
What moral lessons the people will draw when those who are looked upon as the standard-bearers of morality and propriety in society set such negative examples of unethical and self-serving behaviour.
Let the lawmakers' conscience be their guide.
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