Noting the disconnect between public and their elected representatives the world over, law makers from India and the UK have underlined the need to restore respect and faith of people on the politicians.
There is a need to restore the faith of public in their elected representatives, the lawmakers said at a day-long forum of a UK delegation and Indian parliamentarians organised by O P Jindal Global University at Haryana's Sonepat district yesterday.
The meeting also discussed issues like role of civil society, working of Parliamentary select and standing committees, criminalisation of politics, funding of political parties, proper working of monitoring institutions like CAG and relative roles of public and private sector, a university spokesman said here today.
Baroness Royall of Blaisdon, Shadow Leader of the House of Lords, noted that legislations are often badly drafted and stressed the need for greater pre-and post-legislative scrutiny.
Nigel Evans, Deputy Speaker, House of Commons, observed that IT revolution has posed a great challenge to the way India and the UK governed themselves.
Haryana Legislative Assembly Speaker Kuldeep Sharma noted that public policy and good governance emanate from legislatures but expressed concern over the fact that a lot of valuable time in legislatures is often lost in discussing matters "which should not be discussed".
He observed that a churning process is going on in the Indian system and that public policy is at cross roads.
Referring to Anna Hazare's and Ramdev's recent anti- corruption agitations, Sharma said public policy or laws cannot be made on streets.
Stating that the government cannot allow the civil society to hijack issues, he urged the legislators to introspect on why they have become vulnerable and stressed the need for them to work hard.
The 10-member U K Commonwealth Parliamentary Association delegation was led by Baroness Royall of Blaisdon (Labour), shadow leader of the House of Lords.