Panaji: Mr Shantaram Naik, Rajya Sabha MP introduced three Private Members Bills in the Rajya Sabha; one of them proposing to amend the Tenth Schedule of the Constitution to provide that if a member of a House makes derogatory or defamatory statement with respect to the political party which had set the member as its candidates and/or makes derogatory and defamatory statement with respect to the key office-bearers of the party, thereby undermining the prestige of the party in the eyes of the members of the public or otherwise, conducts in a manner indicating that he has severed his relationship with the party, such member, shall be deemed to have voluntarily given up membership of his party, so that such member can be disqualified. In the Statement of Objects and Reasons annexed to the bill, Mr. Naik has said that “The Tenth Schedule of the Constitution of India, which is popularly known as “Anti-Defection” law has been amended to ban defection of Members of Parliament and state assemblies and councils. Undoubtedly, menace of defection has been curbed to a great extent on account of the amendment. But, there are those who do not hesitate to betray the political parties on the pedestal of which they built their careers. As the law stands today, if a member of a political party defies the directions given to the member in favours of the proposal of the party in respective Houses, no doubt, the member can be disqualified.

“However, if the Member openly associates with other political parties and/or citizens, the political party of which he/she is a Member or makes defamatory allegation against its office-bearers or other leaders, the political party cannot take any action except to expel such member from the party. In this case, the member becomes an unattached member of the concerned house. He becomes a free bird, retaining his membership, all facilities attached to it with full freedom to criticize the political party of which he/she was a member until recently, openly, to utter embarrassment of the party.’’ “It is, therefore, necessary that the Tenth Schedule should be further amended to disqualify all the members who openly associate with other political parties and/or openly criticize the party, its office bearers and other leaders with defamatory statements. Such actions on the part of a Member of a political party amounts to voluntary giving up membership of that political party and should be treated as such.’’

It is, therefore, that the proposed amendment provides that if a member of a House makes derogatory or defamatory statement with respect to the political party which had set the member as its candidates and/or makes derogatory and defamatory statement with respect to the key office-bearers of the party, thereby undermining the prestige of the party in the eyes of the members of the public or otherwise conduct in a manner indicating that he has severed his relationship with the party, such member shall be deemed to have voluntarily given up membership of his party” Through another Constitutional Amendment bill, Mr. Naik has proposed to make Education as a subject under the Union List. Mr. Naik says, “nowadays, education is treated as an instrument of eradication of poverty. Despite the subject being in concurrent list, thousands of crores of rupees are earmarked every year for education under various central schemes

There is a National Education Policy which governs various educational activities in the country. NCERT plays a vital role in giving direction to the educational activities in the country by framing National Curriculum of Education.”

“Further, moulding of young generation is done through the instrumentality of education. And, if that be so, than the young generation should be molded in an uniform manner. Level of knowledge, information and capabilities have also, substantially to be same.” .

“The concept of Indianness can better be achieved if there is substantial uniformity in education and, the agency responsible for the spread of education is a centralized one, committed to national objectives,” Mr. Naik says in his statement.

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