13 July 2022

Gajalakshmi Paramasivam

 

TAMIL MP SHANAKIYAN HAS DISMISSED HIMSELF

I was appalled by the uncouth speech by Mr Shanakiyan against PM Ranil Wickremesinghe – to the Protestors. at ரணில் அடுத்த ஜனாதிபதியாவதை யாரும் தடுக்கேலா - சாணக்கியன் அதிரடி அறிவிப்பு | #shanakiyan |#colombo - YouTube

 

Article 40 (1) of the constitution provides as follows:

[40. (1)

(a) If the office of President shall become vacant prior to the expiration of his term of office, Parliament shall elect as President one of its Members who is qualified to be elected to the office of President. Any person so succeeding to the office of President shall hold office only for the unexpired period of the term of office of the President vacating office.

(b) Such election shall be held as soon as possible after, and in no case later than one month from, the date of, occurrence of the vacancy. Such election shall be by secret ballot and by an absolute majority of the votes cast in accordance with such procedure as Parliament may by law provide: Provided that if such vacancy occurs after the dissolution of Parliament, the President shall be elected by the new Parliament within one month of its first meeting.]

As per my observation, Mr Sumanthiran was also present in the crowd. The speech was stated to be to the Protestors. When protestors are directly influenced by Politicians – it renders the Protest morally invalid. As a member of Parliament, Mr Shanakiyan has the position duty to be independent of the protestors and operate within the constitutional requirements. The unwritten rule of the above article is that no member of Parliament should influence others who have the duty to remain independent of those outside their political group.  Influencing the Public to protest is the reason for dismissal. Using the protestors demand as their law, Mr Shanakiyan has renounced his own position to become a protestor! One cannot be a lay protestor and a member of Parliament at the same time.