I learnt a naked truth this week: most of our Parliamentarians do not represent all Mauritians though they are elected with votes coming from different sections of the community. They either represent a community, a clan, or worse still, a caste.

This week, in the august assembly, some MPs described themselves as representatives of a particular community and overshadowed serious debates on a serious issue like the Time Bill to talk about “attacks on acquired rights” of their co-religionists when there isn’t any such thing happening in the country. One of them even threatened “not to tolerate” any such thing in a free flow of unwarranted vituperative remarks. The behaviour of these MPs was out and out communal and does not augur well for the country.

Their remarks can easily lead to sterile discussions among some of their blind followers and even push others, in other communities who refuse to reason, to take the law in their hands.

I view the stand taken by the MPs as irresponsible. I won't even be surprised if one day another MP stands up and proudly proclaims “I'm so and so community or caste, and so and so religion, before being a Mauritian.”
I think MPs must show some restraint on what they say.

They have to be aware that an ill-considered word or remark can lead to misinterpretations and conflicts. I do not think they have to play to the gallery to please a handful few. It's time they shed their parochial outlook and worked towards what's best for all and not for a few.

I also think the population must learn to get rid of all such politicians who wallow in communal mud and enjoy making a mountain of a molehill. This country needs decision makers who can think, breathe and act as Mauritians. Efficiency, effectiveness and competency must take precedence over all other considerations in the choice of those who are called to be MPs.