Kalyani Shankar
Communication between the Modi government and the Opposition has broken down, as evidenced by the turbulent proceedings in Parliament last week. There have been no back-channel negotiations to resolve the paralysis.
The protests intensified on Monday, when Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla announced that the Leader of Opposition, Rahul Gandhi, could not read from a magazine containing an excerpt from a book by retired General Manoj Mukund Naravane, citing Parliamentary rules.
This breakdown in dialogue culminated with the Lok Sabha being adjourned for the day last Wednesday, precluding the Prime Minister from delivering his usual reply to the motion of thanks to the President’s speech. This was unprecedented in Parliament’s history: the Prime Minister could not speak in the lower House on the President’s address, underscoring the seriousness of the disruptions.
Opposition Members of both Houses of Parliament protested, especially in the Lok Sabha. These protests caused the Lower House to be adjourned several times, often just minutes after it reconvened. During the protests, members chanted slogans, entered the Well of the House, and held banners and placards in front of the Speaker. They also held a demonstration outside Parliament.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi was unable to enter the House because opposition women MPs had positioned themselves near his seat in Lok Sabha
Speaker Om Birla later clarified the following day that he had advised the Prime Minister to avoid the House due to concerns over potential disruptions near his seat. He stated, “When the Prime Minister was scheduled to respond to the President’s address, I had received indications that some Congress members might attempt to create a disturbance close to the PM’s chair. Such actions could undermine our democratic traditions. To prevent this, I felt it was necessary to advise the Prime Minister not to attend the House. As the presiding officer, it is my duty to safeguard these traditions.”
Women Members of Parliament obstructed the aisle near the Prime Minister’s seat just before his arrival, highlighting the active role of opposition women MPs in the disruptions.
In a related note, Rahul Gandhi commented on a memoir by a retired army chief that has yet to be released. This memoir, written by General Naravane in March 2023, is slated for publication in December. General Naravane was widely recognised for his integrity.
Overall, Parliament faced significant disruption due to repeated adjournments. This chaos highlights the challenges in maintaining parliamentary decorum and the importance of respectful debate for effective governance. In the early days, there were some very good debates.
The following day, the Prime Minister spoke extensively about his government, highlighting its accomplishments and various initiatives it had launched in the Rajya Sabha. He addressed India’s position in global affairs and its increasing influence on the world stage. The Prime Minister praised his 11 years in office while also strongly criticising the Nehru-Gandhi family and their failure to develop the country effectively. It was more like an election speech full of punchlines.
Members of Parliament (MPs) often make noise in Parliament to protest and get media attention. Their actions include rushing to the well of the House, shouting slogans, holding up signs, and, at times, even tearing up the bill. This behaviour reflects deep political divisions and a shift toward confrontational politics.
There has been a noticeable increase in time lost to disruptions and in the costs of running Parliament. It costs 2.5 lakhs a minute, 1.5 crores an hour, and Rs 9 crore per day of taxpayers’ money, highlighting the financial impact of disruptions on public resources.
According to NDTV, the losses continue to add up even when the Houses are adjourned, with expenses including the running cost of the high-tech Parliament building, staff salaries and expenditure on the security detail, among others.
Disruptions in Parliament not only hinder government accountability and limit meaningful discussion but also delay the passage of crucial laws, affecting public welfare and policy implementation, which underscores the urgent need for reforms.
Many committees have suggested reforms for Parliament, and have emphasised their potential to believe in positive change and support necessary improvements. In a Parliamentary democracy, frequent disruptions not only hinder legislative progress but also erode public trust and weaken democratic legitimacy.
To address this, we need electoral reforms to improve the quality of elected representatives. We should also encourage better understanding among political parties, using both formal and informal methods. By increasing public awareness of Parliament’s role and how disruptions can harm the public interest, we can reduce these disturbances.
Parliamentary standing committees, like those in countries such as the UK and Canada, have successfully mediated conflicts and improved decorum through structured dialogue and conflict resolution. Including these examples can motivate support for similar reforms and demonstrate their effectiveness in strengthening parliamentary functioning.
The reforms should be implemented sooner rather than later, with political cooperation. Pragmatism in politics will be essential to restore faith and ensure the smooth functioning of Parliament. Above all, the Parliament has to conduct discussions. Crores of citizens have sent the members to Lok Sabha for ventilating their grievances. A non functioning Parliament is a blur on democracy. (IPA )
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