GREATEST STRENGTH OF INDIAN DEMOCRACY:THE DIGNITY OF PARLIAMENT AND THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE OPPOSITION-DEVAAND SINGH

GREATEST STRENGTH OF INDIAN DEMOCRACY:THE DIGNITY OF PARLIAMENT AND THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE OPPOSITION-DEVAAND SINGH

28-JULY-ENG 13

RAJIV NAYAN AGRAWAL

ARA--------------------------The greatest strength of Indian democracy is its Parliament. It is here that laws are enacted, the government is held accountable, and serious deliberations take place regarding the issues faced by the public. Parliament is not merely a platform for the ruling party; rather, the opposition It is equally a major responsibility to hold the government accountable based on facts and arguments. However, if constant uproar, sloganeering, and the disruption of proceedings become the primary modes of protest in Parliament—replacing actual debate—then it is democracy and the people of the country who suffer the greatest loss.

A similar situation unfolded once again in both the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha on Monday. Proceedings had to be repeatedly adjourned due to persistent opposition protests. Consequently, scheduled discussions on significant bills—such as the ‘Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026’ and the ‘Prevention of Insults to National Honour (Amendment) Bill, 2026’—could not take place. This must be viewed as a failure not just of the government, but of the entire House.

It must be acknowledged that opposition protest is a completely legitimate and democratic right. If there are objections to a bill, disagreements with its provisions, or questions regarding the government's intent, the opposition should raise these issues vigorously. However, in a parliamentary democracy, the most effective tool is debate, not disruption. Halting parliamentary proceedings neither leads to better laws nor resolves the public's concerns.

Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla and the presiding officers of the Rajya Sabha repeatedly appealed to members to return to their seats and participate in the discussion. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju also noted that a large number of notices regarding amendments and discussions on the bills had been received. This clearly indicates that an opportunity for debate was available. Given this, the opposition's decision to shun debate in favor of uproar raises questions about its strategy.

Public money is spent on every minute of parliamentary proceedings. When the House is repeatedly adjourned, it is not merely time that is wasted; legislative work concerning crores of citizens is also adversely affected. The people elect their representatives not to shout slogans, but to effectively voice their concerns within the House. The true strength of the opposition lies in its arguments, facts, and the tough questions it poses to the government—not in the constant disruption of proceedings. However, a balanced perspective also suggests that the government cannot absolve itself of responsibility simply by blaming the opposition. It is incumbent upon the ruling party to allocate sufficient time to the opposition, listen seriously to their objections, and foster an atmosphere of dialogue regarding sensitive issues. Avoiding dialogue leads to confrontation; therefore, cooperation from both sides is essential for healthy parliamentary traditions.

Nevertheless, when time has been allotted for discussion in the House, the Speaker has urged for a debate, and the opposition has ample opportunity to present its views, persistent uproarious behavior cannot be considered consistent with democratic decorum. In a democracy, the most effective way to hold the government accountable is through fact-based debate within Parliament, not by bringing its proceedings to a standstill.

The need of the hour is for the ruling party to be more open to dialogue and for the opposition to channel its dissent constructively. The dignity of Parliament can only be upheld if both the ruling party and the opposition recognize that while they are indeed rivals, they are also partners in democracy.

Dissent is the soul of democracy; however, if such dissent prevents Parliament from functioning, the ultimate loss is not the government's, but that of democracy and the people of the country. This is the message that emerges most clearly from the current circumstances.