Congress MP Sukhdev Bhagat launched a scathing attack on efforts to drown out opposition in Parliament, terming it a perilous assault on democratic norms. He praised the orderly session on Tuesday that extended to 8 PM, urging replication to ventilate public grievances effectively.
Insisting that the House represents the nation’s collective will, Bhagat condemned the suppression of dissenting views. The ruling party must honor its obligation to grant the opposition unfettered speech, he said, as this embodies parliamentary ethos and democratic sanctity.
When the Chair operates with an eye on the government’s ease, interruptions are inevitable, Bhagat observed. He advocated for impartial stewardship to maintain procedural integrity.
In high-stakes scenarios like no-trust votes, the Speaker’s role transcends legal bounds into moral imperatives. Upholding constitutional reverence and traditions is essential; protecting power at democracy’s expense is untenable.
Bhagat didn’t spare Delhi’s infrastructure malaise. A 30-year-old’s fatal plunge into Rohini Sector-32’s open sewer echoed the Jahangirpuri pothole death. ‘Our capital’s plight is a national shame—what hope for elsewhere?’ he asked, pressing for decisive interventions.
He sought zero tolerance for dereliction, emphasizing systemic reforms over sporadic fixes. Governments must enforce vigilance in public safety, with exemplary action against errant officials to restore public trust.