2 weeks ago
Congress Opposition Under Rahul Gandhi Turns Obstruction, Democracy Pays Price
In India, the big meeting place for leaders is called Parliament.
Recently, the leaders who are not in power, led by Rahul Gandhi, made it very hard for Parliament to work.
They shouted, made noise, and forced the meeting to stop many times.
They also refused to go to a big national celebration on Independence Day.
The leaders in power, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, wanted to make new laws.
But the opposition leaders did not want to talk about the laws; they just wanted to stop things.
The opposition asked some government leaders to quit their jobs before they would let Parliament work.
Even when one leader quit, they asked for more.
The writer of the article thinks this is not how democracy should work.
He says the opposition's job is to check on the government, not to stop it completely.
He believes elections are won by earning people's trust, not by making chaos.
The monsoon session of Parliament was largely washed out due to opposition disruptions.
Senior Congress leaders boycotted the Independence Day celebration at Red Fort.
Rahul Gandhi demanded resignations, including of Dharmendra Pradhan and Amit Shah, to allow Parliament to function.
Congress won 21.19 per cent of the vote in 2024, 15.37 percentage points behind the BJP.
The author argues the Opposition's role is to make the government accountable, not ungovernable.
- Who
- Rahul Gandhi, Leader of the Opposition and leader of the Indian National Congress, along with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the ruling BJP.
- What
- Parliament's monsoon session was disrupted by opposition protests, and senior Congress leaders boycotted the Independence Day celebration at Red Fort.
- Where
- India, in Parliament and at Red Fort in Delhi.
- When
- During the just-concluded monsoon session and the recent Independence Day celebration.
- Why
- The author argues the Congress under Rahul Gandhi opposes everything the government does rather than acting as a constructive opposition.
Opposition (Congress) Perspective
Government/Author Perspective
Parliament functioning
Opposition (Congress) Perspective
Rahul Gandhi says democratic institutions are being demolished by the ruling BJP.
Government/Author Perspective
The author says the Congress under Rahul Gandhi is damaging Parliament, the biggest democratic institution, by obstructing its work.
Resignation demands
Opposition (Congress) Perspective
The Opposition demanded resignations of Dharmendra Pradhan and Amit Shah as conditions for allowing Parliament to function.
Government/Author Perspective
The author says the goalposts kept shifting even after Pradhan resigned and Shah's statement was agreed to.
Independence Day boycott
Opposition (Congress) Perspective
Congress leaders boycotted the ceremony, apparently over the seating arrangement for the Leader of the Opposition.
Government/Author Perspective
The author says it was a national celebration, not a BJP event, and the boycott was a mistake.
Key facts
- Event
- Monsoon session of Parliament
- Leader of Opposition
- Rahul Gandhi
- Congress vote share (2024)
- 21.19%
- Vote gap vs BJP (2024)
- 15.37 percentage points
- Resignation demanded
- Dharmendra Pradhan, erstwhile education minister
- Further demand
- Statement and resignation of Home Minister Amit Shah
- Boycott
- Independence Day celebration at Red Fort
- Author
- Ajay Jha, senior journalist
Sources
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