2 weeks ago
Washout of monsoon session undermines India's parliamentary democracy
India has a big building called Parliament where the people's leaders are supposed to get together and talk about rules for the whole country.
The grown-ups in charge are supposed to listen to each other and vote on new laws.
Recently, the leaders did not talk calmly; instead, they shouted and made lots of noise.
The top leaders, like the Prime Minister and the Home Minister, mostly did not even come to the meetings.
Important new rules were passed very fast, in just three or four minutes, without anyone explaining them properly.
The leaders on the opposite team were angry about how police treated some students and wanted the Home Minister to explain.
When he agreed to talk, they asked him to quit his job instead.
The person in charge of the meetings finally said it was time to stop, so the whole session ended early.
This made people sad because Parliament is where the country is supposed to make decisions together.
Everyone agrees that the leaders should stop shouting and start listening to each other.
Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla adjourned the monsoon session sine die after days of shouting, sloganeering and ruckus.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah had minimal presence, with little debate except on the new law on paper leaks.
Several major bills, including the Registration of Births & Deaths (Amendment) Bill, 2026, were passed within minutes without much debate.
The Opposition demanded a statement from Amit Shah on the July 20 crackdown on protesting students in the Capital, then escalated to seeking his resignation.
The article argues the government bears greater responsibility, but the Opposition also shares blame for undermining parliamentary scrutiny.
- Who
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla and Opposition leaders.
- What
- The monsoon session of Parliament was marked by shouting and disruptions and was adjourned sine die, with major bills passed within minutes amid little debate.
- Where
- Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha in India's Parliament.
- When
- The monsoon session, which ended with Speaker Om Birla's 'adjourned sine die' announcement on Thursday; the student crackdown happened on July 20.
- Why
- Intense political rivalry and acrimony between the government and the Opposition, including demands over the July 20 crackdown on protesting students, derailed meaningful debate.
Government's perspective
Opposition's perspective
Responsibility for the washout
Government's perspective
The government is largely responsible and must show greater tolerance towards criticism and ensure adequate opportunities for debate.
Opposition's perspective
The Opposition blames the government for avoiding accountability and rushing legislation, insisting on Amit Shah's statement over the July 20 crackdown.
Amit Shah's statement on the student crackdown
Government's perspective
Home Minister Amit Shah agreed to participate in a debate on the July 20 crackdown on protesting students in the Capital.
Opposition's perspective
The Opposition had persistently demanded the statement, and after Shah agreed, it raised its demand to his resignation.
Conduct inside Parliament
Government's perspective
The treasury benches passed several major bills within minutes, though the session was marked by shouting and sloganeering from the other side.
Opposition's perspective
The Opposition argues disruption reflects its protest, though the article says shouting cannot substitute for scrutiny and reasoned debate.
Key facts
- Parliament
- India - Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha
- Session
- Monsoon session
- End of session
- Adjourned sine die by Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on Thursday
- Minimal presence
- PM Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah
- Flashpoint
- Crackdown on protesting students in the Capital on July 20
- Opposition demand
- Amit Shah's statement on the crackdown, later his resignation
- Only debated subject
- The new law on paper leaks
- Bills passed quickly
- Births & Deaths Bill, 2026 (4 min); MSME and Taxation Bills (3 min); Tribunals Reforms Bill (12 min); Mines & Minerals Amendment Bill (5 min)
Quotes
Om Birla
Lok Sabha Speaker
“Adjourned sine die”
thehansindia.com











