Bhubaneswar: Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge has sharply criticised the government over the disruptions and loss of business during the ongoing Monsoon Session of Parliament, accusing the Centre of avoiding accountability and undermining the functioning of the legislature.
Speaking on the issue, Kharge alleged that senior members of the government, including the Prime Minister and Home Minister, were not adequately engaging with Parliament and the concerns raised by opposition MPs.
“They are not ready to come to Parliament,” Kharge said. He questioned the practice of listening to proceedings from outside the House, arguing that ministers should be physically present in Parliament to hear and respond to opposition concerns.
Referring to the Home Minister’s reported remarks that he was present and listening, Kharge said, “Do you come here to sit in your room and listen? Come to the House and hear us.”
Kharge accused the government of weakening democratic institutions and attempting to demoralise Members of Parliament.
“These people want to destroy democracy and they want to demoralise Parliament members,” he alleged, adding that the government appeared to believe that Parliament was secondary to those in power.
The Congress chief also warned that the public would ultimately respond to what he described as the government’s growing arrogance.
“People will break their ego,” Kharge said.
The remarks come amid continued political confrontation between the ruling NDA and opposition parties over issues being raised during the Monsoon Session. Repeated disruptions have affected parliamentary proceedings, with both sides accusing the other of preventing the House from functioning normally.
The government and ruling-party leaders have rejected allegations that they are undermining Parliament, while the opposition has continued to demand greater government accountability and discussion on issues it considers important.
The standoff has intensified the political debate over the functioning of Parliament, with concerns growing over the amount of legislative and parliamentary business being affected by repeated disruptions.
-OdishaAge
