Former Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda has written a letter to Congress leader and Rajya Sabha MP Sonia Gandhi, raising concerns about the ongoing chaos within Parliament and its precincts, largely attributed to opposition parties, including Congress MPs.
In the two-page letter, Gowda expressed his dismay over the frequent disruptions, protests, and protests outside Parliament, which he described as unprecedented. “Congress parliamentarians, led by the Leader of the Opposition, have contributed to excessive disruptions, including dharnas, blockades, slogan shouting, and the display of placards and name-calling,” he said.
He characterized this behavior as a departure from the decorum expected in parliamentary proceedings, calling it an attitude of non-seriousness that undermines the essence of parliamentary democracy.
Gowda, whose son HD Kumaraswamy is a minister in the Narendra Modi government, urged Sonia Gandhi to use her experience and influence to encourage her party leaders to uphold the principles of parliamentary democracy. “You can perhaps advise them to avoid actions that may harm their own political future and the democratic fabric,” he suggested.
He contrasted the current scenario with his own experience in governance, stating that opposition parties historically exercised restraint, even during protests, and did not resort to blocking entrances or turning the Parliament premises into informal gathering spots. “Even while protesting, they maintained decorum and did not turn Parliament into a tea-shop assembly,” he remarked.
Gowda expressed fears that such disruptions could damage the foundations of democracy and foster lasting bitterness. He emphasized that opposition parties should serve as custodians of parliamentary decorum, procedures, and traditions, especially in a global context where democratic nations face immense pressures.
Highlighting his own political philosophy rooted in the teachings of Nehru, Patel, Ambedkar, and Azad, Gowda lamented that he had never seen Parliament in such disorder and casualness as it has been recently.
