Opinion Short Winter Session, long list of ignored bills: Government and Opposition abdicating responsibility to Parliament
The government has a responsibility to pass meaningful legislation, and the Opposition, a duty to offer substantive accountability. Both sides are falling short
The government has a responsibility to pass meaningful legislation, and the Opposition, a duty to offer substantive accountability. (File Photo/Anil Sharma) The ongoing winter session of Parliament, from December 1 to 19, has drawn criticism for being unusually short. The real issue is not the number of days, but how those days are being used. Instead of addressing urgent national problems, Parliament has slipped into a cycle of symbolic debates, partisan clashes, and political point-scoring. Inside the house, fiery speeches dominate the mood. Outside, serious issues like the IndiGo fiasco, toxic air, unemployment, and inflation demand attention. The growing distance between political theatre and governance has, till now, become the central crisis of this session.
A full day was devoted to mark the 150th anniversary of Vande Mataram. What could have been an occasion to bring the nation together turned into a political confrontation. Prime Minister Narendra Modi opened the discussion with criticism of Jawaharlal Nehru and the Congress, accusing them of “fragmenting” the national song under pressure from the Muslim League. The Opposition hit back. Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra asked why Parliament needed to debate a song that “is already part of the soul of the country,” arguing that the government was using history to distract people from struggles such as inflation and joblessness. For her, the timing of the debate looked like a political move ahead of elections in West Bengal.
A discussion meant to celebrate unity ended up deepening division. A national symbol was turned into a political weapon, reducing history into an “us versus them” narrative.
Another flashpoint was the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. The Opposition accused the government of “vote chori,” pointing to alleged discrepancies in voter lists. The government rejected the claims.
Rahul Gandhi sharpened the charge: “There is no bigger anti-national act than vote chori,” pointing out that the debate on the national song was merely a distraction from unemployment and public distress.
Home Minister Amit Shah defended the SIR process, saying, “SIR is to ensure pure electoral rolls… when you win, the EC is great; when you lose, everything is bad.” Gandhi countered saying that the process was being manipulated: “When you destroy the vote, you destroy the fabric of this country,” questioning why the PM and HM were “so keen on choosing” the Election Commissioner.
Priyanka Gandhi added another sharp remark when asked about the Leader of Opposition’s brief foreign trip: “Modi ji spends almost half of his working time outside the country. Why question the Leader of the Opposition for travelling?” Her response reflected the mistrust shaping parliamentary exchanges.
While these clashes dominate headlines, a serious legislative agenda lies almost untouched. Thirteen major bills await debate: A new Higher Education Commission to replace the UGC, reforms allowing private participation in nuclear energy and the Jan Vishwas Bill to decriminalise minor offences, among others. These reforms — meant to shape India’s education system, energy future, economic stability, and business climate — remain overshadowed by noisy political disputes.
The real loser is the people. At a time when the country is anxious about polluted air, unsafe flights, job scarcity, and overworked teachers under stress due to election duties, Parliament is spending valuable hours relitigating old battles.
This winter session risks becoming a symbol of India’s democratic disconnect. A Parliament that devotes long hours to symbolic controversies but leaves crucial laws unattended has lost sight of its purpose.
The government has a responsibility to pass meaningful legislation, and the Opposition, a duty to offer substantive accountability.
Currently, both sides are falling short. The bitterness between them has transformed Parliament from a forum for debate into a theatre of obstruction. This paralysis — where legislative scrutiny is sacrificed to theatrics — degrades the institution’s core purpose, erodes public trust, and weakens the feedback loop between citizen and state.
India needs sober, evidence-based lawmaking. Representatives must step away from theatrics, lower the temperature, and return to their mandate: To solve problems, not create new ones. The dignity of Parliament — and the needs of the people — demand nothing less.
The writer is a political scientist and teaches at DDU Gorakhpur University
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