'India Needs Parliament That Debates, Not Disrupts’: Tharoor Warns Of ‘Eroding Democracy’

Last Updated:December 04, 2025, 11:07 IST

Shashi Tharoor has urged Parliament to end its worsening culture of disruptions, warning that the steady decline in standards is harming Indian democracy.

Congress MP Shashi Tharoor

As the winter session of Parliament begins with repeated disruptions and adjournments, Congress MP and chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on External Affairs, Shashi Tharoor, has issued a strong appeal for restoring order in the House.

Writing in The Indian Express, Tharoor warned that the steady erosion of parliamentary standards is harming India’s democracy and must be urgently addressed.

‘Eroding democracy’

In his column, Tharoor argued that Parliament, meant to be the country’s highest forum for debate, has been reduced to a stage for disruption. He wrote that allowing this trend to continue would weaken democratic processes and diminish the value of parliamentary scrutiny.

Sharing the piece on X, Tharoor said, “The erosion of parliamentary standards is damaging our democracy. I call for a consensus on protecting our nation’s principal forum for debate and deliberation, by allowing the Opposition a day a week to raise issues and then outlawing disruption."

He added that presiding officers, MPs, and political leaders across the spectrum must act before the culture of disruption becomes irreversible.

Criticism for both government and opposition

Tharoor used the opportunity to criticise both the BJP and his own party, Congress, for contributing to the current state of affairs. He argued that the practice of disruption has now become institutionalised, with each side justifying its behaviour by pointing to the other’s past actions.

During the UPA years, he recalled, the BJP stalled Parliament frequently, with 68 per cent of the 15th Lok Sabha’s time lost to protests. Today, he said, the INDIA bloc has adopted similar tactics, claiming that the government refuses to consult or debate key issues.

Tharoor criticised the current government for “bulldozing legislation" without meaningful consultation, treating Parliament as a mere rubber stamp. He also pointed out the Prime Minister’s rare attendance in the House, contrasting it with Jawaharlal Nehru’s daily presence.

Why does cooperation matter in Parliament?

Tharoor argued that both sides are “culpable" for the decline in parliamentary functioning. The ruling party’s unwillingness to engage and the Opposition’s preference for disruptions, he said, have together diminished Parliament’s role as a forum for meaningful debate.

He proposed that India adopt a system similar to the UK, where the Opposition gets a dedicated day each week to raise issues. In exchange, he suggested, all parties should agree to end disruptions altogether.

Tharoor stressed that the diminishing role of Parliament is not a minor procedural issue but a growing constitutional concern. If the House continues to be treated as a battleground of egos, he warned, the vitality of India’s democracy will suffer.

He urged all political leaders to come together to restore dignity and decorum. “India deserves better," he wrote, calling for Parliament to return to being a place where ideas are debated and decisions are made with care.

News india 'India Needs Parliament That Debates, Not Disrupts’: Tharoor Warns Of ‘Eroding Democracy’

Read More