Opposition abandoning legislative responsibilities by choosing disruption over debate: Shashi Tharoor

Shashi Tharoor

Senior Congress MP Shashi Tharoor has questioned the Opposition over the ‘cycle of disruption.’ In an opinion piece published in the Indian Express, Tharoor lamented that the ‘democracy is paying price’ as Opposition continues with the disruption playbook.

Talking about the UPA days when the BJP was out of power, Tharoor noted that during the 15th Lok Sabha, 68 percent time was lost due to frequent logjams. Now, the lawmaker says that the INDIA Bloc has adopted the same playbook and is disrupting Parliament.

The statement comes as the ongoing Winter Session of Parliament remains unproductive with the Opposition either staging a walkout or chanting loud slogans instead of any debate.

“The Opposition, meanwhile, has abandoned its legislative responsibilities. Rather than using Parliament to challenge the government through debate, it prefers disruption. In doing so, it forfeits the very tools Parliament offers: Question Hour to hold ministers accountable, Zero Hour and Rule 377 to raise urgent matters, and the opportunity to register its views on government bills. The government passes its legislation amid the din; it is the Opposition that loses out,” Tharoor wrote in the opinion piece.

Previously, the Monsoon Session of Parliament this year had been reduced to a near-total washout, with the Opposition mounting relentless protests inside and outside the House over the issue of SIR.

From day one, it held firm on its demand for a discussion, triggering repeated disruptions and bringing legislative business to a standstill. As a result, the 2025 Monsoon Session may be remembered more for its protests and paralysis than for any meaningful parliamentary debate.