New Delhi: There is widespread outrage in political circles over the lathicharge by security forces during a peaceful protest by the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) at Jantar Mantar. Opposition parties have strongly condemned the incident. Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge has raised the issue prominently in Parliament, demanding answers from the government. Senior Congress leader Shashi Tharoor has also sharply questioned the action. He clarified that lathicharge on a non-violent protest is a completely unjustified and violent act, the logic of which is beyond comprehension.
Parliament witnessed a massive uproar on the first day of the Monsoon Session, repeatedly disrupting proceedings. Shashi Tharoor clarified that the primary purpose of Parliament is to discuss pressing issues facing the nation. He said the opposition’s role is to raise public concerns with the government, even if the government lacks a majority. According to Tharoor, Parliament is not simply a place to rubber-stamp government bills, but rather a forum where diverse views should be heard and meaningfully debated.
Taking aim at the government, Tharoor said that Parliament should be a medium for public voices, not just a noticeboard for government announcements. He said that if the opposition wants to raise issues and the government refuses to discuss them, uproar is inevitable. Citing an old adage, he said that the government should be allowed to speak openly in Parliament, even if it later expresses disagreement. Opposition members believe that discussing issues rather than suppressing them is more in keeping with parliamentary tradition.
Responding to the Prime Minister’s request for cooperation from the opposition, Tharoor said that cooperation in a democracy should be a bilateral process. If the government wants the opposition to cooperate, it must also listen to their views and allow discussion on important issues. He stressed that the functioning of Parliament should be based on mutual understanding and consensus, only then can better decisions be made in the national interest.
