Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s customary address ahead of the winter session of Parliament is usually a curtain-raiser. This time, it was a warning. No ambiguity, no hedging—just a blunt message to an Opposition that has turned disruption into a political habit: Parliament is for policy, not theatre. With 13 key bills lined up—including long-pending structural reforms—the government sought cooperation, not chaos. Modi’s words were pointed: dramas can be enacted anywhere else, but not inside the premises where national interest must take precedence over political showmanship. At a time when India stands at the threshold of becoming the world’s fourth-largest economy, the Prime Minister expects seriousness, not sloganeering. As always, he did not shy away from aiming for the Congress party. With a crisp jab, he observed the irony of a “national party” unable to digest the repeated verdicts of the people. His reference to the Bihar assembly results was unmistakable: the Congress was reduced to irrelevance, rejected by voters who saw through the party’s opportunistic rants about “vote chori.” The electorate responded in record numbers, proving—yet again—that democracy delivers when voters are not taken for granted. The message was unmistakable: the era of negative politics is over. Those who persist in this approach are likely to face deeper electoral humiliation, especially with a series of crucial state polls looming. Bihar is merely the trailer. Modi reinforced the government’s readiness for debate on any issue the Opposition genuinely wishes to raise. But sloganeering during parliamentary business? That, he said, is unacceptable. Millions of Indians watch these proceedings; they can distinguish between statesmanship and street-corner activism. The Prime Minister also made another point often forgotten in the din: endless disruptions rob newly elected MPs—especially young legislators—of their chance to speak, contribute, and shape national policy. Parliament is not a shouting arena; it is a platform for ideas.
If the Opposition believes sloganeering is essential for political survival, the Prime Minister reminded them they are free to do it—during elections, not inside Parliament. The message was far more than procedural advice; it was a mirror held up to parties whose credibility has steadily eroded among voters. The Congress-led bloc, meanwhile, is itching to rake up two issues: the Election Commission’s Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise, and the fresh FIRs against Sonia and Rahul Gandhi in the National Herald money-laundering case. Both are legally untenable grounds for protest. The Supreme Court and various high courts have repeatedly refused to halt the EC’s processes or interfere with the ED and IT institutions, which were created under the Constitution itself. If the courts have not found merit in Congress’ petitions, on what basis does the party hope to block Parliament? Even more ironic is the Opposition’s behaviour at the Business Advisory Committee meeting held just a day earlier. They had agreed to cooperate and ensure dignified conduct. Yet on Day One of the session, they reverted to their old script—shouting, stalling, and sulking. Clearly, some parties have learned nothing from the people’s verdicts and continue to inhabit their own political fantasyland. But reality looms large: upcoming elections in Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, and Tamil Nadu will test the Samajwadi Party, Trinamool Congress, and DMK just as sharply. Despite the political noise, Modi’s confidence remained intact. His brief—but unmistakably firm—address signalled the government’s determination to push through its legislative agenda. In one of the shortest winter sessions in recent memory, the Centre appears poised to clear most, if not all, of the proposed bills. If the Opposition wishes to continue with dramatics, it may do so at its own peril. The Modi government seems focused on only one thing—delivery. And the electorate, going by recent verdicts, appears to prefer that over drama.
