MS Shanker
It’s heartwarming to see Indian lawmakers embracing democracy so passionately—by literally wrestling for it. The recent jostle at Parliament’s Makar Dwar, which allegedly left two BJP members injured, was less about legislating and more about showcasing physical prowess. Bravo! For a nation that prides itself on being the world’s largest democracy, such incidents truly inspire confidence. The BJP accuses Congress scion Rahul Gandhi of shoving an MP, causing a domino effect that led to senior leader Pratap Chandra Sarangi’s injury. Gandhi, ever the gentleman, countered with claims that he was the one being pushed. A playground scuffle, you say? No, this was a battle for democracy—at least that’s what they’ll tell you. Let’s not forget the accompanying theatrics. Sarangi was wheeled to the hospital, Prime Minister Modi personally called to check on him, and BJP members staged protests as though they were auditioning for a political drama series. Meanwhile, Congress claimed that Rahul Gandhi was blocked and harassed, even filing a complaint. The cherry on top? Accusations that this is all part of Gandhi’s grand strategy to mend fences with disillusioned allies in the INDIA bloc.
Ah, the INDIA bloc—a coalition so inclusive and democratic that cracks are already showing. After embarrassing losses in Haryana, Maharashtra, and J&K, allies like Mamata Banerjee and Akhilesh Yadav are reportedly reconsidering their partnerships. The Congress, desperate to appear relevant, seized on Home Minister Amit Shah’s remarks about Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, twisting them into a cause célèbre. Dressed in Ambedkar’s symbolic blue, opposition members staged protests, loudly demanding Shah’s resignation. The BJP responded with counter-protests, because why waste precious parliamentary time on actual governance when you can shout slogans instead? And yet, this circus is not without its ironies. The Congress-led bloc, which names itself after inclusivity and democracy, has displayed little of either. From internal dissent to attempts at weaponizing every perceived slight, their strategy seems less about constructive opposition and more about finding new ways to stay in the headlines.
But let’s not let the BJP off the hook either. Their sanctimonious outrage at Rahul Gandhi’s alleged antics conveniently ignores their own members’ aggressive sloganeering and confrontational behaviour. Both sides are equally complicit in turning the sacred halls of Parliament into a battleground for egos. Parliament is not a wrestling ring, as Union Minister Kiren Rijiju aptly pointed out. Yet, when lawmakers stoop to physical altercations, it is the very foundation of our democracy that takes the beating. As citizens watch their leaders behave like unruly teenagers, one can’t help but wonder if the real injury is to our collective faith in the system. So, to our esteemed lawmakers: bravo on yet another performance that makes a mockery of governance. If only you showed half this zeal in addressing the nation’s pressing issues. But perhaps that’s too much to ask when democracy is treated as nothing more than a high-stakes reality show. India deserves better.
