A near washout : Confrontation mars Parliament session
The Tribune Editorial: Both sides may have legitimate grievances, but neither can escape responsibility for the paralysis that followed
THE just-concluded monsoon session of Parliament had the usual sound and fury, but hardly any legislative debate. The numbers are stark. During the 25-day session, the Lok Sabha functioned for only about 19% of its scheduled time, while the Rajya Sabha recorded productivity of around 39%. Twelve Bills were passed by both Houses, yet only one — the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026 — witnessed substantive discussion in both Houses. The police crackdown on protesting students, who were marching towards Parliament on July 20, set the tone for an acrimonious session. The Opposition repeatedly demanded a statement from Home Minister Amit Shah over allegations of the use of excessive force. Finally, the government agreed to discuss the matter, but Rahul Gandhi rejected the offer, saying that the Opposition did not want to listen to a “lecture” by Shah. A huge opportunity to corner the government was thus missed.
