Parliament witnessed another turbulent day on Monday, with incessant disruptions bringing the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha to yet another premature adjournment, extending the Winter Session’s streak of unproductivity. Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar, visibly frustrated by the unrelenting chaos, invoked Murphy’s Law—a principle that suggests "anything that can go wrong will go wrong"—to describe the deteriorating situation. Dhankhar suggested that the disorder was not incidental but deliberate, orchestrated through what he termed a "deliberate algorithm" designed to paralyze legislative proceedings.
Addressing the House amid continuous sloganeering, Dhankhar remarked, "It appears that there exists a deliberate algorithm to actualise Murphy's laws in this august House, consequently impeding the proper functioning of Parliament. We find ourselves achieving precisely the antithesis of what our Constitution ordains." Despite his appeals for decorum, the disruptions persisted as opposition members demanded immediate debates under Rule 267 on several contentious topics, including allegations against industrialist Gautam Adani in the U.S., ethnic violence in Manipur, and the clashes in Sambhal.
Dhankhar made an emotional appeal to lawmakers, invoking the vision of the Constitution's framers. He urged them to uphold the sanctity of Parliament and avoid rendering it dysfunctional. "Don't make it dysfunctional," he implored, lamenting that the continuous uproar ensured "nothing is going on record." His words underscored the gravity of the impasse, which has effectively stalled legislative business since the Winter Session began on November 25.
The opposition parties, however, directed their criticism toward the government, accusing it of deliberately avoiding discussions on pressing national issues. Congress leader Jairam Ramesh called the adjournments "extraordinary," emphasizing that the protests from INDIA bloc parties were minimal and did not warrant the repeated disruptions. “Today too, both Houses got adjourned. INDIA parties had given notices for an immediate discussion on Adani, Manipur, Sambhal, & Ajmer. These parties were never agitated. There was hardly any sloganeering. But the Modi Govt simply did not want Parliament to function. The situation is truly extraordinary," Ramesh tweeted.
Ramesh also revealed that the Opposition had formally requested a two-day discussion to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the Constitution, celebrated on November 26. However, the government has yet to respond or schedule such a debate, adding to the Opposition’s grievances and fueling allegations of government indifference toward democratic dialogue.
The deadlock in Parliament has led to a complete washout of the Winter Session thus far, with no substantive legislative work being accomplished. Opposition MPs remain adamant about prioritizing discussions on the Adani controversy, ethnic violence in Manipur, and the communal tensions in Sambhal and Ajmer. Conversely, the government has avoided yielding to these demands, leading to a bitter stalemate.
The session’s paralysis highlights deep divisions between the ruling coalition and the Opposition, with each side accusing the other of undermining parliamentary democracy. While the Opposition alleges that the government is stifling debate to avoid accountability, the ruling coalition blames the Opposition for derailing the session with unnecessary disruptions. The Rajya Sabha Chairman's remarks, invoking Murphy’s Law, reflect the broader frustration with a political climate that seems to perpetuate gridlock rather than resolution.
With the government refusing to budge on demands for an immediate debate and the Opposition unwilling to relent, the likelihood of breaking the legislative impasse appears slim. This standoff not only jeopardizes the productivity of the Winter Session but also raises broader concerns about the health of parliamentary democracy in India. As both sides continue to dig in their heels, crucial legislative and policy issues remain unresolved, potentially impacting governance and the nation’s ability to address urgent challenges.
