Parliamentary Decorum Questioned: Retired Officials Urge Rahul Gandhi to Apologise

More than 200 retired bureaucrats and former military officers have criticized Congress leader and Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi for what they describe as inappropriate conduct in Parliament, calling for an apology. The signatories said Gandhi’s actions undermine parliamentary decorum and weaken democratic institutions, particularly given his position as the Leader of the Opposition.

The criticism comes in the wake of protests staged by opposition MPs on March 12 near Parliament’s ‘Makar Dwar’ over LPG-related concerns. Some MPs were seen with mock brick stoves, raising slogans, and sitting on the Parliament stairs while having tea and biscuits. The joint letter argued that such behaviour is contrary to parliamentary dignity and decorum.

The retired officials emphasized that Parliament is the highest constitutional forum in the country, often referred to as the “Temple of Democracy,” where serious deliberations on national issues are expected to take place. They contended that staging protests and symbolic activism inside the Parliament complex transforms it into a platform for political theatrics rather than meaningful debate.

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“The actions inside and outside Parliament debase the standard of public discourse and disrupt proceedings, resulting in a waste of public time and resources,” the letter stated. It further stressed that while questioning the government is a democratic right, exercising it must not compromise the credibility of India’s democratic institutions.

The signatories described Gandhi’s conduct as detrimental to strengthening democratic governance and urged him to reflect on his behaviour. They appealed to him to issue an apology to the nation to restore public confidence in parliamentary procedures and uphold the dignity of the institution.

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