The opening day of Parliament's Winter Session was marked by a sharp war of words, with the opposition, led by the Congress, launching a fierce counterattack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi's accusation that they were indulging in "drama." The Congress branded the Prime Minister as the "biggest dramabaaz," setting the stage for a contentious session.
PM Modi's 'Delivery, Not Drama' Charge
Speaking to reporters outside Parliament on December 1, ahead of the session, Prime Minister Narendra Modi set a confrontational tone. He asserted that Parliament is not a place for drama but a place for delivery, accusing the opposition of turning the House into a "warm-up arena" for elections or an outlet to vent frustration after electoral defeats.
He urged for constructive debate and offered to give the opposition "tips to bring positivity in politics." The Prime Minister's remarks were seen as a reference to the previous Monsoon Session, which was virtually washed out due to opposition protests over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Bihar.
Congress Fires Back: 'Hypocrisy and Dramebazi'
The opposition response was swift and scathing. Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, in a statement on X, said that instead of addressing people's real issues, PM Modi had once again made his 'dramebazi delivery.' He accused the government of trampling parliamentary decorum for 11 years and passing bills in haste, citing that in the last Monsoon Session, at least 12 bills were passed, some in less than 15 minutes without discussion.
"The BJP should now end this drama of distraction and engage in debate in Parliament on the real issues facing the people," Kharge stated. He listed unemployment, inflation, economic inequality, and the plight of Booth Level Officers (BLOs) under the SIR process as critical issues being ignored.
Congress General Secretary Jairam Ramesh escalated the attack, calling the PM's pre-session statement "nothing but hypocrisy." "The biggest dramabaaz of them all is talking of drama," Ramesh posted on X. He alleged that the Prime Minister never attends Parliament, undermines it, and refuses to let the opposition raise issues of public importance.
Opposition Unites on SIR and Accountability
The opposition's ire was particularly focused on the SIR exercise and a perceived lack of government accountability. Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP Abhishek Banerjee strongly defended the opposition's stance, asserting that demanding a debate on SIR, which he claimed led to around 40 deaths including BLOs, was not theatrics but a constitutional duty.
"What the opposition is asking for is a debate on SIR. Is that drama? If raising people's voice is drama, then the people will give them a reply in the next election," Banerjee said. He blamed the Election Commission for an "unplanned and glitch-ridden" process and accused the BJP of evading responsibility on issues from demonetisation to national security.
Congress leaders Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and Renuka Chowdhury also joined the fray. Vadra, the MP from Wayanad, stated that raising issues like SIR and Delhi's air pollution was not drama but the purpose of Parliament. Chowdhury went further, calling PM Modi a "master in drama" and likening ruling party leaders to Mahatma Gandhi's three monkeys who "shut their eyes, ears and mouth."
A Session Set for Confrontation
The heated exchanges on the first day indicate that the Winter Session is likely to be dominated by fierce debates and potential disruptions. The opposition has clearly signaled its intent to prioritize discussions on SIR, unemployment, and inflation, framing them as matters of public urgency versus governmental "dramabazi."
With the government emphasizing "delivery" and the opposition demanding "debate and accountability," the parliamentary proceedings are poised to reflect the deep political divisions ahead of the upcoming electoral battles. The stage is set for a session where political rhetoric and substantive issues will clash repeatedly.
