Parliament Strikes Discordant Notes with People’s Pains

As Parliament increasingly echoes the government’s line, the Opposition’s growing silence on everyday public concerns is raising alarms among citizens and political analysts.

By MANISH ANAND

New Delhi, December 8, 2025 — Parliament on Monday will debate 150^th anniversary of the unveiling of Vande Bharat song. The ruling NDA dispensation bargained with the Opposition for a day to debate Vande Bharat for a trade off for a discussion on the election reforms.

Vande Bharat is a touchstone of India’s nationalism barometer per the ruling dispensation. The election reform debate is at the core of “saving India’s democracy”, argues the Opposition.

For second week in a row, thousands of air passengers remain stranded, with their itinerary disrupted. Worse, they’re even charged convenience fees for cancelling tickets on instructions of IndiGo airlines.

Former IPS officer and ex-LG of Puducherry Kiran Bedy in a series of posts has lamented governance chaos for chronic air pollution in Delhi NCR, fire mishap in Goa nightclub, worsening water quality in house taps, and so on. Bedi also shared a personal note that she suffered the most acute cough and chest congestion episodes in Delhi this winter.

Parliament in its Winter session, shortest in several years, has not yet taken up anything which is immediately concerning the people. The Opposition MPs have also not disrupted proceedings of parliament for foul air in the national capital.

Former IPS officer Yashovardhan Jha Azad sought to know if costly air purifiers are installed at homes and offices of MPs and Ministers. Political observers have known for years that even office attendants at facilities of MPs have costly air purifiers installed.

In Delhi’s byelections for Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD), the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party ceded three seats which were held by the party previously to the Opposition outfits. In some quarters, Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta is called “Rabri Devi of Delhi.” While the description may be insulting to both the leaders, from Delhi and Bihar, the national capital is yet to see governance sparks even after 10 months of new government in the city.

The treasury benches now are aligned to stay as amplifiers of the government headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. But the Opposition silence on core people’s issues give worrying signals to the people and political observers alike.

(This is an opinion piece, and views expressed are those of the author only)

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About The Author

Manish Anand

Manish Anand is a senior journalist with more than two decades of hardcore reporting on beats such as Prime Minister’s Office, Parliament, BJP, Congress, Planning Commission, NITI Aayog, and scores of Union Ministries.

His past has been with The New Indian Express, The Asian Age/Deccan Chronicle, and The Statesman.

For about 15 years, Manish was also a regular commentator and host for talks on AIR on foreign affairs.

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