‘PM-HM have consistently mocked Parliament’: Congress’s dig at BJP over ‘mock parliament’

The Indian National Congress on Tuesday launched a blistering attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah, accusing them of repeatedly “mocking Parliament” and undermining the very foundations of democratic governance. The criticism was delivered in the wake of a theatrical “mock parliament” staged at the NDMC Convention Centre in Delhi, an event organised by a coalition of civil‑society groups and political activists under the banner “Democracy vs Anarchy”. Participants assumed the roles of senior political leaders, re‑enacting heated debates on issues ranging from federalism to civil liberties, in an attempt to illustrate what the Congress describes as a growing chasm between the government’s rhetoric and its actions in the real House of the People.Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge, who addressed a gathering of party workers and journalists after the mock session, said the performance was a stark reminder of how “the real Parliament has become a stage for theatrics rather than a forum for constructive deliberation”..

He pointed to a series of recent parliamentary incidents – from the controversial passage of the Citizenship Amendment Act without adequate debate to the swift removal of opposition members during the recent Lok Sabha session on the farm‑laws repeal – as evidence that the executive is treating the legislature as a prop. “When the Prime Minister and the Home Minister themselves turn the highest constitutional body into a circus, it is the opposition that has to pick up the baton and remind the nation what a functional democracy looks like,” Kharge said.The mock parliament, which lasted for three hours, featured dramatised versions of real parliamentary procedures, including question hour, bill introduction and a vote on a fictional “National Unity Bill”. Actors playing the roles of the Prime Minister and the Home Minister were shown repeatedly interrupting opposition speakers, dismissing queries as “political nonsense”, and calling for a “quick vote” to push through legislation..

The organizers said the performance was intended to highlight what they perceive as a pattern of authoritarian tendencies in the Modi‑Shah administration, particularly the frequent use of ordinance powers and the alleged intimidation of dissenting voices within the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha.Observers noted that the mock session was not merely a theatrical exercise but part of a broader strategy by the Congress to reclaim the narrative around parliamentary sovereignty. In a statement released after the event, the party’s spokesperson, Ranjana Kumari, asserted that “the mock parliament is a mirror held up to the nation, reflecting the erosion of democratic norms that have become evident in recent months.” She cited the government’s decision to prorogue the Parliament in August 2023 without a clear agenda, the alleged suppression of media coverage of parliamentary proceedings, and the recent amendments to the Information Technology Act that, according to the party, curtail freedom of expression for MPs and journalists alike.Critics of the Congress’s approach argue that the mock parliament, while symbolically potent, may distract from substantive policy debates that are needed to address India’s pressing challenges. Ananya Sharma, a political science professor at Jawaharlal Nehru University, warned that “performative politics can sometimes eclipse the very issues it seeks to foreground.” She added that the real test for any opposition party is to translate rhetorical criticism into legislative action, especially on matters such as unemployment, agricultural distress and the mounting fiscal deficit, which continue to dominate public discourse.The government, for its part, has dismissed the Congress’s accusations as “political theatrics”..

In a brief reply to a press query, a Ministry of Information and Broadcasting official said that the Prime Minister and the Home Minister “remain fully committed to upholding the dignity and sanctity of Parliament”. The statement added that the “mock parliament” was an “unnecessary distraction” that “fails to acknowledge the robust democratic mechanisms that operate within India’s parliamentary system”.Meanwhile, members of the opposition parties that participated in the mock session – including leaders from the Aam Aadmi Party, the Trinamool Congress and several regional outfits – expressed solidarity with Congress’s stance. Amit Shah’s former rival in Delhi, Arvind Kejriwal, posted a short video on social media, stating that “the mock parliament may be a stage, but the real stage is the Lok Sabha, where the people’s voice must be heard without fear or favour.” He called for a “collective parliamentary reform” that would reinstate procedural fairness, protect minority rights and ensure that the opposition can function without procedural stone‑walling.Political analysts see the Congress’s move as an attempt to rejuvenate its image ahead of the next general election, scheduled for 2029..

The party has been struggling to regain ground after a series of electoral setbacks, and its leadership appears keen to position itself as the guardian of democratic norms. “By foregrounding the issue of parliamentary decorum, Congress is trying to shift the political conversation from purely developmental narratives to constitutional legitimacy,” said Rohan Mehta, a senior fellow at the Centre for Policy Research. “If they can sustain this narrative, it may force the ruling coalition to defend its record on institutional respect, which could become a decisive factor in future voter calculations.”The mock parliament also sparked a debate about the role of civil society in safeguarding democratic institutions..

Several NGOs that helped organise the event highlighted the need for “civic literacy” and urged citizens to monitor parliamentary proceedings more closely. “When elected representatives fail to hold the executive accountable, it falls upon the public and civil society to step in,” said Meena Gupta, director of the Delhi-based think‑tank Democracy Watch. She called for reforms such as real‑time broadcasting of all parliamentary sessions, stronger whistle‑blower protections for MPs and a revamp of the Rules of Procedure to curb arbitrary adjournments.As the political theater continues, the underlying tension between the ruling BJP and its principal opposition remains palpable..

Whether the mock parliament will translate into tangible legislative reforms or merely serve as another episode in India’s vibrant but contested democratic saga is yet to be seen. What is clear, however, is that both sides are increasingly aware that the symbolism of parliamentary conduct carries weight beyond the walls of the Sansad, shaping public perception of legitimacy and, ultimately, the health of the nation’s democracy..