‘No Drama, Please’: PM Urges Opposition Not to Disrupt Parliament’s Winter Session

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday said India has not only practised democracy but strengthened global faith in it, pointing to the high turnout in the Bihar assembly election — especially among women — as proof of its vibrancy. Delivering his customary remarks before the start of the Parliament’s Winter Session, Modi said the Bihar mandate reflects “the power of Indian democracy” and urged the Opposition to avoid “drama” in the House.

Modi said India has demonstrated that democratic systems “can deliver,” but cautioned the Opposition against being unsettled by its poor performance in Bihar. He appealed to MPs across party lines to make the Winter Session productive, adding that the National Democratic Alliance would ensure its sweeping win in the state does not translate into arrogance.

Modi’s swipe at Opposition: ‘No drama, please’

Taking aim at Opposition parties, Modi said their statements suggest they have yet to come to terms with the Bihar results. “Don’t do drama in Parliament — deliver,” he said, adding that he was willing to offer advice on how the Opposition can “revamp its strategy” after repeated electoral setbacks.

The BJP-led NDA won a commanding 202 of 243 seats in the recent Bihar election, reducing the Congress-led Mahagathbandhan or INDIA bloc to just 35 seats.

Stormy Winter Session expected

The Winter Session, which runs from Monday to December 19, is expected to be contentious. The Opposition is pushing for a debate on the special intensive revision (SIR) of electoral rolls — a demand the government has not clearly endorsed. The Centre has listed 10 new bills for introduction and plans a discussion marking 150 years of Vande Mataram.

At Sunday’s all-party meeting chaired by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, and in the Business Advisory Committee meetings of both Houses, the SIR issue dominated Opposition demands. Some leaders warned the government would be responsible if the House failed to function without such a debate.

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju, however, said no party explicitly threatened to disrupt proceedings. “Despite differences, the House should not be disturbed. We will continue discussions to ensure smooth functioning and improve productivity,” he said.