A public letter by former officials highlights concerns over recent parliamentary behaviour, urging adherence to institutional norms and warning against actions that could weaken democratic processes.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi seen sitting on the steps of Parliament while having tea and snacks. (Photo: IANS)
More than 200 retired officials, including civil servants, army personnel and lawyers, have raised concerns about Congress leader and Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi, saying his actions could be bringing down the dignity of Parliament.
The signatories, which include former bureaucrats, retired army officers, ambassadors, and advocates, have issued a public letter expressing unease over what they describe as a pattern of behaviour that undermines parliamentary decorum and disrupts meaningful debate.
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According to the letter, released by former Jammu and Kashmir Director General of Police SP Vaid, the developments of March 12 prompted the intervention. The group said Parliament is meant to serve as the highest platform for democratic discussion, where issues of national importance are debated with seriousness and restraint.
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The letter, signed by 116 retired army officers, 84 former bureaucrats, along with a few diplomats and lawyers, argues that Gandhi’s approach reflects a shift from substantive engagement to what it calls theatrics, both inside and outside the House.
The signatories contend that such conduct turns Parliament into a space for provocation rather than deliberation, leading to a loss of valuable time and public resources. They also said that behaviour of this nature, particularly from someone holding the position of Leader of Opposition, raises concerns about the example being set within a key constitutional institution.
“In the process, valuable public time and resources are lost. Parliamentary proceedings must not be disrupted or trivialised in ways that undermine the functioning of this vital democratic institution. In his efforts to question the government of the day, the actions of Shri Rahul Gandhi are damaging the reputation of our country and our democracy. The fact that such behaviour is being carried out by a person who occupies a position as responsible and important as the Leader of Opposition makes it even more disturbing,” the letter said.
Referring to a recent incident, the group pointed to Gandhi and some Members of Parliament being seen sitting on the steps of Parliament while having refreshments. They said such actions do not align with the standards expected of elected representatives and reflect a lack of regard for established conventions.
The letter points out that it’s not just the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha that matter, even the corridors, staircases and lobbies are part of Parliament, and they deserve the same level of respect.
Calling for accountability, the signatories said Gandhi should apologise to the nation and reflect on his conduct. They added that safeguarding the credibility of Parliament requires members to uphold long-standing traditions of discipline and propriety.
“As custodians of a constitutional institution that embodies the democratic aspirations of over a billion people, Members of Parliament must remain conscious that their actions carry symbolic and institutional significance. The credibility of Parliament is reinforced when its Members uphold the traditions of propriety and restraint that have always defined parliamentary life,” the signatories said.
Describing themselves as individuals who have served the country in public life for decades, the group said they felt compelled to speak out in order to protect the integrity of democratic institutions.
“As citizens committed to the preservation and strengthening of India’s democratic institutions, it is incumbent upon all of us to call out conduct that diminishes the dignity of Parliament, an institution that embodies the sovereign will of the people of India. The events witnessed reflect a troubling sense of hubris and privilege that has no place in a constitutional democracy, least of all in the conduct of the Leader of the Opposition. Shri Rahul Gandhi must apologise to the nation for this behaviour and introspect. The Parliament of India occupies a unique and elevated position within the constitutional architecture of the country.”
“The dignity of Parliament, therefore, is not a matter of mere convention but an essential element of the constitutional ethos that governs our democracy. The conduct of Members within the precincts of the Parliament House must, consequently, conform to the highest standards of propriety and institutional respect,” the letter mentioned.
“Shri Rahul Gandhi, along with several Members of Parliament, was seen sitting on the steps of Parliament having tea and biscuits in a manner that was wholly unbecoming of members of the nation’s highest legislative body. The steps of Parliament are not a venue for spectacle or political theatre. Such conduct within the precincts of Parliament represents a clear disregard for established norms of behaviour and decorum. It reflects an attitude of arrogance and entitlement, and a troubling lack of respect for an institution that embodies the democratic will of the people,” the letter pointed out.
“Parliamentary practice and long-standing conventions recognise that the sanctity attached to the Chambers of the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha extends equally to all areas within the parliamentary precincts, including its stairs, corridors and lobbies. These are not incidental spaces but integral parts of Parliament itself, and the conduct expected therein must reflect the dignity of the institution, so that the solemnity, authority and institutional sanctity of the Parliament remain fully preserved,” the letter added.
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