Parliamentary Debate on National Security: A Critique of Political Discourse
UPSC Relevance
Prelims: Indian Polity and Governance (Parliament and its functioning, Role of Opposition).
Mains:
GS Paper 2: Parliament and State legislatures—structure, functioning, conduct of business, powers & privileges and issues arising out of these; Role of Opposition.
GS Paper 3: Security challenges and their management in border areas.
Essay: Topics on National Security, Role of Opposition, Parliamentary Democracy.
Key Highlights from the News
The article criticizes the parliamentary discussion on "Operation Sindoor," India's military response to the Pahalgam terrorist attack on April 22, 2025.
During the discussion, both the ruling and opposition parties were united in praising the army but disagreed on other matters.
The ruling party lauded India's new strident approach of taking strong action against Pakistan.
However, there was no serious discussion about the success of this policy or its long-term implications.
The government was unwilling to conduct a self-reflection on the security lapses that led to the terrorist attack.
The government evaded opposition questions about the US President's mediation.
The article argues that questioning the patriotism of political opponents to deflect from real issues is equivalent to evading responsibility.
The article concludes that constructive discussions, instead of political opportunism, should take place in Parliament on national security issues.
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