Question and answer, Pg6

Key Highlights:

• The Lok Sabha adopted the motion of thanks to the President’s address without the Prime Minister’s reply on February 5.
• Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla cited concerns about potential disruptions as the reason for the PM's absence.
• Rahul Gandhi, the Leader of the Opposition, was disallowed from quoting a book by General M.M. Naravane.
• The absence of the PM's reply and the disallowing of the LoP's speech are seen as a violation of parliamentary norms.

Detailed Insights:

• The debate and reply mechanism is crucial for holding the executive accountable to the Parliament.
• Parliamentary rules mandate that a debate on the motion of thanks concludes with the PM’s reply, requiring a resolution for closure without it.
• Disallowing the LoP from speaking on issues related to national security is considered unjustifiable.
• The cited excerpts from the book raise concerns about the political executive evading critical decision-making and accountability.
• The PM's decision to skip the reply reinforces criticisms regarding the avoidance of accountability.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Motion of Thanks: A motion moved in Parliament following the President's address, providing an opportunity for discussion and scrutiny of the government's policies.
• Parliamentary Norms: Established conventions and practices in parliamentary procedures that ensure smooth functioning and democratic accountability.
• Executive Accountability: The principle that the executive branch of government is responsible for its actions and subject to scrutiny by the legislature and the public.