SATURDAY, 19 SEPTEMBER 2026

Lively House debates need of the hour


A list of 'unparliamentary' words or phrases published by the Lok Sabha secretariat led to Opposition leaders accusing the government of trying to gag them. This was a bit odd as publishing such words has been happening since the 1950s. 

None of the words are banned, but the speaker will expunge remarks he/ she deems unacceptable. 

That said, while suggesting expunging content from records, House discussions must also reflect the liveliness that animates politics in a voluble and sometimes volatile democracy. 

Ultimately a Parliament is judged by the quality of its debate and productivity not by disruptions. What's needed in greater measure is extensive deliberations in smaller executive committees and deeper House debates on complex issues. 

The problem is that the government of the day does not believe in debates but simply bulldozes its way through on account of brute majority. In fact it disallows informed, erudite discussions on any contentious issue which it feels will show it in a bad light. 


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Drone taxis? MLAs should instead talk of pathetic roads

ADELMO FERNANDES, Vasco
Published Jul 15, 2022, 11:48 PM IST
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A Member of the Legislative Assembly has suggested during the ongoing session that Goa’s taxi drivers should learn to fly drones. He said that the future of Goa is in drone taxis. Our elected representatives need to make suggestions which are practical and stop talking through the hat. Indeed drones have an important role to play in the field of agriculture, search and rescue, disaster response, wildlife monitoring healthcare, etc. However, having drone taxis as a…

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