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In an open letter addressed to citizens on Tuesday, 204 retired officers, including veterans of the Armed Forces, former bureaucrats, and senior advocates, expressed serious concerns over the conduct of Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi and other Opposition MPs during a protest on March 12 within Parliament premises.The signatories argued in the letter that the dignity of Parliament was “an essential element of the constitutional ethos” and that Members must uphold the highest standards of propriety and respect within all areas of the parliamentary precincts, including stairs, corridors, and lobbies.According to the letter, the events of March 12 were “deeply concerning.” The retired officers said that despite explicit instructions from the Speaker prohibiting demonstrations or protests within Parliament, Rahul Gandhi and several other MPs defied the directive.
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They described this as “a conscious disregard for parliamentary authority” and accused the Opposition of placing “personal political theatrics above the dignity of a constitutional institution.”They noted that Rahul Gandhi and other MPs were observed “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 retired officers asserted that the steps of Parliament were “not a venue for spectacle or political theatre” and said such behaviour showed “arrogance and entitlement” as well as a lack of respect for Parliament. The signatories further contended that Rahul Gandhi had contributed to “lowering the level of public discourse and decorum” through repeated theatrics, suggesting a pattern of conduct motivated by “a sense of personal privilege” rather than respect for democratic institutions. They added that such actions disrupted parliamentary proceedings and wasted “valuable public time and resources,” further stating that “Shri Rahul Gandhi must apologise to the nation for this behaviour and introspect on the attitude that produced it.” The retired officers warned that the Leader of the Opposition’s conduct risked “damaging the reputation of our country and our democracy” and urged him to uphold the solemnity and authority of Parliament.Highlighting the symbolic importance of Members’ conduct, the letter warned that the behaviour of the Leader of the Opposition risked “damaging the reputation of our country and our democracy.” The retired officers urged Rahul Gandhi to apologise to the nation and reflect on his actions to ensure that “the solemnity, authority and institutional sanctity of Parliament remain fully preserved.”The letter concluded with a call from the retired officers to preserve and strengthen India’s democratic institutions, emphasizing that the “temple of democracy” must not be undermined by hubris or privilege.
