New Delhi, March 17 As many as 204 retired armed forces officers, former civil servants, including diplomats, and lawyers on Tuesday demanded that the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, apologize to the nation for his conduct inside the Parliament premises, terming it a “violation” of decorum and institutional dignity.
In an open letter, the signatories said Gandhi’s actions during a protest on March 12 within the Parliament House complex amounted to a “deliberate defiance” of the Chair, and showed “disregard for parliamentary authority”.
“Despite an explicit instruction issued by the speaker prohibiting demonstrations or protests within the Parliament premises, the Opposition, led by Gandhi, chose to disregard this directive.
“Such deliberate defiance of the Chair does not merely violate procedures; it reflects a conscious disregard for parliamentary authority and a willingness to place personal political theatrics above the dignity of a constitutional institution," the joint statement said.
"Gandhi must apologize to the nation for this behaviour and introspect the attitude that produced it, so that the solemnity, authority and institutional sanctity of Parliament remain fully preserved," it said, adding that such conduct represented a clear disregard for established norms of behaviour and decorum and an "attitude" of arrogance and entitlement.
The signatories alleged that Gandhi, along with other MPs, staged a protest on the steps of Parliament despite directions from the speaker prohibiting demonstrations within the premises.
Such conduct, they claimed, was “wholly unbecoming” of members of the country’s highest legislative body and reduced Parliament to a “stage for political theatrics”.
“Gandhi, along with several MPs, 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,” they said.
Calling Parliament the “temple of democracy”, the signatories said its dignity must be preserved at all times, including in the corridors and staircases within the complex.
“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," they said.
The signatories also claimed that Gandhi’s repeated conduct was lowering the level of public discourse and undermining democratic institutions.
“Such actions suggest a pattern of conduct driven less by respect for democratic institutions and more by a sense of personal privilege that treats Parliament as a stage for provocation, rather than a forum for serious deliberations,” they said.
The letter was coordinated by former Jammu and Kashmir DGP S P Vaid and signed by 204 individuals, including 116 retired armed forces officers and 84 ex-bureaucrats, among them four former ambassadors and four senior advocates.
Expressing concern over the “loss of valuable public time”, the signatories said disruptions and protests within Parliament weaken its functioning.
"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, Gandhi’s actions are damaging the reputation of our country and our democracy," the signatories claimed.
They also said that such behaviour by the leader of the opposition was “particularly disturbing” given the responsibility attached to the office.
"As custodians of a constitutional institution that embodies the democratic aspirations of over a billion people, MPs must remain conscious that their actions carry symbolic and institutional significance.
“As citizens who have served this nation for decades in public life, we are deeply pained to witness repeated attempts by Gandhi and his associates that risk weakening the effectiveness of this temple of democracy," the statement said, urging accountability to preserve Parliament’s credibility.