Sir — It is an irony that both Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi are alleging that the other is obstructing free speech in Parliament.
If both the ruling party and the Opposition have become weak to use the parliamentary forum to highlight their respective views on demonetisation, or we may say that both have become strong enough to stop each other’s voice on an important aspect concerning the citizens of the country, then definitely this is a failure of parliamentary democracy.
However Modi has once again exhibited self-confidence by airing his views on demonetisation through public rallies, and expressing his helplessness for not being allowed to speak in Parliament. It will be better if the the Prime Minister adapts to a system of monthly Press conferences, since parliamentary debates have virtually become non-functional.