Editorial

The repeated disruptions in the Lok Sabha and the suspension of multiple Members of Parliament once again underline a troubling pattern in India’s parliamentary democracy. While dissent is the lifeblood of any vibrant legislature, its expression through constant obstruction raises serious questions about whether Parliament is fulfilling its primary responsibility: deliberation, legislation, and accountability.

Opposition parties argue that disruptions are a last resort, adopted when the government refuses to engage meaningfully on critical issues. They claim that suspensions are increasingly used as instruments to silence dissent rather than maintain order. From this perspective, protest within the House becomes not an act of defiance, but a cry for attention in an environment where debate is perceived as tightly controlled.

The government, on the other hand, maintains that repeated sloganeering, well-shouting, and rushing into the well of the House make orderly proceedings impossible. It argues that suspensions are necessary to preserve the dignity of Parliament and protect the rights of other members who wish to participate constructively. From this view, disruption amounts to denial of democracy rather than its practice.

Both positions contain elements of truth—and therein lies the crisis.

Parliament is not merely a battlefield of political narratives; it is the institutional space where laws affecting over a billion people are shaped. When proceedings are repeatedly stalled, public scrutiny of legislation weakens, critical economic and social issues remain undiscussed, and executive accountability suffers. The immediate victims are not political parties, but citizens whose concerns never reach the floor in meaningful debate.

Equally concerning is the normalisation of suspensions. While disciplinary action is sometimes unavoidable, its frequent use risks creating a precedent where the ruling majority governs without adequate parliamentary resistance. A legislature without an effective opposition debate is as unhealthy as one paralysed by constant protest.

The erosion of parliamentary norms also damages public faith in democratic institutions. Televised scenes of chaos reinforce cynicism, especially among younger citizens, about the seriousness and relevance of representative politics. Democracy then begins to appear performative rather than participatory.

The solution does not lie in moral lectures alone. It demands political maturity on both sides. Governments must allow space for uncomfortable questions and structured debates, even when inconvenient. Oppositions must innovate forms of protest that register dissent without sabotaging the House itself. Parliamentary committees, extended debates, and rule-based discussions offer alternatives to confrontation.

Ultimately, Parliament must remember that disruption may win headlines, but dialogue shapes history. India’s democracy is resilient—but resilience should not be mistaken for immunity. Without restraint, respect, and renewal of parliamentary culture, the cost of disruption will be borne not by politicians, but by the Republic itself.

IndiGo’s decision to suspend flights to and from several international destinations, citing safety concerns arising from heightened tensions over Iranian airspace, reflects the growing vulnerability of civil aviation to geopolitical instability. While passenger safety must remain non-negotiable, the move highlights the broader challenges airlines face when global conflicts spill into civilian domains.

Commercial aviation depends on predictable, safe air corridors. The escalation of tensions in West Asia has once again disrupted this delicate network. Iranian airspace lies along some of the most fuel-efficient and time-saving routes connecting India with Europe, Central Asia, and parts of West Asia. Any uncertainty in this corridor forces airlines to reroute, increasing flight time, fuel consumption, and operational costs. For low-cost carriers like IndiGo, whose business model relies on tight margins, such disruptions can quickly become unsustainable.

From a safety standpoint, IndiGo’s caution is understandable. The tragic history of civilian aircraft being caught in conflict zones—from Ukraine to the Middle East—has made airlines acutely sensitive to risk. Modern aviation safety is not merely about mechanical reliability but about threat perception, intelligence inputs, and risk assessment. In such a context, temporary suspension is often the responsible choice, even if it inconveniences passengers.

However, the impact of these suspensions extends beyond airline balance sheets. Passengers face cancellations, delays, higher fares, and uncertainty—particularly students, migrant workers, and business travellers who depend on affordable international connectivity. Tourism and trade also suffer as flight disruptions ripple through supply chains and travel plans. Repeated geopolitical shocks risk normalising instability in international travel, eroding confidence in long-haul connectivity from emerging markets like India.

The episode also underscores the limitations of national airlines operating in an increasingly fragmented global order. Airspace, once treated as neutral infrastructure, is now frequently weaponised through closures, restrictions, or implicit threats. This places airlines in the difficult position of navigating not just weather and technical factors, but volatile geopolitical calculations over which they have no control.

For policymakers, the lesson is clear. India must deepen coordination with international aviation bodies such as ICAO and strengthen real-time intelligence sharing with global partners. Diversifying routes, investing in long-range aircraft efficiency, and building contingency frameworks for crisis-era aviation are no longer optional—they are strategic necessities.

IndiGo’s decision may be disruptive in the short term, but it serves as a reminder: in a world of rising geopolitical turbulence, the skies are no longer insulated from conflict. Ensuring safety while preserving connectivity will be one of the defining challenges for global aviation in the years ahead.

• SAS Kirmani