Can PM Modi's Address Substitute for Structured Parliament Discussions?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Importance of structured parliamentary discussions
- Accountability of the government in a democracy
- Recognition of victims in national crises
- Role of Jammu & Kashmir residents in disaster response
- Condemnation of hate campaigns in political discourse
Kolkata, May 12 (NationPress) The General Secretary of CPI(M), M.A. Baby, responded on Monday night to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's address to the nation, asserting that his speech cannot replace a structured debate within the Parliament.
“Democracy cannot function as a one-way communication. The Prime Minister's televised address is not an adequate substitute for a thorough discussion on the issues raised in Parliament. In a parliamentary democracy, the government must be accountable,” Baby expressed in a statement shared on his Facebook.
Earlier that day, prior to the Prime Minister's address, Baby had revealed that he sent a letter to Modi, requesting a special Parliament session to discuss ceasefire developments and other pressing national issues.
Following the Prime Minister's speech, Baby also criticized Modi for neglecting to mention significant details during his address, particularly the names of individuals who lost their lives due to cross-border shelling.
“In his elaborate speech, the Prime Minister failed to even acknowledge those who perished in cross-border shelling and their grieving families,” Baby stated.
He additionally highlighted that Modi did not recognize the efforts of the people of Jammu & Kashmir in assisting the victims of last month's terrorist attacks in Pahalgam.
“The Prime Minister remained silent about the bravery of the Kashmiri people, their altruistic actions in aiding the victims of the terrorist attack, and their clear denunciation of the assault,” he noted.
Baby emphasized that Modi also neglected to condemn the hate campaign and support the Foreign Secretary, who had faced backlash for representing the government's position.