Chidambaram slams exam bill as 'useless', criticises parliamentary process

Senior Congress leader P Chidambaram on Saturday launched a sharp critique of the government's legislative agenda, particularly targeting a bill passed during the monsoon parliamentary session aimed at preventing unfair practices in examinations. Speaking at an event, Chidambaram dismissed the measure as ineffectual, pointing to the continued cancellation of exams in various states, including Maharashtra, as evidence of its limited utility.

Chidambaram alleged that the ruling BJP has prioritised quantity over quality in its legislative output, pushing through bills he characterised as "useless" without meaningful parliamentary scrutiny. He contended that such legislation lacks the rigorous examination that properly conducted parliamentary debates would provide.

The Congress veteran drew a pointed comparison between the functioning of the Tamil Nadu Assembly and the national Parliament, arguing that state-level legislators enjoy more robust democratic practices. In Tamil Nadu, he noted, all members including ministers, opposition leaders, and backbenchers participate actively in debates while the Speaker provides reasoned rulings. "Being a Member of the State Assembly in Tamil Nadu is far better than being a Member of Parliament," he remarked, highlighting what he views as the diminished role of opposition voices in the national legislature.

Chidambaram's comments underscore growing opposition criticism about the state of parliamentary discourse, with Congress highlighting concerns about the curtailment of debate time and limited opportunity for question-answer sessions in the current parliamentary setup.