P.J. Kurien urges Speaker to ensure Home Minister’s presence in Lok Sabha
Veteran Congress leader says that he was disappointed over the 'non-functioning’ House and its ‘failure’ to ensure the accountability of the government and avoid the ‘consequent stalemate’
Former Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman and prominent Congress leader P.J. Kurien addressed Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on August 6, 2026, urging the Speaker to ensure Union Home Minister Amit Shah's presence in the House to answer questions raised by Opposition members. In a letter to the Speaker, Kurien expressed disappointment over the House's "non-functioning" and its failure to hold the government accountable, preventing a potential stalemate.
He stated that as a citizen, he was concerned that the Lok Sabha had been inoperable for approximately one week due to the Home Minister's absence. Kurien emphasized that in a democracy, the Opposition played an equally crucial role as the ruling party, and it was the Opposition's constitutional duty to ensure accountability. He asserted that the government was answerable to Parliament and that the Speaker's role was to safeguard the rights of members striving for accountability.
Kurien reminded the Speaker that previous presiding officers had issued similar directives, which were precedent and practice in the House. He respectfully requested the Speaker to direct the Home Minister to be present in the House or to compel the government to ensure his presence, thus averting a defunct Parliament and a stalemate.
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