The Lok Sabha, on a tumultuous Monday, pushed through the passage of two pivotal sports-related legislations—the National Sports Governance Bill and the National Anti-Doping (Amendment) Bill—amid an empty opposition bench and a chorus of dissent outside Parliament.
When the House reconvened at 2 pm following an earlier adjournment, it wasted no time in pushing both bills through in rapid succession, brushing aside the uproar and the conspicuous absence of most opposition members, who were at that moment being detained for protesting against the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Bihar.
Live reports claimed that the bills were pushed through by a voice vote amid chaos. This happened just minutes before the House was adjourned until 4 pm.
Outside the Parliament house, democracy seemed to be struggling to survive. Earlier that day, a protest march from Parliament House to the Election Commission was stopped halfway. A strong police presence blocked the way. The opposition led the march with fierce determination.
Manish Tiwari, Member of Parliament from Chandigarh, unleashed a scathing indictment of the government’s procedure. He was quoted as saying, “It is exceedingly unfortunate that the Government chose to pass the Sports Governance and Anti Doping Bills when the opposition was protesting on an issue of substantive import that goes to the heart of India’s democratic ethos. The Government lacks even the legislative Competence to enact the National Sports Governance Bill – SPORTS IS A STATE SUBJECT – Entry 33, List II Seventh Schedule- Article 246.”
Union Minister Kiran Rijiju staunchly defended the legislative blitzkrieg. “The government has now decided to proceed with important legislation in both Houses,” he was quoted as saying.
Dismissing the opposition’s stance, Rijiju accused them of willful sabotage. He reportedly said, “While they have the right to protest, daily attacks on the Election Commission, disruption of the House, and attempts to defame constitutional institutions cannot be justified.”
Taking direct aim at Congress, he added, “It is now clear that Rahul Gandhi is not going to amend his functioning.”
Earlier, the police stopped a protest march from Parliament House to the Election Commission.
Rahul Gandhi, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, and senior party leader Jairam Ramesh were reported among those who were stopped.
“This fight is not political but for saving the Constitution,” Rahul Gandhi declared to waiting reporters. “The truth is before the entire country.” With fiery conviction, he tore into the silence of institutional complicity: “See the condition of India’s democracy. 300 MPs wanted to meet the Election Commission to present a document, but they were not allowed. They are scared. What if 300 MPs come and their truth is revealed? This fight is not political anymore. This fight is for the Constitution and for One Man One Vote… We have clearly shown in Karnataka, it was Multiple Man, Multiple Vote… The entire opposition is fighting against this. It will be very difficult for the Election Commission to hide now.”
Meanwhile, at the time of this article going live, the Rajya Sabha quietly passed ‘The Manipur Goods and Services Tax (Amendment) Bill, 2025.’
The government may have secured passage of its bills, but the events of the day laid bare the festering fault lines in India’s democratic edifice. The battle lines have been drawn—not just on policy, but on principle.
Also Read: Fairer, Healthier, Well-dressed: The Silent Return Of Gujarat’s New-Look American Dreamers https://www.vibesofindia.com/fairer-healthier-well-dressed-the-silent-return-of-gujarats-new-look-american-dreamers/
