Tharoor Criticizes Government's Control Over Parliamentary Committees

Senior Congress leader Shashi Tharoor criticizes the government for refusing opposition chairpersons in key parliamentary committees, highlighting their growing insecurity. He emphasized that these committees are meant for government scrutiny and accountability, not political theatrics. Tharoor points out the BJP's shift in mentality over a decade in power.

Senior Congress leader Shashi Tharoor on Tuesday criticized the government for its reluctance to allocate important parliamentary committee chairpersonships to the opposition, saying it reflects growing insecurity rather than accrued wisdom or confidence over its 10-year tenure.

Tharoor's comments, made in response to a media report, highlight ongoing disagreements between the government and Opposition over the control of Parliamentary Standing Committees, which have yet to be constituted. He argues that these committees add crucial layers of scrutiny and accountability to the government's actions, dissociated from the political theatrics of public Parliamentary sessions.

The former Union minister pointed out the contrast in 2014 when the BJP government's initial term allocated important committee chairs to opposition leaders, citing his own chairmanship of the External Affairs Committee and Veerappa Moily's role in the Finance Committee. He lamented the shift in this practice, noting that even with increased opposition MPs, the government is reluctant to share control of significant committees. This change, Tharoor insists, sends a concerning signal both domestically and internationally.

(With inputs from agencies.)