Disrupting Rituals of Debate in the Indian Parliament

Abstract

Disruptions to debate in India's national parliament by members have generated concern among critics, who have associated disruptions with a larger narrative of the decline of India's political institutions. The violation of debate through disruption is perceived by parliament as a threat to its prestige, legitimacy, and therefore its institutional reproduction. This article discusses institutional responses, which have, however, avoided formally disciplining members and have instead followed a more accommodative, informal approach to managing disruptions. It employs a framework which posits debate as a parliamentary ritual imbued with symbolic significance for both participants (including MPs) and audiences (including citizens, voters, media) and argues that disruption can be viewed as a crucial aspect of the performance of deliberation and representation in parliamentary debates.