‘Stop venting frustration of Bihar defeat here!’: PM Modi taunts Opposition as Parliament's Winter Session explodes into action

Addressing the media ahead of the session, Modi accused the Opposition of reducing Parliament to “a warm-up arena for elections” or an “outlet for frustration after defeat.”

“For some time now, our Parliament is being used either as a warm-up arena for elections or as an outlet for frustration after defeat,” he said. “There are states where, after being in power, leaders are now facing such strong anti-incumbency that they are unable to face the public. Instead, they come here and vent their anger inside the House.”

The Prime Minister said some parties were turning Parliament into a “stage for their state-level politics,” calling the trend “unhealthy” and unproductive for national interest.

Urging leaders across the political spectrum to maintain decorum, Modi added, “I urge all parties that the frustration of defeat should not turn into a battlefield in the Winter Session, and this Winter Session should not be transformed into the arrogance of victory either.”

He also highlighted the economy's strong performance, citing India’s Q2 GDP growth of 8.2%, the highest in six quarters. “India’s economic rise today is reaching remarkable heights,” he said. “This momentum gives us renewed confidence on the path towards becoming a developed nation.”

The Winter Session, scheduled from December 1 to 19, is expected to be stormy as the Opposition prepares to confront the NDA government on several contentious issues.

At the all-party meeting held on Sunday, chaired by Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju, the Opposition demanded urgent debates on national security following the deadly Delhi blast, the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, Delhi’s worsening air pollution, farmers’ distress, alleged threats to democratic institutions, and key foreign policy concerns.

Congress MP Jairam Ramesh criticised the government for calling what he described as an unusually short session. He noted that only two of the 13 listed bills had been examined by the relevant Standing Committees, warning against “rushed legislation” on critical subjects such as atomic energy and higher education.

“This session of 15 days will be the shortest in Parliamentary history… Ten Bills have not been examined,” Ramesh posted on X, cautioning that more bills could be introduced late in the session.

TMC MP Kalyan Banerjee also hit out at the government for allegedly blocking Opposition-led discussions. “The TMC raised issues we had flagged earlier — SIR, MGNREGA — but these were not allowed for discussion,” he told PTI. “If Parliament functions only with the government’s consent, then what value does the opposition hold?”