What is a problem is paying for a democracy that does not function. India pours public funds into Parliament and state assemblies as if they are engines of accountability, but what we receive in return is political theatre, ritual nationalism, walkouts, orchestrated chaos, and a government that uses the legislature as a rubber stamp.
The recent “Vande Mataram” spectacle symbolises this perfectly. A full session of Parliament—meant for oversight, scrutiny, and lawmaking – was converted into a propaganda stage. Public money was spent not to debate unemployment, farmer distress, inflation, or the coercive misuse of state agencies, but to perform a carefully crafted pageant of nationalism. In fiscal terms, the cost of running Parliament for an hour is massive; in democratic terms, the cost of wasting that hour is catastrophic.
India’s Parliament costs the exchequer crores each day when in session—salaries, security, logistical infrastructure, research staff, utilities, allowances, and administrative machinery. These are not trivial sums. Taxpayers fund every minute of this system. We are not paying for song recitals or choreographed loyalty tests. We are paying for accountability. And we are not receiving it.
14/12/2025