Scoreclever Logo
Scoreclever Editorial Analysis
Scoreclever Logo
Scoreclever Editorial Analysis | ea.scoreclever.com
Read More Editorials
The Hindu Editorial • February 09, 2026 • Read Original

Question and answer: on Parliament, parliamentary norms

Parliament must function as the forum to debate contentious issues

Scoreclever
Win Exams Cleverly
The Hindu Read Original
10 min read

Analysis of editorial from The Hindu newspaper on February 09, 2026

Question and answer: on Parliament, parliamentary norms

Parliament must function as the forum to debate contentious issues

Parliamentary NormsLok SabhaPrime MinisterMotion of ThanksDemocratic AccountabilityRahul Gandhi
Sentences
Sentence 1 of 16
English Original

In an unusual departure from established parliamentary convention, the Lok Sabha adopted the motion of thanks to the President’s address to Parliament without the Prime Minister’s reply to the debate on February 5.

Simple Past Adjunct + Subject + Verb + Object + Adjunct + Adjunct Main Clause Simple Sentence
Phrase Breakdown
Adjunct Additional info
In an unusual departure from established parliamentary convention
In a way that is different from the traditional rules followed in the Parliament for a long time
Subject Who/What
the Lok Sabha
The Lower House of the Indian Parliament (House of the People)
Verb What is happening
adopted
Officially accepted or passed
Object What receives action
the motion of thanks to the President’s address to Parliament
A formal vote to thank the President for the speech given at the start of the session
Adjunct Additional info
without the Prime Minister’s reply to the debate
Doing it without waiting for the Prime Minister to first answer the questions raised during the discussion
Adjunct Additional info
on February 5
The specific date when this happened
Context and Background
Motion of Thanks and President

At the beginning of the first session after each general election and the first session of every year, the President addresses both Houses of Parliament assembled together. This address outlines the government’s policies and achievements. Following this, a ‘Motion of Thanks’ is moved and debated in both Houses. Traditionally, the debate concludes with the Prime Minister’s reply, responding to the points raised by the members.

Sentence 2 of 16
English Original

The explanation by the Lok Sabha Speaker, Om Birla, for the Prime Minister not replying to the discussion on the motion raised more questions than it answered.

Simple Past S + V + O Main Clause Simple Sentence
Phrase Breakdown
Subject Who/What
The explanation by the Lok Sabha Speaker, Om Birla, for the Prime Minister not replying to the discussion on the motion
The reason given by Om Birla (the head of the Lower House) as to why the PM did not answer the debate
Verb What is happening
raised
Created or gave rise to
Object What receives action
more questions than it answered
Instead of making things clear, it made people even more confused or suspicious
Sentence 3 of 16
English Original

Mr. Birla said that he had concrete information about Opposition Members of Parliament (MP) planning something “unexpected”, obliquely suggesting that they may have caused harm to the Prime Minister inside the House.

Simple Past S + V + O + Adjunct Main Clause + Subordinate Clause Complex Sentence
Phrase Breakdown
Subject Who/What
Mr. Birla
Om Birla, the Speaker of the Lok Sabha
Verb What is happening
said
Stated or claimed
Object What receives action
that he had concrete information about Opposition Members of Parliament (MP) planning something “unexpected”
That he had solid proof that the members from the other parties were going to do something unusual
Adjunct Additional info
obliquely suggesting that they may have caused harm to the Prime Minister inside the House
Indirectly hinting that the Opposition members might have physically hurt or troubled the PM in the Parliament
Sentence 4 of 16
English Original

It is bizarre to assume that the Leader of the House — the Prime Minister — avoids speaking in the House fearing harm from fellow MPs.

Simple Present S + V + C + S Main Clause Complex Sentence
Phrase Breakdown
Subject Who/What
It
A word used here to start the sentence before the real subject comes at the end
Verb What is happening
is
Is (describing a state)
Complement Completes meaning
bizarre
Very strange or unusual
Subject Who/What
to assume that the Leader of the House — the Prime Minister — avoids speaking in the House fearing harm from fellow MPs
To think that the PM (who leads the Parliament) stays away from speaking because he is afraid of being hurt by other members
Sentence 5 of 16
English Original

Developments in the House, earlier and outside, provide a more plausible reason for the Prime Minister not showing up in the Lok Sabha.

Simple Present S + V + O Main Clause Simple Sentence
Phrase Breakdown
Subject Who/What
Developments in the House, earlier and outside
Recent events that happened inside the Parliament and also in other places
Verb What is happening
provide
Give or offer
Object What receives action
a more plausible reason for the Prime Minister not showing up in the Lok Sabha
A better and more believable reason why the PM did not come to the Lower House
Sentence 6 of 16
English Original

The Leader of the Opposition (LoP) in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, during his speech on the discussion on the motion of thanks, sought to cite excerpts from a book by former Chief of the Army Staff, General M.M. Naravane, which was disallowed by the Chair.

Simple Past S + Adjunct + V + O + Adjunct Main Clause + Relative Clause Complex Sentence
Phrase Breakdown
Subject Who/What
The Leader of the Opposition (LoP) in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi
Rahul Gandhi, who heads the largest group of parties opposing the government in the Lower House
Adjunct Additional info
during his speech on the discussion on the motion of thanks
While he was talking during the debate about the President’s address
Verb What is happening
sought to cite
Wanted to quote or mention
Object What receives action
excerpts from a book by former Chief of the Army Staff, General M.M. Naravane
Small parts or paragraphs from a book written by the retired head of the Indian Army
Adjunct Additional info
which was disallowed by the Chair
Which the Speaker did not permit him to do
Context and Background
Gen M.M. Naravane

Former Army Chief General M.M. Naravane had written a memoir titled “Four Stars of Destiny.” The book reportedly contains sensitive details about the 2020 India-China military standoff and the Agnipath military recruitment scheme. Rahul Gandhi attempted to quote from excerpts of this book to criticize the government’s handling of national security, but the Speaker (the Chair) blocked it because the book was not yet officially published and cleared.

Sentence 7 of 16
English Original

On the one hand, the LoP was not allowed to speak and, on the other, the Prime Minister chose not to speak.

Simple Past Adjunct + S + V + Adjunct + S + V Independent Clauses Compound Sentence
Phrase Breakdown
Adjunct Additional info
On the one hand
Looking at the first part of the situation
Subject Who/What
the LoP
The Leader of the Opposition (Rahul Gandhi)
Verb What is happening
was not allowed to speak
Was stopped from talking in the House
Adjunct Additional info
and on the other
Looking at the second or opposite part of the situation
Subject Who/What
the Prime Minister
Narendra Modi, the head of the government
Verb What is happening
chose not to speak
Decided by himself that he would not give a speech
Sentence 8 of 16
English Original

Both are against parliamentary norms and, more than that, a disturbing erosion of democratic accountability.

Simple Present S + V + C + Adjunct + C Main Clause Simple Sentence
Phrase Breakdown
Subject Who/What
Both
The two things mentioned earlier (the LoP not being allowed to speak and the PM choosing not to speak)
Verb What is happening
are
Are (describing what they are)
Complement Completes meaning
against parliamentary norms
Opposite to the standard rules and traditions of how the Parliament should run
Adjunct Additional info
and, more than that
And even more importantly or seriously
Complement Completes meaning
a disturbing erosion of democratic accountability
A worrying loss of the process where the government is answerable to the people
Sentence 9 of 16
English Original

The debate and reply function as a mechanism through which the executive is held accountable to Parliament.

Simple Present S + V + Adjunct Main Clause + Relative Clause Complex Sentence
Phrase Breakdown
Subject Who/What
The debate and reply
The discussion in the House and the answer given by the government
Verb What is happening
function
Work or act
Adjunct Additional info
as a mechanism through which the executive is held accountable to Parliament
As a tool or process that makes sure the government (ministers) answers for its actions to the elected members
Sentence 10 of 16
English Original

Mr. Birla stated that he had requested the Prime Minister not to come to the House because there were credible inputs about a possible disruption or an “unforeseen” situation near the Prime Minister’s seat.

Simple Past S + V + O + Adjunct Main Clause + Subordinate Clauses Complex Sentence
Phrase Breakdown
Subject Who/What
Mr. Birla
The Speaker of the Lok Sabha (Om Birla)
Verb What is happening
stated
Declared or said officially
Object What receives action
that he had requested the Prime Minister not to come to the House
That he asked the PM to stay away from the Parliament session
Adjunct Additional info
because there were credible inputs about a possible disruption or an “unforeseen” situation near the Prime Minister’s seat
Because there was believable information about a potential disturbance or an unexpected problem near where the PM sits
Sentence 11 of 16
English Original

As Congress MP K.C. Venugopal has pointed out in a letter to the Prime Minister, parliamentary rules require that a debate on the motion of thanks must conclude with the Prime Minister’s reply, and if the House wishes to close the discussion without the Prime Minister’s reply, a specific resolution must be moved and adopted.

Simple Present Adjunct + S + V + O Main Clause + Subordinate Clauses Compound-Complex Sentence
Phrase Breakdown
Adjunct Additional info
As Congress MP K.C. Venugopal has pointed out in a letter to the Prime Minister
Just like K.C. Venugopal (a Member of Parliament from the Congress party) mentioned in his letter to PM Modi
Subject Who/What
parliamentary rules
The written laws or guidelines that govern how the Parliament should work
Verb What is happening
require
Demand or make it necessary
Object What receives action
that a debate on the motion of thanks must conclude with the Prime Minister’s reply, and if the House wishes to close the discussion without the Prime Minister’s reply, a specific resolution must be moved and adopted
That this specific debate must end with the PM’s answer; and if the members want to stop it without the PM’s answer, they must first pass a special vote to do so
Sentence 12 of 16
English Original

Whether or not the book in question was published, as long as Mr. Gandhi was willing to authenticate its contents and place it before the Chair, he should have been allowed to speak.

Modal Perfect Passive Adjunct + Adjunct + S + V Main Clause + Subordinate Clauses Complex Sentence
Phrase Breakdown
Adjunct Additional info
Whether or not the book in question was published
It does not matter if the book we are talking about was already released in stores or not
Adjunct Additional info
as long as Mr. Gandhi was willing to authenticate its contents and place it before the Chair
Provided that Rahul Gandhi was ready to prove the pages were real and give them to the Speaker for checking
Subject Who/What
he
Rahul Gandhi (the LoP)
Verb What is happening
should have been allowed to speak
It was right for him to keep talking, but he was stopped
Sentence 13 of 16
English Original

The book in question raises serious issues related to national security, and to deny elected members the opportunity to discuss these is indefensible.

Simple Present S + V + O + Adjunct + S + V + C Independent Clauses Compound Sentence
Phrase Breakdown
Subject Who/What
The book in question
The book which is being discussed (by Gen M.M. Naravane)
Verb What is happening
raises
Brings up or highlights
Object What receives action
serious issues related to national security
Important problems about the safety and protection of the country
Adjunct Additional info
and
And (connecting two ideas)
Subject Who/What
to deny elected members the opportunity to discuss these
Refusing to give MPs (who people voted for) the chance to talk about these problems
Verb What is happening
is
Is
Complement Completes meaning
indefensible
Something that cannot be justified or defended as right; completely wrong
Sentence 14 of 16
English Original

The portions that Mr. Gandhi cited outside the House, if accurate, point to the tendency of the political executive to evade critical decision-making by passing the buck and then avoiding accountability.

Simple Present S + Adjunct + V + O Main Clause + Relative Clause Complex Sentence
Phrase Breakdown
Subject Who/What
The portions that Mr. Gandhi cited outside the House
The parts of the book that Rahul Gandhi read or mentioned while talking to people and media outside the Parliament
Adjunct Additional info
if accurate
If those parts are true and correct
Verb What is happening
point to
Indicate or show evidence of
Object What receives action
the tendency of the political executive to evade critical decision-making by passing the buck and then avoiding accountability
The habit of the government leaders to avoid making tough choices by blaming others and then refusing to be answerable for it
Sentence 15 of 16
English Original

A thorough parliamentary discussion concluding with the Prime Minister’s reply would have been the opportunity to prove that charge wrong.

Conditional Perfect S + V + C Main Clause Simple Sentence
Phrase Breakdown
Subject Who/What
A thorough parliamentary discussion concluding with the Prime Minister’s reply
A complete and detailed talk in Parliament that ends with the PM’s answer
Verb What is happening
would have been
Could have happened (but did not)
Complement Completes meaning
the opportunity to prove that charge wrong
The chance to show that the negative statement made against him was incorrect
Sentence 16 of 16
English Original

By skipping the reply, Prime Minister Narendra Modi proved his critics right.

Simple Past Adjunct + S + V + O + C Main Clause Simple Sentence
Phrase Breakdown
Adjunct Additional info
By skipping the reply
By choosing not to give his answer or speech
Subject Who/What
Prime Minister Narendra Modi
The head of the Indian government
Verb What is happening
proved
Showed or demonstrated that something is true
Object What receives action
his critics
People who find fault with him or disagree with his actions
Complement Completes meaning
right
Correct in their opinions
Sentence 1 of 16
Sentence 1 of 16
In an unusual departure from established parliamentary convention, the Lok Sabha adopted the motion of thanks to the President’s address to Parliament without the Prime Minister’s reply to the debate on February 5.
Phrase Breakdown
Adjunct
In an unusual departure from established parliamentary convention
In a way that is different from the traditional rules followed in the Parliament for a long time
Subject
the Lok Sabha
The Lower House of the Indian Parliament (House of the People)
Verb
adopted
Officially accepted or passed
Object
the motion of thanks to the President’s address to Parliament
A formal vote to thank the President for the speech given at the start of the session
Adjunct
without the Prime Minister’s reply to the debate
Doing it without waiting for the Prime Minister to first answer the questions raised during the discussion
Adjunct
on February 5
The specific date when this happened
Sentence 2 of 16
The explanation by the Lok Sabha Speaker, Om Birla, for the Prime Minister not replying to the discussion on the motion raised more questions than it answered.
Phrase Breakdown
Subject
The explanation by the Lok Sabha Speaker, Om Birla, for the Prime Minister not replying to the discussion on the motion
The reason given by Om Birla (the head of the Lower House) as to why the PM did not answer the debate
Verb
raised
Created or gave rise to
Object
more questions than it answered
Instead of making things clear, it made people even more confused or suspicious
Sentence 3 of 16
Mr. Birla said that he had concrete information about Opposition Members of Parliament (MP) planning something “unexpected”, obliquely suggesting that they may have caused harm to the Prime Minister inside the House.
Phrase Breakdown
Subject
Mr. Birla
Om Birla, the Speaker of the Lok Sabha
Verb
said
Stated or claimed
Object
that he had concrete information about Opposition Members of Parliament (MP) planning something “unexpected”
That he had solid proof that the members from the other parties were going to do something unusual
Adjunct
obliquely suggesting that they may have caused harm to the Prime Minister inside the House
Indirectly hinting that the Opposition members might have physically hurt or troubled the PM in the Parliament
Sentence 4 of 16
It is bizarre to assume that the Leader of the House — the Prime Minister — avoids speaking in the House fearing harm from fellow MPs.
Phrase Breakdown
Subject
It
A word used here to start the sentence before the real subject comes at the end
Verb
is
Is (describing a state)
Complement
bizarre
Very strange or unusual
Subject
to assume that the Leader of the House — the Prime Minister — avoids speaking in the House fearing harm from fellow MPs
To think that the PM (who leads the Parliament) stays away from speaking because he is afraid of being hurt by other members
Sentence 5 of 16
Developments in the House, earlier and outside, provide a more plausible reason for the Prime Minister not showing up in the Lok Sabha.
Phrase Breakdown
Subject
Developments in the House, earlier and outside
Recent events that happened inside the Parliament and also in other places
Verb
provide
Give or offer
Object
a more plausible reason for the Prime Minister not showing up in the Lok Sabha
A better and more believable reason why the PM did not come to the Lower House
Sentence 6 of 16
The Leader of the Opposition (LoP) in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, during his speech on the discussion on the motion of thanks, sought to cite excerpts from a book by former Chief of the Army Staff, General M.M. Naravane, which was disallowed by the Chair.
Phrase Breakdown
Subject
The Leader of the Opposition (LoP) in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi
Rahul Gandhi, who heads the largest group of parties opposing the government in the Lower House
Adjunct
during his speech on the discussion on the motion of thanks
While he was talking during the debate about the President’s address
Verb
sought to cite
Wanted to quote or mention
Object
excerpts from a book by former Chief of the Army Staff, General M.M. Naravane
Small parts or paragraphs from a book written by the retired head of the Indian Army
Adjunct
which was disallowed by the Chair
Which the Speaker did not permit him to do
Sentence 7 of 16
On the one hand, the LoP was not allowed to speak and, on the other, the Prime Minister chose not to speak.
Phrase Breakdown
Adjunct
On the one hand
Looking at the first part of the situation
Subject
the LoP
The Leader of the Opposition (Rahul Gandhi)
Verb
was not allowed to speak
Was stopped from talking in the House
Adjunct
and on the other
Looking at the second or opposite part of the situation
Subject
the Prime Minister
Narendra Modi, the head of the government
Verb
chose not to speak
Decided by himself that he would not give a speech
Sentence 8 of 16
Both are against parliamentary norms and, more than that, a disturbing erosion of democratic accountability.
Phrase Breakdown
Subject
Both
The two things mentioned earlier (the LoP not being allowed to speak and the PM choosing not to speak)
Verb
are
Are (describing what they are)
Complement
against parliamentary norms
Opposite to the standard rules and traditions of how the Parliament should run
Adjunct
and, more than that
And even more importantly or seriously
Complement
a disturbing erosion of democratic accountability
A worrying loss of the process where the government is answerable to the people
Sentence 9 of 16
The debate and reply function as a mechanism through which the executive is held accountable to Parliament.
Phrase Breakdown
Subject
The debate and reply
The discussion in the House and the answer given by the government
Verb
function
Work or act
Adjunct
as a mechanism through which the executive is held accountable to Parliament
As a tool or process that makes sure the government (ministers) answers for its actions to the elected members
Sentence 10 of 16
Mr. Birla stated that he had requested the Prime Minister not to come to the House because there were credible inputs about a possible disruption or an “unforeseen” situation near the Prime Minister’s seat.
Phrase Breakdown
Subject
Mr. Birla
The Speaker of the Lok Sabha (Om Birla)
Verb
stated
Declared or said officially
Object
that he had requested the Prime Minister not to come to the House
That he asked the PM to stay away from the Parliament session
Adjunct
because there were credible inputs about a possible disruption or an “unforeseen” situation near the Prime Minister’s seat
Because there was believable information about a potential disturbance or an unexpected problem near where the PM sits
Sentence 11 of 16
As Congress MP K.C. Venugopal has pointed out in a letter to the Prime Minister, parliamentary rules require that a debate on the motion of thanks must conclude with the Prime Minister’s reply, and if the House wishes to close the discussion without the Prime Minister’s reply, a specific resolution must be moved and adopted.
Phrase Breakdown
Adjunct
As Congress MP K.C. Venugopal has pointed out in a letter to the Prime Minister
Just like K.C. Venugopal (a Member of Parliament from the Congress party) mentioned in his letter to PM Modi
Subject
parliamentary rules
The written laws or guidelines that govern how the Parliament should work
Verb
require
Demand or make it necessary
Object
that a debate on the motion of thanks must conclude with the Prime Minister’s reply, and if the House wishes to close the discussion without the Prime Minister’s reply, a specific resolution must be moved and adopted
That this specific debate must end with the PM’s answer; and if the members want to stop it without the PM’s answer, they must first pass a special vote to do so
Sentence 12 of 16
Whether or not the book in question was published, as long as Mr. Gandhi was willing to authenticate its contents and place it before the Chair, he should have been allowed to speak.
Phrase Breakdown
Adjunct
Whether or not the book in question was published
It does not matter if the book we are talking about was already released in stores or not
Adjunct
as long as Mr. Gandhi was willing to authenticate its contents and place it before the Chair
Provided that Rahul Gandhi was ready to prove the pages were real and give them to the Speaker for checking
Subject
he
Rahul Gandhi (the LoP)
Verb
should have been allowed to speak
It was right for him to keep talking, but he was stopped
Sentence 13 of 16
The book in question raises serious issues related to national security, and to deny elected members the opportunity to discuss these is indefensible.
Phrase Breakdown
Subject
The book in question
The book which is being discussed (by Gen M.M. Naravane)
Verb
raises
Brings up or highlights
Object
serious issues related to national security
Important problems about the safety and protection of the country
Adjunct
and
And (connecting two ideas)
Subject
to deny elected members the opportunity to discuss these
Refusing to give MPs (who people voted for) the chance to talk about these problems
Verb
is
Is
Complement
indefensible
Something that cannot be justified or defended as right; completely wrong
Sentence 14 of 16
The portions that Mr. Gandhi cited outside the House, if accurate, point to the tendency of the political executive to evade critical decision-making by passing the buck and then avoiding accountability.
Phrase Breakdown
Subject
The portions that Mr. Gandhi cited outside the House
The parts of the book that Rahul Gandhi read or mentioned while talking to people and media outside the Parliament
Adjunct
if accurate
If those parts are true and correct
Verb
point to
Indicate or show evidence of
Object
the tendency of the political executive to evade critical decision-making by passing the buck and then avoiding accountability
The habit of the government leaders to avoid making tough choices by blaming others and then refusing to be answerable for it
Sentence 15 of 16
A thorough parliamentary discussion concluding with the Prime Minister’s reply would have been the opportunity to prove that charge wrong.
Phrase Breakdown
Subject
A thorough parliamentary discussion concluding with the Prime Minister’s reply
A complete and detailed talk in Parliament that ends with the PM’s answer
Verb
would have been
Could have happened (but did not)
Complement
the opportunity to prove that charge wrong
The chance to show that the negative statement made against him was incorrect
Sentence 16 of 16
By skipping the reply, Prime Minister Narendra Modi proved his critics right.
Phrase Breakdown
Adjunct
By skipping the reply
By choosing not to give his answer or speech
Subject
Prime Minister Narendra Modi
The head of the Indian government
Verb
proved
Showed or demonstrated that something is true
Object
his critics
People who find fault with him or disagree with his actions
Complement
right
Correct in their opinions

Reading Comprehension

Practice questions based on this editorial

Reading Comprehension - Parliamentary Norms

Practice reading comprehension questions based on the editorial about unusual departures from parliamentary conventions and democratic accountability.

5 Questions Passing: 70%

About Scoreclever

Your Complete Learning Ecosystem

Scoreclever helps you master Current Affairs, English Language, and General Awareness for all Banking, SSC, Railway, and Defence exams. The Scoreclever app has innovative learning techniques that make memorization and revision effortless.

Explore Scoreclever

© 2026 Scoreclever

·

Built with ♥ for aspirants