Suspended animation

All MPs must observe parliamentary etiquette

The dramatic dharna by the 12 suspended members of the Rajya Sabha under a statue of Gandhi and further disruption in both Houses of Parliament on their behalf have only served to highlight a chronic problem in the conduct of legislative business in recent decades. This is the rank bad behaviour of members cutting across party lines. Incidents involving interrupting speakers, rushing to the well of the House, displaying placards, even using pepper spray — all violations of parliamentary etiquette rules — by whichever party is in the Opposition have become so common during parliamentary sessions that these incidents have