Parliaments can both protect and weaken democracy. In India, conflict rages as Opposition parties, mainly Congress, accuse Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla of silencing their voices. They blame Birla, with ties to the RSS, for blocking debates on pressing topics. They want him removed but lack the numbers to do so. BJP is now considering banning Rahul Gandhi from Parliament and future elections. This comes amid urgent talks over a trade deal with the US, which Opposition claims is a sell-out. Meanwhile, controversy brews over a book by former army chief M.M. Naravane that the government denies exists. Rahul Gandhi flaunts a copy but isn’t allowed to discuss it. Delhi Police filed an FIR about the strange case of the “non-existent book.” Parliaments worldwide have a history of both holding leaders accountable and enabling them. In India, past leaders like Narasimha Rao and Atal Bihari Vajpayee showed mixed records in Parliament's functioning. The current stalemate stalls vital discussions. Opposition leader Rahul Gandhi’s attempts to raise the issue of Naravane’s book remain blocked despite its public presence. India’s foreign ministry also had to deny an unflattering mention of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the Epstein scandal files, calling it “trashy ruminations of a convicted criminal.” The bitter battle inside Parliament reflects deeper questions about its role in upholding democracy or subverting it. The legacy of bold parliamentarians like Feroze Gandhi, who exposed scandals, reminds India of a time when Parliament fiercely defended public interest. Today’s blocks and bans signal a different, more troubled chapter.