New Delhi – In a remarkable and deeply personal intervention, former Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda has written to Congress Parliamentary Party Chairperson Sonia Gandhi, expressing grave concern over the "chaos" and "negative energy" being introduced inside Parliament by the Opposition, which he holds the Congress party primarily responsible for.

In a letter dated March 16, the 92-year-old veteran parliamentarian, who describes this as "the last parliamentary session of my life," has urged Gandhi to use her "wealth of political experience and maturity" to rein in party leaders and restore parliamentary traditions.

Deve Gowda, who began his career at the grassroots and has spent 65 years as a legislator and parliamentarian, wrote that he was "greatly disturbed" by the disruptions. He specifically pointed to the "dharnas and blockades outside parliament," slogan-shouting, display of placards, and an "attitude of non-seriousness" that he said "assaulted my very idea and construct of parliament."

"I have spent nearly ninety percent of my time in the Opposition benches. You, yourself have spent long years in Opposition, and while there, you have conducted yourself with grace and maturity," the former PM wrote. He contrasted this with the current conduct, noting that the Congress parliamentarians, led by the Leader of Opposition, have "provoked far too many disruptions."

Drawing on the teachings of India's founding fathers like Jawaharlal Nehru, Sardar Patel, and B.R. Ambedkar, Mr. Deve Gowda emphasized the importance of dignified protest.

"Let me tell you, in all my career, even under extreme provocation, I have never entered the well of the house to protest either in the state legislature or in Parliament. That culture was what the elders of our democracy taught us," he stated.

In a particularly pointed critique, the former Prime Minister expressed dismay at the visuals of protests, questioning the methods employed by the Opposition.

"They did not block the entrance to parliament, make their gathering look like a trash- shop assembly, and worse, order tea, biscuits and pakodas sitting on the steps of parliament," he wrote, expressing astonishment at the scenes.

He argued that while the life of an Opposition leader is not easy, success cannot lie in "operating outside rules and traditions." He cautioned that such "excess" by the Opposition could cause "immense harm" to the survival of the democracy they are meant to guard.

The letter, while critical of the Congress's tactics, is framed as a respectful appeal to Sonia Gandhi, whom he acknowledges as the "eldest in the ranks of the Opposition."

"I do not wish to put down anybody, or curtail anybody's role or enthusiasm. But I urge you... to speak to your party leaders and others," Deve Gowda wrote. "You can perhaps ask them not to harm themselves, their cause and their political futures in the long run."

Concluding his heartfelt note, the former PM expressed confidence that Mrs. Gandhi would "do the needful" to ensure that protests do not dismantle the democratic traditions built over "75 glorious years."

It may be noted that Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi was involved in a political controversy after being spotted having tea, biscuits, and allegedly pakodas on the steps of the Parliament of India's Makar Dwaron March 12. The incident was part of a protest against the LPG cylinder shortage, but it drew sharp criticism from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for the choice of location.

A group of 204 retired officers has written an open letter demanding an apology from the Leader of the Opposition, Rahul Gandhi, for his conduct.