Parliamentary Protocol Breached: CPI(M) Legislator Condemns Government's Use of Social Media Platform for Major Trade Announcement

In a significant parliamentary development, CPI(M) Rajya Sabha member John Brittas has issued a formal condemnation of the Modi administration's decision to announce the landmark India-U.S. trade agreement via social media platform X rather than through established parliamentary channels. The legislator's pointed inquiry—whether the House of Parliament has become 'inferior to Elon Musk's X platform'—highlights a growing concern regarding procedural norms and institutional respect. This incident raises critical questions about governmental communication protocols, particularly for matters of national economic importance. The choice of platform over Parliament suggests a potential shift in official disclosure practices that warrants scrutiny from constitutional and governance perspectives. Analysts note that such announcements traditionally merit parliamentary privilege and immediate legislative oversight. The episode underscores broader tensions between traditional governance structures and evolving digital communication strategies, with implications for transparency, accountability, and institutional authority in India's democratic framework.