India, Feb. 11 -- Communication between the Modi government and the Opposition has broken down, as evidenced by the turbulent proceedings in Parliament last week. There have been no back-channel negotiations to resolve the paralysis.

The protests intensified on Monday when Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla announced that the Leader of the Opposition, Rahul Gandhi, could not read from a magazine containing an excerpt from a book by retired General Naravane, citing parliamentary rules.

This breakdown in dialogue culminated in the Lok Sabha being adjourned for the day last Wednesday, preventing the Prime Minister from delivering his usual reply to the Motion of Thanks to the President's Address. This was unprecedented in Parliament's history: the...