As the MPs of the INDIA alliance gathered at Jantar Mantar today to protest against the suspension of the Opposition legislators during the Winter Session of Parliament, senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi accused the Central government of silencing crores of Indians by removing their representatives from the House.
Tag: Parliament security breach
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Rahul Gandhi Corners BJP Govt Over Parliament Security Breach, Attacks PM Modi, Amit Shah At Jantar Mantar Protest |
NEW DELHI: Congress Wayanad MP Rahul Gandhi on Friday launched a blistering attack on the Narendra Modi government over the recent security breach at Parliament and asked the ruling disposition to fix accountability for the shocking security lapse. The Congress leader also reiterated that unemployment and inflation due to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s policies were the reasons behind the Parliament security breach.
Addressing a huge gathering of supporters at the Jantar Mantar, Rahul Gandhi said, “2-3 youths entered Parliament and released smoke. At this moment, BJP MPs ran away. In this incident, there is the question of a serious security breach, but there is another question of why they protested this way. The answer is unemployment in the country.”
Hitting out at the national media, Rahul said, “The media did not talk about unemployment in the country. But it talked about Rahul Gandhi recording a video where suspended MPs were sitting outside the Parliament…”
In a powerful display of dissent, leaders from the Opposition bloc, INDIA (Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance), began their nationwide protest at the Jantar Mantar on Friday in response to the recent suspension of 146 MPs from Parliament. The latest round of protests from the Opposition members comes after days of disruption and chaos at the Parliament in the wake of the incident on December 13, where two individuals breached the Lok Sabha chamber, releasing smoke from canisters.
Nationwide Outcry: INDIA Alliance Mobilizes Against BJP Government
Leader of the Opposition, Mallikarjun Kharge, announced on Thursday that the protest is not limited to the capital. Simultaneous demonstrations will unfold in all district headquarters across the country, denouncing what he termed the “immoral and illegal” behavior of the Narendra Modi-led BJP government. He emphasized the opposition’s commitment to upholding democratic values and urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to address the security breach issue in the House.
“The PM should come and speak in the house first. This is really condemnable! We are repeatedly requesting the speaker of the Lok Sabha and the chairman of the Rajya Sabha. The members of the ruling party are disturbing the proceedings. This shows that they (the BJP) don’t have faith in India’s democracy. The constitution and democratic practices should be upheld. Tomorrow, INDIA leaders will protest at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi. Throughout the country, Opposition leaders will protest against this immoral and illegal behaviour of the BJP government,” Kharge said on Thursday.
Rahul Gandhi Takes The Lead: Congress Leader To Join Protest
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi arrived at the protest venue -Jantar Mantar, around 11 AM to take part in the ongoing protest. Besides Rahul Gandhi, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, CPI-M leader Sitaram Yechury, NCP chief Sharad Pawar and several other top leaders of the INDIA bloc were seen taking part in the ‘Save Democracy’ protest against mass suspension of MPs at the Jantar Mantar. The protest aims to draw attention to the suspension of opposition MPs and the perceived disregard for parliamentary norms.
#WATCH | Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge and NCP chief Sharad Pawar and leaders of INDIA parties take part in ‘Save Democracy’ protest against mass suspension of MPs, at Jantar Mantar in Delhi pic.twitter.com/nxslPhTB1V
— ANI (@ANI) December 22, 2023
Kharge Condemns BJP’s Conduct, Calls For Prime Minister’s Accountability
In a scathing critique, Mallikarjun Kharge condemned the conduct of the ruling party, accusing them of disrupting proceedings and undermining India’s democracy. He called on Prime Minister Modi to address the House before anything else, emphasizing the opposition’s repeated requests for a discussion on the security breach.
National Outcry: Protests Escalate Across States
Congress MP Shashi Tharoor echoed Kharge’s sentiments, emphasizing the need for nationwide protests. He asserted that the INDIA alliance protest would be widespread, demonstrating the opposition’s united stand against what they perceived as an assault on democracy. “It’s appropriate to protest and all of us will be at Jantar Mantar in Delhi. The INDIA alliance protest will happen everywhere (Friday) morning in all the states because we want to show the public that if they’d run Parliament like this and won’t listen to the opposition then they are ruining the democracy,” said Tharoor.
AAP MPs Join The Fray: Support For INDIA Bloc Grows
Adding to the momentum, AAP MPs, including ND Gupta, Sandeep Pathak, Sant Balbir Seecehwal, and Sanjeev Arora, will join the INDIA bloc protest, further amplifying the collective voice against the government’s actions.
The ongoing winter session of Parliament has witnessed an unprecedented wave of suspensions, with three more Congress MPs -D K Suresh, Deepak Baij, and Nakul Nath -joining the list of suspended lawmakers.
Protests, March Against Suspension Of MPs
On Thursday, INDIA bloc MPs marched from Parliament to Vijay Chowk in protest of the suspension of opposition lawmakers. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge highlighted Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s alleged violation of parliamentary privilege for not addressing the security breach issue in the House. The lawmakers carried a large ‘Save Democracy’ banner and placards reading ‘Opposition MPs Suspended,’ ‘Parliament Caged,’ and ‘Democracy Expelled’ during the march.
What Led To The Suspension Of MPs?
The suspension of 145 MPs during the current winter session of Parliament stems from a critical incident on December 13. Two individuals breached the sanctity of the Lok Sabha chamber, unleashing smoke from canisters and triggering a chain of disruptions initiated by the opposition.
The primary catalyst for the suspension lies in the Opposition’s persistent interference with House proceedings, demanding accountability for the security breach. Their pivotal request revolves around a statement from Union Home Minister Amit Shah, seeking clarity on the circumstances surrounding the breach.
This ongoing saga has resulted in the suspension of a significant number of lawmakers, with 100 from the Lok Sabha and 46 from the Rajya Sabha facing disciplinary action. The suspension, attributed to their involvement in “creating chaos and disrupting proceedings,” underscores the profound impact of the December 13 incident on the parliamentary landscape.
The Opposition, at the moment, remains resolute in its demand for accountability and an open discussion on the security breach issue, setting the stage for a continued standoff in the days to come.
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Opposition giving muted, indirect support to security breach: PM Modi
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday hit out at the Opposition for giving “muted and indirect” support to the security breach incident in Parliament. However, he asked BJP MPs to maintain decency and decorum while responding to Opposition’s charges.
Taking a dig at the Opposition, Modi suggested that with their current approach over the security breach in Parliament last week, it looks unlikely that the Opposition would be able to match its 2019 performance. “How can a party believing in democratic values overtly or covertly justify it,” the PM said, according to BJP leader Ravi Shankar Prasad. He was briefing the media after the BJP parliamentary party meeting.
The conduct of these parties indicates they have made up their mind to remain in Opposition and are practising for it, Modi said, adding that the nation has also made up its mind to keep them there and to reduce their strength even further.”We should expose the Opposition, keeping in mind to keep our voice under control, and stay within the limits of democracy. In the coming days, no matter whether others are participating or not, we must participate in Parliament’s proceedings,” he said, noting that some important bills are coming up for discussion in the two Houses.
Slamming opposition parties for disrupting Parliament proceedings, Modi said they were giving “political spin” to the incident in frustration over its losses in the recent assembly polls. Their goal is to throw out his government but the government’s goal is to ensure a bright future for India, he added.
“Some People are uniting in their intent to remove BJP from power while we are patriots working for the betterment of India. They are utilising their strength to remove the government while we are utilising our strength for the betterment of India,” Parliamentary affairs minister Pralhad Joshi said, quoting the PM.
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Parliament Winter Session: 49 More Opposition MPs Suspended From Lok Sabha Over ‘Unruly Behaviour’ |
New Delhi: As the Opposition continues to spar with the Narendra Modi government demanding answers on the recent breach in Lok Sabha’s security, more opposition MPs from Lok Sabha were suspended for the remaining winter session of Parliament for unruly behaviour and irresponsible conduct.
Union Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal proposed to suspend more Opposition MPs including Supriya Sule, Manish Tewari, Shashi Tharoor, Md Faisal, Karti Chidambaram, Sudip Bandhopadhyay, Dimple Yadav and Danish Ali. A total of 141 Opposition MPs have been suspended from both houses of Parliament for unruly behaviour.
Union minister Arjun Ram Meghwal in Lok Sabha proposes to suspend more Opposition MPs including Supriya Sule, Manish Tewari, Shashi Tharoor, Md Faisal, Karti Chidambaram, Sudip Bandhopadhyay, Dimple Yadav and Danish Ali pic.twitter.com/vHlNsMh2Oh
— ANI (@ANI) December 19, 2023
The latest suspension comes a day after 78 opposition MPs were suspended for the remainder of the ongoing ‘Winter Session’, for raising a ruckus and disrupting proceedings in both Houses on Monday to push for their demand for a statement from Union Home Minister Amit Shah over the Parliament security breach incident.
A total of 78 MPs – 33 from Lok Sabha and 45 from Rajya Sabha – were suspended on Monday, following a ruckus over the demand by the Opposition for a statement from Union Minister Amit Shah on the Parliament security breach incident, taking the total number of lawmakers suspended for the remainder of the ongoing Winter Session to 92 on Monday.
While 34 opposition Rajya Sabha MPs, including Congress’ Jairam Ramesh, KC Venugopal and Randeep Singh Surjewala were suspended for the remainder of the ‘Winter Session’, the ‘misconduct’ of 11 others was also referred to the Privileges Committee, which has been asked to give its report in three months.
The members will remain suspended till a report is submitted by the panel. The reason for the suspension of opposition MPs for the rest of the Winter Session was cited to be ‘misconduct’ and failure to adhere to the directions of the Chair.
Meanwhile, the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance MPs staged massive protest outside the Gandhi statue in Parliament over the security breach issue
Following the suspensions on Monday, Opposition MPs lashed out at the BJP-led Centre, terming it ‘autocratic’. Kharge said, “democratic norms are being thrown into the dustbin by an autocratic Modi government by suspending 47 MPs”.
“With an Opposition-Less Parliament, the Modi government can now bulldoze important pending legislations, crush any dissent, without any debate,” the Congress national president posted on X.
He added that the Opposition’s demands include a statement from Shah on the security breach and a discussion in both Houses.
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‘Mockery Of Democracy’: Mamata Banerjee Attacks Modi Govt Over Suspension Of Opposition MPs |
New Delhi: West Bengal Chief Minister and Trinamool Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee launched a scathing attack on the BJP-led central government on Monday, accusing them of making a “mockery of democracy” following the suspension of 46 Opposition MPs in the Lok Sabha for the remainder of the Winter Session.
Ruckus In Parliament: 46 MPs Suspended For “Misconduct”
A total of forty-six Opposition Members of Parliament (MPs) faced suspension for alleged “misconduct” and non-compliance with the Chair’s directives, sparking criticism from Banerjee. She questioned the move, emphasizing the importance of a democratic system and the role of the opposition in raising crucial issues.
Choked Voices: Opposition Silenced, Says Mamata Banerjee
“The voices of the people have been choked. Let them suspend the House first. They have no moral right to run this House to suspend the opposition fully…They will run a mockery, nothing else. It is a mockery of democracy,” declared the West Bengal CM, expressing concern over the stifling of dissenting voices.
Joining Hands With Congress And Seat-Sharing
Responding to queries about joining hands with Congress, Mamata Banerjee stated, “Somebody must bell the cat…I don’t have any problem if they have genuine things. But in West Bengal, they have only two seats. I am open to talk and discuss.” On the delay in seat sharing in the INDIA alliance, she remarked, “It is not late. Better late than never…”
#WATCH | On delay in seat sharing in INDIA alliance, West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee says, “It is not late. Better late than never…” pic.twitter.com/7Y7GMYK4Lm
— ANI (@ANI) December 18, 2023
Opposition MPs Suspended Across Houses: Demand For Amit Shah’s Statement
A total of 45 opposition MPs, including prominent figures like Jairam Ramesh, K.C. Venugopal, and Randeep Singh Surjewala, were suspended from Rajya Sabha. Eleven of them have been referred to the Privilege Committee. The Opposition members have been demanding a statement from Home Minister Amit Shah regarding the breach of Parliament’s security on December 13.
Lok Sabha Adjourned Amid Protests: Security Breach Takes Center Stage
Lok Sabha witnessed continuous protests, leading to its adjournment for the day. The Opposition’s uproar focused on the breach of Parliament security on December 13. The suspension motion was moved by Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi, citing members’ violation of rules. The MPs that have been suspended from Lok Sabha are Kalyan Banerjee (TMC), A. Raja (DMK), Dayanidhi Maran (DMK), Aparupa Poddar (TMC), Prasun Banerjee (TMC), ET Mohammed Basheer (IUML), Ganesan Selvam (DMK), CN Annadurai (DMK), Adhir Ranjan Choudhary (INC), T. Sumathy (DMK), Kani K. Navas (IUML), Kalanidhi Veeraswamy (DMK), NK Premachandran (RSP), Sougata Ray (TMC), Satabdi Roy (TMC), Asit Kumar Mal (TMC), Kaushalendra Kumar – (JDU), Anto Antony (INC), SS Palanimanickam (DMK), Pratima Mondal (TMC), Kakoli Ghosh (TMC), K Muraleedharan (INC), Sunil Mondal (TMC), Ramalingam Sellaperumal (DMK), Kodikunnel Suresh (INC), Amar Singh (INC), Rajmohan Unnithan (INC), Su. Thirunavukkarasar (INC), TR Baalu (DMK), Gaurav Gogoi (INC), Vijaykumar Vasanth (INC), Dr. K Jayakumar (INC), Abdul Khaleque (INC).
Unruly Conduct: Previous Suspensions on December 14
It is noteworthy that on December 14, a day after the Parliament security breach, 13 Lok Sabha MPs and one Rajya Sabha MP were suspended for “unruly conduct” in Parliament. The list includes prominent names like Manickam Tagore, Kanimozhi, PR Natrajan, VK Sreekandan, Benny Bahanan, K Subramanyam, S Venkatesan, and Mohammad Jawed, with Trinamool Congress’s Derek O’Brien being the lone MP suspended from the Rajya Sabha.