New Delhi: As many as 78 Opposition Members of Parliament (MP)s were suspended from Parliament on Monday for disrupting proceedings in both Houses.
The Rajya Sabha suspended 34 Opposition members — including Congress MPs Jairam Ramesh, Randeep Surjewala and KC Venugopal — for the remainder of the Winter session, while 11 other Rajya Sabha MPs were suspended pending a report of the Privileges Committee.
This came shortly after 33 Opposition MPs were suspended from the Lok Sabha for causing disturbance in the House. The suspended MPs in the Lower house included Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury (Congress), Dayanadihi Maran (DMK) and Sougata Roy (TMC).
Never before have so many members been suspended from Parliament in a single day.
The Opposition said it was a mockery of democracy and the government was behaving in a dictatorial manner.
Rajya Sabha proceedings were adjourned thrice on Monday as Opposition members continued to protest last week’s Parliament security breach and demanded a statement from Union Home Minister Amit Shah.
“I request the honourable MPs to behave as per rules of the House. Don’t turn yourself into a riot brigade. Do not let the dignity of this great House fall,” Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar said while trying to pacify the agitated MPs.
Lok Sabha saw similar chaotic scenes.
Congress’ Adhir Chowdhury earlier in the day urged Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla to revoke suspension of 13 Parliamentarians (Lok Sabha) against whom step was taken last week on the same issue.
But that appeal fell on deaf ears.
“This government has reached the apex of dictatorship. They have the majority, and they are wielding the stick of power. They want to run Parliament like a party office. But that cannot happen. We were eager for a discussion. The productivity of Parliament before December 13 is for all to see. It seems they find it easier to talk to the media, but are scared to speak in Parliament,” Chowdhury said later.
West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee, who is in Delhi for Tuesday’s INDIA bloc’s next meeting, said it was a ‘mockery of democracy’.
“They have so many MPs… Why don’t they suspend the entire House,” she told newspersons.
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge said “all democratic norms are being thrown into the dustbin” by the “autocratic” Modi government.
“With an Opposition-Less Parliament, the Modi Govt can now bulldoze important pending legislations, crush any dissent, without any debate,” Kharge wrote on social media platform X.
Defending the suspensions, Union minister Piyush Goyal said Members were asked to speak from their seats.
“Despite repeated requests, Members rushed to the well of the House, disrupted proceedings and shouted with placards,” said Kharge.
First, intruders attacked Parliament.
Then Modi Govt attacking Parliament & DemocracyAll Democratic norms are being thrown into the dustbin by an autocratic Modi Govt by suspending 47 MPs.
We have two simple and genuine demands –
1. The Union Home Minister should make a…
— Mallikarjun Kharge (@kharge) December 18, 2023
