I.N.D.I.A bloc leaders pose for unity picture onstage to protest against Opposition MPs' suspension
The Opposition leaders staged a protest against the government at Delhi's Jantar Mantar today over the suspension of several of their MPs from the Parliament's Winter Session. Protests were also be held in various districts of the country. Rahul Gandhi also arrived at the Jantar Mantar.
Opposition protests: Marking strong objection to the suspension of 146 MPs of the Opposition ranks from the Parliament, the I.N.D.I.A bloc leaders staged a protest at Jantar Mantar in the national capital today (December 22). Nationwide protests were also held in all district headquarters against the government’s “immoral and illegal” behaviour. This comes after as many as 146 Opposition MPs were suspended cumulatively from both Houses of the Parliament after they created a ruckus while demanding a statement from Union Home Minister Amit Shah on the security breach incident that took place on December 13. The Opposition leaders were seen holding each others hands in a show of unity and posed for a picture onstage.
The Opposition MPs had marched to Vijay Chowk from Parliament to protest the suspension on Thursday. Congress-led UDF protested against the suspension of 146 Opposition MPs in front of Raj Bhawan in Kerala's Thiruvananthapuram.
Rahul Gandhi addresses gathering
Rahul Gandhi lashed out at the BJP-led Centre over the Parliament security breach incident and said, "When intruders entered Parliament, the BJP MPs fled. The question is how did they enter the Parliament? There is immense unemployment in the country. If they can bring smoke cans, they could bring anything."
He reiterated his charge that unemployment is the reason behind the Parliament security breach that took place on December 13 and alleged that the 146 Opposition MPs were suspended from Parliament for asking questions from the government.
"This is a fight between love and hatred. They suspended Opposition MPs because we asked questions from the government and asked Amit Shah to give a statement inside the Parliament," Rahul said.
Opposition leaders reach Jantar Mantar
Rahul Gandhi arrived at the venue and took the centrestage during the protest. Several Opposition leaders reached New Delhi's Jantar Mantar to protest against the MPs' suspension. Those who reached the venue include Sharad Pawar (NCP), Supriya Sule (NCP), Manoj Jha (RJD), Taruchi Shiva (DMK), Manoj Bhattacharya (RSP), Kareem (CPI), D Raja (CPI), Sanjeev Arora (AAP), Rinku Singh (AAP). Several leaders from Congress also reached the vanue, including Jairam Ramesh, Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, Pramod Tiwari, Gaurav Gogoi, Digvijaya Singh, Ranjita Ranjan, Randeep Surjewala, Manish Tewari, Manik Tagore.
Leaders' reactions
Samajwadi Party MP Ram Gopal Yadav hit out at the government over the suspension and alleged that the move was taken to "hide the name of BJP MP" Pratap Simha, whose office had issued the visitors passes to the intruders.
"We are taking part in this protest to tell the public about what is going on in the country...The suspension of MPs was not only undemocratic but it was done to hide the name of the BJP MP (who issued visitor pass to accused in Parliament security breach incident)," he said.
Congress MP Manickam Tagore dubbed the passing of key bills in the Parliament while most of the Opposition MPs were suspended "just like the BJP office" and said that the grand alliance is organising the protest to "save the Parliament of India".
"The Parliamentary democracy in India is coming to a deathbed. Our only mistake is that we wanted Home Minister Amit Shah to come and make his statement on the security breach in the Parliament... For that, they have suspended 146 of the MPs across the INDIA Alliance parties. They passed telecom, crime bills, and election commission bills... which is just like the BJP office... To save the Parliament of India and democracy, today at every state headquarters symbolic protest by the INDIA Alliance is being organised..." he said.
Congress MP Karti Chidambaram alleged that the BJP wants the Parliament to only be a "stamping house" for all laws and added that it wants the Parliament to function just like in China or in North Korea.
"It was only natural on the part of the opposition to ask for a statement by the home minister... But the government was adamant in not heeding our request. So there were protests within the Parliament. The reaction of the government was to suspend 146 members of the opposition and ram through laws, which have far-reaching consequences on the daily life of people in India... The government wants to have a parliament which would only be a stamping house for all their laws without any discussion... So they want the Parliament to just be like in China or in North Korea... This is a betrayal of the faith people have in the parliamentary system. We want to highlight this and tell them what is happening in parliament is not good for India..." he said.
Parliament security breach
Congress president and Rajya Sabha Leader of Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge alleged that it was a matter of breach of privilege of the House that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and HM Amit Shah had spoken outside the Parliament on the security breach issue, while in session, and did not apprise the House over the matter.
Two men had jumped in the Lok Sabha chamber on December 13 and released smoke from canisters. Delhi Police has made several arrests in connection with the cases, including the mastermind of the incident Lalit Jha.
Both Houses of the Parliament were adjourned sine die yesterday. Lok Sabha was adjourned first, following by the Rajya Sabha where the three bills to replace 'colonial-era' criminal laws was passed.
The three criminal law bills — The Bharatiya Nyaya (Second) Sanhita, 2023, The Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha (Second) Sanhita, 2023, and The Bharatiya Sakshya (Second) Bill, 2023 — replacing the IPC, the CrPC and the Evidence Act, were passed with voice vote.
(With inputs from agencies)