In an unprecedented turn of events, 79 Members of Parliament (MPs) from both the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha faced suspension on Monday, intensifying the ongoing turmoil surrounding last week’s security breach. The suspension tally now reaches close to 100 parliamentarians, marking a significant quarter of the opposition MPs in the final parliamentary session before the upcoming general election.
The list of suspended MPs includes notable figures such as Jairam Ramesh, KC Venugopal, and Randeep Surjewala from the Congress in Rajya Sabha, and Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, Leader of the Opposition, and Gaurav Gogoi from the Lok Sabha.
Speaking to NDTV, Gaurav Gogoi criticized the government’s handling of the situation, particularly highlighting Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s refusal to address Parliament following the security breach. Gogoi emphasized the “sheer arrogance” of Amit Shah, questioning why the Home Minister opted for a private TV channel over addressing the parliament. He raised concerns about the government’s response and the apparent failure to detect the breach.
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Gogoi further challenged the government’s argument that discussing the Parliament breach in Parliament could compromise national security. He pointed out that both Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah had already spoken on the issue in exclusive interviews with newspapers. Gogoi emphasized the need for accountability, stating that details of the investigation were being made public through the media.
Meanwhile, Mamata Banerjee, Bengal Chief Minister, expressed her dissatisfaction with the suspension of nearly a dozen of her MPs, including veterans Sougata Roy, Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar, and Kalyan Banerjee. She questioned the government’s moral right to run the House after suspending the opposition, suggesting that the voices of the people were being stifled.
Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge criticized the government’s move, accusing it of creating an “opposition-less Parliament” to push through legislations without dissent.
The government’s decision to suspend MPs, citing “unruly conduct,” has further escalated tensions, with both sides exchanging accusations. The suspension raises concerns about the functioning of Parliament and the ability to address critical issues amidst the growing political unrest.