The 28-party INDIA bloc staged a protest at the Jantar Mantar in New Delhi where senior leaders of the alliance hit out at PM Modi for the suspensions even as they accused the BJP government of throttling democracy and subverting the constitution. A report by Mudit Mathur
The winter session of Parliament saw an unprecedented lapse in the security of the heavily fortified new building when two youths carrying smoke canisters jumped into the House chamber from the visitors’ gallery in the Lok Sabha while it was in session. Subsequently, in an unprecedented move, the Rajya Sabha Chairman and Lok Sabha speaker suspended 146 members of parliament who were demanding an official statement from the Union Home Minister over the incident. The government then sent shockwaves by clearing contentious legislations without any debate with Opposition Benches in both houses close to empty after a record number of suspensions. This compelled the angry opposition to hit the streets with a slogan to “Save Democracy” under the INDIA bloc from Jantar Mantar to all the states on the call of Congress Working Committee (CWS).
On the other hand, the Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar blew the issue of his alleged mimicking by TMC MP Kalyan Banerjee in the parliament premises out of proportion. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi was seen making the video of Banerjee’s alleged act on his phone. This provided ammunition to ruling BJP to target opposition leaders. Even President Droupadi Murmu expressed her dismay at the manner in which Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhar was “humiliated” in the Parliament complex.
At the recently held fourth meeting of its constituent 28 political parties on 19th December in Delhi, INDIA bloc resolved to further strengthen its unity even as the leaders discussed the seat sharing arrangement. The suspension of almost all opposition members from Parliament gave them further opportunity to come closer to fight for preserving parliamentary form of democracy, which they feel is being threatened and undermined by the government. The opposition alleged that the government was trying to silence the nation and both houses of parliament, where the elected representatives air aspirations and needs of the people they represent.
The suspensions continued amid ongoing politically predetermined legislative business, including the passage of proposed laws set to replace British-era criminal codes, regulate the telecom industry, and shape the selection of India’s top election officials, as the Opposition refused to budge on its demand for a statement from Home Minister Amit Shah on the Parliament security breach.
