The ongoing political turmoil in India has escalated, with a total of 78 opposition MPs suspended on Monday, December 18, bringing the cumulative suspensions since December 15 to 92. The suspensions occurred amid repeated adjournments and opposition calls for a statement from Union Home Minister Amit Shah regarding the security breach in parliament on December 13.
In the Lok Sabha, 33 MPs were suspended, while 45 faced suspension in the Rajya Sabha. The unrest followed an incident where two individuals breached security, jumping into the Lok Sabha hall and releasing smoke canisters. The subsequent suspensions have intensified the political climate, with calls for accountability and debate.
Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla emphasized the existing high-level probe into the security breach, assuring that implemented suggestions from opposition MPs were under consideration. He criticized the disruption caused by MPs entering the well of the house, stating, “To enter the well of the house and do sloganeering and disrupt the proceedings is against the dignity of the house.”
The suspended MPs include prominent figures such as Kalyan Banerjee, A. Raja, Adhir Ranjan Choudhary, Saugata Roy, and others. The suspension durations vary, with the Privileges Committee set to determine the length for some Congress MPs.
Opposition leaders condemned the government’s actions, accusing it of being autocratic and suppressing democratic norms. Congress MP Mallikarjun Kharge criticized the suspension of 47 MPs, expressing concerns about the potential lack of debate and dissent in an opposition-less parliament.
First, intruders attacked Parliament.
Then Modi Govt attacking Parliament & Democracy
All 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
In response to the suspension, Congress’s Jairam Ramesh described the event as a “bloodbath,” calling it the “Murder of Democracy in India (MODI).” The MPs, including Derek O’Brien suspended on December 14, have faced criticism for demanding accountability and a discussion on the security breach.
With over 46 MPs suspended from the Lok Sabha, the supposed sanctum of India’s democracy, we can only assume that @BJP4India and HM @AmitShah are finally settling into their comfort zones in Parliament.
A masterstroke in silencing dissent, HM @AmitShah can now effortlessly and…— All India Trinamool Congress (@AITCofficial) December 18, 2023
The government, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, defended the suspensions, highlighting the seriousness of the security breach and accusing the opposition of politicizing the issue. Union Home Minister Amit Shah urged against turning the incident into a political matter, emphasizing the ongoing high-level probe into the security lapse.
The controversy continues, raising questions about the functioning of parliament, the role of dissent, and the need for collective solutions to address security concerns.
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