In an unprecedented move, close to 100 Members of Parliament (MPs) from both the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha faced suspension on Monday, sparking heated debates and accusations of stifling opposition voices. The suspensions, amounting to nearly a quarter of all opposition MPs, came amidst vehement protests over a recent security breach within Parliament premises.
The suspension list includes prominent names from various parties, such as Congress’ Jairam Ramesh, KC Venugopal, and Randeep Surjewala from the Rajya Sabha, as well as Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, and Gaurav Gogoi.
One of the key criticisms came from Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi, who openly criticized Union Home Minister Amit Shah for his refusal to address Parliament following the security breach. Speaking to NDTV, Gogoi lambasted Shah’s “sheer arrogance,” highlighting the minister’s preference for speaking to a private TV channel rather than addressing the issue within the Parliament premises. Gogoi expressed concerns over Shah’s reluctance to acknowledge the failure in security that allowed four individuals to breach Parliament without the Home Minister’s knowledge.
Amid government assertions that discussing the breach in Parliament might compromise national security, Gogoi pointed out that both Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah had addressed the issue in exclusive interviews with newspapers. He emphasized that if Shah could make public statements, there should be no reason for refraining from addressing Parliament.
The blame game escalated further as Gogoi highlighted the division of responsibilities, emphasizing that while the Lok Sabha Secretariat is responsible for security within Parliament, the larger national security apparatus, overseen by Shah’s office in the Delhi Police, failed to detect the breach involving individuals from multiple states.
Other opposition leaders echoed similar sentiments, accusing the government of suppressing dissent and orchestrating an “opposition-less Parliament” to bulldoze through crucial pending legislations. Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee condemned the mass suspension, stating that it deprived the House of critical voices representing the people’s concerns.
On the government’s side, Union Minister Piyush Goyal, also the Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha, defended the suspensions, alleging that the opposition MPs conspired to disrupt Parliament’s functioning.
As the uproar continues, the unprecedented suspension of MPs has intensified the ongoing confrontation between the ruling party and the opposition, raising questions about parliamentary democracy and the space for dissenting voices within India’s political landscape.
Sources By Agencies
