Unprecedented Parliamentary Chaos: Nearly 100 MPs Suspended
Unprecedented Parliamentary Chaos-Introduction
Unprecedented Parliamentary Chaos-In an extraordinary turn of events, the Indian Parliament witnessed a historic suspension of close to 100 Members of Parliament (MPs), comprising both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha representatives. The suspension came in the wake of protests demanding a statement from Union Home Minister Amit Shah regarding a security breach in Parliament the previous week. This move marked a severe escalation in tensions between the government and the opposition, resulting in a total of 92 MPs being suspended during this session.
Unprecedented Parliamentary Chaos-Lok Sabha Suspension Details
Unprecedented Parliamentary Chaos-The Lok Sabha bore the brunt of the suspensions, with 30 MPs facing suspension for the remainder of the session and an additional three suspended until the privileges committee submits a report on their conduct. The suspended MPs include prominent figures such as Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, the leader of Congress in Lok Sabha, and Gaurav Gogoi, the deputy leader of the party in the House. Members from Trinamool, including Kalyan Banerjee, Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar, Saugata Ray, and Satabdi Roy, as well as DMK representatives A Raja and Dayanidhi Maran, also found themselves on the suspension list.
Unprecedented Parliamentary Chaos-Rajya Sabha Suspension Details
Unprecedented Parliamentary Chaos-In Rajya Sabha, 35 members faced suspension for the remainder of the session, and an additional 11 were suspended until a report by the privileges panel is submitted. The suspended members from Rajya Sabha include notable figures like Jairam Ramesh and Randeep Singh Surjewala from Congress, Kanimozhi from DMK, and Manoj Kumar Jha from RJD. Derek O’Brien had been suspended earlier after demanding a discussion on the security breach.
Unprecedented Parliamentary Chaos-Opposition’s Reaction
Unprecedented Parliamentary Chaos-Expressing their discontent, Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury accused the government of behaving in a dictatorial manner, alleging that Parliament was being treated as the BJP headquarters. He emphasized that the Opposition had been cooperative with the government throughout the session but was met with a lack of dialogue. Gaurav Gogoi criticized the BJP government for suppressing the Opposition and claimed that the Home Minister was evading responsibility for the security breach. Both leaders pledged to continue their protests outside Lok Sabha.
Unprecedented Parliamentary Chaos-Challenges in Parliament
Amidst the chaos in Rajya Sabha, Vice-President and Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar noted that many members were deliberately ignoring the bench, leading to a non-functional house. Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge expressed concerns about the absence of the Opposition in Parliament, fearing that the government could now pass important legislations without any debate or dissent.
Government’s Stance
Prime Minister Narendra Modi acknowledged the seriousness of the security breach in a Dainik Jagran interview, calling for a detailed investigation without the need for a debate. On the Opposition’s demand for a statement from the Home Minister, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla reiterated that the security inside the House fell under the secretariat’s purview and would not allow central intervention.
Opposition’s Perspective
Jairam Ramesh, in a post, highlighted that the Opposition’s protest stemmed from the government’s refusal to address their demand for a statement from the Home Minister. He criticized the Home Minister for neglecting his duty and responsibility to provide a statement on the shocking incidents that occurred on December 13th.
Security Breach and Investigations
The unprecedented chaos in Parliament followed a shocking security breach where two intruders jumped from desk to desk in the Lok Sabha chamber, deploying colored smoke canisters. The intruders, along with their accomplices staging a similar protest outside Parliament, aimed to draw attention to issues such as Manipur violence, unemployment, and farmers’ problems. A total of six individuals have been arrested in connection with the case, with the Delhi Police invoking the stringent anti-terror law, Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, against the trespassers.
Conclusion
The suspension of nearly 100 MPs in response to protests over a security breach has pushed the Indian Parliament into uncharted territory. The deepening divide between the government and the opposition raises concerns about the effective functioning of the democratic process. As both sides remain entrenched in their positions, the future of parliamentary proceedings and the resolution of critical issues hang in the balance.