New Delhi: West Bengal Chief Minister and Trinamool Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee launched a scathing assault on the BJP-led central authorities on Monday, accusing them of constructing a “mockery of democracy” following the suspension of 46 Opposition MPs within the Lok Sabha for the rest of the Winter Session.
Ruckus In Parliament: 46 MPs Suspended For “Misconduct”
A complete of forty-six Opposition Members of Parliament (MPs) confronted suspension for alleged “misconduct” and non-compliance with the Chair’s directives, sparking criticism from Banerjee. She questioned the transfer, emphasizing the significance of a democratic system and the position of the opposition in elevating essential points.
Choked Voices: Opposition Silenced, Says Mamata Banerjee
“The voices of the people have been choked. Let them suspend the House first. They have no moral right to run this House to suspend the opposition fully…They will run a mockery, nothing else. It is a mockery of democracy,” declared the West Bengal CM, expressing concern over the stifling of dissenting voices.
Joining Hands With Congress And Seat-Sharing
Responding to queries about becoming a member of arms with Congress, Mamata Banerjee said, “Somebody must bell the cat…I don’t have any problem if they have genuine things. But in West Bengal, they have only two seats. I am open to talk and discuss.” On the delay in seat sharing within the INDIA alliance, she remarked, “It is not late. Better late than never…”
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#WATCH | On delay in seat sharing in INDIA alliance, West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee says, “It is not late. Better late than never…” pic.twitter.com/7Y7GMYK4Lm
— ANI (@ANI) December 18, 2023
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Opposition MPs Suspended Across Houses: Demand For Amit Shah’s Statement
A complete of 45 opposition MPs, together with outstanding figures like Jairam Ramesh, Okay.C. Venugopal, and Randeep Singh Surjewala, had been suspended from Rajya Sabha. Eleven of them have been referred to the Privilege Committee. The Opposition members have been demanding a press release from Home Minister Amit Shah relating to the breach of Parliament’s safety on December 13.
Lok Sabha Adjourned Amid Protests: Security Breach Takes Center Stage
Lok Sabha witnessed steady protests, resulting in its adjournment for the day. The Opposition’s uproar centered on the breach of Parliament safety on December 13. The suspension movement was moved by Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi, citing members’ violation of guidelines. The MPs which were suspended from Lok Sabha are Kalyan Banerjee (TMC), A. Raja (DMK), Dayanidhi Maran (DMK), Aparupa Poddar (TMC), Prasun Banerjee (TMC), ET Mohammed Basheer (IUML), Ganesan Selvam (DMK), CN Annadurai (DMK), Adhir Ranjan Choudhary (INC), T. Sumathy (DMK), Kani Okay. Navas (IUML), Kalanidhi Veeraswamy (DMK), NK Premachandran (RSP), Sougata Ray (TMC), Satabdi Roy (TMC), Asit Kumar Mal (TMC), Kaushalendra Kumar – (JDU), Anto Antony (INC), SS Palanimanickam (DMK), Pratima Mondal (TMC), Kakoli Ghosh (TMC), Okay Muraleedharan (INC), Sunil Mondal (TMC), Ramalingam Sellaperumal (DMK), Kodikunnel Suresh (INC), Amar Singh (INC), Rajmohan Unnithan (INC), Su. Thirunavukkarasar (INC), TR Baalu (DMK), Gaurav Gogoi (INC), Vijaykumar Vasanth (INC), Dr. Okay Jayakumar (INC), Abdul Khaleque (INC).
Unruly Conduct: Previous Suspensions on December 14
It is noteworthy that on December 14, a day after the Parliament safety breach, 13 Lok Sabha MPs and one Rajya Sabha MP had been suspended for “unruly conduct” in Parliament. The record contains outstanding names like Manickam Tagore, Kanimozhi, PR Natrajan, VK Sreekandan, Benny Bahanan, Okay Subramanyam, S Venkatesan, and Mohammad Jawed, with Trinamool Congress’s Derek O’Brien being the lone MP suspended from the Rajya Sabha.
