NEW DELHI: In a strong show of dissent, leaders from the Opposition bloc, INDIA (Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance), started their nationwide protest on the Jantar Mantar on Friday in response to the current suspension of 146 MPs from Parliament. The newest spherical of protests from the Opposition members comes after days of disruption and chaos on the Parliament within the wake of the incident on December 13, the place two people breached the Lok Sabha chamber, releasing smoke from canisters.
Nationwide Outcry: INDIA Alliance Mobilizes Against BJP Government
Leader of the Opposition, Mallikarjun Kharge, introduced on Thursday that the protest shouldn’t be restricted to the capital. Simultaneous demonstrations will unfold in all district headquarters throughout the nation, denouncing what he termed the “immoral and illegal” conduct of the Narendra Modi-led BJP authorities. He emphasised the opposition’s dedication to upholding democratic values and urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to deal with the safety breach concern within the House.
“The PM should come and speak in the house first. This is really condemnable! We are repeatedly requesting the speaker of the Lok Sabha and the chairman of the Rajya Sabha. The members of the ruling party are disturbing the proceedings. This shows that they (the BJP) don’t have faith in India’s democracy. The constitution and democratic practices should be upheld. Tomorrow, INDIA leaders will protest at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi. Throughout the country, Opposition leaders will protest against this immoral and illegal behaviour of the BJP government,” Kharge stated on Thursday.
Rahul Gandhi Takes The Lead: Congress Leader To Join Protest
Congress chief Rahul Gandhi arrived on the protest venue -Jantar Mantar, round 11 AM to participate within the ongoing protest. Besides Rahul Gandhi, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, CPI-M chief Sitaram Yechury, NCP chief Sharad Pawar and a number of other different high leaders of the INDIA bloc have been seen participating within the ‘Save Democracy’ protest towards mass suspension of MPs on the Jantar Mantar. The protest goals to attract consideration to the suspension of opposition MPs and the perceived disregard for parliamentary norms.
#WATCH | Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge and NCP chief Sharad Pawar and leaders of INDIA events participate in ‘Save Democracy’ protest towards mass suspension of MPs, at Jantar Mantar in Delhi pic.twitter.com/nxslPhTB1V
— ANI (@ANI) December 22, 2023
Kharge Condemns BJP’s Conduct, Calls For Prime Minister’s Accountability
In a scathing critique, Mallikarjun Kharge condemned the conduct of the ruling celebration, accusing them of disrupting proceedings and undermining India’s democracy. He referred to as on Prime Minister Modi to deal with the House earlier than anything, emphasizing the opposition’s repeated requests for a dialogue on the safety breach.
National Outcry: Protests Escalate Across States
Congress MP Shashi Tharoor echoed Kharge’s sentiments, emphasizing the necessity for nationwide protests. He asserted that the INDIA alliance protest could be widespread, demonstrating the opposition’s united stand towards what they perceived as an assault on democracy. “It’s appropriate to protest and all of us will be at Jantar Mantar in Delhi. The INDIA alliance protest will happen everywhere (Friday) morning in all the states because we want to show the public that if they’d run Parliament like this and won’t listen to the opposition then they are ruining the democracy,” stated Tharoor.
AAP MPs Join The Fray: Support For INDIA Bloc Grows
Adding to the momentum, AAP MPs, together with ND Gupta, Sandeep Pathak, Sant Balbir Seecehwal, and Sanjeev Arora, will be part of the INDIA bloc protest, additional amplifying the collective voice towards the federal government’s actions.
The ongoing winter session of Parliament has witnessed an unprecedented wave of suspensions, with three extra Congress MPs -D Okay Suresh, Deepak Baij, and Nakul Nath -joining the checklist of suspended lawmakers.
Protests, March Against Suspension Of MPs
On Thursday, INDIA bloc MPs marched from Parliament to Vijay Chowk in protest of the suspension of opposition lawmakers. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge highlighted Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s alleged violation of parliamentary privilege for not addressing the safety breach concern within the House. The lawmakers carried a big ‘Save Democracy’ banner and placards studying ‘Opposition MPs Suspended,’ ‘Parliament Caged,’ and ‘Democracy Expelled’ through the march.
What Led To The Suspension Of MPs?
The suspension of 145 MPs through the present winter session of Parliament stems from a vital incident on December 13. Two people breached the sanctity of the Lok Sabha chamber, unleashing smoke from canisters and triggering a sequence of disruptions initiated by the opposition.
The major catalyst for the suspension lies within the Opposition’s persistent interference with House proceedings, demanding accountability for the safety breach. Their pivotal request revolves round an announcement from Union Home Minister Amit Shah, searching for readability on the circumstances surrounding the breach.
This ongoing saga has resulted within the suspension of a big variety of lawmakers, with 100 from the Lok Sabha and 46 from the Rajya Sabha going through disciplinary motion. The suspension, attributed to their involvement in “creating chaos and disrupting proceedings,” underscores the profound impression of the December 13 incident on the parliamentary panorama.
The Opposition, in the meanwhile, stays resolute in its demand for accountability and an open dialogue on the safety breach concern, setting the stage for a continued standoff within the days to come back.
