Farmers Movement Archive

Opposition slams suspension of MPs, plans House boycott

NEW DELHI: The opposition “unitedly condemned the unwarranted and undemocratic” suspension of 12 MPs from the Rajya Sabha, amid strong suggestions from parties that they should jointly boycott the winter session if the government does not revoke the decision. The opposition will meet in the leader of opposition Mallikarjun Kharge‘s office on Tuesday morning for a decision on the future course of action. However, well placed opposition sources late evening said that the possibility of a compromise was not ruled out, after a request for the revocation of the suspension order is made on Tuesday. The suspended MPs may meet the chairman of RS in his office as part of resolution to the suspension. Lashing out at the “authoritarian” order, a bloc of 14 like-minded parties issued a statement alleging that suspension of members for an unfortunate incident that occurred in the previous session violated the “rules of procedure and conduct of business of Rajya sabha”. When the opposition parties met in the evening to discuss the issue, there were suggestions from agitated members that the bloc should withdraw from the entire session if the suspension is not revoked. RJD MP Manoj Jha confirmed that the opposition was contemplating a boycott of the session. It is learnt that Kharge reached out to several parties whose leadership was not present in the meeting to elicit their views. The opposition statement was not signed by the TMC which did not attend the strategy meeting called by Kharge in the morning and evening both. However, TMC separately condemned the suspension which also includes its MP. Congress Lok Sabha leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury termed the suspension as “government vendetta”. CPM MP Elamaram Kareem said, “The BJP government is turning the Parliament into a hotbed of democratic destruction.” Congress MP Jairam Ramesh pointed to the irony that eight opposition MPs were suspended when farm laws were being passed in September 2021, while 12 MPs have been suspended after the farm laws have been repealed. Partap Bajwa said it was unprecedented that members should be punished for actions in the previous session. He said members had reacted emotionally to the prevailing sentiment over the passage of the farm bills, and they could not be expected to sit at home when there were stirs all over.

The Times of India

2021-11-30

India