Democratic norms thrown in dustbin: Opposition targets Govt over suspensions

While TMC chief and West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee said the government was behaving in a “super autocratic” manner and did not have the “moral ground” now to run the House, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge accused the government of trying to bulldoze important draft legislation in an “Opposition-less” Parliament.

Democratic norms thrown in dustbin: Opp targets Govt over suspensions

Leader of Opposition in RS Mallikarjun Kharge with Opposition leaders at his chamber in Parliament House on Monday. (PTI)

THE OPPOSITION on Monday termed the mass suspensions of its MPs as “murder of democracy” and accused the government of trying to ensure an “Opposition-mukt” Parliament.

While TMC chief and West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee said the government was behaving in a “super autocratic” manner and did not have the “moral ground” now to run the House, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge accused the government of trying to bulldoze important draft legislation in an “Opposition-less” Parliament.

“With an Opposition-less Parliament, the Modi Government can now bulldoze important pending legislation, crush any dissent, without any debate,” Kharge said.

Not only in the Lok Sabha, today was a bloodbath in the Rajya Sabha with 45 INDIA party MPs getting suspended for demanding a statement by the Home Minister on the December 13th security breach, and for demanding that the Leader of the Opposition be allowed to speak.… https://t.co/iwQN4G8yPZ

— Jairam Ramesh (@Jairam_Ramesh) December 18, 2023

The government has listed three Bills which will replace the IPC, CrPC and Evidence Act for consideration and passing in Parliament. The Bill to provide for a mechanism for appointment of the Chief Election Commissioner and Election Commissioners is also pending passage from the Lok Sabha.

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Terming the suspension move as “murder of democracy”, Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said, “Incidentally, I too figure in this Roll of Honour — for the first time in my parliamentary career of 19 years.”

The suspended MPs also protested on the stairs at the entrance of the new Parliament building.

First, intruders attacked Parliament.
Then Modi Govt attacking Parliament & Democracy

All Democratic norms are being thrown into the dustbin by an autocratic Modi Govt by suspending 47 MPs.

We have two simple and genuine demands –

1. The Union Home Minister should make a…

— Mallikarjun Kharge (@kharge) December 18, 2023

Kharge accused the government of showing no accountability towards Parliament. “First, intruders attacked Parliament. Then the Modi government attacked Parliament and democracy. All democratic norms are being thrown into the dustbin by an autocratic Modi government by suspending 47 MPs,” he said.

Congress leader in the Lok Sabha Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, who was also suspended for creating uproar in the House, said, “It is important to take the Opposition along while running the House… but today’s government has reached the extreme level of dictatorship. They are wielding the stick of ‘bahubalis’ (musclemen). They have suspended everybody.”

VIDEO | “Since morning and for the last several days, we have been demanding that the suspension of our MPs be revoked and that Home Minister issues a statement in the House,” says Congress leader @adhirrcinc amid Centre-Opposition standoff over Parliament security breach.… pic.twitter.com/YRu119OgXc

— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) December 18, 2023

Condemning the suspension of the MPs, RJD MP Manoj Jha said in today’s “dark period of democracy, suspension is a badge of honour”. “What for? Because we are asking for an official statement (from the Home Minister). Congratulations to Modi ji on an Opposition-mukt Parliament,” Jha said.

TMC MP Sougata Ray, who was also suspended, said the action was against democracy. “This shouldn’t have been done. We were demanding the suspension of BJP MP (Pratap Simha), but they instead suspended us,” he said.

#WATCH | On expulsion of TMC leader Mahua Moitra from Parliament, West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee says, “This is a very bad case…She was not allowed to defend herself. That is also very unfortunate…When the opposition raises their views they are expelled. If you are in BJP,… pic.twitter.com/fpZ7BYnYXJ

— ANI (@ANI) December 18, 2023

Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Priyanka Chaturvedi targeted the government, accusing it of being dictatorial. Congress leader K C Venugopal said Parliament has now become a place

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for suspensions not for discussion and debates. “With every such assault, they are putting us in the league of authoritarian regimes with dysfunctional legislatures and an overbearing executive,” he said.

“We take it as a badge of honour to be suspended from Parliament at the hands of a fascist regime,” Venugopal said. “Why stop at 92? Why don’t you score a century in style?”