In initial suspension order, a DMK MP not present in House, on ‘sick leave’

Meanwhile, in a tweet, Chief Minister and DMK head MK Stalin wrote that the “suspension of 15 Opposition MPs, including DMK MP Kanimozhi, is undemocratic and undermines the spirit of Parliamentary democracy”.

Parthiban has a background in law and agriculture, and won with a sizable margin of 1.46 lakh votes in 2019. (X/@SR_Parthiban)

The Parliament on Thursday dropped the name of DMK Lok Sabha MP SR Parthiban from the list of those suspended for protesting the security breach a day prior. The MP had earlier said he was not even in the House at the time.

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi said Parthiban’s name was as there was a mistake on the part of the staff in identifying the member.

“I have requested the speaker to drop the name of the member as it was a case of mistaken identity,” Joshi said.

The speaker has agreed to the suggestion.

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Speaking to The Indian Express on Thursday evening, S R Parthiban, who represents Salem constituency, said his name being listed in the suspension list of opposition MPs was a “joke”. “I wasn’t there today as I am unwell,” he said.

Senthilkumar S, the DMK MP from Dharmapuri parliamentary constituency, also tweeted about the development: “Parthiban of DMK not in the Lok Sabha during that time. But the parliamentary affairs minister read out his name in the list of suspended MPs. A total mockery of governance.”

Parthiban of DMK not in the Loksabha during that time.

But the parliamentary affairs minister read out his name in the list of suspended MPs

A total mockery of governance. https://t.co/RXlF1W0UsY

— Dr.Senthilkumar.S (@DrSenthil_MDRD) December 14, 2023

Congress MP Karti Chidambaram too said “there is comedy in this suspension” since Parthiban “wasn’t even in the LS today”. “I guess they can’t make out one Tamilan from another,” he posted on social media.

Parthiban has a background in law and agriculture, and won with a sizable margin of 1.46 lakh votes in 2019. He is known for raising issues such as loan waivers, fair pricing, and improved working conditions, and takes a keen interest in sectors of local education, healthcare and infrastructure.

Active on social media, he faced a case in 2019 for allegedly defaming the then Chief Minister Edappadi K Palanisamy. The Madras High Court quashed the case in 2022.

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In a tweet, Chief Minister and DMK head MK Stalin wrote that the “suspension of 15 Opposition MPs, including DMK MP Kanimozhi, is undemocratic and undermines the spirit of Parliamentary democracy”.

Suspension of 15 Opposition MPs, including DMK MP @KanimozhiDMK is undemocratic and undermines the spirit of Parliamentary democracy.

The intolerant attitude of the BJP-led Union Govt is condemnable.

Is crushing MPs’ freedom of expression the new norm in our Parliament? Why… pic.twitter.com/8XTA0xnZzX

— M.K.Stalin (@mkstalin) December 14, 2023

“The intolerant attitude of the BJP-led Union Govt is condemnable. Is crushing MPs’ freedom of expression the new norm in our Parliament? Why are people’s representatives punished for seeking answers on a major security breach in our temple of democracy? We demand the immediate revocation of the 15 MPs’ suspension. Parliament must be a forum for debate and definitely not for silencing opposition,” he wrote.

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