Protests erupted in India’s parliament after an additional 49 opposition MPs faced suspension, totaling 141 barred lawmakers.
Their protest stemmed from a recent security breach within the parliament premises.
The opposition condemned Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government for what they termed an attack on democracy, particularly after an unprecedented suspension of 78 MPs in a single day.
Most of these MPs are barred for the remainder of the winter session, concluding on Friday.
However, approximately two dozen could face extended suspensions, subject to the parliament’s privileges committee decision.
The majority of suspended MPs belong to the INDIA alliance, an opposition coalition preparing to challenge Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the upcoming general elections.
This alliance holds a significant number of seats in both the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha, with a substantial portion now under suspension.
Congress MP Shashi Tharoor lamented the situation, stating, “Unfortunately, we have to start writing obituaries for parliamentary democracy in India.”
The ruling BJP accused opposition leaders of deliberately disrupting parliamentary proceedings, exacerbating the already strained relations between the opposition and Modi’s government.
The suspension aftermath stems from demands by opposition MPs for an explanation in parliament from either Home Minister Amit Shah or PM Modi concerning the recent security breach, where individuals infiltrated and caused disruption.
Six arrests have been made, with police charging the protesters under severe anti-terror laws.
Reports suggest the protesters were unemployed and aimed to voice their discontent with government policies.
While Modi acknowledged the seriousness of the incident to a newspaper, both he and Shah haven’t addressed the matter in parliament.
Shah mentioned a high-level investigation into the incident, accusing the opposition of politicizing the security breach.
Opposition leaders criticized Modi and Shah for not addressing parliament’s concerns, highlighting their accountability to the people of India.
Some believe the government suspended opposition figures to pass crucial bills without debate.
Federal minister Piyush Goyal accused the opposition of pre-planned disruption and disrespecting parliamentary decorum by ignoring requests to refrain from bringing protest signs into the house.
The suspensions have intensified the ongoing rift between the government and the opposition, escalating tensions in India’s political landscape.
Source-BBC
