Over 90 opposition MPs suspended from Parliament over Govt statement on security breach

90 opposition MPs suspended: Indian Parliament on Monday saw an unprecedented scene as close to 88 opposition members, 33 from Lok Sabha and 45 from Rajya Sabha were suspended during the Winter Session in a single day!

They were suspended as opposition parties are demanding a statement from Prime Minister Narendra Modi or Home Minister Amit Shah over the lapse in Parliament security on December 13, 2023. As many as 13 MPs were suspended on Friday. (So far 46 Lok Sabha and 45 Rajya Sabha members have been suspended.)

Till now over 90 MPs have been debarred from Parliament session for different duration. It is a sort of record, however, showing an unhealthy state of democratic politics.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in an interview with Dainik Jagran published on Sunday, said that the seriousness of the security breach cannot be underestimated.

He said probe agencies are investigating the incident and taking stringent measures, noting that it is equally necessary to go to the root of the people behind it and their motives.

However, Mr Modi has not said anything related to the issue in Parliament. The Home Minister is yet to react on the security issue in Parliament.

Parliamentary Affairs Minister’s Reaction

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi on Friday said that both the buildings (Parliament) are under the Speaker’s purview and they are following the Speaker’s order.

One should not lose sight of the fact that the record suspension was effected on the day when the high-level committee on “one nation, one election” under former President Ram Nath Kovind was proposed to meet to review the progress made so far, including the feedbacks from political outfits.

It has been reported that letters were dispatched to six national parties, 33 state parties and seven registered unrecognized parties.

This suspension of MPs comes on the heels of a report by The India Express that many BJP MPs are touring their constituencies as the Lok Sabha election is going to be held within just a few months.

The paper has noted that last week a minister responsible for floor management complained to a senior leader that he could not get even the ministers who were given roster duty to attend the house.

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It is to be seen whether the suspensions of opposition members are revoked before important bills like the Telecommunications Bill, 2023 which allows the government to take over, manage or suspend any or all telecommunication services or networks in the interest of national security, are put to vote.

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