Opposition Cries Foul Over Govt's 5-Party Only Invite To End Parliament Winter Session Impasse

Though a clear-cut word has not been given out by the opposition, the invited party leaders have already called it a "failed stunt" by the Centre to divide the opposition in the House.

Suspended Rajya Sabha MPs during a protest demanding for revocation of their suspension, at Parliament House, in New Delhi, Friday, Dec. 17, 2021. (PTI Photo)

New Delhi: Amid a stormy winter session of parliament, the government is trying to end the impasse over the issue of suspension of 12 Rajya Sabha MPs. It has called the leaders of five opposition parties today to end the deadlock which has been halting parliament proceedings during this winter session.

Though a clear-cut word has not been given out by the opposition, the invited party leaders have already called it a "failed stunt" by the Centre to divide the opposition in the House.

Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge has called a meeting of floor leaders from like-minded parties today at 9:45 AM to plan the next step.

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi has called a meeting of leaders of five political parties — Congress, TMC, Shiv Sena, CPI (M), and CPI — whose Rajya Sabha MPs have been suspended. The meeting is scheduled to take place today at 10 am in Parliament Library Building.

Opposition Slams Centre For Not Inviting All Parties

LoP Mallikarjun Kharge on Sunday questioned the Centre's intention for not inviting all Opposition parties.

In a letter addressed to Union Minister of Parliamentary Affairs Pralhad Joshi, Kharge wrote: “All Opposition parties are united in the protest against the suspension of the 12 MPs. We have been requesting from the evening of November 29th itself that either the Chairman of the Rajya Sabha or the Leader of the House Piyush Goyal should call leaders of all Opposition parties for a discussion to break the stalemate,” the Congress leader stated.

“This reasonable request of ours has not been agreed to. Further inviting only leaders of five Opposition parties instead of inviting leaders of all Opposition parties is unfair and unfortunate,” he added.

Rajya Sabha MP and Trinamool Congress leader Derek O’Brien also criticised the Union government for calling only five parties for the meeting, terming it as a “Monday Morning Stunt”. 

Monday morning STUNT from a Govt. who do not want #Parliament to function.

Govt calls leaders of the 4 Oppn parties whose 12 RS MPs have been arbitrarily suspended.

Govt leaves other 10 Oppn parties out.

Failed stunt.

ALL OPPN clear : first revoke arbitrary suspension

— Derek O'Brien | ডেরেক ও'ব্রায়েন (@derekobrienmp) December 19, 2021

Taking to Twitter, CPI MP Binoy Viswam wrote: “Opposition united is fighting the suspension of 12 MPs. Calling 5 parties for discussion at the fag end of the session is to divide the Opposition into unity."