In Oppn-Less Parliament, Modi Govt Can Bulldoze Legislations: Kharge Slams MPs' Suspension

The suspension occurred as opposition members protested in the Houses, seeking a reply from Union Minister Amit Shah on the December 13 security incident.

Congress Chief Mallikarjun Kharge.

Source : Getty

Slamming Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government over the suspension of opposition members, Congress Chief Mallikarjun Kharge on Monday stated that without any opposition, the BJP government "can now bulldoze important pending legislations, crush any dissent, without any debate." "All Democratic norms are being thrown into the dustbin by an autocratic Modi Govt by suspending 47 MPs," he further stated. 

Kharge raised two demands stating that first Union Home Minister Amit Shah should make a statement in both Houses of Parliament on the Parliament security breach incident, and then a detailed discussion should be held. 

Hitting out at PM Modi and Amit Shah, Kharge stated: "PM can give an interview to a newspaper; Home Minister can give interviews to TV channels. But, they have ZERO accountability left to the Parliament - which represents the PEOPLE OF INDIA !"

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

The suspension occurred as opposition members protested in the Houses, seeking a reply from Union Minister Amit Shah on the December 13 security breach incident. 

Calling the suspension of the MPs 'a way to suppress opposition leaders,' Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi stated: "The entire country can see the bulldozers that are being run in the Parliament. This is nothing but a way to suppress the opposition leaders. They are running a bulldozer over the opposition to hide the failures of Union Home Minister Amit Shah. They have not come to power with a motive to run the Parliament."

#WATCH | On suspension of over 30 MPs from Lok Sabha, Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi says, "The entire country can see the bulldozers that are being run in the Parliament. This is nothing but a way to suppress the opposition leaders. They are running a bulldozer over the opposition to… pic.twitter.com/dCwS9wZ7ht

— ANI (@ANI) December 18, 2023

On the suspension of several opposition MPs from the Lok Sabha, Union Minister G Kishan Reddy said: "The opposition behaved indecently today. The opposition is feeling insecure because they have no agenda or issue against PM Modi's government and they are not letting the House function. So the Speaker has suspended them and we have supported it."

#WATCH | On the suspension of several opposition MPs from the Lok Sabha, Union Minister G Kishan Reddy says, "...the opposition behaved indecently today. The opposition is feeling insecure because they have no agenda or issue against PM Modi's government and they are not letting… pic.twitter.com/guORzDtLlC

— ANI (@ANI) December 18, 2023

Union MoS SP Singh Baghel stated: "The solution to this (Parliament stalemate) is with the opposition, that they wait for the enquiry report (on the Parliament security breach incident). All they are doing is politics of protest."

VIDEO | "The solution to this (Parliament stalemate) is with the opposition, that they wait for the enquiry report (on the Parliament security breach incident). All they are doing is politics of protest," says Union MoS @spsinghbaghelpr. pic.twitter.com/cxA8dwyuvD

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

Claiming MP's unruly behaviour as the reason behind their suspension, BJP MP Rajendra Agrawal said: "The reason behind their suspension is that they were continuously protesting and showing placards and were not allowing the House to function. The Speaker requested them not to do so but they did not listen to it. 33 MPs have been suspended."

#WATCH | On the suspension of 33 opposition MPs from the Lok Sabha for the remainder of the Winter Session, BJP MP Rajendra Agrawal says, "The reason behind their suspension is that they were continuously protesting and showing placards and were not allowing the House to… pic.twitter.com/fRGQElDo9r

— ANI (@ANI) December 18, 2023

On suspension of 33 Opposition MPs for the remainder of Winter Session today, Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Priyanka Chaturvedi said: "Such tyranny won't work. It is not acceptable to the country. They received this mandate on the trust of the people. They received the mandate because they had considered national security an important issue. But the most secure building is being attacked today. Neither the Prime Minister nor the Home Minister speaks on it. If we demand your statement, you suspended us from the House - this is not acceptable to anyone. We will continue to fight for this. If we are being suspended because we are demanding (statement), then this is a badge of honour for us."

#WATCH | On suspension of 33 Opposition MPs for the remainder of Winter Session today, Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Priyanka Chaturvedi says, "Such tyranny won't work. It is not acceptable to the country. They received this mandate on the trust of the people. They received the mandate… pic.twitter.com/fzbgkL0oZx

— ANI (@ANI) December 18, 2023

The suspension of the MPs comes as the Opposition INDIA group has decided to continue their demonstrations within Parliament and face action in solidarity with the suspended MPs.

On the 13th of December, two guys with smoke cans jumped into the Lok Sabha chamber from the visitors' gallery. The matter has subsequently escalated into a full-fledged showdown between the Opposition and the administration, with Opposition MPs continuing to urge Union Home Minister Amit Shah for a response on the violation. The MPs also requested that the Home Minister resign and that Prime Minister Narendra Modi make a statement in Parliament.