Mallikarjun Kharge Digs In Heels: No Apology Will Be Made By Suspended Rajya Sabha MPs
“There will be no apology. We are requesting them to forget what happened and work on the welfare of the people and the country,” ANI quoted Kharge as saying.
New Delhi: Amid the ongoing stalemate in the Rajya Sabha over the suspension of 12 MPs for the entire winter session, Leader of the Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge on Wednesday categorically stated no apology will be made over the lawmakers’ conduct.
“There will be no apology. We are requesting them to forget what happened and work on the welfare of the people and the country,” ANI quoted Kharge as saying.
The Congress leader’s outburst came a day after he wrote to Rajya Sabha chairman Vice President M. Venkaiah Naidu requesting him to reconsider the matter of suspension of 12 MPs “in the larger interest of parliamentary democracy” and revoke the suspensions.
Kharge termed the suspension of the 12 Opposition MPs as “against the Constitution” and said “it is our duty to fight for the cause under the rule of law”.
“In our letter to the RS chairman, we have described that the suspension is not correct. Our sessions are not continuous. The House is adjourned and then proceedings are started. To compare the Lower House with the Upper House is not correct. Elections for Lower House are frequently held. There is continuity in the Upper House but there is no session continuity,” said Kharge.
“While suspending the MPs, they had said that it is a continuity of the House, thus they are being suspended. We have expressed that it is against the Constitution and thus demanded revocation of the suspended MPs,” he added.
The Congress leader in his letter termed the suspension of the 12 Opposition MPs as an “unprecedented excessive action” for the unfortunate incidents in the last days of the 2021 monsoon session of the Upper House.
“The Monsoon Session of the House concluded on August 11 and was prorogued by the President on August 31. If the House had only been adjourned and then reconvened without any prorogation, the argument of continuity would merit any justification,” said Kharge in his letter.
“In view of the aforesaid anomalies and the denial of the right to be heard to the aggrieved members as per the principles of natural justice urge you to reconsider the matter of suspension of 12 MPs in the interest of parliamentary democracy and revoke the suspension. We much want the House to function smoothly,” he added.
The 12 MPs, including six from the Congress, two each from the Trinamool Congress (TMC) and Shiv Sena, and one each from the CPI and CPM, were suspended for the rest of the winter session for alleged unruly conduct towards the end of the monsoon session in August when marshals were called after the Opposition members stormed the Well of the House during the passage of the General Insurance Business (Nationalisation) Amendment Bill, 2021.
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