New Delhi: The decision of the Rajya Sabha to suspend 12 MPs for the remaining part of the Winter session of Parliament came under fire from several Opposition leaders, with Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge calling the move "undemocratic".
Six MPs from the Congress, two each from the TMC and Shiv Sena and one each from the CPM and the CPI were suspended on Monday for misconduct and disorderly behaviour during the last session.
The 12 MPs who have been suspended are Phulo Devi Netam, Chhaya Verma, Ripun Bora, Rajamani Patel, Syed Hussain, Akhilesh Singh of the Congress, Elamaram Kareem (CPM), Binoy Viswam (CPI), Dola Sen and Shanta Chhetri (TMC) and Priyanka Chaturvedi and Anil Desai (Shiv Sena).
'Suspension Of MPs Undemocratic'
"This is an undemocratic step. This autocratic govt has done this to create fear among MPs. Moving of Resolution for action against 12 MPs is totally illegal, wrong and against rules. Incident had occurred in the session, action should have been taken in the last session," ANI quoted Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge as saying.
Calling the suspension an "authoritarian decision", CPM MP Elamaram Kareem said, "We're not heard by anybody. Chairman/Secretariat/Parliamentary Affairs Min didn't hear us. Basis of this action had occurred in the last session & action came in this session. It is unprecedented."
Ripun Bora, a senior Congress politician and Rajya Sabha MP, called the suspension "absolutely undemocratic, a murder of democracy and the Constitution."
"This is a one-sided, biased, vindictive decision. Opposition parties haven't been consulted," he said.
Opposition Leaders Condemn Suspension Of MPs
Leaders of 14 Opposition parties, in a joint statement, condemned the government for bringing the motion that led to the suspension of 12 members of the Rajya Sabha. Floor leaders of the Opposition parties of Rajya Sabha will meet on Tuesday to discuss the future course of action.
"The leaders of the opposition parties unitedly condemn the unwarranted and undemocratic suspension of 12 members in violation of all the Rules of Procedure of Rajya Sabha pertaining to suspension of members for the entire duration of the Winter session," the joint statement said.
"The motion moved by the Government for suspending the members in regard to the unfortunate incident that occurred in the previous session is unprecedented and violates the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business of the Council of States (Rajya Sabha)," it further said.
(With inputs from agencies)