Opposition Leaders Hold Protest in Parliament Complex Against Suspensions of MPs

GG News Bureau
New Delhi, 15th Dec. Opposition leaders of the INDIA alliance held a protest near the Gandhi statue in the Parliament complex on Friday. This protest came a day after 14 MPs were suspended.

Derek OBrien of the Trinamool Congress (TMC) was suspended from the Rajya Sabha on Thursday, while 13 opposition MPs, including nine from the Congress and Kanimozhi from the DMK, were suspended from the Lok Sabha.

OBrien joined the other opposition MPs in a silent protest, wearing a T-shirt to express his stance.

Former Congress president Sonia Gandhi also participated in the demonstration.

The suspended MPs displayed placards stating that they were suspended for speaking up, while the BJP MP who was responsible for providing visitor passes to the intruders remained free.

The Congress has been demanding strict action against this BJP MP, Pratap Simha.

The protesting MPs also demanded the revocation of their suspensions.

Hibi Eden, one of the suspended Lok Sabha MPs, expressed his frustration, stating that the government has a history of suspending and expelling MPs who raise the voice of the people.

He mentioned the recent expulsion of Mahua Moitra and criticized the fact that the BJP MP who issued the passes for the intruders is not facing any consequences.

Both the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha were adjourned for the day due to the opposition protests.

The suspended Lok Sabha MPs include T N Prathapan, Hibi Eden, Jothimani, Ramya Haridas, Dean Kuriakose, VK Sreekandan, Benny Behanan, Mohammed Jawaid, and Manickam Tagore. PR Natarajan from the CPI-M, S Venkatesan from the DMK, and K Subbarayan from the CPI were also suspended.

However, the suspension of SR Parthiban from the DMK was later withdrawn as it was a mistake to include his name since he was not present in the House.

In the Rajya Sabha, OBrien was suspended, and a breach of privilege motion was later filed against him for staying in the House after his suspension.