‘Save Democracy’: Opposition MPs Stage Protest Over Mass Suspension, Hold March From Parliament

Mass Suspension Row: Opposition MPs Stage Protest In Delhi, Hold March From Parliament

New Delhi: Opposition MPs, who were suspended from Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha recently, took out a protest march from the old Parliament building to Vijay Chowk in central Delhi on Thursday. In the video shared by news agency ANI, MPs the lawmakers could be seen carrying a large ‘Save Democracy’ banner, and placards ‘Opposition MPs Suspended! Is This The End of Democracy?’. They also shouted slogans such as ‘Tanashahi Band Karo’ and ‘Save Democracy’.

Suspension of 140 MPs

It is worth noting that the MPs stage protest amid the ongoing row between the Opposition and the BJP over the suspension of over 140 MPs for ‘unruly behaviour’. The charges were put on the lawmakers after they disrupted the House, demanding the government to answer for the security breach in Parliament last week.

The massive security breach incident happened on the 22nd anniversary of a terror attack on the old building, in which nine people were killed.

Opposition Party’s Demand

The opposition parties demanded Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah’s statement over the security breach, which was declined by the government. However, PM Modi and Shah spoke to the media regarding the issue.

During the protest, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge accused the BJP of not having faith in democracy.

“We wanted to raise Parliament security breach. We are repeatedly requesting Lok Sabha Speaker, Rajya Sabha Chairman to allow us to speak on the security breach,” Kharge told reporters.

“PM Modi, Home Minister, should have spoken in the House on security breach… (but) PM spoke elsewhere and did not turn up in Lok Sabha, Rajya Sabha,” he said.

Center’s Refusal

The central government, however, refused to hold a discussion over the security breach. It said that the matter is being investigated. Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, whose office is responsible for security, responded to the incident and stated that a full report will be available to opposition parties, but rather than waiting for the report, they are demanding PM Modi or Home Minister Shah’s statement on the issue.

Notably, PM Modi gave an interview to a newspaper this week in what were his first public remarks.

After the suspension of MPs, their strength is now less than a third of what it was.

Kalyan Banerjee’s Mocking Row

The situation got more tense after Trinamool MP Kalyan Banerjee’s mocked Rajya Sabha Chair Jagdeep Dhankhar. He apologised but the BJP has raised the issue, accusing him of disrespecting the Vice President.