Opposition leaders began a nationwide protest on Friday against the mass suspension of MPs from parliament during the winter session. Up to 146 MPs were suspended by both houses of Parliament last week for demanding a response from Home Minister Amit Shah over a security breach on December 13, when two intruders stormed the chamber by jumping from the visitors' gallery and flashing yellow cards Fired smoke canisters. The suspended lawmakers are part of the INDIA bloc, an alliance formed this year by 28 opposition parties to defeat Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the 2024 general election.
The opposition MPs were seen at Delhi's Jantar Mantar on Friday holding placards and banners reading “Save Democracy” and “Democracy is in Danger”.
Opposition MPs called for a debate in Parliament on December 13 about the security breach, but were accused by the leaders of both chambers of causing unrest.
On the other hand, Prime Minister Modi-led Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) had asked opposition members to wait for the results of a probe to probe the security breach. Prime Minister Modi accused the opposition parties of providing “subdued and indirect” support for the security breach in Parliament. He said they were putting a “political twist” on the incident out of frustration over their losses in recent parliamentary polls.
The suspended MPs from the opposition parties are still banned from entering the parliament hall today as it is the last day of the winter session of parliament.
Here are 10 updates on the INDIA bloc protests:
- Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, party chief Rahul Gandhi, NCP chief Sharad Pawar, CPI (M) chief Sitaram Yechury and other leaders join the opposition protest against suspension of MPs at Jantar Mantar in Delhi.
- Congress leader Rahul Gandi has also arrived at Jantar Mantar. “Two to three youths broke into Parliament and released smoke. BJP MPs then ran away. This incident raises the question of a security breach, but there is another question as to why they protested in this way. “The answer is unemployment in the country,” Rahul Gandhi said while addressing lawmakers. Criticizing the media, the Wayanad MP added: “The media did not talk about unemployment in the country. But it was about Rahul Gandhi recording a video in which suspended MPs can be seen sitting in front of Parliament…”