Parliament Suspends 15 Opposition MPs for Disrupting House Proceedings
Fourteen of the 15 suspended Members of Parliament, comprising nine from the Congress, two from the CPM, one from the CPI, and two from the DMK, are representatives of the Lok Sabha. Additionally, Trinamool MP Derek O’Brien faced suspension from the Rajya Sabha earlier in the day.
Suspension of Opposition MPs Amidst Parliament Security Breach
In a tumultuous turn of events today, fourteen Opposition Members of Parliament (MPs) found themselves suspended from the Lok Sabha, while an additional MP faced suspension in the Rajya Sabha. This drastic measure was taken in response to their alleged role in disrupting House proceedings, a mere day after a major security breach unfolded within the parliamentary premises. The incident involved two individuals breaching security, creating a commotion during the Zero Hour in the Lok Sabha.
Of the 14 suspended MPs, nine hail from the Congress, two from the CPM, one from the CPI, and two from the DMK. The notable names among the suspended include Congress MPs Manickam Tagore, Md Javed, VK Shreekandan, Benny Behanan, DMK MPs K Kanimozhi and SR Parthiban, CPM MPs PR Natarajan and S Venkateshan, and CPI MP K Subbarayan.
In a parallel development, Trinamool Congress MP Derek O’Brien faced suspension from the Rajya Sabha for what was termed as “unruly behavior” for the remainder of the ongoing session. Notably, O’Brien refused to leave the House despite the suspension, leading to the matter being referred to the House’s Privileges Committee upon a motion by the BJP’s Piyush Goyal.
Opposition’s Reaction and Government Response
The suspension drew sharp criticism from Congress Rajya Sabha MP KC Venugopal, who described it as a “horrible, undemocratic move.” Venugopal highlighted the perceived imbalance in action, pointing out the absence of repercussions for the BJP MP allegedly involved in facilitating the entry of the security breach instigators. The MP expressed concern over what he viewed as the reduction of Parliament to a mere “rubber stamp.”
Resolution for Further Suspensions
Earlier in the day, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi moved a resolution to suspend five Congress MPs – TN Prathapan, Hibi Eden, Jothimani, Ramya Haridas, and Dean Kuriakose – for the remainder of the session. The resolution cited their misconduct and disregard for the House and its authority.
B. Mahtab chaired the proceedings, which witnessed the Lok Sabha adjourning till 11 am the following day.
Security Breach and Subsequent Measures
Parliament resumed amidst heightened tensions stemming from a significant security breach a day earlier. Two individuals jumped from the visitors’ gallery into the Lok Sabha during the Zero Hour, deploying smoke canisters and causing chaos. Prime Minister Narendra Modi was not present during the incident as he was attending the swearing-in ceremonies of the BJP’s new chief ministers in Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh.
At least six individuals were involved in the security scare, leading to arrests and heightened security measures. The four directly responsible for deploying smoke canisters inside the House are identified as Sagar Sharma, D Manoranjan, Neelam Devi, and Amol Shinde. Additionally, a man and his wife, Vicky Sharma and an unidentified sixth individual, are also under scrutiny.
The four intruders inside the Parliament have been charged under the stringent Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, along with relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code. Delhi Police’s anti-terror cell is currently interrogating the six individuals in custody.
Repercussions and Tightened Security
The security breach prompted immediate actions, including the temporary ban on visitors, restrictions on non-essential personnel, and the suspension of seven Lok Sabha staff members. The Opposition has fervently called for an investigation into BJP MP Prathap Simha, alleging that the intruders obtained visitors’ passes through his office.
The incident occurred on the 22nd anniversary of the terror strike on the old Parliament building, adding an eerie resonance to the unfolding events. In 2001, two Pakistan-based groups attacked and killed nine people, including eight security staff.
As the nation grapples with the aftermath of the security breach and the subsequent suspensions of Opposition MPs, questions linger about the effectiveness of security protocols and the democratic fabric of Parliament itself. The unfolding developments demand a thorough investigation, transparency in accountability, and a renewed commitment to upholding the sanctity of the parliamentary process.