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New Delhi: A total of at least 30 Opposition MPs faced suspension from Lok Sabha for the remainder of the Winter Session as they protested, demanding Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s statement on the recent security breach in Parliament. This action follows a similar suspension of 13 Opposition MPs last week, who had also sought a statement from the Home Minister.
In addition to the 30 MPs suspended, three more await a report from the Privileges Committee, making the total count of suspended MPs 46. Among them are prominent figures such as Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, Congress’s leader in Lok Sabha, Gaurav Gogoi, deputy leader of the party in the House, and members from Trinamool and DMK.
Opposition leaders, including Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, accused the government of behaving in a dictatorial manner, asserting that Parliament is being treated as the BJP headquarters. Chowdhury emphasized that the Opposition had cooperated with the government throughout the session.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in his first remarks on the security breach, described the incident as “very serious” and called for a detailed investigation. However, he refrained from making a detailed statement. Opposition leaders, including Congress’s Jairam Ramesh, have criticized the government for not addressing their legitimate demand for a statement by the Home Minister.
Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla maintained that security within the House falls under the secretariat’s purview, and the Centre should not intervene. He emphasized that the government cannot interfere in the responsibilities of the Lok Sabha secretariat.
The Lok Sabha witnessed shocking scenes last Wednesday when intruders jumped from desk to desk, releasing colored smoke from canisters. The incident aimed to draw attention to issues such as Manipur violence, unemployment, and farmers’ problems. A total of six people have been arrested in connection with the case, and the Delhi Police have invoked the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act against the trespassers.
