'Save democracy': INDIA bloc leaders stage protest over mass suspension of MPs
‘Save democracy’: INDIA bloc leaders stage protest over mass suspension of MPs
NEW DELHI: In a display of unity and dissent, top leaders of the opposition bloc INDIA staged protests at the Jantar Mantar in New Delhi against the unprecedented suspension of 146 MPs from both Houses of Parliament during the winter session.
The protest, called ‘Save Democracy’, was led by Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, former chief Rahul Gandhi, NCP chief Sharad Pawar, CPM’s Sitaram Yechury, and a host of other opposition leaders.
Addressing the gathering, Kharge underscored the looming threat to democracy under the current government.
Making a call for unity, he said, “When all unite, Narendra Modi won’t be able to do anything… The more you try to crush us, the more we will rise. We are fighting unitedly to save the country and democracy.”
Rahul echoed these sentiments, attributing the suspensions to the government’s aversion to answering critical questions, asserting, “By shunting out 150 MPs from Parliament, the government has shut out the voice of 60 per cent Indians.”
The protest also drew attention to the unprecedented scale of suspension, prompting leaders like Congress’ Shashi Tharoor to stress its adverse impact on the nation’s democratic fabric.
“People should know that democracy is in danger… There is only one solution, people should change this government and bring the INDIA Alliance into power,” Tharoor said.
The suspended MPs were also present at the protest, standing in solidarity against the “infringement on democratic principles”.
Meanwhile, a nationwide protest scheduled at all district headquarters by the Congress party is also under way in a broader outcry against the suspensions,
The opposition lawmakers were suspended for disrupting the proceedings and causing ruckus in Parliament over the security breach incident on December 13.
Earlier on Thursday, after the conclusion of the 262nd Session of the Rajya Sabha, Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar said that he is pained to state that nearly 22 hours of the Upper House were lost due to avoidable disruptions.
“I am pained to state that nearly 22 hours were lost due to avoidable disruptions adversely impacting our overall productivity that finally stood at 79 percent. Weaponizing disruptions and disturbance as a political strategy doesn’t resonate with our constitutional obligation of keeping the interest of people at large above any other political considerations,” the Rajya Sabha Chairman said.
(With inputs from agencies)
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