INDIA bloc's nationwide protest against opposition MP suspensions today
What's the story
Following the suspension of nearly 150 opposition MPs from the Parliament, leaders of the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) have launched a protest against the same on Friday. Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, party MP Rahul Gandhi, and other members of the opposition bloc are also scheduled to address the protest at Jantar Mantar in Delhi. Moreover, a nationwide protest at all district headquarters will also be held on Friday.
Context
Why does this story matter?
A whopping 146 opposition MPs have been suspended during the Parliament Winter Session over alleged "unruly conduct." The suspension came as they protested against the recent Parliament security lapse and demanded that Union Home Minister Amit Shah address the issue. On December 13, two men jumped into the Lok Sabha well from the visitors' gallery and opened canisters emitting smoke. Simultaneously, two other agitators staged a similar protest outside the Parliament complex before being apprehended.
Details
Protest will happen everywhere on Friday: Tharoor
Ahead of Friday's nationwide demonstration, Congress MP Shashi Tharoor said on Thursday that it is "appropriate" to protest, and leaders of the INDIA bloc will be at Jantar Mantar. "Protest will happen everywhere...in all the states because we want to show the public that if they'd run Parliament like this and won't listen to the opposition then they are ruining the democracy," he added.
Twitter Post
Watch: INDIA leaders at Jantar Mantar
#WATCH | Leaders of the INDIA bloc come together to protest against the suspension of 146 opposition MPs at Jantar Mantar in Delhi pic.twitter.com/63rHfQ46FA
— ANI (@ANI) December 22, 2023
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Parliamentary democracy in India coming to deathbed: Tagore
On the other hand, Congress MP Manickam Tagore claimed the country's Parliamentary democracy was "coming to a deathbed," targeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government. "For that, they have suspended 146 of the MPs across the INDIA alliance parties," Tagore told ANI. "To save the Parliament of India and democracy, symbolic protest by the INDIA alliance is being organized," the Congress leader added.
Twitter Post
Here's what Tagore said on INDIA protest, BJP government
#WATCH | Delhi: On India bloc protest against the suspension of MPs, Congress MP Manickam Tagore says, "The Parliamentary democracy in India is coming to a deathbed. Our only mistake is that we wanted Home Minister Amit Shah to come and make his statement on the security breach… pic.twitter.com/JDrLyrcFoh
— ANI (@ANI) December 22, 2023
What Next?
INDIA bloc's recent meeting in New Delhi
The protests come days after the INDIA bloc held its fourth meeting in New Delhi on Tuesday. Reportedly, its leaders also proposed Congress chief Kharge's name as INDIA's prime ministerial face for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections in 2024. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee proposed Kharge's name during the meeting, while her Delhi counterpart Arvind Kejriwal seconded it. Furthermore, crucial seat-sharing agreements between the INDIA bloc allies were also discussed during the meeting.