In a first, over 140 opposition MPs suspended from Parliament
What's the story
Forty-nine opposition MPs were reportedly suspended from the Lok Sabha on Tuesday, pushing the total Parliament Winter Session suspensions to 142. They were demanding Union Home Minister Amit Shah's statement on last week's Parliament security breach. Earlier on Monday, 79 MPs were suspended from both Houses—68 were suspended for the entire session and 11 Rajya Sabha MPs until the Privileges Committee submits a report.
Context
Why does this story matter?
The suspension of 142 MPs in a single session is the highest-ever in the Indian Parliament's history. Suspended Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury earlier asserted the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government has "reached the heights of tyranny." While the opposition continues to target the Centre, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla maintained any security-related incidents in the House come under the Lok Sabha Secretariat's purview.
Twitter Post
Watch: Suspended opposition MPs protest outside Parliament complex
பாராளுமன்றத்தில் இருந்து சஸ்பெண்ட் செய்யலாம் ஆனால் அமைதியாக இருக்க முடியாது... சர்வாதிகாரிக்கு எதிரான போர் தொடர்கிறது....pic.twitter.com/SoZAD2WmWA #INDIAAlliance
— Phoenix Jayaseelan-INC🇮🇳 (@PhoenixJaiSeela) December 19, 2023
Details
Who are the leaders suspended today
On Tuesday, Lok Sabha Speaker Birla suspended Jammu and Kashmir National Conference (JKNC) chief Farooq Abdullah along with Congress MPs Shashi Tharoor and Karti Chidambaram, among many others. Other names on the list include the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP)'s Supriya Sule, the Samajwadi Party's Dimple Yadav, and the Trinamool Congress (TMC)'s Sudip Bandyopadhyay. Birla said the suspended opposition MPs disrupted the House proceedings.
Twitter Post
'What would have happened if Shah made statement?' asks Abdullah
#WATCH | Lok Sabha MP Farooq Abdullah suspended for the remainder of the Winter session of Parliament
— ANI (@ANI) December 19, 2023
"Who does the Police come under? What would have happened if he (Union Home Minister) had made a statement in Parliament on the incident (security breach)?" pic.twitter.com/WDstvY2Lz1
Details
Why is opposition protesting
Opposition leaders are protesting the Centre's alleged silence over December 13's Parliament security breach. While the Union Home Ministry ordered a probe into the incident upon LS Secretariat's request, opposition leaders demanded a statement in the Parliament from Prime Minister Narendra Modi or Shah. They have also demanded strict action against BJP MP Prathap Simha, whose office issued visitor passes to the Parliament intruders.
Suspensions
Total 142 MPs suspended from Parliament
Besides the 49 MPs suspended today, 68 members—33 from Lok Sabha and 35 from Rajya Sabha—were suspended from the Parliament for the entire session on Monday. Another 11 leaders remain suspended from Rajya Sabha until a Privileged Committee report is submitted. Last week, 13 Lok Sabha MPs and one Rajya Sabha MP—TMC leader Derek O'Brien—were suspended from the remainder of the Parliament Winter Session.
Security breach
What we know about Parliament security breach
On December 13, two individuals, Sagar Sharma and Manoranjan D, reportedly jumped into the Lok Sabha's well from the visitors' gallery, shouting slogans and setting off smoke bombs. Two other protestors, Neelam Azad and Amol Shinde, staged a similar demonstration outside the Parliament simultaneously. Later, two other individuals were arrested in connection with the case. They are currently under police custody.