Leaders of the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) bloc gathered at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi on Friday to stage a protest under the banner “Save Democracy.” The demonstration was in response to the recent suspension of 146 opposition Members of Parliament (MPs) during the Winter Session, which concluded on Thursday.
Prominent opposition figures, including Nationalist Congress Party supremo Sharad Pawar, Congress leaders Mallikarjun Kharge, Rahul Gandhi, and CPI-M’s Sitaram Yechury, jointly protested against what they deemed as an unprecedented move to suspend MPs. The Winter Session was adjourned sine die on Thursday.
NCP Supremo Sharad Pawar emphasized the opposition’s willingness to pay any price to safeguard democracy. Congress MP Shashi Tharoor, participating in the protest, stated that the demonstration aimed to convey a message to the public about the perceived threat to the country’s future.
Tharoor remarked, “In the history of democracy in the world, 146 MPs have never been suspended… The protest is to tell the people that whatever is happening is wrong for the future of the country.”
Congress MP Karti Chidambaram highlighted the opposition’s call for a statement from the home minister during the session, expressing disappointment that the government did not address their request. He criticized the suspension of 146 opposition members and the passing of laws without adequate discussion, characterizing it as a betrayal of faith in the parliamentary system.
Congress MP Manish Tewari called for unity among nationalist organizations to send a collective message in support of democracy. The suspended MPs from the Winter Session were also present at the protest.
A nationwide protest has been scheduled at all district headquarters by the Congress party. The suspension of 146 MPs, 100 from Lok Sabha and 46 from Rajya Sabha, occurred as they demanded a statement from Union Minister Amit Shah regarding the Parliament security breach incident.
Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar expressed concern over the lost productivity due to disruptions during the Rajya Sabha session, emphasizing the need to prioritize the interest of the people over political considerations. The suspended MPs, during the proceedings on Thursday, marched from the Parliament building to Vijay Chowk to protest against the mass suspension of opposition lawmakers.
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