New Delhi [India], March 16 (ANI): Congress leader KC Venugopal on Monday demanded that the suspension of eight opposition MPs be revoked immediately, saying that while Parliament has witnessed countless protests in the past, suspending members in such a manner should not become a practice
He called the Opposition MPs’ suspension “unfair” and a “disturbing trend.”
“Rose in the Lok Sabha to raise concern over the unfair suspension of 8 Opposition MPs for this Session. Parliament has seen countless protests, but the suspension of MPs is a disturbing new trend which cannot be allowed to continue. This suspension should be revoked immediately,” Venugopal said in X post.
On February 3, eight opposition members were suspended from the Lok Sabha for the remainder of the budget session for violating rules and “throwing papers on the chair” following uproar in the House over Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s insistence on mentioning a specific reference to the 2020 standoff with China in eastern Ladakh.
Meanwhile, suspension of eight MPs, done during the first half of the budget session over “unruly behaviour”, is likely to be revoked on Tuesday.
Sources said that a consensus for revoking the suspension of the eight opposition members was reached at an all-party meeting convened by Speaker Om Birla.
They said a proposal to revoke the suspension of the MPs will be brought in Parliament tomorrow.
The sources said that it has been decided that MPs will not use placards and AI-generated photos and maintain decorum of the House.
Meanwhile, Om Birla, on Sunday, wrote a letter to the leaders of political parties expressing disappointment over the display of banners, placards, and posters.
“For some time now, the dignity and prestige of our parliamentary democracy have been compromised by certain Honourable Members within the chamber and on the Parliament House complex. The manner in which banners, placards, and posters are being displayed, the nature of the language being used, and the overall conduct and behaviour exhibited inside the House and the premises are matters of grave concern for all of us. This situation necessitates serious reflection and analysis by all of us, both individually and collectively,” he said.
“Our House has always maintained a glorious tradition of dignified discussion and dialogue. In the past, whenever a decline in the standard of conduct within the House was felt, conferences were organized by all political parties and other stakeholders from time to time, where discussions were held on preserving and promoting the dignity and prestige of our democratic institutions,” he added. (ANI)