Posted in Foreign News

Why two-thirds of India’s opposition MPs suspended from parliament?

   December 19, 2023
Why two-thirds of India’s opposition MPs suspended from parliament?


Forty nine Indian opposition lawmakerswho had called for a debate over a Dec. 13 security breach in Parliament were suspended from the legislature on Tuesday for allegedly disrupting proceedings in the House of Representatives.

The government action on Tuesday came a day after 78 opposition MPs were suspended from the remainder of Parliament’s crucial winter session. A total of 141 MPs – 95 from the lower house (Lok Sabha) and 46 from the upper house (Rajya Sabha) – have been suspended since December 14.

The opposition described the government’s move as a “mockery of democracy” as important laws were passed without debate, undermining parliamentary democracy.

The opposition is calling for a debate about the security breach on December 13, when two men jumped from the public gallery into the House of Commons chamber and opened gas bottles. Their visitor pass was provided to them by a government representative Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

“A complete purge is being carried out so that draconian bills are passed without significant debate and so that the BJP MP who facilitated the entry of the two infiltrators into the Lok Sabha on December 13 goes scot-free,” Congress MP Jairam Ramesh has said X posted, formerly known as Twitter.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has promised to look into the matter but blamed the opposition for demanding the debate.

Here’s what you should know:

Why did India suspend 141 lawmakers?

Chairmen of the upper and lower houses suspended the opposition Legislators for disrupting the proceedings after the legislators demanded a discussion and an opinion from Home Minister Amit Shah in reference to the security breach last week in which two men opened gas canisters in the House of Commons, while a man and a woman opened smoke canisters outside Parliament in the capital New Delhi.

Police charged five people in connection with the breach, which sparked a political row. The opposition accused the government of failing to provide security on the 22nd anniversary of a deadly attack on parliament.

Lower House Speaker Om Birla said security was his responsibility and was conducting a review. He accused lawmakers of violating House rules. The Federal Ministry of the Interior is also investigating the violation.

Political analysts have questioned the suspensions. “MPs have the right to seek answers and hold the government accountable to parliament,” academic and author Apoorvanand told Al Jazeera.

He said the government justified the move by saying the opposition was suspended for causing turmoil and being unruly, which hampered the opposition’s ability to function houses of Parliament.

The government plans to introduce controversial bills to replace existing criminal laws in parliament without two-thirds of opposition members in the House of Representatives being present.

Apoorvanand, the academic, said the prime minister’s refusal to interact with the opposition undermined democracy, which is “dialogue between majority and minority”.

Was the move politically motivated?

The suspension essentially emptied Parliament of opposition. Analysts say the mass suspensions are unprecedented and consistent with Modi’s authoritarian working style.

Critics say the current government has abused investigative agencies and other institutions to target opposition leaders.

“Is it only the opposition that is involved in corrupt practices?” asked Apoorvanand.

“There have been numerous cases where [investigation agencies] ED [Enforcement Directorate] or CBI [Central Bureau of Investigation] initiate an investigation against certain politicians who then join the BJP and the investigation will be stopped.”

A fiery opposition lawmaker Mahua Moitra, known for her tough questions in parliament, was expelled amid allegations of misconduct. She considers her expulsion to be politically motivated. She has appealed against her removal to the country’s highest court.

Main opposition leader Rahul Gandhi’s parliamentary membership was stripped after he was convicted in a defamation case by a local court in Gujarat state – Modi’s home state. Gandhi returned to Parliament after his conviction was overturned by the Supreme Court in August.

The ruling party has justified the government’s actions by saying that the opposition is corrupt and hungry for power.

The legislators are gone, how will Parliament function?

After the suspension of the opposition MPs, parliamentary processes can continue as the 10 percent quorum is overwhelmingly met by the ruling party and its allies.

While bills are usually passed following discussion in Parliament, they are were adopted without discussion already several times in the past.

“Using the power of numbers to stifle all other voices violates democratic principles,” said academic Apoorvand.

What did the Indian government say?

Modi said in an interview with a Hindi-language newspaper that the incident was very serious and a detailed investigation was needed, but “there was no need to discuss it.”

What did the opposition say?

Opposition MPs responded by saying the government was dictatorial. They continue to protest “against the murder of democracy and the violation of the dignity of Parliament” through silent demonstrations, Mallikarjun Kharge, president of the main opposition Congress party, wrote on X on Tuesday.

“First, invaders attacked Parliament. Then the Modi government attacks Parliament and democracy,” Kharge said on X on Monday.

“With an opposition-free Parliament, the Modi government can now kill important pending legislation and suppress any dissent without the need for debate.”

Rajya Sabha member Manoj Jha also condemned the government and viewed the suspension as a badge of honour. “Congratulations to Modi ji on becoming an opposition mukt [opposition-less] Parliament,” Jha said.





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