After Monday’s tumultuous scenes in Parliament, marked by an unprecedented uproar over the December 13 security breach, which ultimately led to the suspension of 78 MPs — the largest single-day expulsion in Indian parliamentary history, combined with the earlier removal of 13 members — both Houses are poised for another contentious session as they reconvene on the 12th day of the ongoing Winter Session on Tuesday.
Sources indicate that a final decision will be reached during the meeting of the floor leaders of the INDIA bloc, scheduled for 10 am in the chamber of the Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha, Mallikarjun Kharge.
A total of 78 MPs, comprising 33 from the Lok Sabha and 45 from the Rajya Sabha, were suspended on Monday amid a commotion over the Opposition’s demand for a statement from Union Minister Amit Shah regarding the Parliament security breach incident. This brings the total number of lawmakers suspended for the remainder of the ongoing Winter Session to 92.
Of these, 34 opposition Rajya Sabha MPs, including Congress figures Jairam Ramesh, KC Venugopal, and Randeep Singh Surjewala, face suspension for the remainder of the ‘Winter Session.’ Additionally, the “misconduct” of 11 others has been referred to the Privileges Committee, tasked with submitting a report within three months. The suspended members will remain so until the panel’s report is presented.
The grounds for the suspension of opposition MPs for the rest of the Winter Session were cited as ‘misconduct’ and failure to comply with the Chair’s directives. Sources suggest that the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance MPs, who were not suspended, may choose to ‘boycott’ their respective Houses.
Despite this upheaval, the Centre is expected to press ahead with its legislative agenda in the ongoing ‘Winter Session’ as both Houses resume business on Tuesday. Union Minister Nirmala Sitharaman is slated to move the Central Goods and Services Tax (Second Amendment) Bill, 2023, for consideration in the Lok Sabha. The Bill aims to further amend the Central Goods and Services Tax Act, of 2017. According to the Lok Sabha’s scheduled List of Business, Sitharaman is also set to move the Provisional Collection of Taxes Bill, 2023, for consideration.
Meanwhile, Union Minister Hardeep Puri is scheduled to move the National Capital Territory of Delhi Laws (Special Provisions) Second (Amendment) Bill, 2023.
In the aftermath of Monday’s suspensions, opposition MPs criticized the BJP-led Centre, labeling it ‘autocratic.’ Kharge asserted that “democratic norms are being thrown into the dustbin by an autocratic Modi government by suspending 47 MPs.” He further contended that with an “Opposition-Less Parliament,” the Modi government could now pass important pending legislation without debate and crush any dissent.