New Delhi: On Tuesday morning, Rajya Sabha Chairman Venkaiah Naidu said that the suspension of the 12 MPs wont be lifted. The 12 MPs were suspended for “misbehavior” related to the events of August 11 last day of previous Parliament session.
The suspension of the 12 opposition MPs won’t be revoked as “they haven’t expressed remorse”, Rajya Sabha Chairman Venkaiah Naidu told the House on November 30. “Suspended MPs have not expressed remorse. I am not considering the appeal of Leader of Opposition. Suspension will not be revoked,” he said.
The 16 parties said that if the contentious suspension – which they have argued is against parliamentary laws, since the rules do not allow for punishments to be carried over into following sessions – is not revoked, they intend to boycott today’s session of the Rajya Sabha.
The 16 parties are the Congress, Tamil Nadu’s ruling DMK as well as the MDMK, the Shiv Sena, the NCP, the CPM and CPI, the Rashtriya Janata Dal, the Indian Union Muslim League, the LJD, Jammu and Kashmir’s National Conference, the RSP, Telangana’s ruling TRS, the Kerala Congress, the Aam Aadmi Party, and the VCK.
The opposition has condemned the suspension, calling it “unwarranted and undemocratic”. Floor leaders of more than a dozen opposition parties met today to plan their response.
Other opposition MPs have also hit out, with Congress’ Abhishek Singhvi pointing out it had skewed voting numbers (in the Rajya Sabha) decidedly in the government’s favour. “By suspending 12 MPs from the Rajya Sabha, BJP has now gone ahead of the majority number. Can easily pass listed bills through the upper house now,” he tweeted.
This morning Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi said the government had been “forced” to suspend the MPs from this Parliament session for “misbehaviour” related to the events of August 11, but could revoke the suspension if they apologized.
As an independent media platform, we do not take advertisements from governments and corporate houses. It is you, our readers, who have supported us on our journey to do honest and unbiased journalism. Please contribute, so that we can continue to do the same in future.
