New Delhi: Opposition MPs, including Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, held a protest march on Tuesday from Parliament to Vijay Chowk demanding the government to revoke suspension of 12 MPs.
Besides the suspension issue, the march was held in protest against unemployment, rising inflation, legislation being pushed without discussions, and demanding compensation from the central government for the kins of farmers, who died in the agitation against the now-repealed farm laws.
"Suspension of 12 MPs is a symbol of the crushing of the voice of the people of India. Their voices have been crushed. They have done nothing wrong. We are not allowed to discuss important issues in Parliaments," said Rahul Gandhi.
Rahul Gandhi said, "We are not allowed to discuss important issues in Parliament. We are not allowed to debate things in Parliament. Bill after Bill, Bill after Bill is just passed in the din. This is not the way to run the Parliament. The Prime Minister doesn’t come to the house and any time we want to raise an issue of national importance, we are just not allowed to do so. It is very unfortunate; it is killing of democracy, that is taking place."
Dictatorial attitude of government
Speaking to ETV Bharat, deputy leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Anand Sharma said, "This shows the dictatorial attitude of this government. They don't want people's issues to be discussed, they only want to discuss their agenda."
"They had to bow down to the farmers, here also they will have to accept our demands," RJD MP Manoj Jha said.
On the other hand, Samajwadi Party MP Vishambar Prasad Nisad launched an attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi saying that at the time when our security personnel have been martyred in Jammu and Kashmir, he is busy witnessing a light-show in Uttar Pradesh.
Earlier in the day, the proposal to hold the joint march was accepted during a meeting of the floor leaders of Opposition parties in both Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha, at the office of Mallikarjun Kharge, the Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha.
Also Read: Congress MP Hibi Eden calls suspension of Rajya Sabha MPs 'unnatural'
No apology, says Shiv Sena MP
Suspended MPs Dola Sen of TMC and Priyanka Chaturvedi of Shiv Sena made it clear that there is no scope of apologising to the Chair as they haven't committed any crime and they were only raising the voice of farmers in the Parliament.
"We are not going to apologize, that is just out of question. We were raising the voice of the people and if they think that it is something which is worthy of punishment, I'm willing to do this a thousand times," Shiv Sena MP said.
When asked if they are hopeful that the government will accept their demand, Dola Sen said, "For sure they are not going to accept it. They are in their arrogance have taken this decision but we are not going to stop here. We will continue to raise our voice in the future as well."
DMK MP Tiruchi Siva said, "12 members of RS have been suspended citing that they have misbehaved in the House. Rules are not being followed for this suspension only rigidity is being seen on the part of the government. The opposition had no other way but to raise their voice. Ministers putting allegations over the Opposition that we are undemocratic. The largest temple of democracy is Parliament where the voice of opposition is being suppressed."
Rajya Sabha has witnessed repeated adjournments in the winter session over the suspension of the 12 MPs for alleged misconduct during the last monsoon session. Among the suspended members there are six from the Congress, two each from Trinamool Congress and Shiv Sena, and one each from CPI and CPI(M).
The suspended members have been protesting against the decision at the Gandhi statue inside the Parliament premises since the day they were suspended.
Also Read: Rajya Sabha adjourned till 2 pm amid ruckus by Opposition
