The Indian Parliament witnessed a dramatic turn of events on Monday, December 18, when 45 opposition MPs from the Rajya Sabha, the upper house of the legislature, were suspended for allegedly disrupting the house proceedings. This unprecedented action came just 10 days after the Lok Sabha, the lower house, expelled Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra over cash-for-query allegations.
The suspension of the Rajya Sabha MPs was based on a motion moved by the government, accusing them of violating the rules and norms of the house and showing disrespect to the Chair. The motion was passed by a voice vote amid protests and walkouts by the opposition parties, who were raising the issue of a security breach in Parliament.
The suspended MPs include 34 who have been barred from attending the entire winter session, which ends on December 23, and 11 whose suspension is subject to the report of the Privileges Committee. The list of the suspended MPs features prominent leaders from various opposition parties, such as Congress, Trinamool Congress, Shiv Sena, CPI (M), and CPI.
The suspension of the opposition MPs has sparked a heated debate on the state of parliamentary democracy in India and the role of the opposition in holding the government accountable. Some observers have drawn parallels between the suspension of the Rajya Sabha MPs and the expulsion of Mahua Moitra from the Lok Sabha, arguing that both cases reflect the growing intolerance of the ruling party towards dissenting voices and criticism.
Moitra, a vocal critic of the government, was expelled from the Lok Sabha on December 8, based on the recommendations of the Ethics Committee, which found her guilty of unethical conduct and contempt of the house. The committee’s report alleged that Moitra had taken bribes and gifts from a Dubai-based businessman, Darshan Hiranandani, in exchange for asking questions in Parliament targeting the Adani group, a conglomerate with close ties to the government. The report also claimed that Moitra had shared her parliamentary login credentials with Hiranandani, allowing him to access her account from multiple locations.
Moitra, who denied the allegations and termed her expulsion as a “kangaroo court” verdict, was not given a chance to defend herself in the Lok Sabha, despite the request of her party leader, Sudip Bandyopadhyay. The Speaker of the Lok Sabha, Om Birla, cited a 2005 precedent under the previous Congress-led government, when 10 MPs were expelled in a similar manner over a cash-for-question scam.
The opposition parties have condemned both the expulsion of Moitra and the suspension of the Rajya Sabha MPs as undemocratic and unconstitutional acts, aimed at stifling the voice of the opposition and undermining the parliamentary system. They have also questioned the fairness and transparency of the processes followed by the Ethics Committee and the Privileges Committee, alleging that they were biased and influenced by the government.
The government, on its part, has defended its actions as necessary and justified, claiming that the opposition MPs had violated the dignity and decorum of the house and disrupted its functioning. The government has also accused the opposition parties of creating ruckus and chaos in Parliament, instead of engaging in constructive debate and discussion on important issues.
The suspension of the opposition MPs in the Rajya Sabha has added a new dimension to the already strained relations between the government and the opposition in the Indian Parliament. The suspension of the opposition MPs has also raised concerns about the impact of such a drastic action on the legislative process and the quality of deliberation and representation in the Parliament. With a large number of MPs absent from the house, the government may find it easier to pass its agenda, but at the cost of losing the trust and confidence of the people and the opposition.
As the winter session nears its end, it remains to be seen whether the government and the opposition will be able to resolve their differences and restore the normal functioning of the Parliament, or whether the suspension of the opposition MPs will mark a new low in the parliamentary democracy of India. The situation calls for a serious introspection and dialogue among all the stakeholders, to uphold the values and principles of the Constitution and the democracy.
We strive to make a lasting impact on India’s policy and planning landscape through fair, unbiased, and incisive research based journalism.Â
But we can’t do it alone.
Together, we can create a better India, where policies are fair, planning is unbiased, and the truth prevails. Your contribution matters, and we shall be immensely grateful for your support.