New Delhi, Nov 29 (FN Agency) Several opposition parties on Monday came together to condemn the suspension of 12 Opposition leaders in Rajya Sabha. The MPs were suspended for their conduct on the last day of the Monsoon Session of Parliament. Opposition parties including the Congress, DMK, Samajwadi Party (SP), Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), Shiv Sena, Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M), IUML, LJD, JDS, MDMK, TRS and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) will meet on Tuesday morning to discuss future course of action, a joint statement by Opposition parties said. “The leaders of Opposition parties unanimously condemn the unwarranted and undemocratic suspension of 12 members in violation of all the Rules of Procedure in Rajya Sabha pertaining to suspension of members for the entire duration of the Winter Session,” said the statement.
While Trinamool Congress MPs Dola Sena and Shanta Chhetri were also among the suspended MPs, TMC was not among the signatories in the statement. The statement also said the motion moved by the government for suspension of MPs in regard to an “unfortunate incident” that occurred in the previous session is unprecedented, and violates the Conduct of Business in the Council of States (Rajya Sabha). Suspended Congress MP Ripun Bora called it a “murder of democracy”. “This is murder of democracy. We were not given an opportunity to be heard. It’s a one sided decision that has been taken, it’s vindictive. No opposition party was consulted,” Bora said. Shiv Sena’s Priyanka Chaturvedi said her suspension was “undemocratic” and “unheard of in parliamentary democracy”.
“It shows this government will try and silence the voice of those who have a strong opinion and challenge the government. This cannot happen, it is unparliamentary and unheard of in parliamentary democracy. I will talk to the Chairman,” she said. “They did not even ask for an explanation,” she said. RJD’s Manoj Jha pointed out that it was against rules to suspend an MP for incident that occurred in the last session. He pointed out at Rule 256 of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in the Upper House which says an MP can be suspended for a period “not exceeding remainder of the session” for disregarding the authority of Chair and willfully obstructing business. The MPs suspended in Rajya Sabha include six from Congress, two from Shiv Sena, two from TMC and one each from CPI (M) and CPI. The MPs are Elamaram Kareem, CPI (M), Phulo Devi Netam (INC), Chhaya Verma (INC), Ripun Bora (INC), Binoy Viswam (CPI), Rajmani Patel (INC), Dola Sen (TMC), Shanta Chhetri (TMC), Syed Nasir Hussain (INC), Priyanka Chaturvedi (Shiv Sena), Anil Desai (Shiv Sena) and Akhilesh Prasad Singh (INC). Unruly and ugly scenes were witnessed during the passage of General Insurance Business (Nationalisation) Amendment Bill on August 11, during the Monsoon session of the House. As the situation went out of control, security had to be called in. The Treasury Bench demanded stern action against the MPs for indulging in aggressive behaviour. In his opening remarks in the House on Monday, Rajya Sabha Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu lamented lack of remorse by all concerned over unruly scenes during the last Monsoon session. He also said that disruptions and unruly conduct of some members during the last monsoon session continued to haunt all.