The Congress and other opposition parties on Monday reacted sharply to the suspension of eight opposition Rajya Sabha MPs earlier in the day.
A number of MPs from various opposition parties including Congress, Trinamool Congress, DMK, CPI(M), AAP, Indian Union Muslim League, Shiv Sena and JD(S) are sitting in protest near the Gandhi statue in Parliament. The TRS, which rules Telangana and has been friendly with the Narendra Modi government, also joined the sit-in-protest.
Trinamool's Derek O'Brien, who is one of the eight suspended MPs, declared, "We do not need to say anything. We will sit here near the Gandhi statue to register our protest.”
With three Congress MPs suspended, Rahul Gandhi said the "muting of democratic India continues" by initially silencing and later suspending the parliamentarians.
The suspension of the eight members came a day after the Upper House witnessed unprecedented unruly scenes by protesting opposition members during the passage of two farm bills.
“Muting Of Democratic India’ continues: by initially silencing and later, suspending MPs in the Parliament & turning a blind eye to farmers’ concerns on the black agriculture laws," Gandhi said in a tweet.
"This ‘omniscient’ Govt’s endless arrogance has brought economic disaster for the entire country," the former Congress chief said.
Reacting to the development, Congress chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala asked whether there is any parliamentary system in the country.
"Is it a sin to raise the voice of the farmer in Parliament? Have dictators held Parliament hostage?" Surjewala said in a tweet.
"Do you not listen to the voice of truth under the influence of power? How many voices will you suppress Modi ji...Of the farmers, of workers, of small shopkeeper, of Parliament," he tweeted with the hashtag 'Kisaan Virodhi (anti-farmer) Modi'.
Mamata lashes out
Accusing the BJP of killing democracy, Trinamool Congress chief and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee declared she will fight the "fascist" government in Parliament and on streets.
"Suspension of the 8 MPs who fought to protect farmers interests is unfortunate & reflective of this autocratic Govts mindset that doesnt respect democratic norms & principles. We won't bow down & we'll fight this fascist Govt in Parliament & on the streets. #BJPKilledDemocracy," she tweeted.
The party termed the decision to suspend the MPs, including the TMC leader in Rajya Sabha Derek O'Brien, as "undemocratic" and asserted, "Parliament cannot be allowed to turn into a lawless jungle" by the ruling BJP.
TMC chief whip in Rajya Sabha Sukhendu Sekhar Roy deplored the way the Upper House was being run. "Without considering this illegality committed yesterday giving birth to strong protests from the opposition, their voices have further been throttled when some of them have been suspended today for the remaining period of the current session," Ray said in a statement.
The Farmer's Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Bill, 2020, and the Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement of Price Assurance and Farm Services Bill, 2020 were passed by the Rajya Sabha on Sunday with a voice vote, amid unprecedented unruly scenes by protesting opposition members demanding that the proposed legislations be referred to a House panel for greater scrutiny.
The two bills have already been passed by the Lok Sabha and will now go to the president for his assent before they are notified as laws.
(With inputs from Soni Mishra)
