The Opposition MPs will hold a protest march at Jantar Mantar on Thursday to protest against the mass suspension of 143 lawmakers during the ongoing Winter Session and Home Minister Amit Shah’s refusal to make a statement on the Parliament security breach.
The decision was taken at a meeting held at Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge's chamber in the Parliament complex on Wednesday.
Though there were also plans to hold a "mock Parliament" with Rashtriya Janata Dal MP Manoj Jha as the speaker, it is unclear whether it will be held due to logistical reasons.
As many as 143 MPs have been suspended since last week for disrupting the proceedings of both the Houses. The lawmakers have been demanding a discussion on the December 13 Parliament security breach and a statement by Union Home Minister Amit Shah on the issue.
Meanwhile, Union Home Minister Amit Shah will table the three new criminal code bills in Rajya Sabha, a day after they were tabled in Lok Sabha. The Bharatiya Nyaya (Second) Sanhita, 2023, the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha (Second) Sanhita, 2023 and the Bharatiya Sakshya (Second) Bill, 2023, sailed through the lower house in the absence of majority of opposition MPs.
The three bills will replace the colonial-era Indian Penal Code, 1860; the Code of Criminal Procedure Act, 1898; and the Indian Evidence Act of 1872, respectively. "When the three laws are implemented fully, the Indian judicial system will be the most modern in the world," Shah said while replying to a debate on the bills in the Lok Sabha amid thumping of desks by NDA members.
The Centre will also move the Telecommunications Bill, 2023 in the Upper House for consideration and passage. The bill, piloted by Communications Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, provides for stopping transmission and intercepting messages in case of public emergency, in the interest of the public, to prevent incitement for committing offence.
"The bill will promote structural reforms in the telecom sector," Vaishnaw said. "On the occurrence of any public emergency, including disaster management, or in the interest of public safety, the central government or a state government or any officer specially authorised in this behalf by the central government or a state government, if satisfied that it is necessary or expedient so to do, by notificationtake temporary possession of any telecommunication service or telecommunication network from an authorised entity," he added.
(With PTI inputs)
