INDIA bloc leaders are protesting at Jantar Mantar condemning the mass suspension of Opposition MPs from both Houses of Parliament. Protests are also being organised in other parts of the country condemning the suspension.
The leaders, including Congress President and Rajya Sabha MP Mallikarjun Kharge, Congress MP Rahul Gandhi, CPI(M) leader Sitaram Yechury, NCP leader Sharad Pawar, CPI leader D. Raja, DMK MP Tiruchi Shiva and representatives of other parties in the bloc gathered to protest against the suspension. The Opposition bloc conducted a protest march on Thursday condemning the mass suspension of MPs for protesting inside Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha demanding an explanation from the government on December 13 Parliament security breach.
Rahul Gandhi, during his address, charged the BJP government was responsible for the Parliament breach and said that by suspending about 150 MPs from both Houses, the government has shut down voices of over 60 per cent Indians.
“This is fight between hatred and love,” Rahul Gandhi added. “The more hatred BJP spreads, the more love and brotherhood INDIA parties will spread,” Gandhi said. The Congress leader said the protesters breached Parliament security to highlight the issue of unemployment. “First question, How did they come in? Security was breached, how did the gas cylinder come inside? Something else also could have been brought. The protestors came in to raise unemployment. Youth remains unemployed in our country,” Gandhi charged.
Gandhi said that in a survey they found that under the Narendra Modi government, youths were spending 7.5 hours surfing their phone.
“A security breach did happen but they raised important issues. In media, they never said that unemployment was raised. Only thing they say is Rahul Gandhi took video of the mimicry. Never was the issue of our suspension was raised,” HT reported quoting Gandhi.
Talking to PTI, Sitaram Yechury said, “We need to save the democracy from those who are currently in power. The BJP must be held accountable for security breach incident in the Parliament.”
Congress MP Shashi Tharoor said, “We are seeing an assault on our parliamentary democracy which is extremely grave and the purpose of the rally is to draw the attention of the public to perilous situation facing our democracy. Never in history, 146 MPs have ever been suspended. It is a blot on democracy and is a national disgrace on our country that calls itself the mother of democracy. Sharad Pawar said they are ready to pay any price for protecting democracy in the country."
Congress and other Opposition parties are also conducting protests in other parts of the country condemning the suspension.
