In India, the leaders from the Opposition bloc, INDIA, held protests across the country today (Friday) against the suspension of 146 members during the Winter Session of Parliament.
According to Kashmir Media Service, the protest began at Jantar Mantar in Delhi, and according to the opposition, it is being held to “save democracy”.
The MPs have been suspended since December 14 for causing disruptions to the functioning of both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha and raising slogans while demanding a statement from Union Home Minister Amit Shah on December 13 Parliament security breach.
Prominent Opposition figures, including Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge; NCP (National Congress Party) supremo Sharad Pawar; Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) leader Sitaram Yechury; Jairam Ramesh, A Raja, Gaurav Gogoi, Sharad Pawar, Mukul Wasnik and Naseer Hussain participated in the protest at Jantar Mantar.
Congress MP Rahul Gandhi speaking at the protest shared his account of witnessing the security breach in Lok Sabha, and claimed that BJP MPs in the House had made a quick escape when the incident occurred. He stated that a few youngsters had entered Parliament and released smoke, prompting the reported retreat of BJP lawmakers. “All the BJP MPs ran away. Unki hawaa nikal gayi (They were scared stiff),” he said.
On the other hand, in Kerala, the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF), which sits in the Opposition, held a sit-in protest against the suspension of 146 members from Parliament near Raj Bhavan (governor house) in Thiruvananthapuram.
The Opposition block leader also held protests in Telangana, Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh and other states.
Earlier on Thursday, the suspended MPs took out a march from the Parliament building to Vijay Chowk in Delhi to protest against the mass suspension of Opposition lawmakers.
The Winter Session of Parliament, which began on December 4, was adjourned indefinitely, a day before its schedule.—KMS
