Opposition MPs from both the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha held a protest march from the Gandhi statue in Parliament complex to Vijay Chowk on Tuesday against the “suppression” of their voice and the suspension of their colleagues.
“Wherever the Opposition is trying to raise issues, they are suppressed. The Government does not allow us to raise issues. This is the murder of democracy. We want to raise issues against the Government, but we are not allowed to do so,” Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said in a brief interaction with the media.
Pointing out that Prime Minister Narendra Modi did not come to Parliament, Rahul said, “We have here our suspended members. Parliament is the symbol of democracy of the country and this is the symbol of crushing of the voice of the people of India. They have been suspended for two weeks now. They are sitting outside and their voice has been crushed. We are not being allowed to discuss important issues.”
“This is not the way to run Parliament. The PM does not come to the House. Whenever we want to raise an issue, we are stopped from doing so. This is a very unfortunate killing of democracy that is taking place,” he said.
Twelve Opposition MPs were suspended from the Rajya Sabha on November 29 for the entire Winter Session of Parliament for their “unruly” conduct in the previous session in August. The Opposition has described the suspension as “undemocratic and in violation of all the Rules of Procedure” of the Upper House of Parliament.
Meanwhile, Congress president Sonia Gandhi on Tuesday met a group of Opposition leaders and held consultations with them to evolve a joint strategy in Parliament. AICC sources said NCP supremo Sharad Pawar, J&K National Conference patron Farooq Abdullah, Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut and DMK leader T R Baalu were among the leaders who met Sonia at residence.
The meeting took place in the midst of leaders of various Opposition parties taking out a protest march in support of their demand for revoking the suspension of 12 Rajya Sabha MPs.
Sources said more such meetings of top Opposition leaders would be held in the next few days, in a bid to bring all Opposition forces together. Opposition parties have been protesting the suspension of 12 Rajya Sabha MPs and are holding protests, seeking the revocation of their suspensions. Former Congress chief Rahul and leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge were also part of Tuesday’s meeting with the Congress president.
According to sources, Sonia had invited Uddhav Thackeray and DMK chief MK Stalin. Both deputed their leaders --Raut and Baalu-- respectively. These meetings are coming at the backdrop of Trinamool Congress distancing itself from making into a joint front involving the Congress. The differences were more visible on Tuesday during the Zero Hour in Rajya Sabha when the other Opposition members were in the Well protesting, TMC participated and raised certain issues when M Venkaiah Naidu was on the Chair.