Pratik Das, Pune
The day before the Budget Session of Parliament, 14 Opposition MPs, including 11 from Rajya Sabha and three from Lok Sabha, had their suspensions lifted on Tuesday. This move allowed them to participate in the customary President’s address to both Houses of Parliament scheduled for Wednesday.
The decision was made shortly before senior ministers engaged with Opposition and floor leaders, seeking their collaboration to ensure a smooth session.
In the Winter Session, an unprecedented 146 Opposition MPs, spanning both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, faced suspension for disrupting proceedings. Their actions were driven by the insistence on a statement from Home Minister Amit Shah regarding the Parliament security breach on December 13. While the majority of MPs received suspensions for the remainder of the Winter Session, the cases of 14 MPs were forwarded to the privileges committees of Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha.
Earlier today, the government announced its request to the presiding officers of both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha to lift the suspension. We have requested the Speaker and the Chairperson on behalf of the government, and they have agreed,” Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi said.
Preparing the groundwork, the Rajya Sabha Privileges Committee convened and proposed the withdrawal of the suspension. A fortnight prior, the Lok Sabha privileges committee had passed a comparable resolution, advocating for the reinstatement of the three Congress members who were suspended.
According to Opposition sources, the Members of Parliament submitted letters to the privileges committees, expressing remorse for their actions. They argued that the disruptions were unintentional and not indicative of personal indiscipline. During the all-party meeting, the government conveyed to Opposition floor leaders the necessity of adhering to the decision to prohibit MPs from bringing placards or similar materials into the chambers.
Opposition leaders reportedly raised various concerns, including what they perceived as the misuse of investigative agencies, attacks on the federal structure, and what they deemed as “overreach” by Governors.
Congress’ Pramod Tiwari highlighted the “violent attack” on the Rahul Gandhi-led Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra in Assam and criticized the state government’s restrictions on it. He spoke about an “unwritten dictatorship” prevailing in the country and accused the central government of misusing probe agencies like the CBI and ED to target Opposition leaders. Kodikkunil Suresh stated that Congress would focus on raising issues of unemployment, price rise, agrarian distress, and the situation in Manipur during the session. Bandyopadhyay from TMC urged the Finance Minister to address pending dues to West Bengal in the interim Budget.
“They have given suggestions, but since this is the last session of the present Lok Sabha, we have said we will give them an opportunity in the next session,” Joshi said.