34 MPs suspended from Lok Sabha amid protest on breach of security

INDIA bloc MPs submitted more than 20 notices for Suspension of Business in Rajya Sabha to discuss Parliament security breach

Thirty-four opposition members were suspended from the Lok Sabha December 18, including Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, DMK MPs T R Baalu and Dayanidhi Maran, and TMC's Saugata Roy for disrupting the proceedings.

While 31 of them were suspended for the remainder of the Winter Session, the duration of suspension of K Jayakumar, Vijay Vasanth, and Abdul Khaleque will be determined by the privilege committee. This action was taken after the three individuals climbed onto the dais where the Speaker’s chair is located.  Before adjourning the proceedings of the House, Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar warned MPs Jebi Mather and Binoy Viswam for disrupting House proceedings. The House has been adjourned for the day.

The Opposition launched an all-out offensive against the Centre, demanding a thorough probe and a statement by Home Minister Amit Shah in the Parliament. Chaotic scenes unfolded in Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha once again, leading to a swift adjournments. Opposition MPs chanted ‘BJP jawaab do, sadan se bhaagna band karo‘ (BJP, give us answers, stop running away from Parliament) in Lok Sabha.

After being named by the Chair, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi moved a motion regarding the suspension and it was adopted by a voice vote. Speaker Om Birla said, "It is sad that politics is being done on this issue...To enter the Well of the House and sloganeering is against the dignity of the House. I request your (opposition) cooperation to hold discussions on important issues."

On the issue of the Parliament security breach, BJP MP Jagdambika Pal says: "It is a question about the security of Parliament, the Speaker is the custodian...The Lok Sabha speaker had expressed his concerns earlier and today also said that a high power committee of the Home Ministry has been formed...But deliberately the issue is being politicised..."

Congress MP Ranjeet Ranjan had given a Suspension of Business Notice in Rajya Sabha under rule 267 and demands discussion on the security breach of Parliament on December 13.

Earlier in the day, the draft Telecommunications Bill, 2023, introduced in the Lok Sabha, allows the government to take over, manage or suspend any or all telecommunication services or networks in the interest of national security.