LokSabha – Priyanka Gandhi Criticises Suspension of Opposition MPs in Parliament
LokSabha – Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Tuesday strongly criticised the suspension of eight opposition members from the Lok Sabha, saying the decision undermines the core principles of parliamentary democracy.
Objection to Suspension of Elected Members
Speaking to reporters outside Parliament, Priyanka Gandhi said that every elected representative has the right to raise issues and express concerns on behalf of the people. She described the suspension as excessive and unnecessary, adding that silencing members weakens democratic debate rather than strengthening discipline in the House.
According to her, Parliament is meant to function as a platform for discussion and disagreement, and denying members the opportunity to speak goes against its very purpose. She maintained that democratic institutions must allow space for diverse opinions, especially when sensitive national issues are being discussed.
Events Leading to the Disruption
The suspensions followed a series of disruptions during the budget session of the Lok Sabha earlier in the day. Tensions escalated when Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi sought to raise a reference related to the 2020 border standoff between India and China in eastern Ladakh. The issue led to repeated interruptions and adjournments of the House.
Proceedings had already been halted twice before the Lok Sabha resumed at 3 pm. At that point, Rahul Gandhi clarified that he did not intend to quote from any magazine article linked to the unpublished memoirs of a former Army Chief. However, he said he wanted to briefly mention Chinese actions during the Kailash Range standoff.
Government Raises Procedural Objections
The government objected to Rahul Gandhi’s remarks, stating that references to unpublished memoirs or articles based on them were not permitted under parliamentary rules. The ruling side maintained that such references violated established guidelines and could not be allowed on the floor of the House.
Krishna Prasad Tenneti, who was presiding over the session at the time, requested Rahul Gandhi to continue his speech on the motion of thanks to the President’s Address while adhering to the ruling already given by the Speaker. Despite this, the Leader of Opposition continued to press for his remarks to be placed on record.
Uproar and Adjournment of the House
As the disagreement continued, the Chair invited other members to participate in the debate. This move triggered protests from Congress and other opposition parties, who began raising slogans inside the House. The situation became more tense when a member from the Telugu Desam Party began addressing the House, prompting louder protests from opposition benches.
Amid the uproar, some members were accused of throwing papers towards the Chair. The disorder led to the House being adjourned once again until 3 pm, as proceedings could not continue under the prevailing circumstances.
Motion Moved to Suspend Members
When the Lok Sabha resumed later in the afternoon, Dilip Saikia was in the Chair. He formally named eight opposition members for their conduct during the disruption. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju then moved a motion seeking their suspension for the remainder of the budget session.
The motion cited violations of parliamentary rules and disorderly behaviour, including throwing papers towards the Chair. Despite protests from opposition parties, the House adopted the motion through a voice vote.
List of Suspended MPs
The suspended members include seven Congress MPs—Hibi Eden, Amarinder Singh Raja Warring, Manickam Tagore, Gurjeet Singh Aujla, Prashant Yadaorao Padole, Chamala Kiran Kumar Reddy, and Dean Kuriakose. CPI(M) MP S. Venkatesan has also been suspended for the rest of the session.
Opposition leaders have continued to criticise the decision, arguing that it sets a troubling precedent and restricts parliamentary debate during an important legislative session.