Sonia Gandhi Decries Suspension of MPs as Government's 'Strangulation of Democracy’

Sonia Gandhi, Congress Parliamentary Party chief, criticized the Modi government for the suspension of 141 Opposition MPs during the ongoing Winter Session of Parliament. Gandhi condemned the government's decision at the annual CPP meeting in New Delhi, stating, "Democracy has been strangled by this (Narendra Modi) government. Never before have so many Opposition MPs been suspended from the house (Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha), and that too, simply for raising a perfectly reasonable and legitimate demand."

Supporting the Opposition MPs' call for a statement from Union Home Minister Amit Shah on the December 13 Parliamentary security breach, Gandhi expressed dismay, saying, "All that the opposition MPs asked for was a statement to be made by the (Union) Home Minister in the Lok Sabha addressing the extraordinary events of December 13." She deemed the government's response as "arrogant" and emphasized the inexcusability of the December 13 incident.

Reflecting on the delayed response of the Prime Minister to the incident, Gandhi remarked, "It took four days for the Prime Minister to address the nation and express his views on the incident, and he did so outside of Parliament. By so doing, he indicated his disdain for the dignity of the house (Lok Sabha) and his disregard for the people of our country." She invited imagination on how the BJP would have responded if in the Opposition.

The incident on December 13 led to chaos in the Lok Sabha, prompting the arrest of six individuals under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act. The individuals, according to the police, were involved in releasing smoke and shouting slogans in the Lok Sabha chamber.

Author: Anushka Taraniya

News Writer, MIT ADT University