The INDIA bloc, a coalition of Opposition parties challenging the ruling BJP, experienced a substantial reduction in its representation, losing half of its strength in Rajya Sabha and one-third in Lok Sabha for the remainder of the Winter Session of Parliament due to the suspension of 78 MPs. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, who was present in the national capital for an alliance meeting, criticized the action against Opposition MPs, labeling it a \”mockery of democracy.\”
In Rajya Sabha, where the bloc holds 95 MPs, 45 faced suspension on Monday, including AAP\’s Sanjay Singh, who was already in jail and had been suspended earlier. TMC MP Derek O\’Brien received a suspension on Friday. In Lok Sabha, the bloc, comprising 133 MPs, witnessed the suspension of 46 (33 today) over the past few days. The suspended MPs are associated with the Congress, TMC, DMK, and JDU.
This punitive measure stemmed from their protest in Parliament, where they demanded a statement from Home Minister Amit Shah concerning the Lok Sabha security breach. The suspension was attributed to their unruly behavior, display of placards, and raising of slogans in both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha.
Mamata Banerjee criticized the BJP, questioning the widespread suspension of MPs and connecting it to the BJP\’s recent triumphs in the assembly polls in Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Chhattisgarh, where they overcame the Congress.