On Tuesday evening, Samajwadi Party leader Akhilesh Yadav criticized the ruling BJP following the unprecedented suspension of 95 MPs, with a total exceeding 140, by the Lok Sabha. This action marked the conclusion of the final full session of Parliament before next year\’s elections.
Yadav, whose party members Dimple Yadav and ST Hasan were among those suspended, raised questions about the necessity of a new Parliament building, inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in September at a cost exceeding ₹1,000 crore, when a substantial portion of the opposition was suspended. He proposed that the BJP could have constructed a new room within the old Parliament for a few individuals instead.
The new Parliament, boasting 888 seats in the Lok Sabha and 384 in the Rajya Sabha, received praise from the Prime Minister for its \”inclusive atmosphere\” and the \”power of the democracy of India.\”
Amidst the suspension controversy, Yadav criticized the government for restricting questions and discussions, accusing it of making decisions without broader consultation.
Earlier in the day, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla suspended 49 lawmakers, including 86-year-old Farooq Abdullah, for \”unruly conduct\” without addressing last week\’s security breach or allowing statements from the Prime Minister or Home Minister Amit Shah on the incident. The government cited unspecified national security concerns for refraining from making a statement.
Amit Shah later presented three contentious bills for consideration and passage in the Lok Sabha, amidst the suspension of most opposition members. Over the past week, the opposition has demanded accountability from the government regarding the security breach, coinciding with the 22nd anniversary of the terror attack on the old Parliament. The breach raised concerns about security protocol lapses, with intruders smuggling gas canisters in custom-made shoes, taking advantage of the absence of security checks on footwear. Those responsible for the incident, including the alleged mastermind, have been apprehended and are undergoing interrogation by Delhi Police\’s Special Cell.