The Lok Sabha has suspended four Congress MPs for the entire monsoon session. The Speaker of the Lok Sabha, Om Prakash Birla, took action amid opposition protests against the government since the beginning of the monsoon session.
The legislators protesting within the house received one last warning from Om Prakash Birla on Monday, the sixth day of the new session. In the midst of protests, Birla declared, “This is a temple of democracy,” despite the fact that protests and carrying placards are now forbidden within the Parliament building ahead of the monsoon session.
The speaker said, “The government is ready to hold discussions,” he insisted, suggesting that the session could be resumed after 3 pm if the chaos is halted. “The nation wants Parliament to function. But with this kind of chaos… the House can’t function.”
Due to the oath-taking ceremony of elected president Draupadi Murmu, the session started late on Monday.
In an unprecedented move, Manickam Tagore, Ramya Haridas, Jothimani, and TN Prathapan were suspended, yet the mayhem persisted even after 3pm. The Congress MPs were seen standing together and holding placards against inflation.
Inflation and the rising cost of LPG, which has an impact on many households, have been targets of the opposition’s protests. Rahul Gandhi also participated in the protests last week.
The MPs were warned last week too for carrying placards.
This may lead to further conflict between the Congress and the BJP, who have been at odds over the past week over Sonia Gandhi’s summons from the Enforcement Directorate in the National Herald case and comments made by Congress leaders about Smriti Irani and her daughter in relation to a Goa property.