NEW DELHI: The BJP‘s Parliamentary Party meeting commenced on Tuesday with the arrival of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
This gathering, which typically convenes weekly during sessions, holds special significance today as the opposition bloc, INDIA, is also scheduled for discussions later in the day.
The meeting follows the suspension of 78 opposition MPs on Monday, marking the largest such action in the history of the Indian Parliament.These suspensions, coupled with the 13 members removed earlier, were a response to disruptions and a demand for a statement from Union Home Minister AmitShah over the Parliament security breach incident.
Simultaneously, the INDIA bloc’s floor leaders plan to meet at 10 am in the chamber of the Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha, Mallikarjun Kharge.
Key figures attending the BJP’s Parliamentary Party meeting, in addition to the Prime Minister, include the party’s national president JP Nadda and Union minister Ashwini Vaishnaw.
The total number of suspended MPs reached 92, with 78 MPs (33 from Lok Sabha and 45 from Rajya Sabha) facing suspension on Monday. Of these, 34 opposition Rajya Sabha MPs, including Congress’ Jairam Ramesh, KC Venugopal, and Randeep Singh Surjewala, will remain suspended for the rest of the Winter Session. Additionally, the ‘misconduct’ of 11 others has been referred to the Privileges Committee, which will provide its report in three months.
The suspension was attributed to ‘misconduct’ and failure to adhere to the directions of the Chair. MPs from the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance, who were not suspended, are reportedly considering a ‘boycott’ of their respective Houses.
Following the suspensions, opposition MPs criticized the BJP-led Centre, labeling it as ‘autocratic.’ Kharge emphasized that the Opposition’s demands include a statement from Shah on the security breach and a discussion in both Houses.