In a letter addressed to Vice-President and Rajya Sabha Chairman Jadgeep Dhankar, Mallikarjun Kharge, the Leader of the Opposition in Rajya Sabha and President of the Congress, expressed his contention that the suspension of Opposition MPs from Parliament was not only "predetermined and premeditated" but also lacked rational decision-making. Kharge, in the communication, asserted that the suspensions were carried out without due consideration, evident in the suspension of an INDIA party MP who was not even present in Parliament.
He raised concerns about the alleged weaponization of privilege motions to stifle the voice of the Opposition, characterizing it as a deliberate strategy by the ruling dispensation to undermine the very essence of Parliament. Kharge contended that by suspending MPs, the government effectively silenced the collective voice of the 146 MPs, representing the voters.
In response to the Vice-President's invitation for a meeting on December 25 to discuss the suspension of MPs from the Winter Session of Parliament, Kharge expressed regret, highlighting that the Vice-President had seemingly condoned the Home Minister and the Centre for not making a statement on the floor of the House regarding the Parliament security breach. He described it as regrettable that the Home Minister made his first public statement before a TV channel while Parliament was in session, and the Chair did not view it as 'sacrilegious to the temple of democracy.'
Kharge also drew attention to a post on an undisclosed platform by TMC Rajya Sabha MP Saket Gokhale, alluding to a Union Minister allegedly informing an Opposition MP about the planned suspension of most Opposition MPs before Home Minister Amit Shah's presence in the Rajya Sabha. Although Kharge refrained from naming individuals, he expressed disappointment that the Chairman did not inquire about the alleged threat, stating that such comments undermine the authority of the Chair, which is considered the final arbiter in conducting House proceedings, including the suspension of members.
He further conveyed distress at the prospect of history judging presiding officers harshly for passing bills without adequate debate and failing to demand accountability from the government. Kharge criticized the Chairman's perspective that the suspension of MPs facilitated legislative business by allowing the passage of bills without discussion. In the Winter session of Parliament, a total of 146 MPs—100 from Lok Sabha and 46 from Rajya Sabha—were suspended for disrupting proceedings while demanding a statement from Union Minister Amit Shah regarding the Parliament security breach incident.
