Opposition members protest at new Parliament building, hold mock House proceedings

 Congress leaders Mallikarjun Kharge , Rahul Gandhi and others decry suspension of 92 MPs since December 14, raise slogans against Home Minister Amit Shah to demand his response on Parliament security breach

Suspended Opposition MPs protest during the Winter session of Parliament in New Delhi.: PTI

TT, 19.12.23 : Opposition members held a protest at the Makar Dwar of the new Parliament building over the suspension of MPs and held mock House proceedings on Tuesday.

Several opposition members, including Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, gathered to protest the suspension of as many as 92 MPs since December 14, raising slogans against Home Minister Amit Shah and seeking his response on the Parliament security breach.

Kalyan Banerjee of the Trinamul Congress mimicked the presiding officers in an impromptu skit depicting the proceedings of the House, PTI reported.

Suspended Opposition MPs protest during the Winter session of Parliament, in New Delhi, Tuesday.: PTI

"When the House is in session and a minister makes a statement outside, it amounts to (violation of) privilege of Parliament," Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge told reporters and wondered why the Home Minister was unwilling to make a statement in the House on the security breach issue.

Later, in a post on X, he said, "Modi-Shah have insulted the dignity of the House. Despite serious security lapses, they do not come to Parliament and give any statement. I am very sad that for the first time in history, so many MPs have been suspended. This is like destroying democracy and is a deep insult to the dignity of the House." Monday's action has taken the total number of MPs suspended from the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha to 93, with 92 being suspended since Thursday. AAP member Sanjay Singh was suspended as a Rajya Sabha member from July 24.

The Opposition parties which are members of the INDIA bloc are scheduled to hold a meeting in the national capital on Tuesday afternoon where the issue of suspension of their MPs will also be discussed.

The INDIA bloc has lost almost half its strength in Rajya Sabha and one-third in Lok Sabha as 78 MPs in total were suspended on Monday for unruly behaviour and disregarding the directions of the Chair.