Opposition boycotts session in protest of MP's suspension

(PTI) New Delhi, Ta. Tuesday, September 22, 2020

The Opposition on Tuesday boycotted the rest of the Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha sittings in protest of the suspension of eight MPs in the Rajya Sabha and announced a boycott of the session until the suspension of eight MPs was withdrawn.

The Center, on the other hand, said it would consider revoking the suspension after apologizing to the MPs first. Opposition groups called for a boycott of the session, but eight lawmakers protested against their suspension. In the absence of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha, the government had passed seven bills in three and a half hours.

Parties opposing the suspension of eight MPs from the Rajya Sabha include Congress, CPI-M, CPI, Trinamool Congress, NCP, Samajwadi Party, Shiv Sena, RJD, DMK, TRS and AAP. Congress lawmakers walked out of the House boycotting the first session. MPs from other parties also walked out of the House after that. The Opposition also walked out of the Lok Sabha in support of Rajya Sabha MPs.

Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad said the boycott of the session would continue till the suspension of eight MPs was withdrawn. He also demanded that no private company should procure foodgrains from farmers below the minimum support price (MSP) fixed by the government, adding that all government agencies, including the Central Government, State Government and Food Corporation of India The government should introduce a bill to ensure that MSPs are fixed as per the formula of Swaminathan Samiti across the country. House proceedings will be boycotted until our demands are met.

Azad complained that he was given less time to speak to the opposition in the House. He said the opposition needs to be given more time to speak. "The government now wants 'one nation, one market'. We have no problem with that," he added. Earlier the government had said 'one nation one tax' then said 'one nation one ration card' but for God's sake don't say 'one nation one party'.

Rajya Sabha Speaker M. Venkaiah Naidu urged the Opposition to reconsider its decision to boycott the session and join the debate on the House bills. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Prahlad Joshi, on the other hand, said the government may consider withdrawing the suspension if the suspended MPs apologize first.