No apology, suspension of 12 MPs be revoked, demands Mallikarjun Kharge

Leader of the Opposition in Rajya Sabha and Congress leader, Mallikarjun Kharge demanded that suspension of 12 MPs be revoked.

12 MPs belonging to five political parties were suspended from Rajya Sabha for the entire Winter Session by the Chair for unruly behavior during the Monsson Session on Monday.

‘To decide the future course of action’ vis a vis suspension, 16 opposition parties have come together and attended a meeting called by Kharge on Tuesday morning at his office in Parliament.

Notably, Trinamool Congress which is trying hard to expand its footprint beyond West Bengal was absent from the meeting. Two TMC MPs – Dola Sen and Shanta Chhetri – were also suspended from the upper house.

AAP leader Sanjay Singh attending the Opposition meeting generated much curiosity in Parliament corridors as AAP and Congress are fighting against each other in Punjab assembly polls.

Opposition leaders later protested in front of Gandhi s statue in Parliament, calling behavior of the Modi government ‘Hitler Shahi’ before heading for another round of meetings.

The second round of the meeting was underway till the time of publishing this report.

Meanwhile, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said that the Opposition is not going to tender an apology, indicating that the impasse is not going to be resolved soon.

Earlier in the day, Kharge said the question of offering an apology does not arise.

“The question of offering an apology doesn’t arise. MPs were suspended against the rules of the House. This action is like strangulating the voice of opposition,” Kharge was quoted as saying by the media.

Congress leader and Rajya Sabha MP, Rajmani Patel who was also suspended told National Herald that the stan of the grand old party is very clear on the issue since the beginning.

“We are not going to tender an apology. Moreover, an apology for what,” he said. Attacking the Modi government, Patel said, “Instead, the Modi government should tender an apology for destroying democratic norms and traditions. And playing with the Constitution of India.”