'Rajya Sabha Boycott Until Demands Are Met': Opposition Piles Pressure On Govt

The Opposition said it will boycott the rest of the Rajya Sabha Session until their key demands including revoking of MPs suspension and withdrawal of farm bills are met. The eight suspended MPs ended their overnight protest after Oppostion led by Congress staged a walkout from the Lower House.

"We wanted not just the suspension to be revoked but at the same time, we wanted the farm bills to be taken back & proper voting to happen. But nothing of that sort was going to happen as the Chairman wasn't ready to listen to anyone. So all the opposition parties boycotted the rest of the session. They appealed to all the people who were sitting at the dharna to finish it & join them in boycotting the rest of the session. That is how we have ended this dharna," said Congress Rajya Sabha MP Syed Nasir Hussain. 

Rajiv Sabha Deputy Chairman Harivansh Narayan Singh on Tuesday morning met the eight suspended MPs, who staged an overnight sit-in inside Parliament premises over their suspension due to “unruly behaviour”. 

The Opposition MPs Derek O'Brien, Sanjay Singh, Raju Satav, KK Ragesh, Ripun Bora, Dola Sen, Syed Naseer Hussain and Elamaram Kareem termed the action taken against them as “unfair”. Congress MP Shashi Tharoor met the suspended MPs at night, while Deputy Chairman Harivansh Narayan Singh visited them with tea in the morning and spoke to them, but the protesting MPs refused the offer.

During the overnight vigil, suspended MPs took to social media to express their views. Suspended MP Raju Satava wrote, “Protest is ongoing in Parliament complex against the attempt to kill democracy in Parliament and anti-farmer dictatorial mindset of the Modi government. Our protest will continue”.

संसद में लोकतंत्र की हत्या का प्रयास और मोदी सरकार की किसान विरोधी तानाशाही मानसिकता के विरुद्ध सुबह के 5 बजे के बाद भी संसद भवन परिसर में प्रदर्शन जारी है।
हमारा विरोध जारी रहेगा।#BJPKilledDemocracy pic.twitter.com/H14OQ4zgA2

— Rajeev Satav (@SATAVRAJEEV) September 22, 2020

Several Chief Ministers have expressed displeasure with the suspension of MPs. West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee tweeted: “The suspension of the 8 MPs who fought to protect farmers interests is unfortunate & reflective of this autocratic Govt’s mindset that doesn’t respect democratic norms & principles. We won't bow down & we'll fight this fascist Govt in Parliament & on the streets”.

Suspension of the 8 MPs who fought to protect farmers interests is unfortunate & reflective of this autocratic Govt’s mindset that doesn’t respect democratic norms & principles. We won't bow down & we'll fight this fascist Govt in Parliament & on the streets.#BJPKilledDemocracy

— Mamata Banerjee (@MamataOfficial) September 21, 2020

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan also took a dig at the central government over the suspension of MPs.

Meanwhile, 18 opposition parties wrote to President Ram Nath Kovind, urging him not to give his assent to the agricultural bills. These include Congress, NCP, Janata Dal-Secular, RJD and Left. Apart from these, a delegation of Akali Dal, the oldest ally of BJP, also met the President and appealed him to send the bills back.

Meanwhile, the Congress party is preparing for a nationwide signature campaign of over 2 crore farmers and labourers, with an aim to unite as many opposition parties on the issue and organise protests across the country. The signatures will be handed over to the President. The Congress alleges that the government is making anti-farmer laws in the Parliament, which the countrymen reject them completely.