Mallikarjun Kharge the AICC Chief and the leader of the opposition said that “We would have expected the Chairman to have inquired if such a threat was indeed issued. Such comments grossly undermine the Chair who we believe is the final authority on conducting the House including suspension of members”.
Kharge in a letter has replied to the Chairman of the Rajyasabha.
He added that by suspending the MPs, the government is effectively silencing the voice of the voters of 146 MPs altogether.
Kharge said as the custodian of the House, the Chairman should protect the people’s right to hold its government accountable in Parliament.
“The Chairman should also kindly note that the government has escaped accountability on all crucial issues like serious border incursions by China, or continued unrest in Manipur or the recent intrusion in the Lok Sabha by visitors who had been facilitated entry by a BJP MP,” he said.
“It would be distressing when history judges the presiding officers harshly for Bills passed without debate and not seeking accountability from the government.
It is disappointing that the Hon’ble Chairman feels effecting suspensions facilitated legislative business by passing bills without discussion,” he said.
He, however, stressed that the answer may not lie in a discussion in the Chairman’s chambers, if the government is not keen on running the House.
