Opposition lawmakers suspended from the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha this week and last took out a protest march Thursday morning from the old Parliament building to Vijay Chowk in central Delhi – about a kilometre apart – carrying a large banner that read “Save Democracy”, and placards reading “Opposition MPs Suspended! Is This The End of Democracy?” and “Parliament Caged, Democracy Expelled!”
The protest comes amid a bitter row between opposition parties and the ruling BJP over the expulsion of more than 140 MPs for “unruly conduct”. Parliamentary authorities and the opposition clashed over demands the government be accountable for last week’s security breach; Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah were called to make formal statements but declined, citing unspecified national security concerns. They did, however, speak to the media.
At the head of today’s marching band was Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge, who accused the BJP – which yesterday passed bills replacing India’s criminal laws after nearly two-third of the opposition was ejected – of not having faith in democracy. Mr Kharge also told reporters, “We are repeatedly request Lok Sabha Speaker, Rajya Sabha Chairman to allow us to speak on security breach.”
The senior Congress leader – one of a handful of opposition MPs not yet suspended – also said members of the INDIA bloc would stage a second protest at the Jantar Mantar on Friday.