Stranger things: Walkouts, night vigils and intermittent fasting in the Parliament

Image Courtesy:ommcomnews.com

“We will consider withdrawal of suspension only after suspended members apologise for their behaviour in Rajya Sabha,” Ravi Shankar Prasad Union Law and Justice Minister told the media outside Parliament on Tuesday. His statement came after the Congress led other Opposition parties, and staged a walkout from the Upper House of Parliament, demanding that the suspension of the eight other members be revoked.

Prasad, however, has maintained that he “expected the Congress would oppose such unruly behaviour by Opposition members in the Rajya Sabha,” reported NDTV, “We have never seen a Congress MP dancing on the Rajya Sabha table and tear papers,” added Prasad. He maintained that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) -led NDA government had a clear majority in the Rajya Sabha for passing the farm Bills on Sunday, which led to the current scenario of protests and suspensions unfolding.

He earlier expressed his solidarity with RS deputy chairman Harivansh Narayan Singh for the latter’s “humiliation” and “hurt”

माननीय हरिवंश जी!
आपका ह्रदय से अभिनन्दन।
राज्य सभा में उपसभापति पद पर हुए अपमान से आप आहात हैं और पूरा देश भी। महामहिम राष्ट्रपति को लिखा आपका पत्र बहुत प्रेरणादायी है। (1/3) pic.twitter.com/jwA3kZUUE1
— Ravi Shankar Prasad (@rsprasad) September 22, 2020

Harivansh Narayan Singh, had written a long letter detailing his view of the manner of dissent expressed by Opposition leaders who were demanding a democratic vote on the farmers’ bill.

Apart from declaring that he will “fast” for a day, he felt insulted as the Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman, when the Opposition MPs rebelled. He invoked Bihar, his humble upbringing, connection with Bihar, being influenced by Mahatma Gandhi, Lohia, JP etc. Harivansh Singh also went to the eight suspended Rajya Sabha MPs taking them tea and snacks.

While it seems that they did not partake, this moved Prime Minister Narendra Modi who tweeted that he was impressed that Bihar’s ethos had inspired Harivansh Singh, an MP from Bihar to be “statesman like” in his conduct. The PM was also impressed that the RS Dy Chairman “personally” went to “serve tea to those who attacked and insulted him a few days ago”, and congratulated him.

To personally serve tea to those who attacked and insulted him a few days ago as well as those sitting on Dharna shows that Shri Harivansh Ji has been blessed with a humble mind and a big heart. It shows his greatness. I join the people of India in congratulating Harivansh Ji.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) September 22, 2020

However, as TMC member and MP Derek o Brien had stated earlier, the Opposition was not going to “just sit and watch” while he said “on Sunday September 20, the government murdered parliamentary democracy. They broke every rule of #Parliament. Did they hope that the opposition would just sit and watch?” He had also shared a nine minute video to explain what happened.

Around 1pm on Sunday September 20, the government murdered parliamentary democracy. They broke every rule of #Parliament.
Did they hope that the opposition would just sit and watch?
Here’s a 9 min video. pic.twitter.com/HMZbFiSXpo
— Derek O’Brien | ডেরেক ও’ব্রায়েন (@derekobrienmp) September 20, 2020

He also changed his profile photo in protest:h

#NewProfilePic pic.twitter.com/UZ99MBC8dI
— Derek O’Brien | ডেরেক ও’ব্রায়েন (@derekobrienmp) September 22, 2020

The Rajya Sabha MPs had sat on an all-night vigil at Gandhi Statue in the Parliament compound. And were visited by their colleagues including Congress MP Shashi Tharoor, who said he went to “express solidarity with the eight suspended MPs”

Exiting Parliament, stopped by the lawns near Mahatma Gandhi’s statue to express solidarity with the eight suspended Rajya Sabha MPs who’re on an all-night vigil. Spoke w/ ⁦@derekobrienmp⁩, ⁦@SATAVRAJEEV⁩ (who spent his birthday here!), E.Kareem & ⁦@manojkjhadu⁩ pic.twitter.com/JkPKsDVX62
— Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor) September 21, 2020

Maharashtra’s political patriarch Sharad Pawar’s also announced a day-long fast to show his support to the eight suspended Rajya Sabha MPs. The opposition also boycotted the proceedings of the Lok Sabha, hours after it walked out of the Rajya Sabha reported NDTV.

Earlier in the day, according to the news report the Opposition had said it will boycott the proceedings of the Rajya Sabha till three key demands, including revoking the suspension of eight members, are met. The eight members of the Rajya Sabha were suspended on Monday for the rest of the session over the chaos in the House during Sunday’s passing of the farm bills.

The members, including Trinamool Congress’s Derek O’Brien, Aam Aadmi Party’s Sanjay singh, Congress’s Rajeev Satav and CPM’s KK Ragesh, refused to leave the complex.