"BJP is now shooting the messenger": Kharge slams suspension of MPs in Parliament

New Delhi [India], December 14 : Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Thursday slammed the government's move to suspend 13 MPs from Parliament, saying they wanted discussion on Lok Sabha security breach and the ruling party at the Centre is "now shooting the messenger".
Kharge accused the BJP of endangering the safety of Parliament and said it is now "invoking draconian shades of dictatorship".
"Having endangered National Security and the safety of the temple of our Democracy -- the Parliament, the BJP is now shooting the messenger. The suspension of 15 opposition MPs from the Parliament because they wanted a discussion on the grave security breach is SUSPENSION OF DEMOCRACY !" Kharge said in a post on X.
"What is their crime ? Is it a crime to urge the Union Home Minister to make a statement in the House ? Is it a crime to want a discussion on the perilous security breach ? Does it not invoke draconian shades of dictatorship, a hallmark of the present dispensation?" he added.
The government on Thursday moved two motions in Lok Sabha for suspension of 13 MPs for the remainder of the winter session of Parliament.
Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi told reporters that a total of 13 MPs have been suspended from the Lok Sabha.
"An MP who was not present at the well was also suspended... We requested the Lok Sabha Speaker to drop that name and the Speaker accepted this," he said.
He accused the opposition of trying to politicise the issue.
"The Speaker is the guardian of the House. It is not within our power to make a statement. The government is following the orders of the Speaker. Do not do politics on this issue. We are very sensitive on this issue...I request (opposition MPs) to cooperate with the government and allow constructive debate and discussion in Parliament," the minister said.
Rajya Sabha on Thursday adopted a motion against suspended Trinamool Congress MP Derek O'Brien, referring his conduct to the Privileges Committee "for examination and investigation".
The panel has been asked to give its report in three months. The motion for referring the matter to Privileges Committee was moved by Union Minister Piyush Goyal after Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar said that the Trinamool Congress member continued to be in the House in gross violation of rules and his directions as the MP had been suspended for the remainder of the winter session.
Piyush Goyal, who is also the Leader of the House, said the member's conduct is against the rules and he has shown "repeated disregard" to the chair's directions.
"The House takes a serious note of the conduct of Derek O'Brien member who was suspended from the service of the Council under Rule 256 (2) to deliberately continue in the chamber in gross violation of Rule 256 (3) and disregarding repeated direction imparted by the chair, thereby, compounding his offence and committing a serious contempt of the House and breach of privilege of members," he said amid sloganeering by opposition members.
Goyal said the House "agrees that the matter be referred to the Committee of Privileges of the Rajya Sabha for examination, investigation and report within a period of three months".
The motion was adopted amid opposition protests after Chairman put it before the House. Dhankhar later adjourned the House for the day.
The House faced three adjournments between 2 pm to 4 pm on the issue with Derek O'Brien continuing to be in the House despite Chairman repeatedly asking him to withdraw as he has been suspended.
Goyal had earlier moved a motion to suspend Derek O'Brien for the remainder part of the winter session for his "unruly behaviour" and "misconduct," which was adopted by voice vote amid opposition protests.
The proceedings of Rajya Sabha were adjourned in the opening hour after opposition MPs trooped into the Well of the House, demanding a discussion on yesterday's Parliament security breach.
Dhankhar disallowed 28 notices given by opposition MPs, who sought the suspension of business for the day to discuss the December 13 incident.
The opposition MPs pressed their demand and moved into the Well of the House. They shouted slogans and demanded a statement from Union Home Minister Amit Shah.