NEW DELHI, June 24: Amid the controversy surrounding Bhartruhari Mahtab’s appointment as pro-tem speaker, leaders of the INDIA bloc staged a protest on Monday inside the Parliament premises in the national capital, brandishing copies of the Constitution.
Participants in the protest included Congress Parliamentary Party Chairperson Sonia Gandhi, along with party leaders Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge. Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi criticized the ruling party for its perceived arrogance and neglect of key national issues, emphasizing the significance of appointing K Suresh as Pro-tem Speaker for the Dalit community.
Earlier in the day, Samajwadi Party leaders Akhilesh Yadav and Dimple Yadav, along with other party MPs, also carried copies of the Constitution to Parliament in protest.
Trinamool Congress leaders Sudip Bandhopadhyay, Kalyan Banerjee, and Sougata Roy accused the Modi government of violating constitutional provisions, expressing strong opposition to what they perceived as unilateral actions affecting West Bengal without consulting the state government.
Union Minister Sukanta Majumdar responded by criticizing the INDIA bloc leaders, highlighting that the opposition’s increased presence in the current session prompts them to voice concerns on various issues. He defended Mahtab’s appointment, citing his seniority and consecutive terms as an elected MP, contrasting it with the non-consecutive service of K Suresh, whom the opposition favored for the pro-tem Speaker role.
The ongoing protests underscore a deepening political rift over parliamentary conventions and constitutional interpretations within the 18th Lok Sabha session.
