NEW DELHI: An agitated opposition Thursday announced it would continue protests in Parliament until home minister
Amit Shah gave a statement in the two Houses followed by a detailed discussion on the "serious and shocking security breach" in LS, and "strict action" was taken against BJP MP Pratap Simha who "provided the passes" to the intruders-demands that raised the prospect of a prolonged blockade in the remaining part of the short winter session.
RSP MP N K Premachandran warned that the government may be deliberately stoking the situation by not acknowledging the seriousness of the intrusion. "A deadlock suits BJP as it allows the government to pass legislation without a discussion," he said. Bills on three criminal laws are to be taken up for discussion, and the opposition parties are debating whether they should allow them to be passed in the din, without participation.
At a meeting at the office of Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, the opposition poured out its anger at the government for "refusing to acknowledge such a serious development", and for seeking to make light of a grave violation by the BJP MP. Congress and TMC said that while Mahua Moitra was expelled from LS over an allegation and Congress member Rajani Patil was suspended for three sessions for a minor act, there has been no word from the ruling party on Simha. Kharge termed the suspension of opposition MPs "BJP shooting the messenger" after "endangering national security and the safety of the temple of our democracy".