Several Opposition MPs requested suspension, says Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi

A day after Parliament was adjourned sine die, the government on December 22 maintained that the Opposition MPs invited action against them by disrupting the proceedings in the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha. A record 146 Opposition MPs were suspended from both Houses during the Winter Session that concluded on Thursday.

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi told reporters that the government was not keen to suspend MPs but several Opposition members requested for suspension for political mileage after action was taken against some of their colleagues.

Mr. Joshi said such steps showed the character of the Congress. “We did not want to suspend MPs, we requested them. But after we suspended a few MPs, several of their colleagues came with requests to us seeking suspension. This is the level the Congress stoops to,” Mr. Joshi said.