Rajya Sabha Chairman Revokes Suspensions of 11 Opposition MPs Ahead of Budget Session

In a conciliatory move ahead of the Budget Session, Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar has lifted the suspensions of 11 opposition MPs who were found guilty of breach of privilege by the House panel. The privilege committee reportedly recommended treating the period of suspension already served as sufficient punishment, paving the way for their return to Parliament.

This decision comes as a relief for the suspended MPs, who included members from Congress, CPI, DMK, and CPIM. They will now be able to participate in the upcoming session, starting on February 1, and attend President Droupadi Murmu’s special address to both Houses on February 1.

The revocation of suspensions applies only to the Rajya Sabha members as the Lok Sabha has its own procedure for dealing with such matters. The fate of three suspended Lok Sabha MPs remains uncertain for now.

The suspensions stemmed from the tumultuous winter session, which witnessed unprecedented chaos over various issues, culminating in the suspension of 146 MPs from both Houses. While most suspensions expired with the prorogation of the session on December 29, the 14 remaining cases, including the 11 in Rajya Sabha, were left hanging.

The opposition had been vocally demanding the revocation of the suspensions, arguing that they were disproportionate and undermined parliamentary democracy. Dhankhar’s decision, while not a full retraction of the breach of privilege finding, seems to acknowledge these concerns and pave the way for a more harmonious session.

With the suspensions lifted, observers hope for a less acrimonious Budget Session, allowing for constructive debate on crucial financial issues. However, the lingering tensions over the winter session’s events and the fate of the suspended Lok Sabha MPs could still pose challenges.

Overall, Dhankhar’s decision to revoke the suspensions marks a welcome step towards normalcy in Parliament. As the Budget Session approaches, it remains to be seen whether this gesture of conciliation will usher in a more productive and collaborative environment for India’s legislative branch.