Bhubaneswar: As part of nation-wide protest, the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) bloc leaders in Odisha staged demonstration here at Lower PMG today.
Senior opposition leaders, including Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee (OPCC) President Sarat Pattanayak, Ex-PCC Chiefs, Prasad Harichandan and Jayadev Jena, MLA Suresh Routray, CPI’s Ramakrushna Panda, SP’s State President Rabi Behera, and others participated in the protest rally.
Under the banner ‘defeat authoritarian-communal Modi government- save democracy’, the leaders took out a rally from Master Canteen square towards the state Assembly in protest against the recent suspension of 146 opposition MPs from Parliament’s Winter Session, which was adjourned sine die on Thursday.
Holding posters and placards, the opposition leaders raised slogans against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah.
Shri Pattanayak said all the leaders of INDIA parties have come together as democracy is under threat under the BJP government.
“Our Constitution is the soul of Indian democracy. If the Modi government will suspend all opposition MPs, there will be no democracy in the Parliament. It is like murder of Indian democracy,” he said.
The central government has suppressed the voice of opposition MPs, who were elected by lakhs of people in the country, by suspending them from the Parliament, the Congress leader said, adding, “We appeal to the people of our country and Odisha to remove the dictatorship of Modi government in upcoming election.”
The suspension of 146 opposition MPs in Parliament is an attack on Indian democracy, said Shri Panda.
Opposition members were suspended from the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha for demanding answers from Home Minister Amit Shah on the December 13 Parliament security breach issue, the CPI leader said, adding, “Why the incident took place at the Parliament, where important personalities of India including Prime Minister, Vice-President and Home Minister are seating?”