14 MPs suspended from the Parliament for alleged misconduct

14 Opposition MPs were suspended from the Lok Sabha and 1 from the Rajya Sabha on Thursday owing to an Opposition uproar in the House, disrupting the proceedings following the massive security breach that rattled the lower house on Wednesday.

The number of suspended MPs was later decreased to 13 as DMK MP SR Parthiban's name was on the list. Interestingly, the DMK MP was absent from the House because of ill health. Eventually, the Centre clarified that SR Parthiban's suspension was a "case of mistaken identity," and his name was withdrawn from the list.

"I was not well, so I could not attend the Parliament today. I mentioned it to my party leaders and I will write about it to the Lok Sabha speaker. This is a huge insult to me," said DMK MP SR Parthiban who could not attend the Parliament because of cold and fever.

The suspension trail began with TMC MP Derek O'Brien from the Rajya Sabha and then, MPs Benny Behanan, VK Sreekandan, Mohammad Jawed, PR Natarajan, Kanimozhi Karunanidhi, K Subbarayan, SR Parthiban, S Venkatesan, Manickam Tagore, Dean Kuriakose, Hibi Eden, TN. Prathapan, Jothimani Sennimalai, and Ramya Haridas were suspended from the Rajya Sabha for the remainder of the winter session of the Parliament for "unruly" behavior.

The suspended MPs demanded a statement from Prime Minister Narendra Modi or Union Home Minister Amit Shah over the security breach incident. Some have even questioned Pratap Simha's role in the Parliament scare as the visitors' passes recovered from the intruders were issued at the behest of the BJP MP.

"We have four demands from the ruling government: 1) The PM must take the responsibility and answer in Parliament. 2) The Home Minister must resign. 3) A comprehensive and detailed discussion on the security of the Parliament and the country. 4) Strict punishment against BJP MP Pratap Simha who gave passes to the intruders. The government cannot threaten us. Our protest will continue!" asserted Congress MP Jothimani who was suspended from the Parliament today. Suspended Congress MP TN Prathapan asserted that their protest inside and outside the house would continue unless the Prime Minister or Home Minister addressed the issue. "The PM and the HM should've presented a detailed report before Parliament. We will continue to protest inside and outside the Parliament," said the Congress MP.

The suspension of the MPs was condemned by several members of the Opposition, alleging that it was a deliberate attempt to muzzle the voices of the Opposition. "The suspension of 15 opposition MPs from the Parliament because they wanted a discussion on the grave security breach is SUSPENSION OF DEMOCRACY! What is their crime? Is it a crime to urge the Union Home Minister to make a statement in the House? Is it a crime to want a discussion on the perilous security breach? Does it not invoke draconian shades of dictatorship, a hallmark of the present dispensation ?" said Congress MP Mallikarjun Kharge.

The proceedings of both houses were resumed amidst heightened tensions, a day after the massive security breach on Wednesday. Two individuals barged into the chamber of the Lok Sabha and one jumped into the house from the visitors' gallery, releasing smoke canisters during the Zero Hour.

As per police reports, at least six individuals, identified as Sagar Sharma, D Manoranjan, Neelam Devi, Amol Shinde, and Vicky Sharma, were involved in the security scare both inside and outside Parliament. Four were arrested for deploying smoke canisters inside the House and outside the Parliament, while Vicky and his wife were detained for sheltering them in their Gurgaon home. A sixth person, Lalit Jha is currently absconding.

The four intruders who deployed smoke canisters are facing charges under the stringent Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, along with relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code. The six individuals in custody, including Vicky Sharma's wife, are being interrogated by Delhi Police's anti-terror cell.

In the meantime, security measures in the new parliament building have been tightened. A temporary ban on visitors has been placed. Restrictions on non-essential personnel, including the media have been revised. Seven Lok Sabha staff members have also been suspended in connection to the security breach.