The Indian Parliament witnessed intense protests as an additional 49 opposition Members of Parliament (MPs) were suspended, bringing the total number of barred lawmakers to 141. These MPs were protesting against a security breach in parliament that occurred last week. The opposition, on Monday, accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government of undermining democracy as a record 78 MPs were suspended in a single day. The majority of the suspended lawmakers face exclusion for the remainder of the winter session, concluding on Friday, while approximately two dozen may face extended suspensions pending the parliament's privileges committee decision.
A man described as a "key accused" in the recent security breach at the Indian parliament has been apprehended by the police. Lalit Jha, a teacher, surrendered to authorities in Delhi on Thursday but has not yet been presented in court. Four others, arrested the day before, face charges under a strict anti-terror law and have been remanded to police custody for a week.
India's parliamentary landscape has witnessed a significant development as Mahua Moitra, an opposition lawmaker, faced expulsion over allegations of accepting bribes in exchange for raising questions. Moitra, a prominent figure known for her vocal criticism of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), staunchly denies the accusations leveled against her. The expulsion, which transpired after a resolution passed in the Lok Sabha, the lower house of parliament, has sparked a wave of controversy and calls for a more thorough examination of the case.