Congress leader Jairam Ramesh on Sunday recalled how an unprecedented number of 146 MPs were suspended during the 2023 Winter Session of Parliament.
NEW DELHI — Congress leader Jairam Ramesh on Sunday recalled how an unprecedented number of 146 MPs were suspended during the 2023 Winter Session of Parliament and multiple significant laws were passed in the presence of minimal opposition, as he asserted that "history should not repeat itself".
The remarks assume significance as they come just before the final week of the ongoing Monsoon Session of Parliament during which key laws, including the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2026, are likely to be taken up.
"On December 13, 2023, when the Winter Session of Parliament was going on, two men jumped into the Lok Sabha from the Visitors Gallery, shouting slogans and releasing yellow smoke from canisters," Ramesh said in a post on X.
"Simultaneously two others set off coloured smoke canisters outside. It was a shocking and severe breach of security," he recalled.
"The entire Opposition repeatedly demanded a statement from the Union Home Minister. None was forthcoming. He remained silent as he is doing now on the brutalities inflicted by the Delhi Police on protesting youth last month," Ramesh said.
Between December 14, 2023, and December 21, 2023, an unprecedented number of 146 MPs -- 100 in the Lok Sabha and 46 in the Rajya Sabha -- were suspended, he pointed out.
Following these record suspensions, with minimal opposition presence during the remainder of the session, Parliament passed multiple significant pieces of legislation, the Congress leader said.
Citing examples, he said three criminal law reform bills were passed in the Lok Sabha on December 20 and in the Rajya Sabha on December 21.
The Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, replaced the Indian Penal Code, 1860; the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, replaced the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973; and the Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam, 2023, replaced the Indian Evidence Act, Ramesh pointed out.
He also recalled that the Chief Election Commissioner and Other Election Commissioners (Appointment, Conditions of Service and Term of Office) Bill was passed.
"History should not repeat itself," the former Union minister asserted.
The Congress on Friday issued a whip to its MPs in the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha, asking them to be present in their respective Houses on August 10, 11 and 12 as "very important" issues will be taken up for discussion.
The opposition party has also conveyed to all its INDIA bloc allies to ensure that their MPs remain present on all the three days, sources said.
The issuance of the whip came amid reports that the contentious FCRA Bill will be taken up for discussion and passage in Parliament next week. There is also talk of a Constitution amendment bill involving delimitation being considered by the government.
In his three-line whip, Ramesh, who is the chief whip of the Congress in the Rajya Sabha, said, "Very important issues will be taken up for discussion in the Rajya Sabha on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday i.e. 10th, 11th and 12th August, 2026."
"All Members of Congress Party in the Rajya Sabha are requested to kindly remain present in the House from 11:00 AM onwards till the adjournment of the House on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday i.e. 10th, 11th and 12th August, 2026, without fail and support the party stand. This may be treated as most important," Ramesh said.
An identical whip was issued in the Lok Sabha by the Congress's chief whip, K Suresh, to the party members.
The FCRA Bill requires a simple majority but the Constitution amendment bill requires a two-thirds majority.