Eight MPs Suspended as Lok Sabha Erupts Over National Security and Trade Row

​The hallowed halls of the Lok Sabha witnessed a storm this week that ended in the suspension of eight Opposition Members of Parliament. What began as a debate on the Motion of Thanks to the President’s Address quickly spiraled into a heated confrontation over national security and international trade. By the end of the day on February 3, 2026, the House was adjourned, and the benches of the Opposition were thinner by eight prominent voices.

​

The Spark that Ignited the Fire

​The tension had been building for two days. At the heart of the conflict was Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi and his insistence on discussing excerpts from an unpublished memoir. This memoir, written by former Army Chief General M.M. Naravane, allegedly contains sensitive details regarding the 2020 India-China border conflict in Eastern Ladakh.

​Rahul Gandhi attempted to quote from a magazine article that featured these excerpts. He argued that as the Leader of the Opposition, it was his duty to bring matters of national security to the floor, especially when they involved the Prime Minister’s decision-making during a crisis. However, the government and the Chair took a different view. They maintained that quoting from an unpublished, unauthorized book or a magazine article based on it violated parliamentary rules.

​The Debate Over Authentication

​On Tuesday morning, Rahul Gandhi arrived with what he called "authenticated" documents. In parliamentary terms, authentication means a member signs a document, taking full responsibility for its accuracy. Gandhi believed this would clear the path for him to speak. He told the House that the article spoke about the Prime Minister’s reaction during the border standoff and that the public had a right to know the truth.

​The Chair, however, stood by a previous ruling. The argument from the treasury benches was that Rule 349 and Rule 353 prohibit the use of "random material" or unverified texts that could affect national security or the reputation of individuals. When the Chair called upon another member to speak, bypassing Gandhi, the frustration among the Opposition benches reached a boiling point.

​A Scene of Unprecedented Chaos

​As a member of the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) began his speech, the Opposition erupted. MPs from the Congress and the CPI(M) rushed into the Well of the House. This area, directly in front of the Speaker’s desk, is meant to be off-limits, but it has often become a stage for protest.

​Witnesses described a scene of absolute bedlam. Some members were seen tearing up parliamentary papers and flinging them toward the Chair. One MP even reportedly climbed onto the table of the Secretary-General. Slogans filled the air, and the business of the House came to a complete standstill. The Presiding Officer, visibly upset by the conduct, adjourned the session multiple times, but the mood did not settle.

​The Decision to Suspend

​When the House reassembled at 3:00 PM, the government moved swiftly. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju introduced a resolution to suspend the offending members. He cited "gross misconduct" and an "utter disregard for the authority of the Chair."

​The resolution was passed by a voice vote amid continued shouting. The eight MPs suspended for the remainder of the Budget Session include:

• ​Amrinder Singh Raja Warring (Congress)

• ​Gurjeet Singh Aujla (Congress)

• ​Hibi Eden (Congress)

• ​Dean Kuriakose (Congress)

• ​Prashant Padole (Congress)

• ​Kiren Kumar Reddy (Congress)

• ​Manickam Tagore (Congress)

• ​S. Venkatesan (CPI-M)

​These members will now be barred from participating in the rest of the session, which is scheduled to run until early April.

​Beyond China The Trade Deal Tension

​While the India-China border issue was the primary trigger, it wasn't the only grievance. The Opposition has been equally vocal about a recently announced India-US trade deal. Rahul Gandhi has labeled the deal a "sell-out," claiming that the Prime Minister acted under pressure from the US administration.

​The timing of the deal, occurring alongside the controversy over the Army Chief’s memoir, has created a "perfect storm" of political friction. The Opposition claims the government is using the suspension of MPs as a tactic to avoid answering tough questions about both the border and the economy.

​The Argument for Parliamentary Decorum

​From the government’s perspective, the suspension was a necessary step to protect the dignity of the institution. Ministers argued that while protest is a right, throwing papers at the Chair and climbing on tables crosses a red line. They pointed out that the House belongs to all citizens and cannot be held hostage by a few individuals who refuse to follow the rules of procedure.

​Speaker in the Chair Dilip Saikia noted that the Opposition has every right to raise issues, but continuous disruption goes against long-standing parliamentary traditions. The government maintains that Rahul Gandhi was given ample time to speak on the President's address but chose to fixate on a topic that had already been ruled out of order.

​The Opposition’s View A Blot on Democracy

​Following the suspension, Rahul Gandhi led a protest outside the Parliament building. He wrote a formal letter to Speaker Om Birla, describing the refusal to let him speak as a "blot on democracy." He argued that the term "permission" should not be used to stifle the Leader of the Opposition when discussing matters of national importance.

​The suspended MPs and their colleagues argue that they are being punished for doing their jobs. They claim that by authenticating the documents, they had followed the rules, and the subsequent "gagging" was a sign that the government is "rattled" by the revelations in the memoir.

​What Happens Next?

​The suspension of eight MPs is a significant blow to the Opposition’s strength in the House for the remainder of the Budget Session. With several key bills and the reply of the Prime Minister to the Motion of Thanks still on the agenda, the atmosphere is expected to remain high-strung.

​History shows that such mass suspensions often lead to further boycotts and a complete breakdown of communication between the ruling party and the Opposition. Whether the two sides can find a middle ground to allow the House to function remains to be seen. For now, the "Temple of Democracy" stands divided, with empty seats and echoing slogans serving as a reminder of the deep political fractures in the country.

​The Human Element of the Protest

​Beyond the rules and the resolutions, there is a human side to this story. The suspended MPs are representatives of millions of voters. When they are barred from the House, those voters lose their voice in the national budget and legislative process. On the other hand, the officials and staff who work in the Lok Sabha are forced to navigate an increasingly hostile environment where physical objects are thrown and decorum is a distant memory.

​As the Budget Session continues, the focus will likely shift from the papers on the floor to the policies in the books. But the image of flying papers and the sight of empty Opposition benches will linger as a symbol of one of the most chaotic weeks in recent parliamentary history.