MUMBAI, India - The Indian Parliament witnessed a week of turbulence as a crime bill and other legislation were voted on, despite the absence of numerous opposition legislators. The political unrest began with smoke bomb incidents at Parliament and the subsequent suspension of over 140 opposition lawmakers.

During a session on December 13, the Legislature faced disruption when two protesters leaped from the visitors' gallery, releasing yellow smoke canisters and chanting anti-government slogans. Simultaneously, outside the chambers, two more protestors ignited smoke canisters and voiced similar slogans. The protesters, along with their two accomplices, were arrested by the police.

On the same day, an opposition member shared a tweet alleging that the protesters had entered Parliament with an invitation from a legislator affiliated with the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). The BJP has not yet responded to this accusation. However, Amit Malviya, one of its leaders, claimed that the intruders were "linked" to the opposition Indian National Congress party and the communist movement.

Amidst the turmoil, opposition legislators have demanded explanations from Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah regarding how the protesters managed to breach the Parliament building. Their demand holds greater significance as the incident occurred on the anniversary of a deadly 2001 attack on Parliament. Nevertheless, both the prime minister and Shah, considered the second most powerful person in the Indian government, have remained silent on the matter.

In response to the disruptions, the speakers of the two chambers of Parliament suspended 143 members of the opposition for partaking in protests that violated parliamentary norms. Such large-scale suspensions are deemed unprecedented. Reports indicate that the previous record was set in 1989 when 63 legislators were suspended for one week.

On Wednesday, the suspensions prevented nearly a quarter of all elected legislators from participating in debates or casting votes on several crucial bills. Nonetheless, by the end of the day, the lower house of Parliament managed to approve bills regarding criminal justice reform and telecom services.

As the remaining sittings of Parliament for 2023 draw to a close this week, the suspended legislators will be unable to participate in the forthcoming sessions.

Commenting on the situation, Jagdeep Chhokar, founder of the Association for Democratic Reforms, emphasized that although there is no rule preventing the ruling party from passing laws in the absence of opposition, it is the moral responsibility of the ruling party to ensure opposition presence to represent the entire country.

An analysis conducted by news website The Wire revealed that the suspended legislators collectively represented nearly 140 million voters.

Critics argue that under Prime Minister Modi, India has witnessed a significant erosion of democracy, with allegations of press suppression, judicial intimidation, and the persecution of minority groups. Since 2021, the U.S.-based Freedom House has downgraded India's democracy from "free" to "partly free."

"India is at a dangerous, delicate stage," comments Chhokar. "There is a lack of maturity on both sides, as both the government and the opposition blame each other for initiating the unrest. However, this is not a schoolyard fight; it is the parliament. We can no longer claim to be a vibrant democracy, even if we are the largest."

The recent events in the Indian Parliament have brought into focus the ongoing political strife and the challenges faced by the nation's democratic system.