"We are all saddened by state of democracy in the country": DMK MP T Siva

New Delhi: DMK MP T Siva on Friday said that the state of democracy in the state was saddening.
Speaking to the media, Siva said "We are all saddened by the state of democracy in our country. At least we have got a chance to speak before you. Whatever happened in the Upper House today was not telecast properly... Whatever the members of the ruling party spoke was telecast. And on all other occasions, even when the Leader of the Opposition was speaking, he was not shown. Only the chair was shown.."
Further he said that the Leader of the Opposition was not being given respect according to his age and was not being heard.
"The Leader of the Opposition, who is equal to the Leader of the House, is not given the slightest respect according to his age. He is suffering, he is crying, he is shouting, but he is not being heard at all... The Leader of the Opposition is being insulted, the Opposition parties are not being given a chance to speak and the ruling party is free to say whatever it wants...All our shouting has gone in vain. The picture being shown outside that the Opposition is being given chances to speak.."
Earlier today, Rajya Sabha member and JMM MP Mahua Maji blamed the BJP party for "suppressing the Opposition's voice" in the Parliament.
She claimed that the government frequently disparages farmers and Dalits and even skipped to invite the First Dalit President of India to the inauguration of the New Parliament. She added that the ruling party forbids parliament from discussing the Adani issue.
"The way the ruling party is suppressing the voice of the opposition shows that they are moving towards autocracy. They are insulting the leader of the opposition and opposition leaders are not being allowed to speak in Parliament...The government is constantly insulting Dalits, farmers...The President of India, who is a Dalit, was not invited to the inauguration of the new Parliament...The leader of the Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge, who is a Dalit, is not allowed to speak in Parliament...The government does not want to discuss the Adani issue.," she said.
Rajya Sabha proceedings were adjourned until December 16 after a war of words erupted between Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar and Leader of Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge amid a row over the no-confidence motion against the Chairman.
The RS Chairman lambasted the opposition and said that he would "sacrifice his life for the country" and that the opposition was insulting the constitution.