AMN
Twenty five Congress Lok Sabha MPs have been suspended for five consecutive days for disrupting proceedings in the House from today. The suspended leaders were protesting against the government over the Lalit Modi and Vyapam scams. They include Sushmita Dev and Gaurav Gogoi, who have been charged for displaying placards in Lok Sabha.
Taking tough action against the agitating members, Speaker Sumitra Mahajan said they were suspended for persistently and wilfully obstructing the House. She ruled that the ‘named’ members will not attend five sittings of the House. Later talking to media, Ms Mahajan said everyone has to go by the rules.
The MPs, however, refused to vacate the Well of the House, forcing its adjournment for the day. The move is set to further intensify the logjam in Parliament, which has not seen any business for the last 10 days.
Congress has termed the day as a black day for democracy, saying the suspension is the most undemocratic step. Talking to media this evening, senior party leader Mallikarjun Kharge said showing placards is not unprecedented. He said the present Speaker herself had protested in the House when she was in Opposition.
NCP, TMC, Left Parties, JD(U) and Aam Admi Party have decided to boycott the Lok Sabha proceedings for five days to express solidarity with the suspended Congress members. The remaining members of the Congress will also not attend the proceedings of the House.
Earlier, Home Minister Rajnath Singh said the External Affairs Minister and Chief Ministers of Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh need not resign as there are no FIR registered and no prima facie case against them. Mallikarjuna Kharge of the Congress said no one can intimidate the members. He alleged that the ruling party members have been threatening his party colleagues to withdraw the demand for resignation of top BJP leaders. However, Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Rajiv Pratap Rudy said he only sought cooperation from the opposition Congress.