Democracy being murdered, says Sonia Gandhi on suspension of 25 Congress MPs
NEW DELHI: Congress members from both houses, led by party president Sonia Gandhi and vice president Rahul Gandhi wore black bands, on Tuesday to protest the suspension of 25 MPs of the party by Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan. Rajya Sabha witnessed disruption again today. It was adjourned within minutes of meeting for the day.
Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi justifies disruption of the Parliament over Lalitgate and Vyapam scam, says the country is demanding the resignations of Sushma Swaraj, Vasundhara Raje and Shivraj Singh Chouhan and not the Congress.
Hitting out at the Modi government, Rahul says, “What has been done with Congress MPs, is being done across India with different institutions like the FTII and farmers.”
Congress president Sonia Gandhi brands the decision of suspension of 25 Congress parliamentarians a black day for democracy.“It is the duty of the government to ensure functioning of the Parliament, but the way they (govt) suspended Congress MPs it is anti democratic,” says Sonia, adding that the democracy is being murdered.
Congress leader Rita Bhauguna Joshi leads protest in Lucknow against suspension of party MPs from Lok Sabha.The protestors were seen carrying placards and shouted slogans denouncing the BJP-led Government at the Centre.
As the Rajya Sabha convened for the day at 11:00 am, it was adjourned within five minutes till 12 noon, as opposition create huge uproar over suspension of 25 Congress Lok Sabha MPs.
Giving details about the BJP parliamentary meet, Union Minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi says the party has unanimously decided that neither External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj nor Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje and Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister will tender resignation.
While expressing solidarity with the Congress, Opposition parties Rashtriya Janata Dal, Nationalist Congress Party and Samajwadi Party participate in Congress protest at Gandhi statue in Parliament over suspension of 25 Congress Lok Sabha members.
BJP leader Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi confirms a resolution against Congress’s politics of negativity was unanimously passed in BJP Parliamentary party meet held earlier today.The resolution was introduced by Union Minister and senior BJP leader Ravi Shankar Prasad.
Congress president Sonia Gandhi and other big leaders Rahul Gandhi, Manmohan Singh, AK Antony, Ghulam Nabi Azad protest against the government outside the Parliament.The Congress top leaders are protesting against the suspension of 25 party members in Lok Sabha for causing disruptions.
Besides, the top leadership Congress leaders Ghulam Nabi Azad, Ambika Soni, Anand Sharma including string of other leaders take part in the protest.The Congress MPs wear seen wearing black arm bands in a mark of protest against suspension of party colleagues.
The Congress and some opposition party members stage a protest at the Gandhi statue in the Parliament premises today. The protest is being held against the decision of Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Majajan’s decision of suspending 25 of of the 44 Congress members for causing repeated disruptions.
In a jolt for the Congress, Trinamool Congress MP Sudip Bandyopadhyay says his party will not participate in the Congress-led protest against suspension of 25 Congress Lok Sabha MPs for causing disruptions.
According to news agency ANI, Congress MPs from both the Houses will protest against the Lok Sabha Speaker’s decision of suspending 25 party MPs for “persistently, wilfully obstructing” the House by displaying placards and shouting slogans.
The Congress leaders will stage a protest in the Parliament premises from 10:15 am to 11:00 am.Commenting on the suspension of his party colleagues, Congress leader BK Hariprasad says the Parliament doesn’t belongs to the government, but to MPs.
Terming the suspension of 25 Congress as a black day for democracy, Janata Dal (United) leader KC Tyagi says his party stands against the dictatorial attitude of the government.Tyagi further says that the JD(U) will obstruct the Rajya Sabha and boycott Lok Sabha.
BJP Parliamentary party meeting begins to strategise against Congress and some opposition parties’ decision to boycott the Lok Sabha for five days.Reports say that the ruling party is expected to pass a resolution against the Congress.
Union Minister and BJP leader Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi blames Congress for creating ruckus in the Parliament. Naqvi reiterates that the government is ready to debate any issue in Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha.
25 of Congress party’s 44 members in Lok Sabha were on Monday suspended for five days for causing disruptions, setting the stage for escalation in confrontation as nine opposition parties decided to boycott the House for these days to express solidarity with the suspended members.
Speaker Sumitra Mahajan took the decision, first such major action in the present Lok Sabha, against the members for “persistently, wilfully obstructing” the House by displaying placards and shouting slogans.
Congress president Sonia Gandhi branded the decision “a black day for India and democracy”, amid signs that the opposition planned to escalate its fight against the BJP-led government both in and outside Parliament.
At least 9 opposition parties TMC, NCP, CPI(M), CPI, RSP, Muslim League, RJD, JD(U) and AAP decided to boycott Lok Sabha for five days along with the suspended members.
The Trinamool Congress announced it would boycott the Lok Sabha for five days. The AAP followed suit but made it clear that it was doing so to denounce Mahajan’s decision and not in support of the Congress.
The Congress stuck to its demand for the resignation of External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and the chief ministers of BJP-ruled Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh, and the government rejecting the demand.
Contending that the members were “persistently, wilfully obstructing the House”, Mahajan invoked Rule 374(A) which provides for automatic suspension of a member for five days. Congress has 44 members in all.
The Rule 374(A) says: “Notwithstanding anything contained in rules 373 and 374, in the event of grave disorder occasioned by a member coming into the well of the House or abusing the Rules of the House persistently and wilfully obstructing its business by shouting slogans or otherwise, such member shall, on being named by the Speaker, stand automatically suspended from the service of the House for five consecutive sittings or the remainder of the session, whichever is less.”
The Lok Sabha Speaker said she had taken the decision only to ensure that the House runs properly.
