Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan on Monday suspended 25 MPs of the Congress for “persistently, wilfully obstructing the House”.
While party President Sonia Gandhi termed the suspension a “black day” for democracy, BJP reminded the Congress that it had also used the tool of suspension to silence Opposition members.
The incident is likely to vitiate further the atmosphere in both Houses.
The suspended MPs cannot attend House proceedings for five consecutive sittings, Mahajan ruled. She said later that she never wanted to take such a step. She added that she has been warning the protesting members against their behaviour in the House.
The Lower House was adjourned for the day soon after the members were suspended under Rule 374 (A). However, several Congress MPs staged a sit-in in the House even after the adjournment.
All suspended members were protesting against the government’s refusal to accede to Opposition demand over the LalitGate scandal and the Vyapam scam. They shouted “first resign and then debate”, after which some members rushed to the well of the House showing placards.
The MPs have been demanding the resignation of External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje and Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan. The 25 suspended MPs included Gaurav Gogoi, Sushmita Dev, Deepender Hooda, Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, BN Chandrappa, Abhijit Mukherjee, Santokh Chaudhary, Abu Hasem Khan Choudhury, R Dhruvanarayana, Ninong Ering, BV Nayak and Suresh Kodikunnil.
The Congress now has a strength of 19 out of its 44 elected parliamentarians in the Lower House.
Earlier in the day, Mahajan had named several Congress MPs for displaying showing placards and causing “grave disorder”. She had cautioned them stating that showing of placards was in violation of the rules of the House.
The Speaker’s decision seemed to have united a shaky Opposition: Congress President Sonia Gandhi was seen holding discussions with some Opposition leaders after the House was adjourned. Later, Trinamool Congress said it would boycott Lok Sabha for the next five days. The AAP has also protested against the Speaker’s ruling.