4 Congress MPs’ Suspension Revoked, Lok Sabha Back To Business: 10 Points

In Lok Sabha, Opposition members protested against suspension of four Congress MPs. The protest in Upper House was by Shiv Sena MPs targeting the centre over the arrest of Sanjay Raut

New Delhi: Parliament today witnessed protests on several issues, both inside and outside the Houses. Both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha had to be adjourned soon after they met today owing to sloganeering and demonstrations by Opposition members.

Here are the 5 developments in Parliament today:

1. In Lok Sabha, Opposition members protested against the suspension of four Congress MPs. Manickam Tagore, Jothimani, Ramya Haridas and TN Prathapan have been suspended for the session after they waved placards during a protest in the House over price rise. The Lok Sabha was adjourned.
2. The protest in Upper House was by Shiv Sena MPs targeting the government over the arrest of Rajya Sabha member and senior party leader Sanjay Raut in a land scam case. Sena MP Priyanka Chaturvedi gave a suspension of business notice, seeking a discussion on “misuse of premier investigative agencies by the Central government for political agendas”.
3. Members of Left parties protested in front of the Mahatma Gandhi statue against the alleged destruction of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme. Holding placards, they raised slogans demanding a hike in wages under the scheme.
4. One of the many protests in parliament also originated in the treasury benches. BJP MPs from Bengal staged a demonstration in front of the Gandhi statue, demanding the resignation of West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee over alleged irregularities in a teacher recruitment scam.
5. A discussion on price rise is scheduled to be held in Lok Sabha this afternoon. The matter is to be raised by Sena’s Vinayak Raut and Congress’s Manish Tewari. A discussion on the same issue is scheduled in Rajya Sabha tomorrow.
6. Speaker Om Birla this morning said that such protests were lowering the dignity of the House. He later called a meeting of MPs from all parties to find a way out of the impasse in Lok Sabha.
7. Parliamentary Affairs minister Pralhad Joshi said the government is ready for a discussion of price rise in Lok Sabha today and in Rajya Sabha tomorrow. However, he said, the suspended MPs must apologise, and the Opposition must ensure no members bring placard into the House.
8. Union Minister Piyush Goyal said, “We want discussion and passage of laws in the House. We appeal to the Opposition to let the House function,” he said.
9. Responding to questions on the Enforcement Directorate’s action against Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut, whose arrest has sparked protest both inside and outside parliament, Mr Goyal said, “The government doesn’t interfere in the work of agencies. Law is taking its course.”
10. When Lok Sabha met after 2 pm, Congress’ leader in the House Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury demanded that the suspension of Congress MPs be revoked.