Congress, Trinamool stage walkout in Lok Sabha

New Delhi, Dec 10: Congress members on Thursday staged a walkout from the Lok Sabha demanding suspension of BJP member Virendra Singh unless he tendered an "unconditional apology" for making certain remarks against Congress leaders.

Trinamool Congress parliamentarians too staged a walkout, saying the government had not risen to the occasion to resolve the impasse in the house.

Raising the issue after Question Hour, Congress leader in the house, Mallikarjun Kharge, alleged that the government seemed to be supporting the BJP member.

"Unless you suspend (the member) or there is an unconditional apology, it will affect the dignity of members. Please suspend him," Kharge said. "If the government supports such people, we are not going to tolerate," Kharge added.

The Congress leader said there was intolerance during the present government's rule and it was indulging in political vendetta against its opponents. "We are walking out for the day," Kharge said.

The Congress on Wednesday complained to Speaker Sumitra Mahajan about Virendra Singh's remarks. The Speaker told the members on Thursday that she had expunged the objectionable part of Virendra Singh's remarks.

Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Rajiv Pratap Rudy responded to Kharge's remarks and said the house was discussing the drought situation for the past two days but the Congress members were continually laying siege to the speaker's podium.

He said Congress members had also raised slogans with their back to the prime minister but did not express any regret over their behaviour.

"How long will these double standards continue," he wondered.

Participating in a debate in the Lok Sabha on the drought situation in several parts of the country, parliamentarian Virendra Singh on Wednesday had challenged the Congress leaders on their knowledge about farmers in the country.

In his speech, he made certain remarks against Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Jyotiraditya Scindia to which the Congress members objected.

IANS