Opposition members walkout of Lok Sabha protesting suspension of Congress MPs

New Delhi, Aug 7: The suspension of 25 Congress members today again led to protests by MPs from the Left, SP and RJD, who raised slogans and staged a walkout of the Lok Sabha proceedings.

Soon after the House assembled, SP member Dharmendra Yadav and RJD member Jai Prakash Narayan Yadav raised slogans seeking revokation of suspension of the Congress members for five days.

They were joined by members of the Left parties. Speaker Sumitra Mahajan pointed out that the members have not given any written notice, but they could raise the issue during Zero Hour.

As opposition members continued raising slogans from their seats, Parliamentary Affairs Minister M Venkaiah Naidu said if those shouting slogans can guarantee that those suspended will cooperate with the Speaker in smooth functioning of the House and their "behaviour" will be up to the expectations, then only they should raise the issue.

He said he was happy that those boycotting the proceedings have understood the "public response" to their move.

At this stage, the opposition members staged a walkout. The minister also said the government wants everyone to be a partner in development by returning to the House and it would have no problem if due process was followed in revocation of the suspension.

The practice, he said, is that few of the suspended members meet the Speaker and assure her of their coopreation. He said while Speaker names (identifying those involved in disorderly conduct) the members, the revokation of suspension can be decided by the House.

Expelled RJD member Pappu Yadav was one of the only two opposition members sitting in the first set of opposition benches.

The other one was P Venugopal of AIADMK. Yadav later raised the issue of "deteriorating" law and order situation in Bihar.

PTI