Oppn MPs walk out of RS, LS to protest suspension of 12 MPs

‘Apology for what? For raising the issues of the people in Parliament? Never,’ tweets Rahul Gandhi

NEW DELHI: The Congress-led Opposition on Tuesday walked out from both Houses of Parliament to protest the suspension of 12 Opposition MPs from the Rajya Sabha and boycotted the day’s proceedings in the Upper House after the chairman asked them to apologise.

After the walkout, they demonstrated in front of Mahatma Gandhi’s statue inside Parliament complex, raising slogans against the government and its “dictatorial attitude” and saying they would continue to raise their voices on the matter.

The Trinamool Congress, however, maintaining its own individual stand, has decided to support the Opposition parties.

The party has also decided to protest on the floor of the House. On Tuesday, senior Rajya Sabha member Derek O’Brien claimed: “It is incumbent BJP’s will that opposition boycott the session, and they pass all the pending Bills without discussing them. None will raise voice.”

At the same time, he rubbished all speculations of differences among the political parties, saying that all likeminded parties (including Congress) want a discussion over the same issues — Women’s Reservation Bill, the new amendment on BSF’s jurisdiction, Pegasus, disinvestment, ways to overcome Covid crisis etc. “We all want to stop the fascist BJP from bulldozing the democracy,” O’Brien said.