Democracy is being murdered: Sonia Gandhi on suspension of MPs

Congress leaders led by Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi assembled in protest at the Gandhi statue inside the Parliament

Congress leaders, led by party chief Sonia Gandhi and vice-president Rahul Gandhi, assembled at the Gandhi statue inside the Parliament today to protest the suspension of 25 Congress MPs. 

Sonia Gandhi  declared that the suspension of her party MPs was against the spirit of democracy.

"It is the government's duty to run the Parliament. But the way our members have been suspended, it is anti-democratic and democracy is being murdered," said Gandhi.

Meanwhile, former prime minister Dr. Manmohan Singh former defence minister A K Antony, senior leaders Ghulam Nabi Azad and Anand Sharma also took part in the protest sporting black bands.

Singh said that suspending the members of the Congress is no way of resolving the issues.

"For the Parliament to run smoothly, it is the responsibility of the government to take into account concerns we have been raising," he added.

The Trinamool Congress (TMC), which was earlier slated to take part in the protests, refrained from participating in the demonstration.

Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan yesterday suspended 25 Congress MPs over disruption of parliamentary proceedings under ruling 374 (A), leading to outrage from various quarters.