The Congress on Tuesday continued its protest in the Lok Sabha demanding the resignation of External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj.
As soon as the house met, Congress MPs along with those of the Samajwadi Party and the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) massed near the speaker's podium and raised slogans against the government.
The Congress has been demanding Sushma Swaraj's resignation over her alleged help to former IPL chief Lalit Modi, who is sought by the Enforcement Directorate.
The speaker repeatedly urged the members to maintain calm and let the house function. But the protesting members did not pay heed.
"This (the agitation) is sending a wrong signal to people," Mahajan said in an attempt to pacify them but to no avail.
The Samajwadi Party protest was in support of the notification of the caste census. When party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav began speaking, his MPs returned to their seats, deserting their Congress colleagues.
The house continued to function amid the din.
You’ve reached your limit of {{free_limit}} free articles this month.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
Already subscribed? Log in
Subscribe to read the full story →
Smart Quarterly
₹900
3 Months
₹300/Month
Smart Essential
₹2,700
1 Year
₹225/Month
Super Saver
₹3,900
2 Years
₹162/Month
Renews automatically, cancel anytime
Here’s what’s included in our digital subscription plans
Exclusive premium stories online
Over 30 premium stories daily, handpicked by our editors
Complimentary Access to The New York Times
News, Games, Cooking, Audio, Wirecutter & The Athletic
Business Standard Epaper
Digital replica of our daily newspaper — with options to read, save, and share
Curated Newsletters
Insights on markets, finance, politics, tech, and more delivered to your inbox
Market Analysis & Investment Insights
In-depth market analysis & insights with access to The Smart Investor
Archives
Repository of articles and publications dating back to 1997
Ad-free Reading
Uninterrupted reading experience with no advertisements
Seamless Access Across All Devices
Access Business Standard across devices — mobile, tablet, or PC, via web or app