Congress seeks Parliamentary probe into Ahamed's death

Led by their leader Rahul Gandhi, Congress MPs on Monday demanded a Parliamentary probe into the death of IUML leader and Kerala MP E. Ahamed.

The MPs demonstrated in the Parliament complex, accusing the Modi government of hushing up the veteran MP's death in a hospital ahead of the annual union budget's presentation on February 1.

Holding a placard that read "We are Ahamed Sahib", Gandhi along with Congress colleagues staged the protest near the Mahatma Gandhi statue that faces Parliament.

Former union minister and Indian Union Muslim League leader Ahamed was declared dead hours before Finance Minister Arun Jaitley presented the union budget in Parliament on February 1.

The opposition has said that he died a day earlier but the Modi government kept the news under wraps to ensure that the budget presentation was not disrupted.

"Ahamed was unnecessarily kept on life support when he had already expired. They wanted to hide this fact, they hushed up his death. That is why we are demanding a Parliamentary Committee to be formed to probe the matter," Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge told the media.

"Ahamed was one of the most respected figures in Parliament. If this government has no respect for such a person, then what can be said. Only a Parliamentary probe can bring out the truth," he added.

Opposition parties also demonstrated inside Parliament over the issue, leading to the Lok Sabha's adjournment till noon.

--IANS

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