Congress protests suspension of MPs in Rajya Sabha, adjourns House

Agitated over the suspension of 25 of its members in Lok Sabha, an aggressive Congress today launched a vociferous protest in Rajya Sabha against the government's "dictatorial" attitude, forcing its adjournment for almost an hour soon after it assembled for the day.

Over two dozen members of the Congress, mostly wearing black arm bands and carrying placards, rushed to the Well of the House raising anti-government slogans as soon as the House met. One of them also waved a black cloth but was sternly asked not to do so by Deputy Chairman P J Kurien.

'Modi teri taanashahi nahi chalegi' (Prime Minister, your dictatorial attitude won't be allowed), 'Chuppi todo, Modi ji' (Break your silence, Modi ji) and 'We want justice' were among the slogans the Congress members shouted.

The members of parliament also raised their demands relating to the Vyapam and Lalit Modi issues.

Among those seen in the well of the House were Congress MPs like Arvind Gowda, Madhusudan Mistry, Satyavrat Chaturvedi, Pramod Tewari, Raj Babbar, former ministers Renuka Chaudhary, Jairam Ramesh and Kumari Selja.

Kurien sought to bring some order chiding the members for the "height of indiscipline". However, as the opposition members were not in a mood to relent, Kurien adjourned the House till noon within a few minutes after it had assembled.

The protests came a day after 25 Congress members were suspended for five days by the Lok Sabha Speaker for causing disruptions, setting the stage for escalation in confrontation as nine opposition parties decided to boycott the Lower House to express solidarity.