Led by Sonia, Cong MPs sit on dharna in Parliament complex

SP and RJD also joined the Congress MPs in their protest; Mulayam Singh calls suspension 'unlawful'

Led by Sonia Gandhi, Congress MPs sat on a dharna inside Parliament House complex today in protest against suspension of its 25 members from Lok Sabha, as the party asserted there will be no let up in its demand for resignation of BJP leaders even if all its members are "thrown" out of Parliament.

The Congress president denounced Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan's decision as "murder of democracy" while party vice president Rahul Gandhi said the prime opposition party will continue to seek the resignation of Union Minister Sushma Swaraj and BJP chief ministers Vasundhara Raje and Shivraj Singh Chouhan.

"It is government's duty to run the parliament. Suspension of our MPs is anti-democratic. Democracy is being murdered," said Sonia, as she raised slogans along with top party leaders like Ghulam Nabi Azad, A K Antony and Anand Sharma against the Speaker's decision. Former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh was also present.

"We will not budge from our stand and there will be no let up in out pressure (on government) as far as issues of corruption, Sushma Swaraj and Vyapam are concerned," Rahul told reporters.

Hitting out at the government, Rahul said it is not the Congress Party that is asking for resignations, it is the people of the country who are asking for resignations.

"Vyapam scam has destroyed future of 1000s in MP. There is clear evidence that Sushmaji has broken the law. Clear evidence that Rajasthan CM (Vasundhara Raje) directly involved financially with Lalit Modi," he added.

"Down with Narendra Modi. We want justice. Shame on you dictator," were the slogans shouted by Congress members who sat on a dharna near the Mahatma gandhi statue. The members wore black arm bands.

Leaders from the other opposition parties like SP and RJD also joined the Congress MPs in their protest.

SP chief Mulayam Singh Yadav denounced the Lok Sabha speaker's decision as 'unlawful',  and asked her to reconsider the suspensions.