7 Congress MPs suspended for rest of Budget session for unruly behaviour

The seven MPs include Gaurav Gogoi, TN Prathapan, Dean Kuriakose, Benny Behananm, Manickam Tagore, Rajmohan Unnithan and Gurjeet Singh Aujla.

There has been hardly any business in the second leg of the Budget session which began on Monday.

Though the government has agreed to discuss the Delhi violence after festival Holi, which has claimed 47 lives (as per last update), the Opposition wants to discuss it immediately.

Reacting to his suspension, Gogoi tweeted, Suspend me, but please discuss Delhi riots tomorrow. Show your accountability towards the very people who voted for you. No matter the number my party @INCIndia derives it’s strength from our commitment towards Bharat Mata and we will continue to seek justice from PM Modi."

Hitting out at Gogoi, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi said snatching papers from the Speaker's table is an "utmost disrespect to the Chair".

Congress Lok Sabha leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury accused the government of motivating Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla's decision.

"Our seven MPs have been suspended at one go, that too not by the Speaker but by a Chairman. This is the dictatorship of the government. The decision to suspend the MPs have not been taken by the Speaker but by the government," Chowdhury said.

At least 47 people including an Intelligence Bureau (IB) officer have died and over 300 injured in the violence which initially had started between the protesters and supporters of the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) but later took a communal spin.

The violence went on for 48 hours between Feb 24 and 25.

The Congress has been demanding the resignation of Union Home Minister Amit Shah after the Delhi Police's role in the violence came under the scanner. 

The different opposition parties have individually protested against the Delhi violence both inside and outside Parliament and demanded an immediate discussion on the matter in the Houses. 

(Image Credit: Congress Twitter)