Congress, NCP, TMC boycott Lok Sabha; SP, Left, RJD walkout

NEW DELHI: A combative opposition today launched a united protest in Lok Sabha against the suspension of 25 Congress MPs, as members of the Congress, TMC and NCP boycotted the proceedings and those of the Left, SP and RJD walked out soon after the House met.

As soon as the House met for the day, members from Left parties, SP and RJD wanted to raise some issues but were disallowed by Speaker Sumitra Mahajan, who also rejected their adjournment notices and asked them to raise the issue during Zero Hour.

Soon thereafter when the House took up Question Hour, Jai Prakash Narayan Yadav (RJD) raised slogans like 'take back suspension'. He was soon joined by members from the Left and SP.

After shouting slogans from their benches, they staged a walkout. Those who walked out included SP supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav and P Karunakaran (CPI-M), leaving the opposition benches virtually deserted.

The front row of the opposition benches were completely empty, barring only one seat occupied by AIADMK leader P Venugopal.

Members of the Congress, NCP, JD(U) and Trinamool Congress and Muslim League, were not present in the House.

All these parties are boycotting the House for the next five days in solidarity with the 25 suspended Congress members.
As the walkout was being staged, five members of YSR Congress rushed to Well demanding special category status for Andhra Pradesh.

TRS members from Telangana stood on the aisles demanding a separate high court for their state.

Despite repeated efforts by the Speaker, they refused to return to their seats.

"Till yesterday, you were not there. Only today you have raised the issue...you have copies of the rule book. Still you want to break the rules," she said.

Home Minister Rajnath Singh assured the agitating members that the Centre will ensure justice for Andhra Pradesh.

"I assure you there will be no injustice...as for the demand for a separate High Court in Telangana, I spoke with the Law Minister (D V Sadananda Gowda). He is working on finding a solution," he said.

Despite the assurances, the USR Congress and TRS members continued with their protest.