Opposition continues protest but takes part in Rajya Sabha proceedings

The opposition on Thursday protested suspension of 12 Rajya Sabha MPs without disrupting House proceedings. They staged a walkout - Congress members first, followed by AITC, a few minutes later - on the issue. The deadlock over revocation of suspension, however, remained unresolved.

Later, opposition MPs participated in House discussions but sported black bands in solidarity with suspended members. The suspended members, meanwhile, moved their protest venue from the Mahatma Gandhi statue to the portico of the main entrance following rains.

While the Zero Hour could not be conducted and Rajya Sabha Chairman Venkaiah Naidu adjourned the House after making his statement and allowing a few members to make special mentions, the Question Hour was held smoothly. After lunch, the Dam Safety Bill, 2019, was taken up for discussion and passage. After a debate, in which opposition members also spoke, the bill was passed.


Opposition, however, has stuck to the stand that since the suspensions were undemocratic, the members would not tender apologies or express regret. Naidu justified the suspension on the grounds it has been done several times since 1962.