Opposition stages protest against Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti's controversial remarks

NEW DELHI: Sporting black bands on their mouths, members of Opposition parties led by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi today staged a silent protest outside Parliament demanding sacking of Minister Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti for her controversial remarks.

The protest saw Congress, TMC, SP, AAP, RJD and CPI come together against the government.

CPI(M) was also invited to join the protest held just before the days proceedings in Parliament began at 11 AM.

Gandhi said the protest was being held against the government's attitude of curbing the Opposition's voice.

"The government does not want democratic expression and democratic voice," Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi said.

AAP MP Bhagwant Mann said the protest is against the government's attempts to muzzle opposition's voice.

"We want our voice to be heard in Parliament, Mann said after the protest.

"It has sent a strong message that opposition is united and when it comes to issue of nation's integrity we will make our voice heard," said Gaurav Gogoi, who has participated in the protest.

While CPI(M) stayed away from the protest citing the presence of its arch-rival TMC, other opposition parties such as AAP, CPI, RJD and SP came together to condemn the controversial remarks of the minister.

Though the party has been consistently demanding that Jyoti should quit, it will not stage a protest along with TMC, CPI(M) Rajya Sabha MP Ritabrata Banerjee said.

"We are for the resignation of Niranjan Jyoti. But that does not mean that we will sit and give slogans with an MP, who was saying in public that I will send my boys to get the girls of CPI(M) raped. So in no way, CPI(M) will share any stage with TMC," Banerjee said.