Shatrughan Sinha, Hukum Singh unhappy over Congress MPs' suspension, BJP faces embarrassment

NEW DELHI: Government plans to reach out to the Congress with an offer that it would take up the issue of revoking the suspension of 25 Congress MPs with the Lok Sabha Speaker but there are apprehensions that this may still fail to break the Parliament deadlock this week as a section within the main opposition is of the view that the order has won it sympathy and paid political dividends.

Senior BJP ministers are likely to talk to the top leadership of the Congress before Parliament meets on Thursday and suggest that the government can request the Speaker to revoke the suspension. But BJP sources said this exercise may prove futile as Congress looks unrepentant and may not gain much in cooperating with the government.

Meanwhile, BJP faced some embarrassment on Wednesday with two of its MPs — Shatrughan Sinha and Hukum Singh — saying the suspensions should be reversed.

“Feel unhappy about the developments in the Parliament.. & the expulsion of 25 learned MP friends, including one who was not even present. Good sense must prevail... sooner the better,” Sinha said on twitter.

Later, when the tweet went viral, Sinha said, “Sincere request. Please don't go overboard in reaction. I have only expressed my sadness that things have come to such a pass that the honorable and respected Speaker had to take such a strong decision.” Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad refused to react to Sinha’s reaction.

Hukum Singh spoke his mind while participating in a debate on Supplementary Demands for Grants for Finance. He said the situation prevailing in the House was not a happy one as several seats were empty.

“We need to convince them (Opposition) to sit in the House and participate in the discussions. The government and the party (BJP) is trying-...but we should continue with our efforts,” he said.