The eight Members of Parliament (MP), who were suspended by Rajya Sabha President Venkaiah Naidu, have been protesting near the Gandhi statue on the premises.
His protest has continued since the moment Naidu ordered his suspension for rebellious behavior in the House during the passage of two farm bills on Sunday.
These MPs: Derek O’Brien and Dola Sen from the Trinamool Congress (TMC), Sanjay Singh from the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), Congressional leaders Rajeev Satav, Ripun Bora and Syed Nasir Hussain and KK Ragesh and Elamaram Kareem from the CPI (M ) – they are sitting with signs that say “We will fight for farmers”.
They were suspended for one week under Rule 256 (2).
West Bengal Chief Minister and Head of TMC Mamata Banerjee said she is in contact with MPs and the protest will continue into the night. “In Delhi too, the protest is happening under Gandhi Murti and it will continue all night, I am in contact with them,” Banerjee said in Howrah.
Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said on Monday that the conduct of opposition leaders on Sunday was “shameful” and “irresponsible”.
In declaring rule 256, Prasad said a member is expected to leave the House immediately if the president suspends him, but opposition leaders did not heed Naidu’s words.
Meanwhile, Congress announced that it will take to the streets, launching a nationwide mass movement beginning Sept. 24 to demand the withdrawal of the farm bills.
“The decision was made at a meeting of members of the auxiliary committee, the general secretaries and the heads of state,” former Union Minister AK Antony said at a press conference.
The party has set a goal of collecting farmers’ signatures of 2 million rupees and turning them over to the president on November 14.
He has described the suspension of the deputies, including three of his own, as “undemocratic” and “unilateral”.
Rajya Sabha witnessed rebellious scenes on Sunday when opposition members stormed the well and reached the vice president’s seat to protest the 2020 Trade in Agricultural Products and Trade (Promotion and Facilitation) Bill and the Assurance Agreement of Prices and Agriculture for Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Services Law Project, 2020. These laws were approved by voice vote.
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