Four Congress MPs were suspended from Lok Sabha for the entire Parliament session on Monday for holding protests and raising slogans against price rise inside the House. The four Congress MPs are Manickam Tagore, Ramya Haridas, Jothimani and TN Prathapan, ANI reported. The Congress MPs were earlier warned by Speaker Om Birla, who asked them to behave and demonstrate outside the House.
Later, Parliamentary Affair Minister Pralhad Joshi moved a resolution to suspend the four Congress MPs for the rest of the Monsoon session.
The House then passed the resolution by a voice vote and Rajendra Agarwal, who was chairing the proceedings, announced their suspension.
Congress' deputy leader in Lok Sabha Gaurav Gogoi said the government was trying to intimidate it by suspending the MPs but the party won't be "cowed down". The party said the MPs were trying to raise issues that matter to the people.
"The MPs were holding placards raising the issues of rise in prices of gas cylinder, imposition of GST on items such as flour and buttermilk. We moved an adjournment motion demanding a discussion on these issues, but no discussion was held," PTI quoted Gogoi as saying.
Suspended Congress MP Manickam Tagore said for the past six days, the Congress had been demanding a discussion on price rise and gave notices for adjournment motion but the government showed "complete arrogance".
"We have been suspended from the House for raising the voice of the people in Parliament. We will continue to fight for the people of the country. A hundred things are not allowed in Parliament, only cheering Modi ji and Amit Shah ji is allowed," ANI quoted Manickam Tagore as saying.
"Today, when a tribal woman has taken oath as President, a Dalit woman has been suspended from Lok Sabha," Tagore said.
The issues of price rise and GST rate hike have led to several adjournments in both Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha since the Monsoon session started on July 18.
On Monday, Lok Sabha proceedings were disrupted after Opposition members from Congress, TMC and DMK shouted slogans and displayed placards over price rise inside the House.
Speaker Om Birla told them that the government was ready to discuss issues raised by them and stressed that people wanted the House to function. However, with the din continuing, Birla first adjourned the House till 3 pm and then for the day.
The Centre has come under fire from Opposition parties for hiking GST rates on all essential commodities such as pre-packaged rice, wheat and milk. The Opposition has demanded a rollback of the rate hike, saying it would be burden for the citizens.