'Stop Murder Of Democracy': Rahul & Sonia Gandhi Lead Congress Protest In Parliament Over Maharashtra

As Speaker Om Birla’s warnings went unheeded in the House, he ordered removal of two Congress members Hibi Eden and T N Prathapan- who were holding the banner, by marshals.

New Delhi: The Congress party on Monday launched full-tilt attack against the BJP in the Parliament House over Maharashtra government formation issue. While Rahul Gandhi said in Lok Sabha that democracy has been "murdered" in the state, his mother Sonia led the party’s protest in Parliament premises. In the Lower House, Congress MPs stormed the well carrying placards leading to adjournment of House proceedings. Gandhi declined to ask a question he was scheduled to at the start of the Question Hour at 11 am. "There is no point in my asking the question as democracy has been murdered in Maharashtra," he said amid a din. Congress members carried black banners that read "stop murder of democracy" while placards had messages like "save Constitution" and "save democracy". As Speaker Om Birla’s warnings went unheeded in the House, he ordered removal of two Congress members Hibi Eden and T N Prathapan- who were holding the banner, by marshals. However, the two MPS were joined by other Congress members in resisting their eviction from the House and were seen jostling with marshals, prompting the Speaker to adjourn the House till noon. When the House met at 12 pm, the chair again adjourned it to 2 pm, reported PTI. The BJP immediately hit back saying the Congress is trying to hijack the moral and political victory achieved by the saffron party in the Maharashtra state elections.

Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad: BJP-Shiv Sena got mandate to form govt with Devendra Fadnavis as CM. It's the Congress that is murdering democracy&questioning us on the same. BJP's win in state is both moral & political victory,which Congress is trying to hijack #Maharashtra https://t.co/F7TyPHYY9Q pic.twitter.com/LwZFoJSNfa

— ANI (@ANI) November 25, 2019

Meanwhile, in what is being seen as a breather for the BJP, the Supreme Court on Monday reserved its order on Governor B.S. Koshyari's decision to invite the BJP to form a government in the state for Tuesday. The apex court said the order on Maharashtra will be pronounced on Tuesday at 10:30 a.m.