The Lok Sabha today suspended 25 Congress members for five consecutive days for persistently and willfully obstructing the proceedings of the House. Announcing the suspension, Speaker Sumitra Mahajan said despite repeated appeals for calm and order, the Congress members continued to remain in the well by displaying placards and raising slogans. <br/><br/>Stating that there are several rules under which the issues can be raised and discussed, she said at some point, there should be some agreement. When her repeated efforts to bring normalcy yielded no results, the Speaker expressed her displeasure over the agitating congress members for not allowing any business. However, when the House reassembled at 2 PM, it took up a Calling Attention Motion on farmers' suicides in Karnataka and also matters of public importance amid pandemonium.<br/><br/>Earlier, Home Minister Rajnath Singh said the ministers need not resign as there was no FIR registered and no prima face found against them. Mallikarjuna Kharge of the Congress said no one can intimidate the members. He alleged that the ruling party members have been threatening his party colleagues to withdraw the demand for resignation of BJP top leaders including External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj. <br/><br/>However, Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Rajiv Pratap Rudy said he only sought cooperation from the opposition Congress. Sudip Bandhopadhyaya of Trinamool Congress has opposed the move for suspension saying it will become a wrong precedence. He said a solution to the ongoing stalemate can be arrived at if the Government considers the opposition demands.<br/><br/>Immediately after suspension, the House was adjourned for the day.<br/><br/>Moreover Congress has termed the suspension of 25 of its members from Lok Sabha today as a most undemocratic step. Talking to media this evening, senior party leader Mallikarjun Kharge termed it as a black day for democracy. He said showing placards is not unprecedented.<br/><br/>Meanwhile NCP, TMC, Left Parties and Aam Admi Party have decided to boycott the Lok Sabha proceedings for five days to express solidarity with the suspended Congress members. The remaining members of the Congress will also not attend the proceedings of the House.

The Lok Sabha today suspended 25 Congress members for five consecutive days for wilfully obstructing the proceedings. Announcing this, Speaker Sumitra Mahajan said that despite repeated appeals for calm and order, the members continued to remain in the well while displaying placards and raising slogans. The House reassembled at 2 PM and has taken up a Calling Attention on farmers' suicide in Karnataka and also matters of public importance amid pandemonium. Speaker tried to bring normalcy but in vain. She later adjourned the House for the day.