'You Are Kindhearted,' Says Congress. Speaker Sumitra Mahajan's Response

New Delhi: Opposition parties today requested Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan to revoke the suspension of six Congress lawmakers, who tore official documents and threw paper balls at the Speaker's chair on Monday. Ms Mahajan, who suspended the six MPs for five days, has not relented yet.

In the Lok Sabha, Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge said, "Madam (Speaker), we appeal to the House to revoke the suspension of six of our members. You are very kind-hearted."

"That is why you throw anything (on me)," retorted the Speaker, refusing to comment on the suspension immediately.  While announcing the suspension on Monday, she had said, "The entire country should watch this...Show it, let them watch."

The six Congress MPs - Gaurav Gogoi, K Suresh, Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, Ranjeet Ranjan, Sushmita Dev and MK Raghavan - have been suspended for causing "grave disorder" by storming the Well or centre of the House and tearing and throwing paper while demanding to speak on the growing incidents of mob lynching, many by cow vigilantes.

Leaders of opposition parties from the Left, NCP to the TMC had joined the Congress this morning in a protest against the suspension at the Mahatma Gandhi statue in parliament. The party has called the Speaker's action unduly harsh.
 In the House today, the Trinamool Congress and Left too appealed to Ms Mahajan to revoke the suspension. Opposition parties have decided to unite in parliament and coordinate floor strategy during the ongoing monsoon session as they take on the government on several key issues.

The government has toughened its stand. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ananth Kumar said Monday was a "black day," referring to the conduct of the Congress MPs that led to their suspension. He also sought to know from the opposition whether they were supporting the act of the suspended members by advocating revocation of their punishment.

 "Does the Congress approve of tearing paper and throwing them on the Chair? They had no answer... There were many other people in the Well of the House, they were not named," Mr Kumar said.

The minister also accused the Congress of trying to divert attention from recent revelations in the Bofors deal by creating ruckus in parliament. He emphasised that the government is ready to debate any issue, including the mob attacks.

Asked about the six suspended Congress MPs, Ananth Kumar said: "Does the Congress approves of tearing papers and throwing them on the Chair? They had no answer... There were many other people in the Well of the House, they were not named."

He said the MPs should apologise to the Speaker, but said the ball is Ms Majahan's court on whether the suspension will be revoked.