BJP MPs protest outside Parliament against opposition disruptions
As BJP MPs today sat on a protest outside Parliament - against protests inside it - rivals took potshots at the ruling party.
BJP leaders held up placards criticizing the Congress and targeting its leaders Sonia and Rahul Gandhi over alleged corruption while shouting slogans.
"Stop disrupting Parliament," shouted the parliamentarians.
To which, an opposition member said: "Their protest is against our protest. Is it the government's job to protest or to solve problems?"
The Congress has said there will be no discussion in Parliament without the resignation of BJP leaders linked to the Lalit Modi and Vyapam controversies - Sushma Swaraj, Vasundhara Raje and Shivraj Chouhan.
"Today something remarkable has happened, the almighty of this country...which has powers under the Constitution, is sitting on a dharna," quipped Janata Dal United leader Sharad Yadav.
"They are supposed to run the house, instead they are sitting on protest. Who are they making demands to?" Mr Yadav questioned as he spoke to NDTV.
Senior Aam Aadmi Party leader Kumar Vishwas, who is a satirist, had a guess. "The government is sitting on a dharna outside Parliament. Maybe their demand is to (US President) Obama," he tweeted.
Several opposition parliamentarians jeered at the sight of ruling MPs sitting in a large group near the Mahatma Gandhi statue, where protests are a common sight. Mayawati, the chief of the Bahujan Samaj Party, said: "Rather that hold dharna, demonstrations, the government should take action against people who have violated norms."
Responding to the barbs, Home Minister Rajnath Singh said: "Opposition does not want discussion, so what can we do?"
On Friday, the Lok Sabha was adjourned just four minutes after proceedings began for the day. After a week of disruptions and adjournments, Speaker Sumitra Mahajan said: "The House is not a wresting ring. It is a place of discussion."