LS Speaker Sumitra Mahajan suspends 25 Congress MPs for causing disruptions

Swaraj today rose to speak in the Rajya Sabha braving growing protests by the Opposition over allegations that she helped former Indian Premier League chief Lalit Modi obtain a UK visa.

“I never requested the British government to issue a visa to Lalit Modi,” said Sushma.

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The Rajya Sabha was adjourned till noon after the Opposition stormed in to the Well holding placards and resorted to sloganeering.

With nearly half of the Parliament Monsoon Session nearly washed out, the Congress appears to be unrelenting in their demand for Sushma Swaraj, Vasundhara Raje and Shivraj Singh Chouhan’s resignations.

Sonai Gandhi at today’s Congress Parliamentary Party meeting said that BJP’s ‘dialogue first and action later’ strategy is not acceptable to Congress.

“We are raising very important issue with strong evidence, but Govt is unwilling to take action in this regard,” said Sonia Gandhi.

Despite the government’s best efforts to clear the logjam at the all-party meeting, the Opposition has adopted the “no resignation, no discussion” line. With the House paralysed for most of the Monsoon Session, the BJP-led government are believed to be mulling over the idea of introducing a “no work, no pay” policy to counter the Opposition.

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3:30 pm Speaker suspends 25 Opposition MPs for five days from Lok Sabha for causing disruption

2:50 pm: Rajya Sabha adjourned till tomorrow after repeated disruptions.

2.30 pm:

Tu-tu mein between BJP Cong is depriving opportunities of smaller parties: Derek TMC @IndianExpress

— Liz Mathew (@MathewLiz) August 3, 2015

2.23 pm:

BJD in all party meet suggested parliament can be adjourned sine die if Members are not allowed to speak @IndianExpress

— Liz Mathew (@MathewLiz) August 3, 2015

2.20 pm:

Naidu said: None of our ministers did anything illegal or immoral. @IndianExpress

— Liz Mathew (@MathewLiz) August 3, 2015

2.18 pm:

In all party meet Naidu offered PM will intervene during a debate. But logjam continues in parliament @IndianExpress

— Liz Mathew (@MathewLiz) August 3, 2015

2.00 pm:

All party meet over. No end to stalemate Naqvi says everyone except Cong wants the house to run @IndianExpress

— Liz Mathew (@MathewLiz) August 3, 2015

12.10 pm: Both Houses are adjourned till 2 pm.

11.22 am: Rajya Sabha adjourned till noon.

11.17 am: Sushma Swaraj expresses her willingness to participate in a discussion over Lalit Modi at Rajya Sabha, says never asked the British govt to issue Lalit Modi a visa.

11.15 am: Congress demands PM Modi to break silence on recent controversies surrounding BJP leaders.

11.12 am: Rajya Sabha speaker rejects Congress demand for adjournment.

11.10 am:

Let’s have “no work no pay” start from 2004: Satyavrat Chaturvedi in #RajyaSabha @IndianExpress

— abantika ghosh (@abantika_ghosh) August 3, 2015

11.06 am:

We are not staff that minister talks “no work no pay”, its a conspiracy to belittle MPs: Naresh Aggarwal in #RajyaSabha @IndianExpress

— abantika ghosh (@abantika_ghosh) August 3, 2015

11.03 am:

There is a mountain of incontrovertible evidence in public domain for PM to require resignations of EAM and the two CMs: Sonia Gandhi

— ANI (@ANI_news) August 3, 2015

11.00 am:

Our stand is clear, the way corruption has happened we want resignations: Congress VP Rahul Gandhi at CPP meet in Parliament

— ANI (@ANI_news) August 3, 2015