Cong MPs suspension:Black day for democracy:Sonia; BJP defends

The suspension of 25 Congress MPs in a rare action by the Speaker in the history of Lok Sabha today was dubbed by party President Sonia Gandhi as a 'Black Day' for democracy while another leader said the "Gujarat model" where MLAs face such measures is being implemented.
Ruling BJP on its part defended Speaker Sumitra Mahajan's decision for "willfully obstructing" the House, saying she was "constrained" to do so as they did not heed her repeated warnings and it was no longer possible to run the House.
"It is a Black Day for democracy," Sonia, who appeared very agitated over the Speaker's action, said.

As several opposition parties including TMC, JD(U) and AAP expressed their solidarity with the suspended members, Congress' Leader in Lok Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge said the suspension was "unfortunate".
"Like in Gujarat the opposition members used to get suspended, similar thing is happening here. It is the Gujarat model which is being implemented," Kharge told reporters.
NCP's Tariq Anwar said the action shows that BJP veteran L K Advani's apprehensions that emergency can return could be coming true as we are moving toward "black days".

NCP MP Supriya Sule said that suspension of 25 MPs was "way too much".
Defending Mahajan BJP spokesperson G V L Narasimha Rao said it was the Speaker's prerogative to take appropriate decisions to run the House smoothly in accordance with people's wishes.

"It is the prerogative of the presiding officer to take all appropriate action to ensure that the House functions smoothly in accordance with wishes of people as it is the House of the people.
Opposition members who have not heeded repeated warnings from the Chair had to be suspended because it was not possible to run the House smoothly in accordance with rules," Rao said.
BJP leader and Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Rajiv Pratap Rudy said the Speaker was constrained because these members refused to heed her requests.
Key NDA ally TDP said the Speaker was "forced" to take the decision as she was left with no other option.

"Forcibly, she has to do that. But, otherwise, there is no option. They are pushing like that... It is only the making of the opposition," Union Minister and TDP Parliamentary Party Leader Y S Chowdary said.