Protesting TDP MPs to continue stir, Cong exasperated

Unfazed by criticism, TDP members in the Lok Sabha who are demanding "justice" for Seemandhra will be continuing their protests in the House tomorrow notwithstanding an appeal from Speaker Meira Kumar against disruption of proceedings.
The four agitating members from Seemandhra -- Naramalli Sivaprasad, Kristappa Nimmala, K Narayana Rao and N Venugopal Reddy -- met the Speaker twice today but they expressed their inability to take back their protest action.
Sivaprasad told PTI that they could withdraw their protest if only Congress President Sonia Gandhi assured the people of Seemandhra that their problems would be addressed and that they will get justice in the wake of the decision on Telangana.

"How can we withdraw our protest action when Congress Ministers, MPs and MLAs from Seemandhra are also protesting despite an assurance from Union Minister P Chidambaram?", he asked.
The House will take up discussion on the Food Security bill tomorrow and opposition wants that the debate should be a smooth affair without any disruptions. The four members of the TDP have been in the Well of the House since the Monsoon session began last week
The continued protests by TDP members in Parliament has exasperated Congress, keen on early passage of food security bill, but BJP is not ready to play ball for action against them.

While there were indications from the ruling party that the Chair in both the Houses could be left with no option other than naming the protesing members and keep them out when the bill is passed, Leader of the Opposition Sushma Swaraj said she will not support any such move.
Sources said Swaraj opposed any any move to suspend the TDP members or name them.
At the AICC briefing, Congress spokesperson Sandip Dikshit gave signals that the party's patience was thinning noting that every protest has to have a "reasonable time" and pointed out that only the four TDP members are "holding the entire House to ransom".