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Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi himself appeared to be monitoring the protests while joining his party members in the house. Congress senior leaders say that the party will take part in any discussion on Gurdaspur attack in both houses of parliament but will oppose any other business being taken up until their demand for resignations is not met.
Despite the BJP led government criticizing the Congress for continuing its disruptions, Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge Leader of Congress while condemning the attack and alleging intelligence failure on part of the Centre, maintained that the party was consistent in its stand and will continue its protests. Since the Congress MPs were shouting slogans and displaying placards, the Congress was initially not allowed to speak on the Gurdaspur incident.
A party MP who is privy to strategy making of the party said, "There should be no confusion. We are with the government on national issues of security but are protests on LalitGate and Vyapam is a political issue, so we will continue to obstruct house proceedings."
Both Rahul Gandhi and Party President Sonia Gandhi who had voiced their concern about protests by their colleagues not being shown by the Lok Sabha TV cameras this past week, were seen animated in discussion. Rahul Gandhi was even seen strategizing with Shashi Tharoor how party banners would need to be hoisted higher to be in television camera view.
Congress MPs made every effort to stop proceedings planting themselves in front of Union ministers who stood up to speak.
The party got desperate when the legislative business was taken up in the post Lunch session and a bill pertaining to Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes was taken up amid the loud din. It was then that Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury attempted to grab the attention of the Speaker by placing the placard right in front of her table. Although he was suspended the party's aim had been fulfilled - to ensure that bills were not taken up. Law Minister Sadananda Gowda had already started discussion on the Delhi High Court amendment bill.
While the Congress was protesting on LaliGate and Vyapam, the Trinamool Congress today protested on the Land bill issue and even held a 'dharna' outside the house before proceedings began. The TRS was protesting on the Telangana High Court issue while SP was on its feet on the Caste census issue. In all, the Opposition benches had taken on the government.
