LS marshals manhandled women MPs during protest, alleges Congress
Following a scuffle between the marshals of Lok Sabha and Congress MPs in the Well of the House on Monday (November 25), Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla may suspend Congress MPs Hibi Eden and TN Prathapan for obstructing Parliament proceedings.
The Congress has alleged that two of its women parliamentarians – Tamil Nadu’s Jothimani and Kerala’s Ramya Haridas – were manhandled by the marshals in Lok Sabha during a tussle in the House on Monday (November 25).
“Security personnel manhandled our women parliamentarians. We have never experienced this inside Parliament. We will be waiting to see what action is been taken against responsible people,” Chowdhury told reporters.
“It is sad that Ramya Haridas and me were manhandled by the security when we were peacefully protesting outside the parliament. Irrespective of male or female we have the right to dignity and fundamental right to protest. Democracy has truly been murdered. We have lodged a complaint with the speaker,” Jothimani said.
The Lok Sabha witnessed a fracas on Monday, with the Congress vociferously protesting against the surprise government formation by the BJP in Maharashtra. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said it was a murder of democracy.
Chowdhury also said that what he saw in the House was unprecedented and Congress MPs were “pushed around”. “It is a testing time for us. We have to decide whether we let democracy or authoritarianism prevail in this country,” he said.
The claims of ‘mandhandling’ were countered by Union ministers Rajnath Singh, Ravi Shankar Prasad and Prahlad Joshi in their meeting with the Speaker where they demanded strict action against Congress MPs Hibi Eden and TN Prathapan for obstructing Parliament proceedings.
Reports said Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla may suspend Eden and Prathapan for obstructing Parliament proceedings.
The Congress leaders were carrying placards with messages like “save Constitution” and “save democracy” and a black banner which said “stop murder of democracy”, while protesting against the situation in Maharashtra.
“The House cannot be a place of unruly behaviour. All parties should maintain sanctity and great traditions of Lok Sabha,” NDTV quoted Ravi Shankar Prasad as saying.
(With inputs from agencies)