Sonia Gandhi hits out at Centre over Nagaland violence, MP suspension

New Delhi: Terming the suspension of 12 Rajya Sabha MP's as "outrageous" and "unprecedented, Congress President Sonia Gandhi launched a new salvo at the ruling BJP government for violating "both the Constitution and the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in the Council of States."

The remarks were made at a meeting of the Congress Parliamentary Party chaired by Sonia Gandhi, who important issues like the undemocratic decision of suspension of opposition MPs, farmers' agitation and justice to martyred farmers, according to the Congress Twitter handle.

On the subject of the recent killing of civilians and ensuing violence in Nagaland, Sonia Gandhi expressed a sense of deep anguish over the events that transpired and mourned the deaths of innocent civilians.

"The government expressing regret is not enough. Justice for the families of the victims has to be ensured at the earliest. Credible steps must be taken to prevent recurrence of such ghastly tragedies," she remarked.

Her speech came minutes ahead of the entire Opposition's plan to join a sit-in protest by the 12 MPs at the Gandhi statue to express solidarity with them. The suspension of the 12 MPs has led to major disruptions in the upper House and frequent adjournments leading to delays in the passage of Bills and discussions on key topics such as price rise.

"The government is fully responsible for the deadlock in Rajya Sabha. We have been meeting the chairman and the government and have stressed that they cannot suspend members like this. They have wrongly and undemocratically suspended 12 MPs for what has happened during the previous Monsoon session," said Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge earlier today to reporters outside the Parliament.