Suspended MPs continue protest, hold mock Parliament

CPI-M leader E. Kareem acted as the Chairman of Rajya Sabha, while Rajmani Patel of Congress acted as the Leader of Opposition.

Ripun Vora of Congress played the Leader of the House, and Akhilesh Pratap Singh acted as the Parliamentary Affairs Minister.

Kareem called Congress MP Chhaya Verma, and asked her to speak in the Zero Hour in the mock Parliament on the issue of price rise. Verma said the suspension of the 12 MPs should be revoked.

Vora, who was acting as the Leader of the House, said the suspension was ordered by the Prime Minister.

Trinamool Congress MP Dola Sen, who had a noose hanging around her shoulder, raised the issue of sale of national assets.

A chair with photos of the Prime Minister was also kept, with a poster that read, "Parliament? Not Needed for Me !!!"

MPs were carrying other placards against the suspension and demanding the sacking of Minister of State for Home Ajay Mishra.

The 12 MPs who have been suspended are: Elamaram Kareem, CPI (M), Phulo Devi Netam (INC), Chhaya Verma (INC), Ripun Bora (INC), Binoy Viswam (CPI), Rajmani Patel (INC), Dola Sen (TMC), Shanta Chhetri (TMC), Syed Nasir Hussain (INC), Priyanka Chaturvedi (Shiv Sena), Anil Desai (Shiv Sena) and Akhilesh Prasad Singh (INC).

The MPs were suspended from Dec 1 for the whole duration of the Winter Session of Parliament for disorderly conduct.

The government wants the suspended members to apologize for their conduct.