This is a black day for India and democracy: Sonia Gandhi on suspension of 25 MPs from Lok Sabha

Delhi: Reacting to the suspension of 25 MPs by Speaker Sumitra Mahajan from the Lok Sabha, Congress president Sonia Gandhi said on Monday that it was a black day for India and democracy.

"This is a black day for India and democracy," she said.

This is a Black Day for India and Democracy: Congress President Smt. Sonia Gandhi on 25 party lawmakers being suspended from Lok Sabha — INC India (@INCIndia) August 3, 2015

Mahajan today suspended 25 Congress members for five days for "persistently, wilfully obstructing" the House.

The Speaker 'named' (identifying for action) the 25 Congress members who were carrying placards and shouting slogans in the Well while pressing for resignation of External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje over Lalit Modi row and Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan over Vyapam scam.

While taking the tough action under Rule 374(A), she said the members were being suspended for "persistently, wilfully obstructing the House", as per PTI.

She ruled that the 'named' members will not attend five sittings of the House. Congress has 44 members in all. The move came after the government approached the Speaker slamming the Opposition for obstructing the House for the past several days.

(With PTI inputs)