Congress’ women MPs accuse Lok Sabha marshals of harassment during protest on Maharashtra

A few Congress MPs jostled with the marshals when they were stopped from protesting in the well of the house during Question Hour.

Congress parliamentarians Ramya Haridas (right) and S. Jothimani | PTI Photo

New Delhi: Two women Congress parliamentarians, Ramya Haridas and Jothimani, Monday complained to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla that they were ‘manhandled’ by male marshals when they were protesting in the well of the house over government formation in Maharashtra.

The incident allegedly took place when a few Congress MPs jostled with the marshals as they were stopped from protesting in the well of the house during Question Hour.

“I have never seen such a scene. The marshals were pushing us. There were no women marshals and we felt humiliated. Congress’ interim president Sonia Gandhi too met the Speaker to protest the humiliation faced by us. We have asked the Speaker to take strict action against the marshals,” Jothimani, the MP from Karur in Tamil Nadu, told ThePrint.

Haridas also alleged that the Speaker remained silent when members of the ruling party “shouted at Congress parliamentarians”.

“How can he allow such manhandling and harassment? He should suspend the marshals immediately,” she said.

BJP shames ‘unruly’ behaviour

The tussle first started when the Speaker asked the marshals to escort Congress MPs Hibi Eden and T.N. Prathapan out of the house for refusing to let go of the placards they were holding, which carried messages such as “stop murder of democracy”.

The two MPs were, however, soon joined by other Congress members in resisting their eviction.

Following the incident, the Speaker asked Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi to suspend both Eden and Prathapan from the house for a few days for obstructing Parliament proceedings.

Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad also demanded an apology from Congress members for their “unruly” behaviour.

“It is very shameful that Congress MPs carrying banners and protesting in the well of the house were fighting with the marshals. If they have the numbers in Maharashtra, they should show them during the vote of confidence,” said Prasad.