In a 50-hour relay protest against their suspension by the Rajya Sabha chairman, the suspended MPs spent the first night outside inside the Parliament Complex. The MPs were seen checking their phones as soon as they woke up on Thursday morning, according to videos posted online. The 20 MPs who have been placed on administrative leave for Monday and Tuesday include seven from the TMC, six from the DMK, three from the Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS), two from the Communist Party of India (Marxist), and one each from the Communist Party of India (CPI) and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP).
The officials refused the protesting MPs’ request for a tent because no structures are allowed inside the grounds. However, they have been permitted to use the restroom in the Parliamentary library.
On Wednesday, the Rajya Sabha had disturbances for the ninth day in a row and was repeatedly adjourned. A proposal to suspend senior Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MP Sanjay Singh was approved by the House. He is the 20th opposition MP to get a one-week suspension.
The parliamentary affairs minister reportedly ordered suspended MPs to refrain from protesting for 50 hours, according to Trinamool MP Derek O’Brien, who uploaded a picture of his colleagues getting ready to sleep outside.
Tuesday saw the suspension of 19 opposition members of parliament by the House, including seven from the Trinamool Congress, six from the DMK, three from the Telangana Rashtra Samithi, two from the Communist Party of India-Marxist, and one from the Communist Party of India (CPI).
