Twelve opposition parliamentarians, who were suspended on the first day of the Indian Parliament's winter session on 29 November started a protest on Wednesday morning in front of the statue of Indian freedom struggle icon Mahatma Gandhi.
The suspended politicians, who began their protest at 10 am (local time) were joined by various opposition party members.
India’s main opposition party Congress has asked all of its parliamentarians to join the protest to show solidarity with the 12 lawmakers.
Meanwhile, West Bengal state's ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) has announced that two of its lawmakers who have been suspended will protest for the entire winter session.
Leader of the opposition in Rajya Sabha (Upper House of the Parliament) Mallikarjun Kharge has also invited opposition parties to a meeting to formulate a strategy.
All opposition parties have slammed the MPs suspension as “illegal."
On 29 November, 12 opposition lawmakers were suspended for "obstructing" Parliament with "unprecedented acts" on the last day of the previous session.
Despite the demand of the opposition parties, Chairperson of Rajya Sabha (Upper House) M. Venkaiah Naidu on Tuesday said that the suspension will stand.
His decision was followed by a walkout staged by opposition parties in both houses of Parliament in protest against the suspension.
Congress Leader in the Lower House (Lok Sabha) Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury even accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led government of using suspension as a “threat” to silence the opposition.
The opposition parties have warned that if the suspension is not revoked, they will boycott the entire session of the upper house.