Suspended MPs to hold protest at Jantar Mantar today

MPs of the opposition INDIA bloc will hold a protest at Jantar Mantar on Thursday, 21 December against the suspension of more than 140 opposition parliamentarians and stage a "mock Parliament", sources said.

A meeting was held at Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge's chamber in the Parliament complex on Wednesday afternoon, 20 December to finalise the programme.

All suspended MPs will join the protest at Jantar Mantar, sources said.

They will also hold a "mock Parliament" and Rashtriya Janata Dal MP Manoj Jha is likely to be the speaker for the mock proceedings.

More than 140 opposition MPs have been suspended from the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha since last week for disrupting proceedings. Opposition MPs have been demanding a discussion on the Parliament security breach and a statement by Home Minister Amit Shah on the issue.

They have also sought action against the BJP MP who authorised the visitor pass for at least one of the culprits who jumped in the Lok Sabha gallery on 13 December.