Govt should express regret for use of marshals: BJP

BJP on Thursday sought to re-unite the opposition by apologising on behalf of seven MPs suspended for unruly behaviour and demanding that the government express regret for using marshals during passage of women's bill.

BJP on Thursday sought to re-unite the opposition by apologising on behalf of seven MPs suspended for unruly behaviour and demanding that the government express regret for using marshals during passage of women's bill.

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Opposition parties and those supporting the UPA government from outside like RJD, SP and BSP were united against it on the issue of price rise, spelling trouble for the Congress-led regime. However, this unity was broken when the government brought the Women's Reservation Bill.

Reaching out to SP, RJD and JD(U), Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Arun Jaitley apologised on behalf of the seven MPs who were suspended for unruly behaviour during passage of the women's bill in the Upper House and said their suspension should be revoked.

Sources said this had the desired effect with Rajniti Prasad (RJD) and Ram Gopal Yadav (SP) thanking Jaitley later for this gesture.

BJP also expressed strong objection to the use of marshals in solidarity with these three parties.

"We want the government to apologise for bringing marshals in the House. We also want them to revoke the suspensions," Deputy Leader of BJP in Lok Sabha Gopinath Munde said.

Leader of Opposition in the Lower House Sushma Swaraj asserted that BJP was against the use of marshals in the Lok Sabha though it favoured passage of the bill.