Congress-led opposition stages protest over Andhra special status, Parliament disruption

UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi and Congress president Rahul Gandhi were among several leaders who protested outside Parliament.

The Opposition parties led by the Congress staged a protest near the Gandhi statue outside Parliament on Thursday over several issues, including disruption of proceedings of both the Houses and Special Category Status to Andhra Pradesh.

Opposition members protest in Parliament during the budget session in New Delhi on Thursday.(PTI Photo)

UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi and Congress president Rahul Gandhi were among the key leaders who took part in the protest.

Leaders of the Trinamool Congress and the CPI(M) also took part in the demonstration.

Congress general secretary KC Venugopal, one of the protesters, accused the government of mocking the functioning of Parliament and not holding discussions on key issues.

The protest came after MPs of the ruling NDA on Wednesday decided to forego their salaries for the 23 days of the ongoing Budget Session when Parliament did not function because of protests by the Congress and other political parties.