Twenty suspended Rajya Sabha members on Wednesday started a 50-hour relay protest inside the Parliament complex, with sources saying the Opposition declined the chairman's offer that they express regret over their members' behaviour in the House to get the suspension revoked.
From curd rice and idli-sambar to chicken tandoori, gaajar ka halwa and fruits, Opposition parties are taking turns to arrange regional cuisine for MPs on a 50-hour relay protest against their suspension and demanding discussion on price rise.
The MPs are holding their protest near the Gandhi statue and will stay at the site through the night, said Trinamool Congress's Dola Sen, who is one of the suspended.
The 20 MPs, suspended over Monday and Tuesday, include seven from the TMC, six from the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, three from the Telangana Rashtra Samithi, two from the Communist Party of India-Marxist, and one each from the Communist Party of India and the Aam Aadmi Party.
The Nationalist Congress Party and the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha, who have no members suspended, will also join the protests, sources said.
"Question: What were Opposition MPs demanding Answer: A discussion on #PriceRise #GST hurting millions of people Action : Dictatorial @narendramodi govt suspends 24 MPs from #Parliament Next few days 24x 7 dharna at Gandhi statue. Peaceful satyagraha will always WIN," tweeted TMC's Rajya Sabha member Derek O'Brien.
While the Congress and other Opposition parties were protesting at different venues in the morning, by the evening, it seemed they had come together on the issue of price rise.
Senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh visited the site of the protests and said his party will be part of the day-night dharna organised by the other Opposition parties.
The CPI, whose one member has been suspended, said in a statement the suspension is an assault on the basic rights of freedom of expression of members of Parliament.
"The suspension of four opposition MPs of the Lok Sabha and 20 MPs of the opposition in the Rajya Sabha including two MPs of the CPI-M on successive days is a serious blow to the democratic functioning of Parliament.
"It is the Modi government that has been stubbornly refusing to accept any motion moved by the opposition under the rules for a structured discussion on the burning problems being faced by the people, destroying their lives, like price rise, unemployment etc."
Opposition sources also said feelers from the "other side" has indicated that there is a view within the government that suspending 19 opposition MPs at one go in the Rajya Sabha was a wrong strategic move and should have been avoided.
In fact, in the morning, Rajya Sabha Chairman Venkaiah Naidu met leaders of the Opposition parties in the RS and an offer was made to them that if they express regret over their behaviour in the House, another resolution will be brought to revoke the suspensions, the sources said.
However, none of the leaders acquiesced, saying instead that the government should express regret over the decision of not discussing price rise.
With the suspension of the MPs in RS concluding on Friday, a discussion on price rise will be taken up after that.
Meanwhile, in a show of solidarity and political strength, the Opposition parties have come together to create a duty roster for the protest, with every party taking responsibility for making arrangements, including food, for those sitting on the dharna.
The roster is being circulated on a dedicated WhatsApp group, keeping everyone in the loop about the day's arrangements.
Sources said the parties have decided that they will try to arrange regional cuisines for the MPs for their meals.
On Wednesday, the MPs had idli-sambar for breakfast which was organised by DMK MP Tiruchi Siva. The lunch of curd rice was also arranged by the DMK. The menu for dinner is roti, daal, paneer and chicken tandoori, courtesy of the TMC.
DMK's Kanimozhi, who was instrumental in planning the roster, came to the protest site carrying gaajar ka halwa, while TMC arranged for fruits and sandwiches.
On Thursday, the DMK would be in charge of breakfast, the TRS for lunch and the AAP would arrange dinner. The AAP was also in charge of erecting a tent for the MPs to shield them from the scorching sun but permission for it was denied by the authorities.
Sources said that the parties have taken it upon themselves to appoint leaders to take turns sitting at the protest site for one to two hours in support of those who have been suspended.
Samajwadi Party's Ramgopal Yadav, Jharkhand Mukti Morcha's Mahua Majhi and leaders of Nationalist Congress Party -- none of whose members have been suspended -- have given their time to sit with the protesting MPs as a mark of solidarity.
The leaders, however, will have to sleep under the sky, with their request for a tent being denied by authorities, as no structures can be erected, even temporarily, inside the premises.
The protesting MPs can, however, use the toilet in the bathroom of the Parliament library.
Opposition leaders said the authorities have fully cooperated with them to arrange a security team and cleaning staff for the protesting MPs. Arrangements have also been made for their exit and entry.
