Congress Protests Live: Congress is holding a nationwide protest today.
In a rare feat of Opposition unity, the Trinamool Congress, which said it will remain equidistant from the BJP and the Congress, today joined the big strategy meeting in the office of Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge.
Mr Kharge said that the Congress party welcomes anyone who strides forward to "protect democracy".
Here are the highlights of the Congress protests:
Telangana Congress Holds Protest Over Rahul Gandhi's DisqualificationThe Congress leaders and workers on Monday held protests across Telangana against the disqualification of Rahul Gandhi from Lok Sabha.
Scores of Congress activists held an agitation at Moosarambagh cross roads in Hyderabad, while District Congress Committee (DCC) president Nayini Rajender Reddy led a protest at Hanamkonda near Warangal, a party release said.
Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) senior vice president and former MP Mallu Ravi and other leaders attended a 'Satyagraha' protest at the Mahatma Gandhi statue at MG Road at Secunderabad.
16 Congress MLAs Suspended After Staging Protest In Gujarat Budget Session As many as 16 of 17 MLAs of Congress were suspended from the Gujarat Assembly on Monday for the remainder of the Budget session till March 29 for creating ruckus and staging protests in the House over the disqualification of Rahul Gandhi as an MP.
Some MLAs of the main Opposition party, including Imran Khedawala, Geniben Thakor and Amrtutji Thakor, were evicted by marshals as they sat in the well of the House and refused to go back to their seats despite repeated appeals made by Speaker Shankar Chaudhary.
Youth Congress Activists Stage Protest In DelhiScores of Indian Youth Congress activists staged a protest at the Jantar Mantar in Delhi on Monday against the disqualification of Rahul Gandhi from the Lok Sabha and were detained when they tried to march towards Parliament.
Carrying IYC flags and "Satyameva Jayate" placards, the protesters demanded justice for Mr Gandhi.
"The Centre has shown that no one can speak or question the Modi government. Rahul ji raised questions about Adani...so they attempted to silence him by disqualifying him," said Vikram, one of the protesters.
16 Congress MLAs Suspended Till End Of Gujarat Budget Session
As many as 16 of 17 MLAs of Congress were suspended from the Gujarat Assembly on Monday for the remainder of the Budget session till March 29 for creating ruckus and staging protests in the House over the disqualification of Rahul Gandhi as an MP.
Some MLAs of the main Opposition party, including Imran Khedawala, Geniben Thakor and Amrtutji Thakor, were evicted by marshals as they sat in the well of the House and refused to go back to their seats despite repeated appeals made by Speaker Shankar Chaudhary.
Except for Anant Patel, the rest 16 MLAs of Congress were present in the House on Monday.
Odisha Assembly Adjourned Over Rahul Gandhi's Disqualification
The Odisha assembly was on Monday adjourned till 4 pm as Congress MLAs observed 'black day' to protest against the disqualification of Rahul Gandhi from Lok Sabha, and created a ruckus in the House.
Donning black clothes, Congress members trooped into the well of the House during the Question Hour and raised slogans against the BJP and the Centre, terming BJP as a "killer of democracy".
Congress legislators also made an attempt to climb the Speaker's podium. Unable to run the House due to the ruckus, Speaker B K Arukha adjourned the proceedings till 4 pm.
The House had on March 24 witnessed several adjournments as Congress legislators protested against Rahul Gandhi's disqualification from the Lok Sabha.
Youth Congress Members Protest Rahul Gandhi's Disqualification
Several members of the Indian Youth Congress protested at the Jantar Mantar here on Monday against the disqualification of Rahul Gandhi as an MP.
The protesters from across the country gathered at the venue to show solidarity with Mr Gandhi and criticised the central government for "silencing" voices of the democratic opposition.
DMK, Congress MLAs Walk Out From Puducherry Assembly
Legislators belonging to the opposition DMK and the Congress staged a walkout in the Puducherry Assembly on Monday protesting against the disqualification of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi from the Lok Sabha.
Congress legislators M Vaithianathan and Ramesh Parambath attended the session wearing black shirts as a symbol of their protest.
Rahul Gandhi's Disqualification Rocks Bihar Assembly
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's disqualification from the Lok Sabha on Monday evoked furious protests at the Bihar assembly from members of the ruling 'Mahagathbandhan', of which his party is also a part.
'Mahagathbandhan' (grand alliance) members had made their intentions clear when they reached the assembly with black bands wrapped around their arms and heads and their hands clutching posters with images of Gandhi and captions screaming "democracy and Constitution in danger".
Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's JD(U), which had raised many eyebrows last week by staying away from a demonstration against Gandhi's conviction, was also participating this time.
"PM Modi Destroying Democracy": Congress Chief
Congress chief Malikarjun Kharge today said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is "destroying democracy" as the party continued its protest against Rahul Gandhi's disqualification as an MP.
"We have come to parliament today in black clothes. We want to show the country that PM Modi is destroying democracy bit by bit," Mr Kharge said.
"The way Rahul Gandhi has been expelled from the Lok Sabha, all opposition parties are united against the PM," he added.
Lok Sabha Adjourned Till 4 pm
Lok Sabha proceedings on Monday were adjourned till 4 pm amid slogan shouting by the Opposition members.
As soon as the House met for the day, Congress members wearing black scarves trooped into the Well.
Two Congress members, T N Pratapan and Hibi Eden, who were in the Well holding placards, flung order papers towards the Chair along with their scarves.
Congress leader Sonia Gandhi was also seen wearing a black scarf while some party MPs wore black shirts.
Muslim Youth League Organises Torchlight Rally In Kerala
Expressing solidarity with Rahul Gandhi, who was disqualified as an MP, hundreds of workers of the Muslim Youth League organised a torchlight rally in Kerala.
Muslim League state president Panakkad Sayyid Sadiq Ali Shihab Thangal and youth league leader Sayyid Munavvar Ali Shihab Thangal participated in the rally held at 10 PM on Sunday, condemning the BJP-ruled Centre's "revengeful action" against Rahul Gandhi, who represented Wayanad seat in Lok Sabha.
Congress MP Gives Notice To Discuss Rahul Gandhi Disqualification
Congress MP Manish Tewari on Monday gave an adjournment notice in Lok Sabha for a discussion on the disqualification of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi as MP.
Rahul Gandhi, on Friday, was disqualified as a member of the Lok Sabha, a day after a Surat court sentenced him to two years imprisonment in a defamation case filed against him over his 'Modi surname' remark.
In the adjournment notice, Mr Tewari said, "That this House do suspend Zero Hour and other businesses of the day to discuss the Disqualification of Shri Rahul Gandhi."
Trinamool Leaders To Join Opposition Meet
Trinamool Congress leaders will join the opposition meeting that is scheduled to take place at Congress chief Malikarjun Kharge's office today.
Tamil Nadu Congress MLA Protest Outside Assembly
Tamil Nadu Congress MLAs protested Rahul Gandhi's disqualification as MP outside the state Assembly today.
The MLAs, in black attire, will stay put in the Tamil Nadu Assembly tonight.
"Our protest is against Centre to save democracy," the Congress MLAs said.