New Delhi, july 19 (hs): Opposition parties on Sunday briefly walked out of the customary all-party meeting convened ahead of the Monsoon Session of Parliament, protesting the invitation extended to 20 rebel Trinamool Congress (TMC) MPs who have announced their merger with the National Citizens Party of India (NCPI). The Opposition later rejoined the meeting, describing the walkout as a symbolic protest.

The protest was also directed against Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla's decision to allot separate seating to the rebel TMC MPs and to recognise the merger of rebel Shiv Sena (UBT) MPs with the Shiv Sena led by Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde.

Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said all Opposition parties staged a brief walkout to register their protest against the invitation extended to the NCPI group while the issue relating to the rebel TMC MPs remains pending before the Speaker.

Congress leader Pramod Tiwari said the Opposition objected to the Speaker's decisions regarding the rebel TMC and Shiv Sena (UBT) lawmakers. CPI(M) leader John Brittas termed the invitation to the rebel TMC MPs a miscarriage of justice.

After the brief protest, Opposition leaders returned to the meeting and participated in the discussions on the government's legislative agenda for the Monsoon Session.

Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra said the Opposition, including the Congress, Samajwadi Party, DMK, Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM), Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), National Conference, Left parties and Shiv Sena (UBT), jointly staged the walkout.

She alleged that the Parliamentary Affairs Ministry had invited an unrecognised party even though the disqualification petitions against the 20 rebel TMC MPs were still pending before the Speaker.

On Saturday, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju had invited the leader of the breakaway TMC group to the all-party meeting, noting that he and 19 other MPs had joined the National Citizens Party of India (NCPI).

Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla has allotted separate seating arrangements for the 20 rebel TMC MPs. However, no final decision has been taken on their plea for recognition as members of the NCPI, and the matter remains under consideration.

The all-party meeting is held ahead of every Parliament session to discuss the government's legislative agenda and seek cooperation from political parties for the smooth conduct of proceedings.

The Monsoon Session of Parliament is scheduled to commence on July 20 and continue till August 13.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar