Black flags for PM if suspension of 25 MPs not withdrawn

Chennai: Congress' state unit today warned that black flags will be shown to Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his visit in Chennai on August 7 if the suspension of 25 of its party MPs in the Lok Sabha is not withdrawn.

TNCC President E V K S Elangovan, who led a protest against the suspension of Congress MPs by Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan pressing for revoking the order, said, "We will continue our demonstration." If the suspension of these 25 MPs is not revoked soon and they are not allowed to participate in Parliament, then Congress leaders and workers would display black flags to Modi during his visit here on August 7 to express the party's displeasure, he told reporters.

The Prime Minister is scheduled to attend the National Handloom Day event here on Friday. With Congress leading the protests against the government over the Vyapam and Modigate issues and the continued Parliament logjam, Mahajan had suspended 25 of the party MPs, prompting boycott of the proceedings by it and other opposition parties, including TMC and SP.

Later, Elangovan and senior state Congress leaders were detained by police for trying to stage the protest without permission.