Seven Congress MPs have been suspended by Lok Sabha SpeakerOm Birla. The MPs are Gaurav Gogoi, TN Pratapan, Dean Kuriakose, R Unnithan,Manickam Tagore, Benny Behnan and Gurjeet Singh Aujla. The MPs have been suspended for gross misconduct. The Congress MPs have been suspended for therest of the duration of the budget session. Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury sounded combative when he termed the suspension as a "decision by the government".

"This is not the Speaker's decision but a decision taken by the government. We will not be bowing down to this suspension,"he said.He alleged that the government was playing 'revenge politics' in orderto avoid discussion on Delhi violence.

"Suspension attempt (is) to weaken us. (The) govt fears discussion on Delhi riots in Parliament," Chowdhury was quoted as saying by PTI. Mean while, the BJP has welcomed the decision to suspend"unruly" Congress MPs.Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshisaid BJP has requested Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla to set up a panel to lookinto "indiscipline" by Congress members.

"Snatching papers from the Speaker's table is utmostdisrespect to the Chair. We condemn this," he told reporters.

Union minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat said the"unruly" behaviour of the Congress MPs was "unprecedented",and it would have shocked the country's founding fathers.

"We welcome the decision to suspend the unruly Congressmembers," he said. He was quoted by PTI.