Suspended BJP MLAs to be members till HC verdict: Speaker

"Status quo will be maintained till the High Court verdict," Lone said, as ruling Congress and opposition BJP members had a heated exchange on the status of the suspended MLAs.

The issue was raised by Vikaar Rasool (Cong) as when Ashok Khajuria (BJP) was participating in the discussion on unmarked graves.
The Speaker said he has reserved his opinion on the matter.

"If the Constitution does not allow them to be part of the House, they will not be here. I am collecting information about the party decision and the pendency of the petition in the High Court," he said.

Infuriated by the Congress MLA's objection, the BJP members took to their feet saying he had no business to interfere in the internal matters of their party.
Rasool was supported by another party colleague G M Saroori and the duo staged a walkout after the Speaker's ruling.

Seven BJP members were found to have voted against the party candidate during the Legislative Council elections earlier this year.

While senior leader and former Union minister Chaman Lal Gupta was expelled from the party, the other six MLAs were suspended. Gupta has moved the High Court against his expulsion and disqualification notice sent by the party to the Assembly.