NEW DELHI: In addition to the banning of words such as 'corruption' in the Parliament, the Central Government's move to restrict dharnas and demonstrations in the Parliament premises has sparked a controversy. It was Rajya Sabha Secretary General P C Mody who issued the new circular restricting dharnas, demonstrations, strikes, fasts or any religious events inside the Parliament premises. The Opposition parties will be using these issues as a weapon against the government in the parliamentary session starting on July 18.

The controversial order became public when Congress leader Jairam Ramesh shared it on Twitter. The Rajya Sabha Secretariat later came out explaining that the order was a routine affair.

Opposition MPs often stage protests against the Centre on controversial issues in front of the Gandhi statue on the Parliament premises. The MPs who were suspended for the action in the House had held a satyagraha here.