New Delhi: The suspension of eight opposition members was revoked in the Lok Sabha on Tuesday (March 17) after a war of words between the opposition and treasury benches on maintaining decorum in the House and not “crossing the Lakshman Rekha.” Opposition members said that they would maintain the decorum, and the members of the opposition should be given equal time as the Treasury benches.Eight opposition MPs including Congress’s Amarinder Singh Raja Warring, Gurjeet Singh Aujla, Hibi Eden, Dean Kuriakose, Prashant Padole, C. Kiran Kumar Reddy, Manickam Tagore and CPI(M) MP S. Venkatesan were suspended on February 3 for the entire session, following an uproar after leader of opposition (LoP) Rahul Gandhi was stopped from speaking during the discussion on the Motion of Thanks to the President’s Address.On Tuesday, Congress’ chief whip in the House K. Suresh said “indiscretion that may have inadvertently happened is regretted” and requested the government to revoke their suspension. “You [speaker] had a meeting yesterday. We had a detailed discussion… floor leaders spoke, parliamentary minister also spoke, that is why I am moving this,” he said.The House erupted in an uproar after Samajwadi Party MP Dharmendra Yadav who was invited to speak next, said that while his party and the opposition supports the motion, the Treasury benches should also maintain decorum in the House and accused Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Nishikant Dubey to improve his behaviour.“I support the resolution to revoke the suspension of eight MPs moved by K. Suresh. The ruling side people are dictating terms here. All members are responsible for maintaining the dignity of the House. But on behalf of the party and my leader, Akhilesh Yadav, we will never cross the dignity of the House,” he said.He added: “But, the ruling party people should also resolve to do this. Only then the House will run well. First of all Nishikant Dubey should improve his behaviour only then dignity of the House will be maintained.”This led to an uproar from treasury benches, as speaker Om Birla said that the matter should not be debated.Dubey then rose to reply and said that he had never violated the decorum in the House and demanded proof from the opposition, “failing which they should apologise if the House has to run.”“I agree with the Speaker but I have been a member of the House for 17 years. I have never violated the decorum of the House. If I have, they should show me when. Otherwise they should apologise and if they don’t, this House won’t run,” he said.NCP MP Supriya Sule speaks in the Lok Sabha during the second part of the Budget session of parliament in New Delhi, on March 17, 2026. Photo: Sansad TV via PTI.Nationalist Congress Party–Sharadchandra Pawar (NCP–SP) MP Supriya Sule said that the issue had been discussed for over an hour in the speaker’s office on Monday and decided that both sides should try to maintain decorum and respect.“We can differ on policy but there should not be personal attacks. We all agreed that when we go to the well we should respect the Treasury benches and they should also respect us. It was decided that a Lakshman Rekha should be maintained on both sides,” she said.Amid an uproar, Sule said that while the opposition is ready to try, “if four ministers speak against us, how will this work?”“If ministers speak like this, how will it work? You [speaker] protect us. How can ministers behave like this?” she said.Janata Dal (United) (JD(U)) MP and Union minister Rajeev Ranjan Singh alias Lalan Singh said that he agrees with Sule that the Lakshman Rekha should not be crossed.“You cannot clap with one hand, it takes two hands. That is why what Suresh read was incomplete. He should tell the House what was decided yesterday,” he said.Union minister Kiren Rijiju speaks in the Lok Sabha during the second part of the Budget session of parliament in New Delhi on March 17, 2026. Photo: Sansad TV via PTI.Union parliamentary affairs minister Kiren Rijiju then said that while he is ready to move the motion to revoke the suspension of the MPs, there should be “clarity” on what has been agreed upon on Monday.“The sense of the House is supreme. You [speaker] is the protector of the House. Today, when Suresh spoke, yes he expressed regret. We have no issues, Prime Minister has also apologised in the House so has Arun Jaitley. Suresh has not apologised but used the word regret,” he said.“We are fine with this. But in future to make the House work, according to the rules, if he can give some clarity, then we are ready. From your side, if you are ready to run the House smoothly we are also ready to give commitment that we will not disrupt any member. To run the House smoothly, the core commitment by the opposition, should be clarified, including what actions will be taken by you to run the House smoothly,” Rijiju added. Suresh then said that there had been no banners, placards in the House and no protests were held at Makar Dwar either.“Yesterday onwards, there were no placards. There is no protest at Makar Dwar. Because there is an understanding. Yesterday also the House was running and today also it is running. We are ready to cooperate. At the same time, equal opportunity should be given to the Opposition Benches as well as the Treasury Benches. Then everything will be over. Once again, with gratitude to the Speaker to revoke the suspension of the members,” he said.The suspension of opposition members was then revoked after a voice vote in the House.