Veteran Maharashtra leader and NCP chief Sharad Pawar on Tuesday announced a one-day fast in support of opposition MPs who are protesting against the agriculture bills as well as the suspension of eight colleagues. The move comes after the Congress and other opposition parties decided to boycott the Rajya Sabha for the rest of the session unless the suspension is revoked. It also follows the announcement of a fast by Deputy Chairman of Rajya Sabha Harivansh, who said he was pained by the behaviour of opposition MPs. "I will not eat anything today in solidarity with the protesting members," Sharad Pawar, a Rajya Sabha member of the NCP, said. The suspension of eight MPs, including TMC leader Derek O'Brien and Sanjay Singh of AAP, for the remaining part of the Monsoon Session over their "unruly behaviour" during the passage of farm bills had prompted the leaders to go on an indefinite sit-in inside Parliament complex.

Veteran Maharashtra leader and NCP chief Sharad Pawar on Tuesday announced a one-day fast in support of opposition MPs who are protesting against the agriculture bills as well as the suspension of eight colleagues. The move comes after the Congress and other opposition parties decided to boycott the Rajya Sabha for the rest of the session unless the suspension is revoked. It also follows the announcement of a fast by Deputy Chairman of Rajya Sabha Harivansh, who said he was pained by the behaviour of opposition MPs. "I will not eat anything today in solidarity with the protesting members," Sharad Pawar, a Rajya Sabha member of the NCP, said. The suspension of eight MPs, including TMC leader Derek O'Brien and Sanjay Singh of AAP, for the remaining part of the Monsoon Session over their "unruly behaviour" during the passage of farm bills had prompted the leaders to go on an indefinite sit-in inside Parliament complex.