No restrictions on march against land bill: Government

New Delhi, March 17 (IANS) The government on Tuesday clarified that there were no restrictions on the march against the land acquisition bill that opposition parliamentarians have planned to Rashtrapati Bhavan later in the day.

Opposition MPs in Rajya Sabha said they received letters from Delhi Police saying that if they march from Parliament House to Rashtrapati Bahvan they will be arrested.

The issue was raised by Samajwadi Party leader Naresh Agarwal who called it a constitutional crisis.

"President is the head of the state, are we not allowed to meet the president," he questioned.

Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) leader Sitaram Yechury said that MPs have an appointment to meet President Pranab Mukherjee.

"Whether we go on a horse carriage or on foot, that is our choice," he said.

Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi, after collecting information, informed the MPs that no such restriction was in place.

"We have talked to concerned authorities... instructions have been given. We are strongly committed to democratic rights of all," he said.

Deputy Chairman P.J. Kurien said the home secretary and commissioner have assured there is no bar on the MPs and there is nothing to be worried about.

Yechury said they will march to the Rashtrapati Bhavan, and if the MPs are arrested they want protection of the house. To this, Agarwal added that if it happens, it will be a contempt of the house as the government has assured the members.

Parliamentarians from 10 parties will march to Rashtrapati Bhawan from Parliament House at 5.30 p.m. to hand over a joint memorandum to President Pranab Mukherjee identifying their points of disagreement with the government on the bill. Congress president Sonia Gandhi will also participate in the march.