New Delhi: Opposition leaders have ended their sit-in dharna protesting the suspension of 12 Rajya Sabha MPs for the day, as a token of respect for Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Bipin Rawat and 12 others killed in a chopper crash.

Mallikarjun Kharge, the Leader of the Opposition (LoP) in the Upper House, reportedly said on Thursday, "We have decided not to protest the suspension of 12 Rajya Sabha MPs today as a mark of respect for CDS Bipin Rawat and the soldiers killed in the chopper crash. We'll also be in attendance for Defence Minister Rajnath Singh's speech."

"On the solidarity of CDS and those who lost their life in the crash, we have called off the demonstration today," Shiv Sena's Priyanka Chaturvedi said. "We have paused our dharma for today and will start tomorrow as a token of respect to late CDS and other jawans who lost their lives in chopper tragedy," Congress said in a statement.

Since the start of the winter session on November 29, the Rajya Sabha has seen back-to-back adjournments due to the suspension of 12 MPs. The opposition leaders, together with the suspended MPs, have been demonstrating against the suspension at the Gandhi statue on the Parliament grounds.

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