Eight MPs that includes Trinamool Congress’ Derek O’Brien and Dola Sen, Sanjay Singh of Aam Aadmi Party, Rajeev Satav, Ripun Bora and Syed Nasir Hussain of the Congress and CPI(M) leaders KK Ragesh and Elamaram Kareem have been suspended for a week for their “unruly behaviour especially with the Chair and gross disorderly conduct”.
The Rajya Sabha on Sunday witnessed uproar as the opposition MPs created ruckus over the passing of the two farm bills: The Farmers’ Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Bill, 2020 and The Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement of Price Assurance and Farm Services Bill, 2020.
Derek O’Brien of the TMC jumped into the well and heckled at the Deputy Chairman Harivansh Narayan Singh. The agitated MP also tore the rule book in front of him. Sanjay Singh and Rajiv Satav climbed onto the Secretary General’s table at the centre of the house.
Today, as the suspended MPs refused to leave, the house caused multiple adjournments of the Rajya Sabha.
“I am pained at what happened yesterday. It defies logic. It is a bad day for Rajya Sabha,” said Rajya Sabha chairman Venkaiah Naidu said adding that the members threw papers, wrenched mics away, “physically threatened” Deputy Chairman. While the opposition said that an opportunity should be given to the MPs to explain themselves, the Rajya Sabha refused it saying that the decision was based on government position.
“I am naming Mr Derek O Brien. Please go out of the house,” Mr Naidu said, as he named the suspended members. However none of them budged.