The winter session of Parliament started on Monday 29th November 2021. On the very first day, the govt moved a motion to suspend twelve Rajya Sabha MPs from Opposition parties for rest of the session, over their unruly conduct during the previous monsoon session.
The suspended MPs comprise six from Congress, two each from Trinamool Congress (TMC) and Shiv Sena and one each from CPI & CPM. The members are Phulo Devi Netam, Chhaya Verma, Ripun Bora, Rajamani Patel, Syed Nasir Hussain and Akhilesh Prasad of Congress; Dola Sen and Shanta Chhetri of TMC; Priyanka Chaturvedi and Anil Desai of Shiv Sena; Elamaram Kareem of CPM; and Binoy Viswam of CPI.
The events are of 11th August 2021. Here is a summary of what the accused MPs from Congress, TMC, Shiv Sena, CPM and CPI did, as per the govt’s charge sheet.
– Dola Sen (TMC) put a hanging loop made up of fabric/scarf (resembling a noose) around the neck of colleague MP Shanta Chhetri in the
gangway and held the other end of the loop in her hand and shouted slogans.
– Holding the loop around her neck, Shanta Chettri followed Dola Sen up to the well of the house on the right side of Chair.
– Papers were torn by Congress MP Phulo Devi Netam and thrown on the Table of the House towards Secretary General.
– Congress MP Chhaya Verma also tore some papers and threw them towards the Table of the House.
-CPI & CPM MPS Binoy Viswam and Elamaram Kareem (from right side of chair) and Rajmani Patel and Anil Desai of Shiv Sena (from left side of chair) snatched papers/folders kept on the Table of the House.
-Video recording made by Akhilesh Prasad Singh of Congress covering the security staff and Table of the House.
-Dola Sen obstructed the way of the Leader of the House and Minister of Parliamentary Affairs coming from the Chairman’s Chamber to take their respective seats in House. They were also being pushed by her.
-Dola Sen also argued and pushed the lady officials of Parliament Security Service (PSS). Sen also displayed the loop high in the air that was worn by Shanta Chhetri.
-Naseer Hussain of Congress and Priyanka Chaturvedi of Shiv Sena tore papers and threw them towards the Table of the House.
-Naseer Hussain first pushed Sanjay Raut of Shiv Sena towards security officials cordoning the Table of the House and subsequently pulled him back. They were joined by other MPs including Elamaram Kareem,Ripun Bora, Binoy Visvam and Akhilesh Prasad Singh.
-Congress Ripun Bora climbed onto the LED TV stand installed on the left side of chair.
-Elamaram Kareem manhandled and severely chocked the neck of one male marshal and drag him out of the security cordon.
-One lady marshal was pulled and dragged by Phulo Devi Netam and Chhaya Verma, and she assaulted her in the well of House.
-Naseer Hussain and Elamaram Kareem Caught hold of the shoulder of one male marshal and tried to drag him out of the security cordon who was trying to protect the lady marshal.
Parliamentary Affairs Minister Prahlad Joshi wrote to Rajya Sabha Chairman Venkaiah Naidu and said that monsoon session of Parliament was the most “reprehensible and shameful session in the history of our Parliamentary democracy ”
Speaking of the conduct of MPs, who stand suspended, Prahlad Joshi “ These unfathomable circumstances demand an exemplary remedy which will not only act as deterrence against any such future unruly and violent incidents, but also endeavour to restore the credibility of the Parliament in the eyes of electorate.”
The MPs were suspended under Rule 256 of Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business of Rajya Sabha. The action had been taken after reviewing video footage and the written complaints received from Parliament security personnel.
What is this Rule 256:
Suspension of member-
1 The Chairman may, if he deems it necessary name a member who disregards the authority of the Chair or abuses the rules of the council by persistently and willfully obstructing the business thereof.
2 If a member is so named by the chairman, he shall forthwith put the question of motion being made, no amendment adjournment or debate being allowed, that the member (naming him/her) be suspended from the service of the council for a period not exceeding the remainder of session.
Provided that the council may, at any time, on motion being made,resolve that such suspension be terminated.
3 A member suspended under the rule shall forthwith quit the precincts of the council.
On Tuesday 30th November, Rajya Sabha Chairman Venkaiah Naidu refused to reconsider his decision on suspension. Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge said the motion for suspension was in “ gross Violation” of procedure. Piyush Goel, leader of the House in Rajya Sabha said that suspended MPs should apologise to the House, the chair and the nation.
Looking into the reasons given for suspension, it looks like these MPs behaved in rowdy manner in the Rajya Sabha, and the Rajya Sabha Chairman has rightly suspended them. It has been happening quite often in Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha that MPs behave in such manner that it look shameful, and even general public who watch proceeding on live TV feel that these people do not deserve to represent us in the Parliament.
Let us wait and watch for next episode of this issue.
Waiting for your views on this blog.
Anil Malik
Mumbai, India
1st December 2021
Tejinder Singh Sethi
This unruly conduct is highly condemned