Seven Congress MPs suspended from Lok Sabha over misconduct for rest of Budget Session

NEW DELHI: Seven Congress MPs were suspended from Lok Sabha by Speaker Om Birla for alleged misconduct and creating ruckus in Parliament on Thursday (March 5, 2020). The seven suspended Congress MPs are - Gaurav Gogoi, TN Prathapan, Dean Kuriakose, R Unnithan, Manickam Tagore, Benny Behnan and Gurjeet Singh Aujla.

All these seven Congress MPs were suspended by the Lok Speaker for the rest of the ongoing Budget Session for gross misconduct. The action was taken by the Lok Sabha Speaker as the Congress-led Opposition members continued to protest and raised vociferous sloganeering against the Centre over the recent Delhi violence for the fourth day today.

The motion in this regard was passed by voice vote in Parliament. After that, the Lower House was adjourned at 15: 03 hours for the day to meet again on Friday (March 6) at 11:00 hours.

However, the suspension of party MPs was severely criticiused by the Congress leaders, who said that ''it is a 'govt decision' and not by Speaker.''

Commenting on the developmemt, Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury said, ''what kind of dictatorship is this.''

''Suspension attempt to weaken us; the govt fears discussion on Delhi riots in Parliament. We saw revenge politics in House, orders were given by chairperson to suspend 7 Congress MPs for this session,'' Chowdhury said.  

However, the ruling BJP welcomed the decision to suspend seven "unruly" members of the Opposition party from the House for the remainder of the session.

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi said that his party has requested Speaker Om Birla to set up a panel to look into the continuous "indiscipline" by Congress members.

"Snatching papers from the Speaker's table is utmost disrespect to the Chair. We condemn this," he told reporters. Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat said the "unruly" behaviour of the Congress MPs was "unprecedented", and it would have shocked the country's founding fathers. 

"We welcome the decision to suspend the unruly Congress members," he said.

On Wednesday, Lok Sabha proceedings were disrupted for the third day as Opposition parties created an uproar demanding immediate discussion on the Delhi violence. The House was first adjourned soon after it met at 11 am, then at noon and finally for the day a little past 2 pm.

The Opposition parties were demanding an immediate discussion on Delhi violence but Parliamentary affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi said it can be taken up on March 11 in the Lower House and on March 12 in Rajya Sabha. Not convinced, the Opposition continued the protest storming the well on several occasions. Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla was not present during the day and the proceedings were chaired by presiding officers.

Amid din, the Direct Tax Vivaad Se Vishwas Bill was passed by the House. Opposition parties continued to demand resignation of Home Minister Amit Shah and continued to chant slogans -- ‘Modi Sarkar Shame Shame’, ‘Pradhan Mantri Jawab Do’.

Earlier, Congress members trooped into the Well shouting slogans and some of them displayed placards, demanding resignation of Home Minister Amit Shah. Nearly 30 members from the Congress were in the Well. Some of them were heard asking where was the Speaker and also shouted ‘we want justice’.

Despite the din, two questions were taken up during the Question Hour. Supplementaries to a query related to coal production was answered by Joshi, who is also the Coal Minister. Kirit Solanki, who was in the chair, told agitating members that Question Hour should continue.

As the ruckus continued, he adjourned proceedings till noon.

Both Houses have been witnessing disruptions over Delhi violence since the second leg of the Budget session began on March 2.