New Delhi, Dec 14: As many as 14 opposition MPs were suspended from Parliament for the remainder of the session for disrupting proceedings as the Lok Sabha security breach incident snowballed into a major row on Thursday with the government asking the opposition not to “politicise” the “grave national issue” and the Congress, TMC and others demanding a statement from Home Minister Amit Shah.
While TMC’s Derek O’Brien was suspended in Rajya Sabha, as many as 13 opposition MPs, including nine from the Congress and DMK’s Kanimozhi, were suspended from Lok Sabha for disrupting the proceedings.
Amid opposition protests, demanding a statement from Home Minister Amit Shah and Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the security breach incident, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi moved two resolutions separately for the suspension of the MPs for disrupting the Lok Sabha proceedings.
The MPs had moved into the Well of the Lok Sabha raising slogans, questioning the security breach, and demanding a statement from the government.
While T N Prathapan, Hibi Eden, Jothimani, Ramya Haridas and Dean Kuriakose, all from the Congress, were suspended when the first resolution was adopted, four Congress MPs –VK Sreekandan, Benny Behanan, Mohammed Jawaid and Manickam Tagore– along with PR Natarajan (CPI-M), Kanimozhi (DMK), K Subbarayan (CPI), SR Parthiban (DMK) and S Venkatesan (CPI-M) were suspended through the second resolution.
Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi said Parthiban’s name has been withdrawn from the list of the suspended Lok Sabha members as there was a mistake on the part of the staff in identifying the member. “I have requested the Speaker to drop the name of the member as it was a case of mistaken identity,” Joshi said.
Earlier in a statement, Joshi said “We all agree” that the unfortunate incident on Wednesday was a serious one concerning the safety and security of MPs.
The minister said it should be appreciated that Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla promptly held a meeting with floor leaders following the incident and listened to the suggestions for further strengthening Parliament security.
Some of the suggestions given by MPs have already been implemented, he said, and noted that the Speaker himself has stated that further measures will be taken to strengthen the security of Parliament.
“In my opinion, this matter concerns all of us and we have to speak in one voice,” Joshi said.
Earlier in the day, Deputy Leader of the House and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said in the Lok Sabha that all should come together and condemn the incident and there is no point in protesting in the House.
Soon after the Rajya Sabha House met at noon after an adjournment, Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar warned O’Brien against his unruly behaviour and for disrupting the proceedings. He asked O’Brien to leave the House, but the opposition MP did not relent and protested instead.
The chairman then allowed Leader of the House Piyush Goyal to move a motion to suspend O’Brien under Rule 256. The motion to suspend O’Brien for the remainder of the session was adopted with a voice vote.
O’Brien did not leave the Rajya Sabha chambers even after suspension and the matter of his conduct was referred to the Privileges Committee of the House. The committee has been asked to submit a report on O’Brien’s conduct in three months.
Joshi also listed past incidents when such breach of security has happened in Parliament, noting that incidents such as slogan-shouting, throwing of papers and jumping from the gallery have happened in the past also.
“In the past also, many such incidents have taken place. I am not comparing past incidents and defending yesterday’s incident but we have to learn lessons from the past,” he said.
The 13 MPs in Lok Sabha violated the decision taken at the BAC meeting and brought placards to the House and hence, they were suspended, the minister said. (PTI)
