Eight opposition members in the Lok Sabha were today suspended for the remainder of the Budget session after they violated rules and created ruckus in the House. The suspension came after Congress leader Rahul Gandhi insisted on specifically mentioning the standoff with China in eastern Ladakh in 2020.
The House, which adjourned twice in the day, resumed at 3 pm and Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi said he would not mention any magazine article related to the memoirs of former Army chief General MM Naravane, but would rather comment about Chinese actions and the government’s response during the Kailash Range standoff with China.
The government has said that Rahul Gandhi cannot quote from any unpublished memoir or any magazine article based on it.
The Speaker asked Rahul Gandhi to resume his speech on the motion of thanks on the President’s address and follow the decision given earlier.
When Rahul Gandhi insisted on giving his scheduled speech, the Speaker called other members to speak on the motion of thanks on the President’s address. Congress and opposition members started sloganeering, which intensified after the TDP member began his speech.
Some members were seen throwing papers amid the uproar. The proceedings of the House were adjourned till 3 pm.
When the House proceedings resumed, BJP member Dilip Saikia, sitting on the Speaker’s chair, took the names of eight opposition members.
Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju moved a motion to suspend eight members for the remainder of the Budget session for “violating rules and throwing papers on the chair”.
Despite opposition from opposition members, the House passed the resolution.
The opposition MPs suspended for the remainder of the session include Congress members Hibi Eden, Amarinder Singh Raja Waring, Manickam Tagore, Gurjit Singh Aujla, Prashant Yadaorao Padole, Chamala Kiran Kumar Reddy and Dean Kuriakose and CPI-M member S Venkatesan.
There were repeated adjournments in the Lok Sabha yesterday also due to the ongoing deadlock over Rahul Gandhi’s attempts to cite the magazine article.
