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Lok Sabha has suspended seven Congress members for the remaining period of the budget session for “gross misconduct” and “utter disregard” for House rules after they snatched papers from the Speaker’s table.
The seven Congress MPs are – Gaurav Gogoi, TN Prathapan, Dean Kuriakose, R Unnithan, Manickam Tagore, Benny Behnan and Gurjeet Singh Aujla have been suspended from Lok Sabha for the rest of the budget session on charges of gross misconduct.
As soon as the House reassembled at 3 pm following an adjournment, Meenakshi Lekhi, who was presiding the House, named the seven Congress MP’s.
Once a member is named by the Chair, he or she cannot attend the House for that day.
She said when the House was discussing the Mineral Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2020, some members “forcefully” snatched and tossed papers from the Speaker podium.
“Such unfortunate incident has possibly happened for the first time in the parliamentary history…I condemn this behaviour,” she said while naming the members.
Parliamentary affairs minister Prahlad Joshi then moved a motion to suspend the members from the House for the remaining period of the budget session.
The motion was passed by a voice vote amid protests by opposition members.
“…that this house having taken serious note of gross misconduct of these members’ utter disregard to the House and authority of the Chair and having been named by the Speaker resolve that these members be suspended from the service of the House from the remainder of the session,” he said.
Lekhi then asked the seven members to leave Lok Sabha chambers immediately and then adjourned the House for the day.
