4 Cong MPs suspended from LS for rest of session for disrupting proceedings

Four Congress MPs were suspended from Lok Sabha for the rest of the session for displaying placards and disrupting proceedings despite a warning by Speaker Om Birla.

Four Congress Lok Sabha members were suspended for the rest of the monsoon session on Monday after Speaker Om Birla took a stern view of the continuous disruptions by Opposition MPs since the begin­ning of the session.

As the protesting members again stalled proceedings, the Chair named Congress MPs Manickam Tagore, TN Prat­hapan, Jothimani, and Ramya Haridas. When a member is named, he or she has to immediately withdraw from the chamber of the House.

Parliamentary Affair Minister Pralhad Joshi moved a resolution to suspend the four for the rest of the session. Joshi said these MPs had shown “utter disregard” for the authority of the Chair and a “serious note of their misconduct” had been taken by the House.

The House then passed the resolution by a voice vote and Rajendra Agarwal, who was chairing the proceedings, announced their suspension. He then asked the members named in the resolution to immediately leave the House. The proceedings were then adjourned for the day.

Speaking to reporters along with the four suspended MPs outside the House, Congress deputy leader in Lok Sabha Gaurav Gogoi alleged that the government was trying to “intimi­date” the party as it was raising people’s issues like price rise. 

Earlier, Speaker Om Birla had warned the protesting members, including from the Congress, TMC, and DMK, that those who continue to shout slogans and display placards will have to do it outside the House after 3 pm. 

As the Opposition members continued to protest, Birla told them that the government was ready to discuss issues raised by them and stressed that people want the House to function. Birla then adjourned the House till 3 pm.

However, as the House proceedings resumed, waving of placards and sloganeering continued, drowning the voices of members participating in the Zero Hour. Rajendra Agarwal, who was chairing the proceedings, implored the Opposition members to take note of the warning given by the Speaker.

He said the members who had been suspended had shown “stubborn behavior”, "deliberately and continuously disrupted proceedings" and ignored House rules and directions of the Speaker.

The House then passed the resolution by a voice vote and Agarwal announced their suspension. He then asked the members named in the resolution to immediately leave the House. The proceedings were then adjourned for the day.