Four Congress MPs suspended for disrupting LS proceedings

Vibha Sharma

New Delhi, July 25

Differences between the BJP-led government and the Opposition today deepened with four Congress MPs suspended from the Lok Sabha for the rest of the monsoon session for displaying placards and disrupting the proceedings in spite of a warning from Speaker Om Birla.

Parliamentarians Manickam Tagore, Ramya Haridas, S Jothimani and TN Prathapan were suspended under Rule 374 by Rajendra Agrawal, who was in the Chair.

They were first named by Agrawal for displaying placards in the House, after which Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi read out a motion seeking their suspension, terming the disruptions and showing of placards “a clear violation of the Speaker’s direction”.

“That this House having taken serious note of the misconduct of Manickam Tagore, TN Prathapan, S Jothimani and Ramya Haridas and utter disregard to the House and the authority of the Chair and having been named by the Speaker resolve that the above mentioned members be suspended from the service of the House for the reminder of the session under Rule 374(2),” he read.

Earlier, when the Lok Sabha met for the post-lunch session, Birla had sent a clear warning to protesting members that action would be taken if they did not stop.

Announcing adjournment of the House till 3 pm, Birla said after the proceedings resume (at 3 pm), those who still want to protest would get ample time to do so outside the House. “People of the country want the House to function,” the Speaker said, as Opposition members continued to disrupt the proceedings over the GST and price rise.

The suspended Congress MPs called it an “insensitive decision”, saying that they would continue to protest every day outside the House to highlight “people’s issues”.

Congress leader Shaktisinh Gohil said the onus of running the House was on the government and his party would continue demanding a discussion on price rise notwithstanding the suspensions.

The BJP welcomed the decision and accused the Congress of “running away from the debate”. Joshi said the government was ready for a discussion on price rise, but Congress MPs did not respect the Chair.

The Rajya Sabha was also adjourned on the same issues.

Parliament meant to debate public issues

We do not want Parliament to function as a cheerleader of the government. It is meant to debate public issues. Manickam Tagore, Congress MP