Disruption in Lok Sabha: Four Congress MPs suspended for rest of the Monsoon session

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 proceedings despite a warning from Speaker Om Birla.

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 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 will 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 will 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 proceedings with slogans demanding roll back of GST, price rise and other issues in the second week of the session.

Suspended Congress MPs called it an “insensitive decision” saying that they will continue to protest everyday 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 will continue to demand discussion on price rise notwithstanding the suspensions.

Suspended MP Tagore said the opposition had been giving adjournment notices for six days to discuss issues like price rise and GST impact on households, which were not allowed.

“We do not want the Parliament to function as a cheerleader of the government. The Parliament is meant to debate issues of the public. Our leader Rahul Gandhi has told us not to fear and to keep raising concerns of the common people. As far as carrying placards goes, we were constrained because Sansad TV, which the government controls, does not show opposition protests,” Tagore said

The BJP welcomed the decision, and accused the Congress of “running away from debate”.

Joshi said the government is ready for discussion on price rise, but Congress MPs did not respect the Chair. “The government is ready for discussion on price rise as soon as Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman recovers from COVID,” he said, terming their conduct in the House “unacceptable”.

Joshi said he had personally told Congress leaders of both the Houses that the government was ready for discussion on price rise. The Rajya Sabha was also adjourned on the same lines.