TMC MP Santanu Sen suspended from Rajya Sabha for unruly conduct

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, July 13

A day after he snatched and tore up an anti-Pegasus row statement IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw was making in the Rajya Sabha, Trinamool Congress MP Santanu Sen was suspended from the House for the remainder of the session for unruly conduct.

Rajya Sabha chairman M Venkaiah Naidu approved the motion for Sen’s suspension moved by the government in the House minutes before the Opposition uproar over the Pegasus row led to the first disruption of the proceedings and the first adjournment until noon.

Later, Rajya Sabha proceedings were adjourned for the day following continuous protests by Opposition parties.

The Lok Sabha was also adjourned for the day amid pandemonium by Opposition MPs, who were demanding sacking of Union Home Minister Amit Shah over Pegasus snooping and a judicial probe into the developments. The Left sought a joint parliamentary committee investigation.

In Rajya Sabha earlier, Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs V Muraleedharan moved the motion naming Santanu Sen and his suspension for the remaining session.

The motion was adopted by a voice vote and approved by chairman Naidu.

Objections from TMC leader Sukhendu Roy and Congress’s Jairam Ramesh were dismissed by the chair.

Roy was objecting to the motion not being listed in the Rajya Sabha schedule of business for the day.

The chairman, however, said he had approved the business as it involved matters related to prestige of the House.

Earlier, Naidu expressed anguish over the Houses being rendered dysfunctional by the opposition and wondered “who will benefit from a dysfunctional Indian Parliament?”

“Not the people and I don’t think even the opposition will benefit,” said Naidu lamenting that leaders were not allowing the Rajya Sabha to run after having resolved in previous meetings to have smooth proceedings in public interest.

In Lok Sabha too, Speaker Om Birla’s repeated pleas to opposition members to wear masks and follow Covid behaviour went in vain.

The opposition was protesting in the Well of the House with many MPs without masks.

“Covid is not over yet. Please follow appropriate behaviour,” said Birla.