Motion in LS to suspend 2 Cong MPs

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, December 9

Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla today said he would rule appropriately on the government demand to suspend two Kerala Congress MPs for alleged misconduct with Women and Child Development Minister Smriti Irani on Friday unless they apologised to the House.

Home Minister Amit Shah led the attack on the Congress soon after the question hour today and said, “This is a fit case under Rule 374 of Lok Sabha procedures. What the Congress MPs did was shameful.”

The government today listed a motion in the LS under Rule 374 seeking suspension of Congress MPs TN Prathapan and Dean Kuriakose for the remainder of the winter session until December 13.

“The MPs had been told by Speaker on Friday to apologise, but they did not. The posture they adopted before a lady minister was seen in a very bad light across the country. They rolled up their sleeves and threatened her. They can still apologise,” Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi said.

Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, however, remained unfazed saying the party will not be intimidated. “This is Parliament, not some king’s den (Raja ka hawamahal) that you will intimidate us. You overruled Speaker’s ruling. The Speaker did not pass any orders against our MPs on Friday and unless an MP is named by the Speaker you cannot bring a motion under Rule 374. You do not know the rules,” he said.

As acrimonious exchanges continued, the Speaker said he would rule on the matter soon.

Bill in LS to extend SC/ST seat reservation

Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad on Monday introduced in the Lok Sabha a constitutional amendment Bill to extend by 10 years the reservation of seats for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes in the lower house and to simultaneously do away with the nomination of two members of the Anglo Indian community. 

Naidu writes to floor leaders on attendance

Rajya Sabha Chairman Venkaiah Naidu has urged floor leaders of political parties to ensure regular attendance of their members in meetings of the Department Related Standing Committees (DRSCs) and in the upper house as well, and pitched for a mechanism to monitor attendance and counselling of those in the habit of playing truant.