New Delhi: Rajya Sabha proceedings were adjourned till 4 pm Thursday, the second time in the post-lunch session, amid Opposition protests over the suspension of TMC member Derek O’Brien.
When the Rajya Sabha reassembled at 2:30 pm after an adjournment early in the post-lunch session, Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar said it was unfortunate that suspended member O’Brien continued to be in the House “in outrageous defiance of the resolution of the House and directive of the Chair”.
The Opposition members protested and shouted even as Dhankhar spoke.
“His conduct has handicapped the House from transacting the listed business and is against public interest…,” the chairman remarked, drawing loud protests from the Opposition.
Dhankhar asked O’Brien to withdraw from the House and adjourned the proceedings till 4 pm.
Earlier, when the Rajya Sabha reassembled for the post-lunch session, after witnessing two adjournments earlier in the pre-lunch session, Opposition members started sloganeering and demanded Union Home Minister Amit Shah to come to the House and give a statement Wednesday’s security breach in the Lok Sabha.
Without naming O’Brien, Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar then said his continued presence in the House despite the suspension was in disregard of the rules and asked him to leave.
“Proceedings of the House are severely handicapped by the presence of a member, who in pursuance to the resolution of the House and directive of the Chair was suspended. His continued presence in the House is a severe disregard of the rules, disregard of the resolution of the House,” the chairman said.
Amid Opposition sloganeering, he said, “It is unfortunate the defiance continues, constituting a serious breach. This is a separate breach. It is aggravated conduct. We are compromising public interest, we are squandering public exchequer money. We are not doing our duties, we are working against public interest. I do hope the honourable member will reflect, others will counsel him.”
After announcing that the House has been adjourned till 2:30 pm, Dhankhar said, “I am sure honourable member Derek O’Brien will reflect, abide by the rules, go by the resolution of the House and withdraw from the House…”
Earlier in the day, Rajya Sabha proceedings were adjourned twice during the pre-lunch period amid protests by opposition MPs after O’Brien was suspended from the House for unruly behaviour and violating the directions of the Chair.
Soon after the House met at noon, Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar warned Derek O’Brien against disrupting the proceedings and unruly behaviour and also named him. He asked O’Brien to leave the House, but opposition MPs did not relent and protested instead.
The chairman then allowed Leader of the House Piyush Goyal to move a motion to suspend O’Brien under Rule 256.
The motion to suspend O’Brien for the remainder of the session was adopted with a voice vote and the chairman announced that the TMC MP stands suspended from the House.
This led to more protests by the opposition members who raised slogans, saying the suspension would not be tolerated.
The chairman then announced that the house was adjourned till 2 pm.
PTI