MP suspended from Rajya Sabha

On Friday, Santanu Sen, Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP, was suspended from the Rajya Sabha for the rest of the Monsoon Session for being unruly a day after he snatched papers from newly appointed information technology minister Ashwani Vaishnaw while he was reading out a statement regarding the Pegasus snooping scandal.

Key Points

• V Muraleedharan moved a motion so that Sen can be suspended saying that the TMC lawmaker was bringing disrepute to the house.
• Sen refused to leave even after he was asked to exit several times by chairperson of Rajya Sabha M Venkaiah Naidu.
• Naidu allowed the motion, which was subsequently passed in the House.
• Sukhendu Sekhar Roy of TMC objected to the motion, saying it was not on the list of business of the House.
• Roy said TMC was given no time react to the government’s motion to suspend Shantanu Sen.
• Naidu countered Ray’s objections by stating that the motion was approved as Sen was downgrading the dignity of the House.
• Sen snatched the papers from the IT minister and tore and flung them in the air amid a heated exchange.

Under which law was Santanu Sen suspended?

The government sought the suspension of the TMC MP under Rule 256 (2). This rule says that any lawmaker who has disregarded the authority of the Chair or has abused the rules of the Council through  disruptions can be suspended from the House for the remainder of the parliamentary session if the Rajya Sabha chairman agrees to it. Once this motion has been moved, there can be no adjournment or debate allowed on it.

Month: Current Affairs - July, 2021