Trinamool Congress’ Rajya Sabha MP Derek O’Brien was on Tuesday suspended from attending the remaining part of the Winter Session of Parliament after the Opposition MP was accused of throwing a copy of the Parliament rule book at the Chair of the Upper House.
Taking to Twitter, O’Brien said, “The last time I got suspended from RS was when govt. was BULLDOZING #FarmLaws. We all know what happened after that. Today, suspended while protesting against BJP making a mockery of #Parliament and BULLDOZING #ElectionLawsBill2021. Hope this Bill too will be repealed soon.”
Opposition MPs were protesting at the Well of the House against a provision of the Bill that allows linking of Aadhaar with voter IDs. O’Brien and other MPs were demanding a division of votes on the Bill, but Deputy Chairperson of Rajya Sabha Harivansh passed the law by a voice vote.
Sasmit Patra, who was in the Chair, said O’Brien had raised a point of order and the deputy chairman duly responded to it. A little later, TMC MP flung the rule book furiously in the direction of the Chair, Patra alleged.
O’Brien’s suspension could add to the impasse in Rajya Sabha. Proceedings of the Upper House have been marred during the Winter Session because of the suspension of 12 Opposition MPs last month.
