Rajya Sabha chairman suspends TMC MP Derek O'Brien over 'unruly behaviour'

Rajya Sabha on Thursday adopted motion for suspension of TMC MP Derek O' Brien for the remainder part of the winter session for his "unruly behaviour" and "misconduct". The proceedings of the house were adjourned till 2 PM after uproar by opposition members over the TMC leader's suspension.

He was named earlier in the morning also for his "unruly behaviour" and was asked by the chairman to leave the House.

Accusing O'Brien of violating the directions of the chair and for disrupting the proceedings of the House, the chairman allowed Leader of the House Piyush Goyal to move a motion in this regard.


The motion was adopted with a voice vote and the chairman announced that O'Brien stands suspended from the House for the remainder of the session.

Rajya Sabha proceedings were adjourned in the opening hour after opposition MPs trooped into the Well of the House, demanding a discussion on the Parliament security breach. Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar disallowed as many as 28 notices served by opposition MPs, who sought the suspension of business for the day to discuss the December 13 security breach.

The opposition MPs, however, pressed for a discussion and moved into the Well of the House. They shouted slogans and demanded Union Home Minister Amit Shah's reply.

Dhankhar condemned the unruly behaviour of the MPs, saying it violated the rules.

At this point, TMC leader Derek O'Brien moved into the area in front of the Chair and flung his arms in the air.

This infuriated Dhankhar, who named O'Brien and said he should leave the House. A person named by the Chair has to withdraw from the proceedings for the day.

Dhankhar called Derek O'Brien's conduct a "defiance" of the Chair and "serious misconduct".

As the slogan-shouting did not stop, Dhankhar adjourned the proceedings of the House till 12 noon.

Before adjourning, he called the floor leaders of the political parties for a meeting in his chamber.

(With agency inputs)