Privileges panel recommends revocation of Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury's LS suspension

The Lok Sabha privileges committee on Wednesday is learnt to have adopted a resolution, recommending to the Speaker the immediate revocation of suspension of Congress floor leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury.

Chowdhury, who was suspended from the House on August 10 for his contentious comment about Prime Minister Narendra Modi, appeared before the committee on Wednesday and is learnt to have clarified that his "intention was not to hurt anyone." The committee's resolution, it is learnt, said in view of him "expressing regret", the Speaker may discontinue his suspension.

Official sources said two opposition MPs in the panel - Kodikunnil Suresh (Congress) and Kalyan Banerjee (TMC) - maintained that Chowdhury never expressed any "regret' but only clarified his position. But majority of the members are learnt to have agreed with Chairperson Sunil Kumar Singh's opinion that Chowdhury stating that he had no intention of hurting anyone actually amounted to him regretting what had happened.


Chowdhury is also believed to have told the panel that the meaning of some Bengali words he used was misunderstood. The panel resolution, it is learnt, felt that "deliberate attempts" by Chowdhury by way of "frequently interrupting or disturbing the proceedings" during PM's speech and other ministers amounted to "a clear case of contempt". However, in view of him "expressing regret" before the panel, no further punitive action is called and recommended for revoking his suspension says without waiting for the winter session.