Derek O’ Brien (Trinamool Congress), Sanjay Singh (Aam Aadmi Party) and Rajeev Satav (Congress) are among eight opposition members who have been suspended from the Rajya Sabha for the rest of the Monsoon Session.
This was the aftermath of unprecedented chaos in the House during the passing of farm bills on Sunday. O’Brien apparently tried to tear up the rules back in the House.
“I am pained at what happened yesterday. It defies logic. It is a bad day for Rajya Sabha,” said Rajya Sabha chairman Venkaiah Naidu.
He said the members threw papers, wrenched mics away and “physically threatened” Deputy Chairman Harivansh Singh.
Two of the government’s three farm bills, which have triggered protests by opposition parties and farmers, were passed on Sunday amid opposition protests in the Rajya Sabha.
Sanjay Singh and Congress member Rajiv Satav climbed onto the Secretary General’s table at the centre of the house, Trinamool Congress member Derek O’Brien waved a rulebook in front of the Chairperson and some members pulled out mics at their seats. A few members also tore up copies of the bills.
The bills, which were cleared in the Lok Sabha earlier, will now go to the President for sign-off before becoming law.
The Opposition is asking for the farms bills to be sent to a select committee for review. Harivansh Singh, who was the Chair at the time, refused the request.
The row heated up when the Opposition wanted physical voting but Harivansh Singh preferred voice vote.
Nearly 50 members moved a no-confidence motion against Harivansh Singh.
