Gross misconduct: 7 Congress MPs suspended for rest of parliament session

BJP leader Meenakshi Lekhi, who was in the Chair, when the House reassembled at 3 pm, said the Congress members had behaved in a manner that had never happened before and had snatched papers from the podium during the proceedings when the House met at 2 pm.  

New Delhi: Speaker Om Birla suspended seven Congress MPs for the rest of the budget session for the ruckus created in parliament over the last three days during a discussion on last week's violence in Delhi. The Speaker has also accepted the government's call to form a committee and examine their conduct for possible disqualification, sources said.

The leaders who were suspended on charges of gross misconduct were Gaurav Gogoi, TN Prathapan, Dean Kuriakose, R Unnithan, Manickam Tagore, Benny Behnan and Gurjeet Singh Aujla.

"Snatching papers from the Speaker's table is utmost disrespect to the Chair. Those who snatched papers from the Chair, their membership should be terminated," Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi said.

Calling it "revenge politics", Congress's leader of the house Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury said the party will "not let up".

Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi said that the government should discuss Delhi riots on Friday and show accountability towards the people who elected it.

"Suspend me, but please discuss the Delhi riots tomorrow. Show your accountability towards the very people who voted for you. No matter the number, my party derives its strength from our commitment towards Bharat Mata and we will continue to seek justice from PM Modi," he said in a tweet.

Congress has been pressing for immediate discussion on last week's Delhi violence, but the government has said it will hold the discussion after Holi.

The Speaker committed to a discussion on March 11, the day after Holi.

Congress members have been going to the well of the House over their demand since Monday when the House met after recess for the second half of the budget session. They have been raising slogans against the governments and also carrying placards. The party has sought the resignation of home minister Amit Shah.