New Delhi: The suspended eight Rajya Sabha members refused to leave the house and they stayed in the Rajya Sabha lawn upto Monday midnight. Rajya Sabha Chairman M. Venkaiah Naidu suspended eight opposition members of Rajya Sabha on Monday for their unruly behaviour during passage of the two farm bills on Sunday.

The MPs began indefinite protest at Parliament’s Gandhi statue, saying we will not budge. They were carrying pillows and blankets to the lounge.

Rajya Sabha Chairman suspended the eight members until the end session. He also rejected the notice for a no confidence resolution against Deputy Chairman Harivansh Narayan Singh. The suspended eight MPs are Derek O’ Brien (TMC), Sanjay Singh (AAP), however, continued with the protest and refused to leave the house despite repeated instructions from the Chair. It leads to multiple adjournments, with the proceedings being washed out without any business being transacted on Monday. The other MPs are Rajiv Satiav, Syed Nasir Hussain and Ripun Bora (Cong), Dola Sen (TMC) and K.K. Ragesh and Elamaram Karim (CPM).

Rajya Sabha Chairman M. Venkaiah Naidu expressing deep anguish and said it pained me a lot because what happened was unfortunate, unacceptable and condemnable. It was a very bad day for the Rajya Sabha. He said some members, violating all Covid- 19 physical distancing norms, came to the well of the house, climbed on the Secretary General’s table and broke mikes, while also hurling papers and rulebook at the Deputy Chairperson. “Are these Parliamentary standards”, he asked. While the opposition decided to protest the suspensions and call on President Ram Nath Kovind, this is the second such suspension of a significant number of MPs recently.

In 2010, seven MPs four from SP, one each from JD (U), RJD and LJP were suspended for fracas during passage of women’s reservation bill. The code of conduct adopted by the house in 2005, lays down several guidelines relating to behaviour of members.  Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs V. Muralidharan moved a motion for suspension of the eight MPs for gross disorderly conduct, especially with the Chair, and bringing disrepute to house. It was adopted by voice vote amid continuing protests from the opposition.