Zeenews Bureau
New Delhi: Seven members of Rajya Sabha
belonging to SP, RJD, LJP and an unattached MP were suspended Tuesday for remaining part of the budget session for their unruly behaviour in the House yesterday over the Women's Reservation Bill.
The suspended members are Subhash Yadav (RJD), Sabir
Ali (LJP), Veerpal Singh Yadav, Nand Kishore Yadav, Amir Alam
Khan and Kamal Akhtar (all SP), and Ejaz Ali (Unattached).
These members had indulged in unprecedented
unruly scenes and even tried to attack Chairman Hamid Ansari
when the Womens' Reservation Bill was moved by the government.
The motion for their suspension was moved by Minister of
State for Parliamentary Affairs Prithviraj Chavan and was
passed by a voice vote.
The action was taken under Rule 256 of the House, for
showing total "disregard for dignity of Council and authority
of the Chair" by obstructing the business of the House.
Immediately after the suspension was announced, the house was adjourned till 2 pm.
But the errant MPs have refused to leave the Rajya Sabha and are on a dharna against their suspension. They are sitting on the floor of the house and shouting slogans against their suspension and the Women’s Reservation Bill.
The house then reconvened at 2 pm but was again adjourned for an hour.
Rajya Sabha Chairman Hamid Ansari has begun an all-party meet to end the deadlock over the Women's Quota Bill and to ensure the smooth functioning of the House.
The harsh action, in many ways, was expected after the absolute disregard they showed to the chair yesterday, when they swarmed the floor of the house and tore away the Women’s Reservation Bill and threw the papers at Ansari.
The leaders of all parties had tendered apology to Ansari for the sordid spectacle. Even Prime Minister Manmohan Singh telephoned Vice President Hamid Ansari and expressed regret over attempts by some SP members to attack him in the House.
During pandemonium over the measure, Nand Kishore Yadav and Kamal Akhtar of SP had led the combined offensive of their party and RJD in opposing the bill.
Nand Kishore Yadav had tried to attack the Chairman by attempting to climb on to the podium. He had uprooted the microphone and thrown stationery placed on Ansari’s table even as some other members were seen threatening to reach the podium.
The security attendants had to swing into action and shield the Chairman.
Akhtar had also climbed the table of the Rajya Sabha’s official reporters, chanting slogans against the bill, while some members, including RJD’s Rajniti Prasad, had torn the copy of the bill and chucked pieces of the paper towards the chair.
Clearly, the development will also provide a breather to the government and strengthen the chances of the bill going through despite the opposition by Mulayam Singh, Lalu Prasad Yadav and Sharad Yadav of the JD(U)
The PM did try to reach at a consensus. He met the Yadav trio today morning but the meeting ended inconclusively as they opponents continued to stick to their demand for a quota within the quota for women from OBC, Dalit and minority community.
They also demanded that an all party meet be called to discuss the issue. The BJP, on the other hand, has reiterated its support for the bill and ensured that they will vote in support but also called for a debate on the issue to clear all misgivings.
The other big block, the Left, is also supporting the bill unconditionally.
With Agency inputs
First Published: Tuesday, March 09, 2010, 14:11