Biggest in Rajya Sabha history; 12 opposition MPs suspended for monsoon session ruckus

New Delhi: The Rajya Sabha on Monday suspended 12 MPs for the entire winter session of parliament for creating ruckus in the house during the monsoon session of the parliament on August 11. The suspension of MPs for the entire Winter Session of Parliament for their "unruly" conduct in the previous session is the biggest such action in the history of the Upper House.

The motion to suspend Phulo Devi Netam, Chhaya Verma, Ripun Bora, Rajamani Patel, Syed Nasir Hussain and Akhilesh Prasad Singh of the Congress; Dola Sen, Shanta Chhetri of Trinamool Congress; Priyanka Chaturvedi, Anil Desai of Shiv Sena; Elamaram Kareem of CPM; and Binoy Viswam of CPI was moved by Parliamentary Affairs Minister Prahlad Joshi.

This is the biggest suspension of MPs from Rajya Sabha, according to officials aware of parliamentary records.

Previously in 2020, eight MPs - Derek O'Brien (TMC), Sanjay Singh (AAP), Rajeev Satav (Congress), KK Nagesh (CPI(M)), Syed Nasir Hussain (Congress), Ripun Bora (Congress), Dola Sen (TMC) and Elamaran Kareem of CPI(M) - were suspended which was the second-highest number. Seven MPs were also suspended from Rajya Sabha in 2010.

Prominent leader and freedom fighter Raj Narayan had been suspended four times from Rajya Sabha while former deputy speaker Godey Murahari has been suspended twice from the Upper House.

The suspension of the members could be a new flashpoint between opposition members and the government in the winter session of the parliament which began on Monday. In the morning, the Rajya Sabha chairman indicated that he is unhappy over the affairs of the house in the previous session.

Chairman M. Venkaiah Naidu Stated that disruptions and unruly conduct of some members during the last monsoon session continue to haunt all. He urged the members to draw right lessons from it as all sections of the house and the country ended up as losers from the derailed monsoon session.

Naidu referred to the turn of events during the closing moments of the last monsoon session and noted that responses of the leading lights of the house and all concerned were not up to his expectations.

Referring to the highs and lows witnessed during the last 11 sessions presided by him over the last four years, the Rajya Sabha Chairman urged the members to create "democratic and parliamentary space" in the House so that all issues can be taken up.