Rajya Sabha on August 8 witnessed high drama over the suspension of TMC MP Derek O’Brien with the Chairman first announcing that he has to withdraw from the House, but later said the motion to suspend him was not put to vote and hence he could continue to attend the proceedings.
Mr. O’Brien was allowed to attend the House proceedings after Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar said he has taken a “far-sighted” decision to not allow voting on the motion to suspend him which did not fructify. The Chairman had earlier announced the suspension of the Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader for his unruly behaviour in the House after leader of the house Piyush Goyal moved a motion in this regard.
Several members, including Pramod Tiwari (Congress), urged the Chair to take a lenient view on Mr. O’Brien, but the Chairman asked why he should show leniency. “If Mr. O’Brien would have been suspended from the House for this session, do you think he would have been allowed to enter the House again?” the Chairman said, adding that for him taking action against any member is a matter of pain.
