7 Congress MPs Suspended From Rest Of Lok Sabha Sessions For Throwing Paper At Speaker

The Congress members who have been suspended are T.N. Prathapan, Dean Kuriakosh, Gaurav Gogoi, Unnithan, Gurpreet Singh Aujala, Benny Behanan and Manikkam Tagore.

BJP MP Meenakshi Lekhi in the Speaker chair conducts proceedings in the Lok Sabha during the Budget Session of Parliament. (LSTV/PTI Photo)

New Delhi: As many as seven Member of Parliament (MPs) belonging to the Congress party have been suspended by Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on Thursday for the remaining period of Budget session for their gross misconduct after they snatched a copy of a Bill, tore the papers and tossed them at Rama Devi who was in the Chair at the time. As per reports, the suspension will remain in place for the rest of the Budget session which ends on April 3. As soon as the House met at 3 pm following an adjournment, Meenakshi Lekhi, who was presiding the House, named Gaurav Gogoi, T N Prathapan, Dean Kuriakose, Manicka Tagore, Rajmohan Unnithan, Benny Behanan and Gurjeet Singh Aujla. The Congress members who have been suspended are T.N. Prathapan, Dean Kuriakosh, Gaurav Gogoi, Unnithan, Gurpreet Singh Aujala, Benny Behanan and Manikkam Tagore. WATCH REPORT | Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla Suspends 7 Congress MPs For Gross Misconduct Meanwhile, Congress alleged that the suspension of its seven members from Lok Sabha was a 'dictatorial decision' by the government aimed at weakening the Opposition's voice ahead of a debate over Delhi riots. Reacting to the development, Congress's leader in Lok Sabha Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury said it was a 'government decision' and not one taken by the Speaker. Asserting that the Congress members had done noting wrong, Chowdhury said it was a "dictatorial decision" and one that was motivated by 'revenge politics'.

" We saw revenge politics in House, orders were given by the chairperson to suspend seven Congress MPs for this session "

-Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, Congress

Chowdhury also alleged that the suspension was an attempt to weaken the party in the House as the government fears a discussion on the Delhi riots in Parliament. "Whether suspending seven MPs is right, people will decide. We will not be scared and will continue to raise the Delhi riots issue," he said. Gogoi, who was among the suspended MPs, said, "Suspend us for a year, but discuss the Delhi riots and heal the wounds of people." Ever since Parliament resumed the Budget session on March 2, Congress MPs have been disrupting proceedings with slogans demanding the resignation of Home Minister Amit Shah over the riots that shook several parts of north-east Delhi from February 23 to 25. (With inputs from agencies)