AAP's Only Lok Sabha MP Sushil Kumar Rinku Suspended For Entire Monsoon Session
The motion for his suspension was moved by Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi, and the Speaker, Om Birla, sought the approval of the House before announcing the decision.
Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MP Sushil Kumar Rinku was suspended from the Lok Sabha for the remainder of the monsoon session on Thursday. The suspension came after Rinku threw papers at the Chair during the session, leading to disruption and misconduct. The motion for his suspension was moved by Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi, and the Speaker, Om Birla, sought the approval of the House before announcing the decision.
His suspension came after he went to the House Well and threw papers at the Chair during the debate on the Delhi Ordinance Bill, 2023.
He is the only AAP MP in the Lok Sabha, and his suspension follows that of AAP Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh, who has also been barred from attending the rest of the session for causing a commotion in the Upper House over the Manipur violence issue.
Union parliamentary affairs minister Prahlad Joshi proposed the suspension resolution, which the Speaker announced after seeking approval from the House.
"I tried to ensure that he (Rinku) maintained the House's decorum, but he did not. Before announcing the suspension, Speaker Om Birla said, "He attempted to diminish the dignity of the House," he added.
The Speaker has the authority to name a member who violates the rules of the House and the authority of the Chair by obstructing the proceedings under Lok Sabha Rule 374. The suspension of the member, however, cannot be extended beyond the remainder of the session. The suspended member will be required to leave the House precincts immediately.
The AAP MP recently won a by-election in the Jalandhar Lok Sabha constituency, defeating a close Congress rival.
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After being suspended from the House for the remainder of the monsoon session, Sushil Kumar Rinku remained unapologetic. Speaking about his suspension, he expressed his concerns about the state of the country's Constitution. He said that elected governments' powers are being ceded to non-elected individuals and bureaucrats, posing a threat to democracy.
"The Constitution is being violated, and the country's federal system is in jeopardy...When non-elected officials and bureaucrats are given powers of the elected government, it is an insult to the Constitution. The Central Government is in charge of the Vigilance Department. The court will decide who is and is not corrupt...I do not regret being suspended for speaking out for the people and defending democracy," he was quoted as saying by ANI.
In response to Rinku's suspension, BJP MP Meenakashi Lekhi made remarks referencing Rinku's previous association with the Congress as well as his current leadership with AAP. She claimed that leaders associated with these parties are prone to such behaviour.
"He was a member of the Congress before becoming an AAP leader. As a result, such behaviour is inherent in all of their leaders...," ANI quoted her as saying.
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