Suspension Of RS MPs: Not Going To Say Sorry, Says TMC As Leaders Plan To Stage Dharna Tomorrow

Eight opposition party leaders led by Mallikarjun Kharge had met Venkaiah Naidu to request him to reconsider revocation of the suspension of 12 MPs. 

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New Delhi: On the issue of 12 MPs’ suspension from Rajya Sabha, Trinamool Congress (TMC) on Tuesday said that the party is not going to apologise.

The party stated that its suspended members Dola Sen and Shanta Chhetri will stage a sit-in demonstration in front of Gandhi statue from Wednesday till the end of the winter session, news agency ANI reported. 

“We are not writing to the Rajya Sabha Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu, we are not going to say sorry”: TMC’s parliamentary party leader in Rajya Sabha Derek O'Brien said. 

It was further revealed that from Wednesday onwards both the suspended TMC MPs Dola Sen and Shanta Chhetri will stage a sit-in demonstration in front of Gandhi murti and others till the winter session of the Parliament wraps up on December 23. 

This comes as Rajya Sabha Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu today asserted that the suspension of 12 Members of the House for the remainder of the ongoing Winter Session was in order and was to protect democracy, ANI reported. 

It was the decision of the House and not of the Chair, he said. 

He elaborated on various related aspects while responding to the procedural objections to the suspension raised by the Leader of Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge in the House today.

Noting that Rajya Sabha is a continuing institution, Venkaiah Naidu said that taking action against some MPs on the first day of the current Session for their acts of misconduct on the last day of last Monsoon Session was in order and it was the decision of the House and not of the Chair.

Accordingly, it is not correct to describe the suspension as anti-democratic, he stressed, adding that the Chair and the House are empowered to take appropriate action against the acts of indiscipline by Members in the House under the Rules of Procedure of the House.

"The Members who have committed this sacrilege against the House, have not expressed any remorse. On the other hand, they are justifying it. So, I don't think the appeal of LOP (Leader of Opposition Kharge for revocation of suspension) is worth considering," Chairman Naidu said, as quoted by ANI.

It was earlier reported that 12 suspended opposition MPs will write to the Rajya Sabha Chairman and argue against their suspension. They will also stage a sit-in protest before the Gandhi statue in Parliament on Wednesday.

Eight opposition party leaders led by Mallikarjun Kharge had met Venkaiah Naidu to request him to reconsider the decision. 

Chairman Naidu told them it was not possible without an apology from the suspended members of the House, ANI reported sources as saying. 

Rajya Sabha had on the first day of its business for the Winter Session on Monday suspended 12 of its members for the rest of the current session on account of ‘unruly and violent behaviour’ during the Monsoon Session of Parliament. The suspended members include six leaders from Congress, two each from TMC and Shiv Sena and one each from CPM and CPI.

(With Agency Inputs)