TMC MP Derek O'Brien Suspended From Rajya Sabha For 'Unruly Behaviour'

Derek O'Brien had allegedly thrown the Rajya Sabha rule book towards the Chair during the discussion on Election Laws (Amendment Bill) 2021.

TMC MP Derek O'Brien (PTI file)

New Delhi: TMC MP Derek O'Brien was suspended from Rajya Sabha on Tuesday for the rest of the Winter session of Parliament due to 'unruly behaviour' in the House.

Derek O'Brien was accused of throwing the Rajya Sabha rule book towards the Chair during the discussion on Election Laws (Amendment Bill) 2021.

The TMC MP was suspended after the House passed a motion moved by Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs V Muraleedharan in this regard, PTI reported.

The last time I got suspended from RS was when govt. was BULLDOZING #FarmLaws

We all know what happened after that.

Today, suspended while protesting against BJP making a mockery of #Parliament and BULLDOZING #ElectionLawsBill2021

Hope this Bill too will be repealed soon

— Derek O'Brien | ডেরেক ও'ব্রায়েন (@derekobrienmp) December 21, 2021

"The last time I got suspended from RS was when govt was BULLDOZING Farm Laws. We all know what happened after that. Today, suspended while protesting against BJP making a mockery of Parliament and BULLDOZING Election Laws Bill 2021. Hope this Bill too will be repealed soon," Derek O'Brien tweeted.

The Rajya Sabha passed the Election Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2021, to link electoral roll data with the Aadhaar, on Tuesday even as the Opposition staged a walkout.

READ | Electoral Reforms Bill Passed In Rajya Sabha Amidst Opposition Walkout

The Opposition parties sought a division of votes as they had moved a motion to send the Bill to a select committee. The motion was rejected by voice vote.

Derek O'Brien cited rules for a division of votes even as Deputy Chairman Harivansh urged members to go to their seats to enable the division.

However, Opposition members continued to raise slogans in the well of the House. Derek O'Brien threw the rule book on the table where officials sit and staged a walkout.

Earlier, Congress, TMC, CPI, CPI-M, DMK and Samajwadi Party opposed the Bill, saying it infringed on voters' right to privacy. On the other hand, Union Law Minister Kiren Rijiju said the legislation would help end fake and bogus voting in the country and make the electoral process credible.

The development comes even as Opposition parties have been protesting against the suspension of 12 Rajya Sabha MPs. The Opposition has called the move "undemocratic" and against the rules of the House. Proceedings of the Rajya Sabha have been disrupted repeatedly over the issue.