Journalism of Courage
Lok Sabha suspends TMC’s Kalyan Banerjee for using ‘undignified’ language against women MPs
As Lok Sabha proceedings resumed after two successive adjournments at 2 pm, Krishna Prasad Tenneti took to the Chair and referred to a complaint filed with Speaker Om Birla by two members, adding that his remarks had hurt the dignity of the House.
TMC MP Kalyan Banerjee at the Parliament Premises during the Monsoon Session, in New Delhi on Wednesday. (ANI Photo)
Trinamool Congress MP Kalyan Banerjee was suspended from Lok Sabha for the remainder of the ongoing Monsoon Session for allegedly using “undignified” language against two women MPs, his former colleagues who have since split and ‘merged’ with the Nationalist Citizens Party of India, following a heated exchange in the House.
As Lok Sabha proceedings resumed after two successive adjournments at 2 pm, Krishna Prasad Tenneti took to the Chair and referred to a complaint filed with Speaker Om Birla by two members, adding that his remarks had hurt the dignity of the House.
Mitali Bagh, Shatabdi Roy and Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar were among the members with whom Banerjee was seen to have had the exchange, leading to his eventual suspension after they apparently filed a written complaint with Birla.
Tenneti then asked Union Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal to read out a resolution seeking the consent of the House to suspend Banerjee for the remainder of the session, which ends on August 13, which was then put up and passed by voice vote amid a din from opposition MPs seeking a discussion on the NEET paper leak and demands for Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation.
As the resolution was adopted, Tenneti asked Banerjee to leave the House before its proceedings were adjourned until Thursday. A Lok Sabha secretariat circular later said Banerjee cannot enter the Lok Sabha chamber, lobby or galleries, and will not get his daily allowance as an MP, cannot participate in committee meetings of which he is a member, and cannot vote in committee elections during the period of suspension.
Several opposition MPs later met Birla seeking the withdrawal of Banerjee’s suspension, stating that the alleged altercation had occurred after the House was adjourned and, therefore, could not be the basis for disciplinary action under the House rules.
© The Indian Express Pvt Ltd
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