The Privileges Committee of Rajya Sabha is set to meet on January 9 to address the suspension of 11 opposition MPs who were involved in unruly conduct during the recently concluded Winter Session of Parliament. Chaired by Deputy Chairman Harivansh, the committee will provide an opportunity for the MPs to present their perspectives on the issue.
The suspension of the 11 MPs took place during the Winter Session when a total of 146 MPs, 100 from Lok Sabha and 46 from Rajya Sabha, were suspended for disruptive behavior. The MPs had displayed placards and raised slogans, demanding a statement from Home Minister Amit Shah regarding the breach of Parliament security.
The suspension of the 11 Rajya Sabha MPs resulted from their actions being deemed as causing “grave disorder” in the House on December 18. Until their cases are considered by the House after the Privileges Committee’s report, the MPs will continue to remain suspended.
In a related development, the Privileges Committee of Lok Sabha is scheduled to convene on January 12 to discuss the suspension of three MPs—K Jayakumar, Abdul Khaleque, and Vijayakumar Vijay Vasanth—from the House during the Winter Session due to their reported “unruly behavior.” The three MPs will be allowed to provide oral evidence before the committee.
Responding to the committee’s call, Abdul Khaleque criticized Union Home Minister Amit Shah over the Parliament security breach on December 13. During the breach, two youths jumped into the Lok Sabha chamber, setting off smoke cans and raising slogans. Khaleque questioned why Shah did not address the matter in Parliament, emphasizing that the demand was for the Home Minister to clarify the security breach and its responsibility.
As both Privileges Committees meet to address these suspensions, the proceedings are anticipated to shed light on the circumstances surrounding the MPs’ conduct and contribute to decisions regarding their status in the Parliament.
